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As you plan your vacation to Disney World, one of the things you might overlook is exactly what you can or should bring with you into the parks. Disney World is different than most other theme parks and allows all sorts of items into the parks which can help make your day more enjoyable. This includes spaces on all rides where you can place a backpack or other bag carrying your stuff, tons of stroller parking, and tons of Cast Members keeping an eye on things. However, to keep you from having to carry around your belongings the entire day, lockers are available to rent across all of the parks in the Walt Disney World Resort.

This of course begs the question: are lockers worth renting at Disney World? That depends on a lot of factors which we will highlight in the article below. They can be a way to save money for some guests, and a wasteful addition for others. Here are the details you need to consider when deciding whether renting a locker is worth it for your day at Disney.

Which Parks Have Locker Rentals?

Each of Disney World’s four main theme parks have lockers available to rent. Disney’s two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, also have lockers available for rent. Even Disney Springs offers lockers if they’d be helpful for you during your stay around the shopping and dining area. Locker rentals cost between $10 and $15 per day. This amount can add up during an entire vacation (think $10 per day for 5 days totaling to $50), but also isn’t all that much considering the total amount you’re probably spending on the vacation.

Where Are Lockers Located?

Though you can go back to open your locker and time during the day, lockers are usually located at the very front of the parks. This means that you might have to backtrack quite a long distance to get to them and access whatever item you needed. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios only have lockers for rent at the front entrance. Animal Kingdom and EPCOT both have two locker locations, one at the front and one towards the back of the park. The locker location at EPCOT’s entrance at the International Gateway between the France and the U.K pavilions might be a good spot to store your things in order to avoid a long trek back to the front of the park later in the afternoon. Lockers are also available at Disney Springs directly behind the World of Coke store next to the bus loop.

What Are the Benefits of Renting a Locker? 

As I touched on at the start of the article, Disney is very inclusive and welcoming for families, which means they allow guests to being in practically anything they want. Every single ride at the Disney World Resort (until Tron Lightcycle/Run opens in April) allows guests to bring their bags anywhere in the park, including all the way up and onto the ride. They also have plenty of stroller parking areas outside of attractions. Other local parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, and Busch Gardens all have roller coasters where you’re not allowed to bring anything at all onto them, much less a backpack.

With these factors considered, most visitors won’t have any need to rent a locker. If everyone in your family carries their phone/wallet in a pocket and stores a few larger items in a group backpack, you are pretty much covered for any situation. However, there are some items that may be beneficial for your group to bring to avoid paying for them in the parks. If you plan on bringing some of these things as a way to save money, spending a few dollars on a locker can be well worth it. Here are a few things you should consider bringing that may warrant a locker:

Water Bottles – If you’re visiting during the summer time, you will need to be prepared for the heat and exercise you’ll be getting. Many visitors don’t realize how much they’ll be walking around the parks, and end up having to take frequent breaks and getting behind on their park plans. Though Disney will provide free water cups at any restaurant, carrying water bottles is always a good idea. If you have a large group, a few bottles full of water can be heavy to lug around the park. Partially freezing extra bottles, leaving them in a locker in the morning, and picking them up later in the day is a great strategy. The same is true for snacks, sodas, or even full meals if you’re willing to pack them the day before. A bottle of soda is $5 in the parks, so bringing in just 3 of your own will have the locker paying for itself!

A Change of Clothes – Your amazing day at the Magic Kingdom can quickly deteriorate if you get caught in an afternoon rain shower. Walking around the rest of the day in soaking wet clothes is no fun. Therefore, bringing a change of clothes (socks especially since the parks commonly have large puddles) can truly be a game-changer. This logic also applies to the Kali River Rapids ride in Animal Kingdom. Though you can usually avoid it, at least 2 of the 8 people in the raft usually get soaked. Lockers are available for rent right next to the entrance to the ride.

Valuables – This covers any item you need to bring in with you that you wouldn’t want to lose while carrying around all day. Phone charging blocks, sunscreen, car keys, gift cards, baby care items, or any other personal item you wouldn’t want to drop somewhere in the park all qualify.

Food/Snacks – Packing drinks, sandwiches, granola bars, or chips to keep you moving throughout the day can make a big difference. Not only will those snacks save you money on food in the parks, but they can also save you time waiting in line for Disney to serve all of the other guests!

How To Rent A Locker at Disney World?

Getting a locker is easy. All you need to do is find the locker location in the park you are visiting, walk up to the kiosk station, and follow the instructions on the screen to purchase a locker. Disney’s lockers accept all major credit cards which makes the transaction easy. If you elect not to bring cards and are only paying with magic bands, you will need to request help from a nearby cast member. The same is true if you are paying with a Disney gift card.

Once the locker is bought, the kiosk will provide you with a locker number and direct you to it. It will open up, you can put your things in, and you can be on your way to enjoy the park. The locker system is keyless, so you won’t have to worry about keeping track of a key. Just be sure to remember where the locker is located, since the areas can sometimes get confusing. In a worst-case scenario, a Disney Cast Member could assist you in locating your locker later in the day.

What Are The Locker Sizes at Walt Disney World?

Each Disney Park has slightly different offerings, all one of three sizes. Disney calls the three sizes “Small,” “Large,” and “Jumbo.” The two smaller sizes (“Small” and “Large”) are available at all four of Disney’s main theme parks. The “Jumbo” locker available to rent at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and the Disney Water Parks. The locker prices include the rental for your entire day.

For your reference, here are the dimensions and prices for each of the locker sizes:

Small – 12” x 10” by 17”: $10

Large – 15.5” x 13” x 17”: $12

Jumbo – 17” x 22” x 26”: $15

Locker locations at Disney World Water Parks

If you are visiting a Disney World Water Park, lockers area a great way to store your clothes or other things to ensure they don’t get lost or stolen while enjoying the park. Lockers at the water parks work the same as they do in the major theme parks.

Similar to the other parks, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach both have lockers right at the front entrance of the park. Blizzard Beach has a second locker location at the Ski Patrol Training Camp.

Renting a locker at the water parks is a must unless you have one member of your group keeping an eye on your things. Things like wallets, phones, and keys can easily be snatched by a passerby if you leave them on a chair. You can still store things like towels, hats, and sunscreen at a chair somewhere in the park to claim a spot, since both parks have quite a few places that will be less busy. If you have enough space in the locker, you can always shove everything in anyway. Just remember to go back during the day to reapply sunscreen! Nothing is worse than getting a sunburn at the start of a trip and having to power through the pain while on vacation.