How does parking work at Universal hotels?

[deedeetoo]

I know there is a fee if you stay at one of the universal resorts, but I'm wondering how this is handled. Do you get a ticket when you get to the hotel like in a parking garage? Is there a problem with driving in and out? We will probably want to eat dinner away from the hotel and universal.

 

[Motherfletcher]

It's a little different at each resort. At PBH they have an unmanned ticket dispensor for their self parking. I'm not at all sure what the purpose is though. On one occasion the bar would not go up to allow me to exit.
At RPR there is a person in the hut that you tell that you are checking in. They tell you to go to the right but to self park you go to the left. HRH is similar to RPR but their self parking area is so small that on occasion they require that you valet park. Let us know which resort and we can tell you more.

 

[rpbert1]

last year at RPR they asked if we had a car, and added the parking onto the reservation.

 

[deedeetoo]

We will be staying at RPR.

Is there a problem going in and out during the day? How do they know you are a guest? Do you get something to put on in your car or do they have you on a list?

 

[Motherfletcher]

RPR is a manned gatehouse. When I check in I stop to tell them I'm checking in they tell me to go to the right which is the valet porte cochere if you want to valet park. You can pull up and tell them that you are self parking and unload your baggage on a bell cart then drive forward to the lot or you can go straight avoiding the valet drop off and take the first left into the self parking lot and carry your own luggage avoiding the bellman's tip and the valet charge/tips. I do this and pay the kids what I'd be paying the bellman and valet guy.
I have left the lot and re-entered on several occasions without a problem. I drive up to what in a gated community would be the resident's gate and they open it without questions. I think once at check in they gave me a card to put on my rearview mirror like they do at HRH but that was only once out of over a dozen stays.