CityWalk Orlando - free to get in? pay for parking?

[hugastar]

Hi. We'll be checking into our hotel on ID before noon, and we're not planning on going to the parks till the next day. Can we spend the rest of that day at CityWalk just browsing and getting dinner without going to Universal? Will there be planty to see and do for out 7 and 10 yr olds? Are there parking charges just for CityWalk? Thanks!

 

[WWEDUDE]

To get to CityWalk, you must pay for parking (this is the same place you park to go to the parks). The rates are:
Regular Parking $15.00
Preferred Parking $20.00

There are some things to do, including a few shops, a movie theater, and opening soon a mini-golf course. There are plently of places to eat. However most of the appeal of CityWalk are the clubs, so there won't be a ton for the kids to do short of the movies and minigolf. There is also The Blue Man group which I have heard good things about.

So while there is some for the kids to do, I wouldn't say a ton.

 

[ky07]

I assume you are staying onsite and if so you won't have to pay to park and like other poster said citywalk is mainly restaurants and shops,a movie theater and the mini golf should be open but to just walk around its free and thats what our family does when we stay onsite and aren't going to the parks until the next day or we let our kids play at the pool
Hope this helps

 

[ccgirl]

Hi. We'll be checking into our hotel on ID before noon, and we're not planning on going to the parks till the next day. Can we spend the rest of that day at CityWalk just browsing and getting dinner without going to Universal? Will there be planty to see and do for out 7 and 10 yr olds? Are there parking charges just for CityWalk? Thanks!

I think it is cheaper to park after a certain hour (but forget what that hour is). There is also a lovely carriage ride there that we like to take. As another poster said, at night there is a lot of clubs. There are MANY places to eat. I woul think it would be fine to grab a bit to eat and walk around for an hour or so. Anything more than that would probably be pretty boring. Keep in mind this is just my opinion. YMMV.

 

[patster734]

Here are a couple more options to entertain kids at Citywalk:

1. There's an interactive area at NBACity for kids to play at.

Try out your NBA skills in our interactive area.

INTERACTIVE AREA: 2,100 square feet of interactive basketball games where fans can test their shooting skills, dribbling skills, vertical leap, and quickness.

The interactive area includes these games:


DRIBBLE – TOKENS needed to play can be purchased in the game area. The player must bounce the ball on the floor where the light lights up. The player scores by landing the ball on the light that lights up.
HEAD TO HEAD – TOKENS needed to play can be purchased in the game area. The players must hit as many shots in 45 seconds. The scores are lit up on the scoreboard overhead.
QUICKNESS – TOKENS needed to play can be purchased in the game area. This is defensive drill, where you have to hit as many balls as possible within 3 stages of different speeds.
TOP OF THE KEY – TOKENS needed to play can be purchased in the game area. This is a 3 point shot that the player shoots as many balls as he or she can within a 45 second time limit.
VERTICAL LEAP – TOKENS needed to play can be purchased in the game area. The player has 3 opportunities to jump as high as they can. The player’s vertical leap is measured.

Top of Key Shooting Competition: This is a 3 point shot that the player shoots as many balls as he or she can within a 45 second time limit and the score is recorded. Prizes can be awarded to the top contestants.

Outdoor Court 3 Point Challenge: This is just like you see in the NBA All-Star shooting competitions. We bring out 3 racks of basketballs and the player shoots as many 3 point shots as he or she can within 45 seconds. Prizes can be awarded to the top contestants.

Free Throw Competition: Players shoot 10 shots from the free throw line. Score out of 10 is recorded. Can also be a team event where teams shoot the free throws and all the scores are added together.

http://www.nba.com/nbacity/NBACity_interactive.html

2. Also, looking at the Nascar Sports Grille website (http://www.nascarsportsgrilleorlando.com/index.cfm), I'm seeing pictures of a coin-op gameroom.

 

[damo]

I would just add a day onto your park tickets and do the parks instead.

 

[kkendle]

Someone posted you didn't have to pay to park...but I thought you DID have to pay to park at the hotels even if you are staying there as a guest? I am getting an annual pass for our upcoming (4 weeks away!!) trip and they told me that the free parking for the annual pass doesn't start until the second visit. That stinks as this will probably be our only visit this year!

Oh well...just wondering.

 

[Metro West]

Someone posted you didn't have to pay to park...but I thought you DID have to pay to park at the hotels even if you are staying there as a guest? I am getting an annual pass for our upcoming (4 weeks away!!) trip and they told me that the free parking for the annual pass doesn't start until the second visit. That stinks as this will probably be our only visit this year!

Oh well...just wondering.

That's correct...everyone pays to park at the hotels but passholders do not have to pay for the garage. The reason your free parking benefit doesn't start until the second visit is because your pass isn't activated until after you've already parked the first time. Once you have the activated pass, your benefits will be available.

 

[damo]

Someone posted you didn't have to pay to park...but I thought you DID have to pay to park at the hotels even if you are staying there as a guest? I am getting an annual pass for our upcoming (4 weeks away!!) trip and they told me that the free parking for the annual pass doesn't start until the second visit. That stinks as this will probably be our only visit this year!

Oh well...just wondering.

If you stay onsite you still have to pay to park. If you have an AP you have to pay to park until your AP is activated. If you want to go and activate your AP (i.e. walk through the turnstiles) and then go park, you won't be charged but someone would have to be waiting out in the drop off area until you go and activate the pass and then come back to the drop off area and then go park. This will take at least a half an hour.

So it isn't that you don't get free parking until your second visit, it is just that normally on your first day, your pass isn't activated yet, so the pass isn't valid for parking yet. If you can get through those turnstiles and activate before you actually have to park the car, your parking fee will be included.

 

[ky07]

What I should have said is they would not have to pay to park in the garage for the parks and yes if you stay onsite you will have to pay to park at the hotel
Sorry about that cause I forget about that since we don't drive when we stay at or close to Universal

 

[kkendle]

Thanks for the info. But...if you are driving and staying onsite...the free parking doesn't apply to the hotel parking..only the park. I can't imagine if you are staying onsite that many people would drive to the park from the hotel. I guess it is a benefit if you are just visiting the parks or staying somewhere else.

thanks again...

 

[blackjack68]

Just so eveyone is clear, it appears the OP is staying on I-Drive based on his/her first sentence.

 

[hugastar]

Wow - thank you kindly for all your responses. We are staying in a hotel on I-Drive, and looks like CityWalk would be a one time thing where we might go after 6 pm to get a dinner, and check it a out a bit. I guess the parking fee after 6 pm is only $5. We won't be attacking the parks till the next day, so we're planning on hanging out at the hotel pool for a few hours, than grab dinner and mini golf. That's the kids' request and one of their favorite things to do when we go on vacation. Thanks again.