This article about how to bring your bag on rides in Disney World goes over tips for keeping your items safe, plus locker and Lost and Found locations.

Unless you’re heading into a Disney park bag-free (and yes, it’s possible!), you’re probably bringing some sort of bag or backpack with you.

While bags are allowed on almost all Disney rides, knowing how to keep your belongings safe and sound is your responsibility, and it’s a skill to master, hopefully not the hard way.

Did you ever see those people sitting on a Disney roller coaster, not even touching their baseball hat or Mickey ears or sunglasses, carefree as can be? They’re about to lose that unsecured item.

I once lost my very favorite baseball hat on, of all rides, Primeval Whirl (RIP) in Animal Kingdom, which is basically a ride for little babies. 🦕

We went over the world’s tiniest coaster bump and — pop! — off came my hat, lost forever, even though I could see it right there. The cast members weren’t allowed to get it for me, and it never ended up at Lost and Found like I was told it would.

The Lesson

You can lose your gear on even the simplest, mildest, most kid-friendly ride in Walt Disney World. Be extra careful with your stuff, whether you’re riding Peter Pan or Expedition Everest. If something falls, you’re going to have a hard time getting it back.

In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to bring your bag on rides in Disney World without losing so much as a stick of gum.

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If you have a small bag, try to wear it instead of removing it

When you’re carrying a slim cross-body bag or a hip pack, you’ll be able to continue wearing it on a lot of Disney rides. Even on something like Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, I’ve moved my bag to the side so the harness can come down. No, it’s not entirely comfortable, but you won’t have to worry about losing your bag during a loop.

Ideally, you’ll have a small bag with zippers on every compartment so nothing can accidentally fall out. This is the one I swear by for Disney park days.

Loop your arm or leg through a backpack strap

Illustration of a green and pink Disney backpack with Mickey ears.

If you’re carrying a bag that’s too large to continue wearing on the ride, you’ll have to remove it and put it in front of you. Loop your wrist or ankle through the bag so that, no matter what happens, it’s still attached to you.

This trick comes in especially handy on Tower of Terror because your items will literally fly up in the air as you drop.

Squeeze your bag between your knees and feet

I can’t think of a Disney World ride that doesn’t have space for a backpack by your feet. When you place yours on the floor of the ride vehicle, squeeze it between your knees and your feet to keep it in place.  Even tame rides can whip the ride vehicle around enough that a bag could go flying.

Remove your sunglasses, hat, Mickey ears, etc.

Some of the more thrilling Disney World rides have a pocket in front of you or a designated storage bin for stashing loose items. Remove anything that could go flying and put it in the pocket or bin, along with anything you usually carry in your hands, like your phone.

Tower of Terror Disney sticker.

If you’re on a ride that doesn’t have a dedicated space, it’s still safest to take those items off and hold onto them tightly. You can also use an iPhone lanyard to keep it around your neck or wrist during your Disney park day.

✨ 3 Phone Accessories You Need for Disney World

Put fragile items in a locker

If you’re carrying breakable or delicate Disney souvenirs that you won’t want to bend, crack or break, get a locker. Each Disney park has at least one locker area, and you pay once for a full-day rental — you can go back as many times as you need to grab or store items.

Here are all the locker locations in Disney World.

TRON Lightcycle / Run Lockers

The only ride in Walt Disney World that doesn’t allow you to carry large items into the main ride room is TRON Lightcycle / Run. Here’s what you’ll do instead:

  • If you’re carrying handheld items only: Store them in the compartment on the ride vehicle.
  • If you have a backpack or another large item: Use one of the free lockers in the indoor queue.

The lockers are double-sided, so you’ll put your gear in on one side and then grab it on the other side as you exit.

✨ Read Mike’s TRON Lightcycle / Run review — spoiler: he’s not a fan

What Happens if I Lose an Item in Disney World?

Despite your diligence, it happened — you lost something on a Disney ride or somewhere in Walt Disney World. What now?

First, you can visit a Lost and Found location in person. Or, if you can’t get there in person, you can fill out a Lost and Found form online. Learn more here.

Not sure if you should bring a bag along on your Disney park day? We have an article that covers the pros and cons, and we also have tips for going bag-free in the Disney parks. Check it out.

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