Off site hotel suggestion for our travel night

[Calee]

Our very first Universal trip is this coming week. We decided to do this yesterday! Ha!

We have on site hotel reservations Sunday-Tuesday nights. We plan to be in the parks Sunday-Wednesday.

We are able to leave earlier than expected and will be arriving in Orlando Sat night and would like to stay in a cheap, clean, close hotel on that travel/arrival night. I have already checked the prices on site and of course because it is a Saturday so soon almost everything is booked or very very pricey which isn't worth it to us on a travel day.

Any nearby suggestions?

 

[schumigirl]

Drury Inn on Turkey/Sand Lake Road always gets excellent reviews. It`s not too far away.

Doubletree Suites on Kirkman also has consistently good reviews. I will say, I have no idea of the prices for these places, but many mention them for the same situation you are in, coming in early.

Hope your first trip to UOR is wonderful......come back and tell us about it.....

 

[shawthorne44]

I like Drury Inn. It is a quality, clean hotel close to Universal and you get a free hot dinner and breakfast, also two free alcoholic drinks. Also a self-serve soda fountain. The drive isn't bad since you never have to get on a highway and it is a short drive.

Our last trip we stayed entirely there. Our next trip we are staying there two one-night stays with two one-night Universal Premier in between.

I'd recommend doing whatever you need to for your ticket/pass the night before, when you arrive. If you have to go to Guest Services at Universal, parking is free in the evenings.

 

[Calee]

I like Drury Inn. It is a quality, clean hotel close to Universal and you get a free hot dinner and breakfast, also two free alcoholic drinks. Also a self-serve soda fountain. The drive isn't bad since you never have to get on a highway and it is a short drive.

Our last trip we stayed entirely there. Our next trip we are staying there two one-night stays with two one-night Universal Premier in between.

I'd recommend doing whatever you need to for your ticket/pass the night before, when you arrive. If you have to go to Guest Services at Universal, parking is free in the evenings.

Oh this is great info. I was wondering about getting our passes activated the night before but didn't want to have to pay a high parking fee. Is there a guest services at City Walk? Do you know the hours? We may get in late.

 

[bobafemme]

If you are arriving and just want to relax by a pool, we like the Holiday Inn Express on Conway. It is very close to the airport and free breakfast. We eat and then make our way to the park hotel in the AM. They'll store your luggage for you. The HI as free airport pick-up

 

[shawthorne44]

Oh this is great info. I was wondering about getting our passes activated the night before but didn't want to have to pay a high parking fee. Is there a guest services at City Walk? Do you know the hours? We may get in late.

There is. You park and follow the people. After you get through security, you will walk down one 'street', guest services will be on the left. I don't think you can miss it. First Aid was very close. It was across from the surf shop which I've heard is being converted to a giant Universal store. So if you see construction, look across from that. But, if you get to the end of the street where it hits the water you have gone too far.
Guest Services stays open at least an hour after close.

If you happen to arrive before parking is free (5 or 6 pm) you can drop off the person that bought the passes and they can walk in and do the passes. We did that to avoid paying for parking the first day because our passes came with that. DH went to 7-11to kill time while I handled the passes.

If you arrive too late for guest services, some of the hotels have a desk in the lobby. Drury Inn had one. They were there from early to lunch-ish during a slow time.

 

[DRussell88]

I recommend the Wyndham Garden Inn. It is a new hotel (about a year open) and is very clean, quiet, and comfortable. It is just off of I-Drive and right by the park. The rates tend to vary quite a bit though, which is a bit of a downside. Parking is also free and they provided some small items such as muffins and yogurt for breakfast in the morning that make good options for park snacks if nothing else.

 

[cschaaf]

There is. You park and follow the people. After you get through security, you will walk down one 'street', guest services will be on the left. I don't think you can miss it. First Aid was very close. It was across from the surf shop which I've heard is being converted to a giant Universal store. So if you see construction, look across from that.

I actually do think you can miss it. It's not a big location and it sits back a little and is a bit hidden by the escalators. Look for Red Oven pizza - it's just to the left of that. You'll see it in this Google image between Red Oven and Cold Stone. https://www.google.com/maps/@28.473...4!1sbNeCxRAPCu0oOwyv7jfknA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

[shawthorne44]

You are right. Those photos are great for figuring out how to walk someplace. That photo was taken where you've walked a few feet too far.
I think I'd remembered in on the "Concierge" booth that you see in the photo, because that was where I'd gone first.

 

[cschaaf]

You are right. Those photos are great for figuring out how to walk someplace. That photo was taken where you've walked a few feet too far.
I think I'd remembered in on the "Concierge" booth that you see in the photo, because that was where I'd gone first.

Good point. I have no idea what that Concierge booth is for lol

 

[shawthorne44]

Good point. I have no idea what that Concierge booth is for lol

We used them a lot our first trip. They seemed to be sort-of Guest Services Lite, and manned by the same people.

Most people seemed to use them for dining reservations. We got some Q.S. dining plans there the first day and then the freestyle refills after that.

We are soda not coffee drinkers, so we usually walked in wanting Dt. Coke pronto. The first snack carts we saw could DO a soda refill but they couldn't sell a soda refill day.

Another example was they were able to tell us when the place with Who Hash would open that day. It had always been closed for us. Warning, they told us when employees would arrive but they get setup time before they open.