Closest "nice" hotel to US/IoA?

[mommyoftwinfants]

We'll just pay $9 to park and use the parking stub for $8 in concessions at the theater at CityWalk one evening

How does this work?

 

[rockin_rep]

I'll bring out all my web sites I've made just for this question.

http://www.nogodforme.com/offsite.htm

Check out the Best Western Universal. We stayed there last year. It's within walking distance, has clean rooms, and free breakfast. That's probably within your budget.

Thank you SOO much for this website. It is very helpful!

Do you mind a couple more questions?

1) Are there paths or sidewalks from the Hol. Inn to Universal, or is it toally on the grass? Are there masses of people walking with you each morning, and is that ever a problem...like do people ever get close to being pushed into the highway?

2) What is the walk like from the Best Western? In your opinion, which is faster / easier, the holiday inn or best western? I like both chains so that would be the deciding factor.

Thanks again so very much!!!

 

[chach]

Not sure if it was mentioned but we stayed at
"Sleep Inn". We walked twice to Universal from the
hotel. It had a nice continental breakfast (with waffles) and
was under $75 a night.

 

[robvia]

No paths from the offsite hotels to the parking garage. Crossing Kirkman road from an offsite hotel is not a problem in terms of many people. You wait for the light to change, look for any cars making a right hand turn, and then go looking at the cars to make sure they are stopped as you cross. The walk from an offsite hotel to the parking garage can be done with kids if you take your time and remember they can't walk as fast as adults. The trick here is to wake up early, leave your hotel at 07:30am, and make it an adventure. With kids it would probably take half an hour to walk over.

In terms of distance, the Bestwestern is on the other side of the Double Tree. And the Holiday Inn is on the other side of TGIF. So both are about the same.

The Holiday Inn is tied in the Universal as a package hotel. This means the hotel always has guests no matter how good the service is. Previous visitors didn't have good things to say. The hotel has gotten the word and they are trying to clean up their act. But for now, I'd say the Best Western is the best budget hotel within walking distance, plus you get free breakfast. If you can afford the Amerisuites, that would be a splurge. A few have stayed at the DoubleTree and had nice things to say.

 

[The LK 4]

robvia - what is your estimate for walking to the parks from the Best Western? I've seen comments from 10 to 30 minutes. Granted, everyone walks at a difference pace! I just booked a room there for August. I'm hoping that it will be close enough to walk over in the morning and head back in the afternoon so the kids can swim for a while.

If we get lazy in the evening we can always park for free after 6 anyway.

 

[The LK 4]

ETA: Whoops! Just read your last post a little bit closer. It looks like we should expect a walk of 20 to 30 minutes. My kids will be 11 and 13, so thankfully their legs are a little longer than when they were younger.

 

[robvia]

20-30 minutes sounds correct. You could try to leave your room at 07:30am sharp, and someone won't be ready, so you'll be waiting around for 10 minutes. Or you could walk down to the hotel lobby, and then realize you forgot something and have to go back.
So trying to leave at 07:30am is a good idea in case there are delays. If you get to the gate at 08:00am, that's good, a line will already be forming, and you want to be near the front. In August, the parks usually open early.
It is a long walk, probably about a mile from the BW to the gate. There are moving sidewalks once you get to the 3rd floor of the parking garage.
Going back to your room in the afternoon is a great idea. Eat lunch, rest, and then come back in the afternoon at 6pm when you can park for free.
Everything will turn out great, just get that early start and take a lap of walk on rides each morning. Around noon, it will be very hot, lines long, and you'll know when it's time to leave. After 4-5 hours of non stop walking, my feet get tired, and I need a rest.

 

[cbdmhgp]

We REALLY REALLY enjoyed the Hawthorne suites; it's a great hotel and it's located right next to a little shopping center full of restaurants if u cant wait until the parks to eat.

 

[rockin_rep]

20-30 minutes sounds correct. You could try to leave your room at 07:30am sharp, and someone won't be ready, so you'll be waiting around for 10 minutes. Or you could walk down to the hotel lobby, and then realize you forgot something and have to go back.
So trying to leave at 07:30am is a good idea in case there are delays. If you get to the gate at 08:00am, that's good, a line will already be forming, and you want to be near the front. In August, the parks usually open early.
It is a long walk, probably about a mile from the BW to the gate. There are moving sidewalks once you get to the 3rd floor of the parking garage.
Going back to your room in the afternoon is a great idea. Eat lunch, rest, and then come back in the afternoon at 6pm when you can park for free.
Everything will turn out great, just get that early start and take a lap of walk on rides each morning. Around noon, it will be very hot, lines long, and you'll know when it's time to leave. After 4-5 hours of non stop walking, my feet get tired, and I need a rest.

Robvia, thanks so much for your help.

What is the BW transportation like? Do they share it with another hotel nearby, and would that also take 1/2 hour?
We'll have a car but i'd rather not drive. I'm wondering what you think about alternatives, if there are any?

TIA and for all your wonderful posts.

 

[robvia]

The problem with the hotel shuttles is they don't leave until after 9am. Here is a picture of the Amerisuites paper. I didn't get the one for the BW, I don't think they have a shuttle since they are so close.
http://www.nogodforme.com/images/DSC05884.JPG
It leaves at 09:15am, and costs $9 Per Person/Round Trip (pp/rt). By the time that shuttle makes it over to the drop off point, it will be 09:30am. That's way to late, the early morning advantage will be gone by this time.

Either drive over and pay the $9 parking fee, or walk over. Either way, you want to be in the parking garage at 8am. Maybe you'll want to drive over your first morning and pay the $9 to park, then you can decide if it's worth walking the extra distance the next day.