To Valet or Not to Valet (park that is!)

[alohamom]

Is it worth it to valet park? How much closer is it and are they fairly fast getting the car back to you when you are ready to leave? One thing I would hate would be to have paid the extra bucks and then have to stand around at the end of my day waiting a long time for the car! Any advice or tips are helpful-thanks in advance

 

[donaldduck352]

We love it.We use it evrytime we don't stay on-site.There very fast at getting your car.
Puts you right at CW that saves you alot of walking.On busy days it pays for itself,imo.

 

[alohamom]

So how far is the walk from normal parking then, is it really really far?

 

[francie57]

The parking garages are huge!! They do have moving sidewalks but it could be a long walk depending on where you park. We have never used the parking garages for that reason - valet is the way to go!! Now we stay on-site and still valet at the hotels. My theory is I'm on vacation and valet is a perk of vacation.

 

[Don Pacho]

So how far is the walk from normal parking then, is it really really far?

It's not that far really. 2 to 3 blocks. I feel a lot safer parking my own car.

 

[alohamom]

It's not that far really. 2 to 3 blocks. I feel a lot safer parking my own car.

Ah, see that is the one factor that might persude me not to valet. I will have a rental car and wouldnt want anything to happen to it! It is going to be hard to chose!

 

[Bluer101]

Valet is a waste of time and money. When we used to park in the garages we always walked. By the time you walk and use the moving sidewalks you could be at your car around the same time as the valet get your car.

As for valet at the hotels, how often will you get back in your car while you are there? If you don't leave as most people don't, then you are paying more for that car to sit there per night.

Its $7 more per night. You can do what you want but thats your money being thrown away.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I love Valet, it's convenient in my opinion. We don't typically stay in an Universal area resort, but we do go to Universal for day trips and always Valet park.

Some people don't see a value in valet, but I do. We're DVC members and we valet park at our home resort as well. It's great to just call down a few minutes ahead and have the car waiting for me with the A/C running cooling it down or to just pull up, get out and walk into the hotel without having to search for parking or park and then walk into the hotel.

 

[donaldduck352]

OK the good and bad,pro's and con's,of it from my point of view.

Pro's:
1)you get alot closer to the park entrances
2)You don't have to walk a mile after along day at the parks
3)your car is more protected from any damage cuase of less people using valet
4) has a diff exit thats easyier to find the main roads

Con's:
1)you have the luck of the draw of were you get parked (top floor in the middle of the summer with the sun heating your car to 200degrees)
2)3000 other vehicals that are jammed within inches of each other
3)good luck finding I-Drive leaving
4)another mile of walking after after along day at the parks


Do the math.You gotta rental car.I'm sure you get insuarence on it,so that should'nt scare ya.Your choice!!

 

[momof3girls6712]

We love valet! We get it free with our premier pass on non special event days. My teenager wanted to see the Sean Kingston concert coming up, but decided against, because she would prefer to wait and valet for free. lol

 

[JLR]

What is the difference between regular valet and red carpet valet - just curious.

 

[atricks]

Valet is pretty good. The "Red Carpet" I believe refers to the car wash/detailing service they have. I

One note though, if you go back to the car after a "mass exit" event, be prepared to wait a while (Although this applies to parking yourself too). Events like right after park close (Especially after Horror Nights), after concerts, 4th of July, New Years, etc, expect to wait quite a while for your car. There just isn't enough room for massive amounts of people heading back.

Other than times like that, it's great.

 

[francie57]

I definitely wouldn't let having a rental car stop me from valet parking. As I said before we valet park all the time and we always have a rental car. Since you should have gone over the car for damage before you leave the rental car place, just do a quick exam of the car before you get in when the valet retrieves the car and if there is damage point it out to them and file a report. We have never had a problem and we have been renting cars and valet parking since Universal opened.

 

[francie57]

No matter what you decide - have a great trip

 

[bigAWL]

If you arrive early (say 7:30-8:00 am) can you get a self-parking spot that is not much farther walk than the valet counter?

And what's the difference between regular and preferred self-parking?

 

[Metro West]

If you arrive early (say 7:30-8:00 am) can you get a self-parking spot that is not much farther walk than the valet counter?

And what's the difference between regular and preferred self-parking?

The only difference between regular and preferred parking is the fee and and level you end up on. Preferred is on level three which is the main level so you won't have to take the stairs or elevators. You are no closer to the parks so other than the fee...there's not a lot of difference.

Valet is much closer than the garages so all the garage spaces will require walking...no matter what time you arrive.

 

[kmermaid]

Can you pay for valet parking with a credit card or is it strickly cash? What about tipping?

 

[Metro West]

Can you pay for valet parking with a credit card or is it strickly cash? What about tipping?

I'm fairly certain you can pay by credit card as well as cash. They might charge you a small deposit when you drop the car off but I'm guessing...I've only used valet once and I didn't drive that day.

 

[j3nnifer]

Anyone know about handicapped parking? My dad is coming with us and cannot walk that far so we have a handicapped pass? Is it within a reasonable distance or would valet be a better option?

 

[WWEDUDE]

Can you pay for valet parking with a credit card or is it strickly cash? What about tipping?

I'm fairly certain you can pay by credit card as well as cash. They might charge you a small deposit when you drop the car off but I'm guessing...I've only used valet once and I didn't drive that day.

You can pay with both credit card and cash, as you will be paying at the booth there. There is no deposit when you drop the car off, you will just come in and a valet attendant will give you a piece of paper and you are off to the parks with no wait!