Thanks Kevin.
I figured I'd ask them as a last resort because I want to find out what others have experienced as guests. We stayed at the Hard Rock last year and had to pay because they had stolen our handicap sign. I didn't want to argue with them this time around.
I'm a Marriott Rewards member and asked them about the parking and they claimed to not even incorporate a parking charge in their base price because not everone drives to the hotel and it wouldn't be fair to charge those who don't bring cars. They said the parking is free as a service to their guests who are paying for a room. I think Lowes is just taking advantage of their themed status.. casinos, theme parks, etc..
I will say for the record though that if it weren't for the pool and food at the Hard Rock we'd probably stay in the Disney resort. We are visiting more of their parks this time around than Universals.
We travel quite a bit with a special needs cheer team.
In February, we stayed at the Sheraton Atlanta. I am a Starwoods member. I was charged $20.00 per night WITH a handicap sign. The front desk person told me that they only have to provide handicap parking spaces and they absolutely are allowed and do charge the same rate as their regular spaces. She was quite adamant about it.
Although, when we asked to speak to the manager since we were a large group of special needs cheerleaders and there was only 1 (yes 1) indoor handicap spot, the manager went ahead and waived the fee for all of us. He was very gracious about it.
2 years ago, the team stayed at the Anaheim Marriott. The parking charge there was $25.00 per night. (We also stayed at the Buena Vista Palace for a competition at WDW) and there was a parking charge. Although I don't know what it was as the rest of my family stayed at the Portofino and we just left the car there.
So, many hotel chains do indeed charge for parking and they don't make allowances for handicap stickers.
Also, just for some trivia - The Hard Rock is not a Loews hotel. The reservations are managed by Loews, but they don't participate in the Loews Reward program and are not listed as a Loews hotel. If you go to the Loews website and look at the three hotels, they list them as the Loews Portofino, the Loews Royal Pacific and the Hard Rock at Universal; no mention of Loews in the Hard Rock name. Most of the Loews hotels are luxury hotels. The only two "theme park" ones are the two Universal hotels. They don't have casinos, so they don't really have a themed status, unless it is the theme of 4 and 5 star hotels
But back to the original question.
Many here have reported that Loews will waive the parking fee if you have a valid handicap sticker or plates. You just have to politely ask. We have never asked, so I have no personal experience as the handicap sticker in Atlanta was for a fellow cheerleader that we picked up from the airport.
