Best Hotel Near Universal

[wechevarria]

Hi. I am new to the Forum. Still have some trouble searching for answers to my questions, so please bear with me
My husband, two daughters (6 and 8) and I will be staying at Bay Lake (DVC) Jan 2-8. We want to get to Orlando on Dec 31, stay near Universal Parks, visit them Jan 1 and 2, and then move to Bay Lake.
On site Universal Hotels are full. Don't want to rent a car.
Questions:
1. Which nearby hotels do you recommend?
2. How are their shuttle services?
3. Are any at walking distance?
4. Another option we are considering is Nickelodeon Hotel. What do you think?
Cutting it close, so all input will be much appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[ibob52]

Doubletree / Universal

 

[HoosierDaddy71]

If you can afford it, I would recommend Royal Pacific Hotel which is on Universal property. Staying there gives you the unlimited express pass, basically front of the line pass for almost all the rides, plus early admission to WWOHP at IOA. Really nice hotel but it is $300 a night roughly, maybe more over the New Year. Double Tree and Holiday Inn are within walking distance but by the end of the day, $5 for a taxi seems like a bargain. The water taxis from the 3 Universal hotels are awesome, must faster and reliable than Disney buses, but it is a lot easier for Universal with only 3 routes. My DW and I checked out the shuttle for Holiday Inn last year and it was not even close to worth it. You had to schedule it in advance and ride in over in the morning if you wanted a ride in the evening.

 

[indsun]

We have stayed on site at the portofino and royal pacific and its great if the park is busy because you get front of the line passes.

The nick hotel is closer to Disney than universal. Great hotel for little kids though.

We have stayed at the Drury last time we went to universal. Its about 1.5 miles it's about 100 a night, brand new hotel & comes with free breakfast buffet. We took a cab to the park from universal it think it was 8 or 10 each way which was the same as paying for parking.

 

[SoarinSC]

Our usual haunt is Hampton Inn on Palm Parkway. Very nice place with free breakfast. About a 10 minute drive from Universal. Definitely not walkable, but surrounded by tons of food options, a putt-putt and a Wal-Mart within a mile or so. Also VERY close to Downtown Disney.

Good luck on your hunt and have a great trip!