Thinking of staying on-site

[luvpalmtrees]

We have never stayed at an on-site hotel at Universal and we are thinking of staying at the new hotel next year in July. Do they have refillable mugs like Disney does? How is the bus service to the parks? If we have a flex ticket, do they have bus service to not only Universal and IOA but SeaWorld and Wet n Wild? Tell me anything that you think would be helpful. Thanks in advance!!

 

[macraven]

We have never stayed at an on-site hotel at Universal and we are thinking of staying at the new hotel next year in July. Do they have refillable mugs like Disney does? How is the bus service to the parks? If we have a flex ticket, do they have bus service to not only Universal and IOA but SeaWorld and Wet n Wild? Tell me anything that you think would be helpful. Thanks in advance!!

the darkside onsite hotels, do not have refillable mugs.

the parks are walkable from the hotel.
depending on which hotel and park you want to visit, the walk from the hotel would be 10 minutes or less.

if you don't want to walk, water taxis are provided from the hotel to the parks, via city walk.

there is an internal shuttle system that circulates to all 3 hotels and drops off the guests near the studios.

this bus stop drop off, is on the side of hrh roadway.

all hotel guests can sign up for the free bus shuttle from their onsite hotel to seaworld, aquatica or wet and wild.

 

[luvpalmtrees]

Thank you for your quick response. The drink deal that you can buy at Universal for 10.99, can you use it for all the days you visit or for only the day you buy it? Also, we usually drive to Florida. I thought I heard you have to pay for parking at the Universal resorts. I hope that's not true! Thanks!

 

[macraven]

there are parking fees at the hotels and at the city walk garage.


it's rather cheap compared to what i pay for hotel parking in chicago.
($40)


the beverage promo is for the parks only.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Thank you for your quick response. The drink deal that you can buy at Universal for 10.99, can you use it for all the days you visit or for only the day you buy it? Also, we usually drive to Florida. I thought I heard you have to pay for parking at the Universal resorts. I hope that's not true! Thanks!

Count on approx. $18 a night plus tax for Self park..About $23 plus tax and tip for Valet.

 

[luvpalmtrees]

Wow, I never paid for parking at Disney or other hotels. I guess I'll add around $20/night. The cost of Cabana Bay will end up being around the same cost as a discounted moderate resort at Disney when I add the parking.

 

[macraven]

disney does include that parking in the room rates.
that's a shame as so many don't even have a car with them onsite.


most places do have parking rates.


one of the cheapest places i paid for hotel parking this past year was Tn at a doubletree.
$13 a night.

i'd much rather be aware of the fee in advance and not included in the hotel rate.

don't let the parking fee sway you from staying onsite.
the hotels are so nice and convenient to the parks and city walk.



i just reread your original question and have not given you correct info.
somehow i glanced thru your post and thought you said you were staying onsite.
i assumed it was at one of the now 3 onsite hotels.
you asked about the new hotel, Cbay.


for Cbay, i am not sure what type of transportation they will have set up.
not much has been posted about that at this point.

i believe they open in early spring so more info will be released in those prior months.

i am assuming there will be some type of bus transportation.
there will not be any water taxis for Cbay.

there is a cross over bridge that has been set up by the city to build, unknown when that will be accomplished.
kind of an unknown at this point.

the only info that i know about the new hotel is what i have read on the press releases.
there is a thread about the new hotel that will be opening this year.
check that out and see if any info is listed in that thread that can help you with more info.

 

[macraven]

this is the link to the sticky thread about Cbay.


http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2954952

 

[luvpalmtrees]

Thanks for all the info. I think if the price of the room was quoted with the parking, then broken down, I would of known right away. I thought the rate included everything, like Disney. So I first thought the room was less than a moderate at Disney. I did read the thread on Cabana Bay for more info.

 

[RMulieri]

Not alot is known yet about CB since it is not open yet , but as we get closer we will know more. Unlike Disney, Universal does NOT own its resorts( loews ,a luxury hotel chain does) so they do not build all the costs of things into the resorts nightly rates.So that is why you see the separate parking fee. Keep in mind that Cabana Bay will not offer the Resort Guest Express Pass privelage ( which is why many people choose to stay onsite).Only the existing 3 deluxe resorts will continue to offer it.