trr1
Well-Known Member
ok thank you for clarifying
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Universal Has Started Charging $2 for Some Ride Lockers
- Thread starter lebeau
- Start date
trr1
Well-Known Member
ok thank you for clarifying
OG Runner
Well-Known Member
First you are comparing apples and oranges. The point is that Universal did not charge for this in the past and now they are.
I am just as much against this as I was Disney adding parking fees. It didn't help that other hotels or parks were already charging
for parking. They were suddenly adding a fee for something that was previously free.
Pi on my Cake
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
Alright, can an empty souvenir cup fit into a tiny locker. I am visiting my girlfriend soon who is a Disney cast member. Back when we worked together at Disney, we had a tradition of going to Universal and trying to break our record for most icees in a single day. Our favorite rides are Mummy, Men in Black, and Hulk. The rides we want to do and our icee tradition can now not be done in the same day without paying at least another $12 (2 a piece for 2 rides on each) which for a couple of college kids on a tight budget, $12 is a food budget for a day for us.
Can the souvenir cups fit into the free lockers? If not, we will probably be changing our plans and not going to Uni next week.
Can the souvenir cups fit into the free lockers? If not, we will probably be changing our plans and not going to Uni next week.
I realize most parks have some kind of locker rental. Universal also has daily locker rentals. That's not what this is about.
Universal is unique in that there are several rides that require you to use a locker if you are carrying anything that doesn't fit in you pocket. Comparisons to local amusement parks like Six Flags and Cedar Fair don't really hold up either. Disney and Universal are destinations. Most guests can't just run home for supplies like they can when visiting a regional amusement park. A lot of tourists are going to need supplies.
The locker situation has always been a bit of a hassle, but it was all in the name of safety. Since Universal provided free lockers, I defended their policy. But this change is in no way enhancing the guest experience. If this change was intended to increase revenue, it is a cheap and cynical move that will have unintended consequences. If the goal is to create efficiencies, I don't think they thought through the impact it will have on their guests.
Universal is unique in that there are several rides that require you to use a locker if you are carrying anything that doesn't fit in you pocket. Comparisons to local amusement parks like Six Flags and Cedar Fair don't really hold up either. Disney and Universal are destinations. Most guests can't just run home for supplies like they can when visiting a regional amusement park. A lot of tourists are going to need supplies.
The locker situation has always been a bit of a hassle, but it was all in the name of safety. Since Universal provided free lockers, I defended their policy. But this change is in no way enhancing the guest experience. If this change was intended to increase revenue, it is a cheap and cynical move that will have unintended consequences. If the goal is to create efficiencies, I don't think they thought through the impact it will have on their guests.
From what I have read on FB, yes. They will fit. You need to empty them and lay them on their side.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
Universal won't let you even bring your phone or wallet on Hulk. If they find anything in your pocket at the metal detector you get sent to a locker. If anything people just won't go on certain rides.
The Pho
Well-Known Member
They moved beyond that policy a while ago. You can't have anything that sets off a metal detector regardless of pockets or anything visible in your pockets. Cell phones have to go in lockers, and they'll turn you away if they spot wallets or sunglass cases in your pockets. I even had to get a locker for my watch last time I went.
It's a policy that does nothing but annoy guests in the hopes of charging them extra when they go over the free time period while waiting.
RustySpork
Oscar Mayer Memer
That's because Universal actual rides, unlike those little boats that float through buildings and around planets.
$2 per ride can add up.
Some people need to bring a bag.
For me, it just means I buy less souvenirs. No more buying those big stuffed animals we usually pick up.
Sorry Universal, that $2 locker fee will cost you about $70 in sales.
Just a heads up, if it is not a prize form a game, you can do package pick up.
However I agree, this is a terrible step backwards to the above and beyond Guest Service Universal is known for.
Jon81uk
Well-Known Member
Disney force you to carry your bag onto the ride.
Universal ban you from taking anything on the ride.
Omnikron
Active Member
Wait!? You have to go through a metal detector before getting on a ride there??
It's been many years since the last time I was at Islands/Studios and don't remember this.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
Hulk only AFAIK. It didn't use to be that way.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Hulk and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit are the only 2.
Omnikron
Active Member
Interesting to know, thank you. Going back to the rental charges. I really don't see any other reason other than to remove more money from your visitors. Now my only experience in ride lockers is from Disney World and Busch Gardens. With Disney you have the keep it with you on the ride and with BG, they offer a few cubbys where you can put your drink or other items. To say "Hey thanks for the $100 per person entry fee into our park, you now have to pay $2 per ride to store that $15 or so souvinor cup before we permit you to ride this ride."
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
This is very likely a segue into charging for all lockers. Charging for lockers you are required to use is the ultimate sleazy nickel and diming. Make your voices heard NOW.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
Also regarding souvenir cups. On more than one occasion I have rented a locker only to find that a drink was spilled in it. if I hadn't been paying attention I would have ended up with a very sticky or possibly ruined phone. Imagine having a backpack or purse completely stained because the previous person let their drink spill inside the locker. These new lockers are wide and thin when they should be tall. It's also funny that at each location they have been installed, only a small fraction of the total number of available lockers are large lockers.
Universal has held the benefit of generally being less stressful than Disney for a while but their ever-increasingly aggressive locker policies are certainly working to undo this.
Universal has held the benefit of generally being less stressful than Disney for a while but their ever-increasingly aggressive locker policies are certainly working to undo this.
Rider
Well-Known Member
I worked at Cedar Point way back in the day. One year we started a similar policy to Universal and prohibited all bags and loose articles from all rides (and queues). Lockers were available for a cost. They were also correctly sized to hold the souvenir cups.
People put their bags in bushes and trees. They threw cups and toys at employees. The policy lasted about two weeks before they backed down due to complaints (and a drop in games and store revenue). To this day only Millennium Force and Dragster require lockers. And that's mostly because of their dual station design.
People put their bags in bushes and trees. They threw cups and toys at employees. The policy lasted about two weeks before they backed down due to complaints (and a drop in games and store revenue). To this day only Millennium Force and Dragster require lockers. And that's mostly because of their dual station design.