I remember when you could show up at the Magic Kingdom with nothing more than a wallet and your keys. Of course, I also remember using travelers’ checks so, you know, I’m getting old. But today’s typical Walt Disney World theme park visitors are a little more plugged in, a little savvier than we used to be. Of course, if you want the full experience, you need your phone to access the My Disney Experience App where you can track wait times, order food and entertain kids in line with online interactive games. You need chargers and cords and Magic Bands and even chargers and cords for your Magic Bands.
I was five when I first visited a Walt Disney World park. It was 1979. I had a bowl cut, shorts that would make a cheerleader blush and a Tang T-shirt. Sunscreen? Snacks? Extra water? Nope. A change of clothes? Are you kidding? We dripped dry and we liked it. Extra shoes? Blisters were part of the experience. Personal belongings? We came in with the clothes on our backs and that was it. But when we started bringing the kids, it was de rigueur to bring a lot of things with us on a trip to the parks. We made it a point to stay at Disney resorts so we got the Magic Bands and didn’t need to carry our wallets or keys. Sunscreen, snacks, water, a change of clothes, a change of shoes, maybe a hat, ponchos … it was a whole thing.
Still, we were never in need of Walt Disney World lockers because we took full advantage of stroller rentals. When you have small kids, a stroller acts as a kind of mobile locker room for all of your vacation gear. It’s a baby care center on wheels. However, as the kids have gotten older and had less need for a stroller, we’ve begun to turn to lockers. They are a great way to stash stuff we might need later in the day. For example, we store chargers, cords, changes of clothes and additional items you pick up throughout the day that you don’t want to tote around.
Does Disney have free lockers?
Disney has two types of lockers: Free ride lockers and paid lockers. However, there are only two free-ride locker locations in all of Disney World. And each is only meant for temporary storage while you ride.
The first free locker location is located near Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom due to the fact you may get exceedingly wet. The lockers come with a two-hour time limit. There are no storage lockers, however, near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in the Magic Kingdom as you’re only likely to catch a drizzle rather than a downpour on the splashdown.
The second free locker location is located in the queue for the all-new TRON Lightcycle Run coaster in Magic Kingdom. At the time of this writing, TRON is the only ride at Disney that forbids large bags on the ride. These lockers are free to use while you ride and can be accessed by either a MagicBand or a ticket. Each is about a cubic foot in size and can hold a medium-sized backpack. TRON’s locker system is similar to that of Universal Studios’s Velocicoaster.
Other than those two free temporary locker locations, if you want a storage compartment whilst enjoying the thrills of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks, you’re going to have to pay.
Where are the lockers at Disney World?
Disney Parks lockers are usually at the front of the park near the main entrance. Specifically, the lockers are to the right just as you come through the front gate by Guest Services in the Magic Kingdom. There are also free ride lockers in the TRON queue. At EPCOT, there are two sets of locker locations. One is over by the Camera Center on the Nemo side of Spaceship Earth. There are also locker rentals at the International Gateway. In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the locker station is at the Crossroads of the World, at the entrance to the park. At Animal Kingdom, the locker area is on the left, just past guest services. And also, the free lockers are over by Kali River Rapids.
What are the locker options at a Disney theme park?
There are three different sizes of lockers, small, large and jumbo. Small lockers are 12” x 10” x 17” and are $10 per day. Large lockers are 15.5″ x 13″ x 17″ and are $12 per day. Jumbo lockers are 17″ x 22″ x 26″ and are $15 per day. The jumbo lockers are only available in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.
How do I rent a locker?
There are a couple of ways. If paying with cash or a major credit card, you can go to the self-service kiosk to rent a locker. If you’re paying with MagicBand or a gift card, go to the nearest merchandise location where a cast member can process the transaction. They will give you a code to input into the kiosk.
What is a mobile locker at Disney?
In June of 2022, multiple outlets reported that Disney had obtained a patent for a mobile locker – also known as a mobile Sherpa. It’s a little rolling locker that would bring your items to you in the park. It would even have an insulated compartment to keep items cold on hot summer days. One version of the drawing looks like a computer tower with wheels, another looks like the Mouse droid from Star Wars. The little guy on wheels who squeaks and rolls away when Chewie roars at it while pretending to be Han and Luke’s prisoner in A New Hope. I would suspect that there would be a Star Wars-specific version.
How practical is the idea? I can’t imagine walking around a theme park with knee-tall rolling lockers everywhere. Look away for a minute, trip over a rolling locker droid and fall. In other words, it may not be a great idea, at least in my opinion.
Is luggage storage available at Disney World?
Yes. Usually, if you’re staying at a Disney resort you can use bell services to store your luggage, even on the day you’re checking out. This may vary, so it’s always a good idea to double-check with your resort. Also, smaller pieces of luggage may fit in the jumbo lockers at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. There is no charge for leaving your bags at bell services, but a tip is customary. If you’re staying at multiple Disney resorts in the same location, Bell Services can manage to get your luggage from one resort to another. Again, a tip is customary.
Do you use lockers at Disney? Share your tips with us in the comments!
