Most people need to take at least a small bag with them to Orlando’s big theme parks. Bottled water, sunscreen, and your wallet are among the most important items to keep on hand. As you’re packing your bag, there are some important considerations to keep in mind.
Theme parks are not created equal, even within a single property. You may find that what works at Disney is a hassle at Universal, and the bag you took into the Magic Kingdom may even have items that are prohibited at Animal Kingdom. Check out these tips for a rundown of the biggest differences between parks.
1. When your bags are checked
Bag check is a necessary routine that you’ll go through to get into any Disney or Universal theme park. Universal’s bag check is located just outside CityWalk. There’s one major bag check plaza at the bridge that leads from the parking garage to CityWalk. Additional bag check tables are set up along the walkways from the resorts to catch guests staying on property.
The downside of this is that you can’t even dine or shop without a bag inspection. The upside, however, is that you go through only one bag check to enter both parks. You can go back and forth between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure without any additional hassles. This is particularly handy for guests taking the Hogwarts Express between parks. The only thing you need to have out if you plan to leave one park and enter another is your park ticket.
At Walt Disney World, your bags are checked at the entrance to every park. If you park hop, you will have your bags checked again before you enter the next park on your agenda. Since there’s no singular entrance for all of Walt Disney World, every park has its own bag check. Epcot is the only theme park to have two. Aside from the main entrance, there is also a second entrance leading directly into World Showcase and accessible by boat from Disney’s Hollywood Studios or any of the Boardwalk hotels.
While this can slow you down a bit when you’re going from park to park at Disney, it really won’t add more than a few minutes’ delay to your day. A greater perk of Disney’s system is that it doesn’t encompass Downtown Disney, so you’re free to shop and dine without having your bag checked.
2. What to do with bags on rides
When you’re packing your bag for a theme park, it’s important to remember that the main purpose of your visit is probably to get on the attractions. At Universal Studios, it’s pointless to pack your bag with items you plan to enjoy while you’re waiting in the queue for rides. Most rides prohibit bags entirely.
Free lockers are available at the entrance to all such rides so you can stash your belongings for the duration. While this provides a convenient way to stash your items safely, the process of moving your items from locker to locker quickly becomes tiresome. Ride lockers measure 10” wide, 10” tall, and 16” deep. If your bag is too large to fit, you’ll have to pay for a larger locker and you may end up storing it a good distance away.
At Walt Disney World, there are no ride lockers. Lockers are only available at the entrance to each park and none are free. Most bags will easily fit in your ride vehicle with you. There are pouches available for stashing purses, sunglasses, and hats. Even backpacks can usually fit securely at your feet. If your bag is too large to fit on the attraction with you, Cast Members will typically direct you to a nearby spot where you can leave your bag for the duration of the ride. You won’t abandon your bag until you get on the attraction, so it’s left unattended for only a few minutes before you return.
3. The deal with food
If you’re planning to save money by bringing meals into the park with you, you’ll have an easier time of it at Walt Disney World than at Universal Studios. The list of prohibited items for Universal Studios specifically lists picnic lunches. You may not bring any food item that requires heating or refrigeration. All hard-sided coolers are prohibited and soft-sided coolers must be no larger than 8.5” wide, 6” high, and 6” deep. Universal allows bottled water, small snacks that do not require heating, and baby food or food required for medical purposes and special dietary needs.
Walt Disney World is much more lenient with food. If you’re willing to lug a larger cooler around with you all day, you’re welcome to do so. Size restrictions for coolers are more than double that at Universal. Coolers and backpacks must be no larger than 24” long, 15” wide, and 18” high. Most glass containers are prohibited, but baby food jars are allowed. Both parks prohibit alcoholic beverages.
4. Special considerations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom operates under slightly different guidelines from the other parks at Disney, as well as those at Universal. The abundance of live animals on display necessitates a few special safety measures. Balloons, straws, and drink lids are prohibited in this park. In most cases, this won’t have a big impact on what you bring in.
The one thing you need to think about is juice boxes. If you bring juice boxes or bags like Capri Sun into the park for children, security will ask you to ditch the straws at bag check. If you plan ahead, you can bring a sippee cup with you to pour these drinks into for your child. Paper straws are available inside the park, but they’re too big for a standard juice box.
Keep in mind that all drinks purchased in the park come without lids as well. If your child can’t drink from an unlidded cup without spilling, this is another compelling reason to bring your own lidded cup in with you.
5. Prohibited items
In addition to the items mentioned above, the list of prohibited items at Universal Studios also includes any cooler, suitcase, or bag on wheels. Folding chairs are prohibited in both Disney and Universal Parks. Disney’s list of prohibited items extends to include tripod stands that are too large to fit inside a standard backpack.
While there are helpful lists on both parks’ websites to guide your choice of what to bring into the park, these are not exhaustive. It’s up to the discretion of the security guards to decide what can and cannot come into the parks. In one instance there was a debate between two of the Cast Members at bag check as to whether someone could bring in a crochet hook. They let it in, but cautioned against bringing it again. Use your best sense when packing your bag and try to avoid any item that resembles or may be used as a weapon.
If you don’t have children and a stroller to stash your bag in, keep in mind that you will carry it with you throughout the day. Have the essentials on hand, but don’t overpack, particularly at Universal Studios where your belongings will spend most of the day in a locker. If you can fit your essentials in a pocket, you’ll skip bag check and the locker dance entirely, offering a much smoother option for your day.
