Guests at Universal’s Islands of Adventure won’t need to dig out a ticket to grab their bags anymore. The park has started using facial recognition lockers at several of its biggest rides, according to CoasterK24 who shared the change on social media.
The new system is in use at Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, and The Incredible Hulk Coaster. Jurassic World VelociCoaster hasn’t switched over yet, and Universal Studios Florida’s lockers haven’t changed either.
Instead of scanning a park ticket to open a locker, guests now have their face scanned to rent one and to open it again later. It works a lot like the photo validation system Universal already uses at its park entrances, so it should feel familiar to anyone who’s been to the resort recently.
Guests who’d rather not use their face aren’t stuck. They can ask a team member to set up the locker with their ticket instead.
There are a few quirks to know before you ride.
How the Facial Recognition Lockers Work
Rentals are still timed, but the lockers don’t show how long the free window lasts. That can make it tricky to know how much time is left if the queue runs longer than expected.
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The payment consoles aren’t being used right now, so guests who go over their time can’t simply pay at the kiosk. Extending a rental means talking to a team member, which could slow things down on busy days.
When guests open their locker, the screen asks whether they want to open it just this once or end the rental, so it’s worth choosing carefully if you plan to come back for a jacket or phone later.
Universal first debuted the technology at Epic Universe before bringing it to Islands of Adventure, where four of the five rides that require lockers now use it. The system works much like the Epic Universe version, letting guests use either a face scan or a barcode.
Guests have their picture taken at the locker bay and matched to a second photo when they come back, according to WDWNT. The unused payment console also mentions a PIN, which CoasterK24 said could mean that option gets added later.
More Lockers at Hagrid’s and Lights at Epic
There’s some good news for the resort’s busiest coaster. WDWNT said Hagrid’s now has more lockers than it did before, which should help with the crowds that build up outside the ride during peak hours.
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Over at Epic Universe, the lockers for Monsters Unchained got ring lights to help the cameras read faces in the darker space.
Universal hasn’t said when facial recognition lockers will reach VelociCoaster or Universal Studios Florida, or whether the payment consoles and a timer display are coming back. For now, the facial recognition lockers are live at four Islands of Adventure rides.
Would you use facial recognition lockers, or would you rather stick with your ticket? Let us know in the comments.
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