Parking Garage safety?

[hpriamson]

How safe would you consider the parking garages at Universal, specifically in terms of break-in and theft?

We're staying onsite for 3 nights next month, then moving to a condo for the rest of our vacation. My plan is to pick up a rental van around noon, drive back to HRH, load up our luggage, then park in the garage for the rest of the day since I've got AP free parking. This would make our exit at the end of the day a lot easier - just head to the garage and drive to the condo, instead of having to deal with picking up the luggage at 8 PM. The only concern is how safe the luggage would be in the garage - I seem to recall a recent thread here by someone whose car was broken into. Obviously having our luggage stolen would pretty much ruin the rest of the vacation. Thoughts?

 

[patster734]

How safe would you consider the parking garages at Universal, specifically in terms of break-in and theft?

We're staying onsite for 3 nights next month, then moving to a condo for the rest of our vacation. My plan is to pick up a rental van around noon, drive back to HRH, load up our luggage, then park in the garage for the rest of the day since I've got AP free parking. This would make our exit at the end of the day a lot easier - just head to the garage and drive to the condo, instead of having to deal with picking up the luggage at 8 PM. The only concern is how safe the luggage would be in the garage - I seem to recall a recent thread here by someone whose car was broken into. Obviously having our luggage stolen would pretty much ruin the rest of the vacation. Thoughts?

I remember that thread too. Personally, I wouldn't risk it. Leave your luggage with the bellhop at HRH. You can still park for free in the garage. Then as you go to retrieve the van, the rest of your party can return to HRH to pick up the luggage. They can then wait for you to arrive to get them and the luggage.

 

[Metro West]

I too think you should leave your stuff at the hotel under watchful eyes. I've never had any troubles in the garages but I don't have luggage to worry with. There's no sense in taking chances with your stuff...leave it where it can't be stolen.

 

[hpriamson]

Thanks. Is the baggage desk fairly efficient at HRH, or do you have to wait a while for them to get your bags? Also, is it easy & well signed to get from the parking garages back to the HRH?

 

[damo]

Thanks. Is the baggage desk fairly efficient at HRH, or do you have to wait a while for them to get your bags? Also, is it easy & well signed to get from the parking garages back to the HRH?

We've always found it really easy to check and retrieve baggage.

You should have trouble with the parking garages. You can take a look at google maps to make sure you are familiar with the roads before you go.

 

[xApril]

If it fits in the trunk, I'd do it. I never ever leave stuff in the car in open sight. I don't want to tempt anyone.

Otherwise, the HRH is definitely the better choice.

 

[hpriamson]

Thanks everyone. It's a minivan, so no trunk - everything is visible to anyone willing to look in the windows. Guess I'll just leave everything with the bell desk.

BTW, I was going over all the plans with my daughters last night (because they love to get all the details ahead of time) and I managed to convince them that all the employees of the HRH dress like rock stars. The bellhops dress like KISS, maintenance dresses like the Ramones, front desk dresses like the Beatles, etc.

 

[damo]

Thanks everyone. It's a minivan, so no trunk - everything is visible to anyone willing to look in the windows. Guess I'll just leave everything with the bell desk.

BTW, I was going over all the plans with my daughters last night (because they love to get all the details ahead of time) and I managed to convince them that all the employees of the HRH dress like rock stars. The bellhops dress like KISS, maintenance dresses like the Ramones, front desk dresses like the Beatles, etc.

lol....you're one of those parents, huh!!!!!

 

[hpriamson]

lol....you're one of those parents, huh!!!!!

They give as good as they get. They kept telling me "Those bands are for old people like you dad! They should dress like young people bands!"

 

[FLResMommy]

We left our bags in our car in the garage twice this year. Once in a mini-van and once in a Civic.

In the mini-van, we just put the bags in the trunk area and on the floor of the last row. We stayed off site and checked out that morning. In the Civic, we just left put the bags in the trunk since we were staying at Disney and didn't want to drive over there to check in before hitting the parks.

I would like to add we normally head to Orlando for a weekend or a just few days since we live 3.5 hrs from the parks. We might have had less luggage than you will have, but ours wasn't very visible just walking by the van.

When we have gone to Universal, we have seen security and parking attendants in the garage.