I am at the Double Tree at Universal Main Gate now and I have found it to be very good. Price was only $89 - $119 a night, rooms are clean and I have a park view from my 11th floor room.
Bus runs 3 or 4 times in the am and 3 times in the afternoon/evening.
I took it yesterday and today and it was on time and the Double Tree is the first stop picking up and the first to drop off. You can also take a cab to Universal and it is $5.
They have a Starbucks and Pizza Hut express in the lobby and a TGIF across the parking lot.