transportation from airport and from hotels...

[DisFOR]

Okay, I have never been to Universal. We're WDW fanatics, so I don't know the first thing about what to expect at Universal or how to get the best deals!

I'm planning a surprise weekend getaway January 14-16 for my DH 30th! I would LOVE to stay onsite (particularly Hard Rock), but don't know if it's in my budget. They don't have any rates or offers for 2011 yet, so right now I'm just weighing offsite vs. onsite hotels to decide what it's worth to me to stay onsite.

My questions are...

First of all, onsite hotels have complimentary transport from the airport to the resort, right? How quick are they to get us to our resort? I've never taken Disney's magical express, but I've heard that things can be delayed getting you there. We'll be anxious to get checked in and get to the park, especially since we'd only be staying for the wknd, so I'm wondering if we could have the same delay issues with Universal?

Also, do I have to book a Universal package or certain airline in order to get the complimentary bus transport from the airport? Or can I book my flight separate from my hotel on Orbitz and request the bus transport simply by staying at an onsite resort?

Also, about the shuttle service at partner hotels...

How does the shuttle service typically work at the offsite hotels? Do they come and go all day or is there a schedule...like do they pick up every hour on the hour or?

Also, what time does shuttle service usually stop at the offsite hotels? Do they go all night, like say...until Citywalk closes...or do they close when the parks close?



I understand that each hotel is probably diff, so if you could just focus on which hotel/s that you'd recommend or have heard good things about. Also, I'm not dead set on staying at a "partner" hotel if I stay offsite. As long as the hotel is clean, close, economical and has COMPLIMENTARY shuttle service, that's fine with me.

I know I'm full of questions, but I've only started planning this week and the Universal planning and their website is just so foreign to me! I'm frustrated that they don't have anything for my travel dates. Not to mention, a bit overwhelmed, especially with all the sneaking around I have to do to keep this from my DH!

Thank You!!! Any advice you can give me is much appreciated!!!

 

[Qtips4Mick]

Pretty sure there is no complimentary transportaion. I would like to know where one grabs a shuttle bus or cab for Universal too. Always started at Disney and used magical express.

 

[ZYanksRule]

I'm at the Hyatt Place on Caravan Court right now (you can see the parking garage from the hotel).

They have a shuttle to Universal at 9am and 10:10am, and they return at 5:15pm or 7:30pm. Complimentary, no reservation needed. I think almost all hotels have something similar, different times, but a set schedule and only 2-3 pickups/dropoffs.

Cabs are around $5 or so to go back and forth if you miss the shuttle, which I did a couple times this week.

Hotel rate is roughly $100 a night, and that's for July. Probably cheaper in January.

No airport shuttle, but I used Mears -- round trip was $30, which was not a big deal for me.

It's also a partner hotel, so I had 15% off on most meals, which was a nice thing.