Is the parking really that bad at RPH?

[klfrech]

Booked RPH 8/6-8/14; it's hot; it's humid. Am I going to regret staying at RP just because of this? It is worth it to spend an additional $50 a night just because parking's bad? For anyone who's just returned, what was your strategy involving parking?

 

[dcookies]

I'd also like to know how it is at HRH?

 

[Debbie7452]

I was there June 25-28 so the place had not been open long. We found the parking lot crowded but got a space with no problem twice (and right up front, lucky for us). Those are the only two times we moved the car. If you absloutely cannot find a spot then I would just use the valet. It wasn't much more than the $6 they charged us to "self-park". You'd still come out way ahead with $$$. I loved this resort but I found all the resort choices there looked delightful.

Have fun where ever you go!

 

[JADEMM]

Overall the experience staying at RP and FOTL etc was awesome. The parking was not very good and charging you to park at a hotel you are staying at is odd. It may be the same at HRH and the other hotel-it couldnt be worse and is most likely better. Its not enough to diminish a great overall stay though-just could be improved.

 

[h20jag]

If you really need to use your vehicle (store run; off-site meal;etc), you are rolling the dice at RPR & HRH. Those spots are verry precious arond the 3 - 4 PM check-in times.
You could bring your own orange cones & yellow police-line tape, let us know if that works!
Jim

 

[Buschfan]

Paying for parking seems to be unique to these hotels. It is not like you are downtown at a hotel catering to business travelers. I have not heard of parking fees at any other hotels in Orlando. Could be that they charge for parking to keep off-site guests from parking there and avoiding Universal's parking fee. They could easily give you a parking pass to display in your car at check-in like other hotels I have been to. Police tape and cones are certainly worth a thought!

 

[markey]

I'm on vacation, will not let parking bother me, FOTL and great Club Level rate has me very happy. Will just use valet like we did last year at HRH and have a great time!

 

[Pugsley]

If you self park and don't move your car at all during your stay, is the fee $6 total, or $6 for each day?

 

[BarryHom]

The fee is $6 per day. So if you don't move it at all or move it 25 times a day, it's still $6.

HRH parking can be difficult too. That's why I sometimes prefer PBH over the other resorts. Parking is pretty plentiful in the garage. The bathrooms are huge at PBH too!

 

[Sherrilatte]

We rented a car for 3 days at a 20% discounted rate at Hertz. Right across the lobby from the concierge! My husband used it twice for dialysis treatments at a nearby clinic, WDW, the Sweet Tomato Restaurant on International (yummy!), Wet N'Wild and K-Mart to get cheap sovenirs(sp) for friends.

To avoid all charges, we just parked it in any available Hertz space in valet or any space in valet. As long as no one parked it for us, there was no charge with RPH blessing. No problems with parking. Just the phantom "black durango" I mention in my 1st report.

 

[klfrech]

How does RPH (or any hotel that charges for self-parking) even know if you have a car?

 

[BarryHom]

They know.

I think they ask you if you used self-parking or valet.

 

[Firedog]

What's to keep you from saying you used a shuttle (although I wouldn't advocate doing this)?

 

[Sherrilatte]

Firedog,
this may have been the case with the "black durango" that I kept being erroneously charged for. Don't know for sure, just speculation.

 

[dcookies]

Just out of curiousity -

If you self-park, wouldn't you need to use or show your room card to get into the parking lot? I thought all of the Universal hotels had gates or guards, to stop regular park visitors from parking in their lots. Is this incorrect?

 

[dbail2]

Yes you have to show your room key to get into the parking lot. On check in they looked us up on a list before letting us in.

 

[Sherrilatte]

I just flashed my card without stopping as I drove in and out...the parking attendant just said "welcome back" and waved.

 

[BarryHom]

You flash your room key when you enter. To get out, just stick your room key in the slot and the gate will open.

 

[chris16]

Do you pay for on-site hotel parking with an AP - as you would normally get free parking in the parks with this pass ?

Chris

 

[BarryHom]

You still pay for parking, regardless if you have an AP or not.