Should You Rent a Locker at Walt Disney World?
How much stuff do you bring with you to the parks?
Do you need to empty your backpack, purse, or pockets at the security entrance because you keep setting off the alarm?
When you’re visiting a theme park, you don’t want personal belongings to weigh you down. So, you may consider options.
Should you rent a locker at Walt Disney World? Here are a few things to know.


Photo: DisneyWorldExplorer.com
Locker Rental Basics
You’ll find locker rental areas in all four theme parks at Walt Disney World. You may have never noticed them, but I can assure you that they’re there.
In a way, they’re a relic of bygone days. Locker rentals proved more vital in the days before smartphones and Disney-focused online stores.
Today, savvy shoppers can take care of most of their Disney needs with just their phone, their wallet, and a few handy gadgets.
However, not everyone packs light. You could bring plenty of items with you during your park day.
I know people who pack backup clothing and shoes in case Splash Mountain provides an unexpected shower.
Well, Disney accommodates such individuals by offering two different sizes of lockers at the four parks.
In fact, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT even offer a third size that works well for people who bring their largest stuffed animals with them. Not that I’m judging.
Currently, Small lockers at Walt Disney World cost $10 per day for a compartment that is 12″ x 10″ x 17″.


Photo: Touring Plans/Erin Foster
For $12 a day, you can select a Large locker instead. It’s 15.5″ x 13″ x 17″.
At Magic Kingdom and EPCOT, the Jumbo size costs $15 per day.
That monstrosity is 17″ x 22″ x 26″, which I’m pretty sure is larger than my old gym locker. You could squeeze some carry-on luggage in that.
So, if you’re sporting a backpack, you can drop it off at Magic Kingdom or EPCOT for $15. At the other two parks, it’ll depend on the size of your backpack.
You’ll swipe a credit card and then receive a printout with your locker number and code. It’s an easy, safe transaction, even during a pandemic.
Pros of a Locker Rental
You’ll find more good reasons to rent a locker than you might expect.
Yes, the obvious one is that you don’t need to lug all your stuff around the parks the whole day.
However, this conversation has more nuance. Are you a vlogger or a photographer? Do you like to get autographs at the parks?
As a vlogger, you might carry extra hardware that you’ll only use for part of the day. You don’t want to drag around unwieldy tech more than needed.
Similarly, photographers can use digital cameras to capture majestic photos at Walt Disney World.
The ones who know what they’re doing can license their content to news and Disney sites and make money during their visit!
Those power zoom lenses and attachments are easy to damage and awkward to carry around the parks, though.
Fans of autographs and other memorabilia may not want to carry that stuff when it’s not in use.
Finally and most importantly, parents…well, you can fill in the blanks here.
Disney recently modified its rules for stroller sizes, preventing the usage of mobile SUVs for toddlers.
Parents needed that space to hold binkies and diaper bags and snacks and…look, keeping a baby alive and happy is hard.
For those impacted by the smaller stroller rule, a locker provides a decent substitute.
You can drop off some nonessential items but have the comfort of knowing that they’re close in case of emergency.
Otherwise, you’d need to go back to the hotel. I’ve done this a few times, most recently when I idiotically forgot my MagicBand. It’s embarrassing.
Cons of a Locker Rental
Marie Kondo fans can fill in all the cons here. When you’re at a Disney theme park, how many items do you honestly need?


(Kent Phillips, Photographer)
If you’re bringing that many items, I encourage you to try something—the count of things you pack that you never use the entire trip.
Now, that statement may sound hypocritical after talking about going back to the hotel for something you forgot. I’m making a larger point, though.
How much are you blurring the line between essential and nonessential?
Yes, you have a spare charger and replacement battery with you in case of an emergency. But you can pick those up at the parks if something goes wrong.
I’m a big fan of packing light, although part of that stems from my wife always using a backpack.
So, we rarely require a locker since we’re filling half a backpack with junk. If you’re clogging it with more, let’s circle back to Marie Kondo.
Packing light is a virtue, my friends!


Photo: Disney
Even if you disagree with me on that con, the other one isn’t up for debate.
The lockers at Walt Disney World will require a bit of backtracking to use.
Disney has done an excellent job of locating them in central parts of the parks.
Still, you must return to the locker at least once before you leave for the day.
In my experience, when we rent a locker, we’re much more likely to waste time shuffling items in and of it throughout the day.
I also find locker rentals a bit stressful. I’m the absent-minded professor cliché, and I always worry that I’ll just leave the park without grabbing my stuff.
Should You Rent a Locker at Walt Disney World?
I think you can tell that my answer is no…but just for my family. And even that is conditional.
My wife has a digital camera now, and we do livestream a bit. So, we have some hardware I’d rather not carry all day.
Historically, we stopped renting lockers around the time that MagicBands came out, though. We just haven’t seen the need since then.
Between our phones and our wearables, we’ve got most of what we need.
The backpack is more for a backup battery and some merchandise we pick up. We sometimes grab extra beverages to carry also.
Other than hydration and tech, we haven’t needed much else.
However, my answer changes when you’re traveling in a large party, doing any sort of park video/photography, or are a parent.
Large parties tend to need more stuff during a visit.
While you can theoretically spread it around, one or two people tend to do most of the heavy lifting…literally.
Vloggers and photographers must marry an exciting park day with protecting their tech. The sane thing to do is rent a locker.
That way, you can clearly delineate between your work and play, too.
As for parents, you never know what you will need.


Photo: Disney
If a kid won’t stop crying, I wouldn’t blame you for packing a trampoline just in case. Do what you gotta do.
For everyone else, we’ve reached an era where you should be packing lighter or using a backpack.


Image Credit: Loungefly
That’s just one person’s opinion. Do you disagree? Let us know in the comments!
Feature Image Rights: Disney