Universal parking charge and hotel question

[pixietwin]

Okay, I know this has been asked and answered but I have searched various terms and I can't find the answer - what does it cost to park at Universal for a day? Thanks


Also, we have a reservation at Disney's CSR but recently decided not to do Disney at all on this trip since we have two free 7 day passes to Universal. So it's all Universal this trip. Never been before. I thought it would be best to cancel CSR but we got it for $109 a night and I can't find anything at Universal for less than $154 to $170 for 7 nights. Does it seem crazy to stay at CSR and drive to Universal on 4 days?

 

[RACEFAN9]

Parking is $12 for cars and $15 for motorhomes.You can pay a few more dollars and get up close parking.But if you are staying onsite then you just leave your car at resort and either walk or take the water taxi(very nice).We have been staying onsite now for the past 2 years and will never stay off site again.Resorts are beautiful and the front of the line pass is priceless.Since your tickets were free i would stay onsite for sure.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Okay, I know this has been asked and answered but I have searched various terms and I can't find the answer - what does it cost to park at Universal for a day? Thanks


Also, we have a reservation at Disney's CSR but recently decided not to do Disney at all on this trip since we have two free 7 day passes to Universal. So it's all Universal this trip. Never been before. I thought it would be best to cancel CSR but we got it for $109 a night and I can't find anything at Universal for less than $154 to $170 for 7 nights. Does it seem crazy to stay at CSR and drive to Universal on 4 days?

Onsite parking iirc is $15 but I am not positive on that. So if you drive and stay onsite you will still have to pay for parking. Staying offsite will save you a bundle of $$ but if you can afford it onsite is great and walking or taking the water taxi is a nice bonus of not having to go through city walk to get to car.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I'm with JD. If you can afford it, stay onsite. Totally different experience than "commuting".

 

[pixietwin]

I can imagine it's much better onsite - but $109 for a Disney moderate plus 4 to 5 days of paying for parking...vs around $160 to $170 per night Plus 7 days of onsite parking? for a onsite hotel? I think I could save around $350 just on hotel. So if you stay onsite at Universal you still have to pay for parking?? We'll get a hotel ressie for 7 days but I think we're only going to Universal for 4 or 5 days. The rest of the days will be exploring around, downtown Disney and stuff.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I can imagine it's much better onsite - but $109 for a Disney moderate plus 4 to 5 days of paying for parking...vs around $160 to $170 per night Plus 7 days of onsite parking? for a onsite hotel? I think I could save around $350 just on hotel. So if you stay onsite at Universal you still have to pay for parking??

Unfortunately, yes. You still pay for parking. While over at Disney, do you think you will be lured into buying park tickets for a few days...that could make up the difference right there.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

I can imagine it's much better onsite - but $109 for a Disney moderate plus 4 to 5 days of paying for parking...vs around $160 to $170 per night Plus 7 days of onsite parking? for a onsite hotel? I think I could save around $350 just on hotel. So if you stay onsite at Universal you still have to pay for parking?? We'll get a hotel ressie for 7 days but I think we're only going to Universal for 4 or 5 days. The rest of the days will be exploring around, downtown Disney and stuff.

Well they are 4 star resorts...Idk if Disney moderate is 3 or 4 its been a while since I have looked. I agree I can't stand paying that parking fee tbh.

Other way to do it is check other hotels near there hotels dot com expedia etc. You can save cash that way. Also hotwire and priceline bids are a good way. I treat hotels as a place to sleep so I personally don't care where I sleep but thats up to you. Looking at hotwire they had a 4 star for 42$ or so near Sea World a night which I believe was Rosen from the guess at betterbidding dot com.(Nice hotel have stayed before)

Also...If your going offseason onsite probably won't be necessary. Even though its a great experience the money factor gets me everytime. I tend to only book a night or so to get 2 days of FOTL. Which I was going to not do this next trip but now that Rockit is open I may have to do 1 night again.

 

[pixietwin]

We're definitely going to stay away from Disney this trip. Originally, we were going to Disney for 10 full days. Then I won the Superbowl Universal tix. Decided to go to Disney for most of the time and Universal for 2 days. But I realized that the Universal tix are FREE and we got a good deal on the CSR hotel stay, so might as well just make a Univeral trip and take our time since we've never been. Will go to Disney in 2011 probably for a big blow-out vacation.

I am going to be renting an off-site ECV scooter anyway, so that I can use it at places like Downtown Disney, and we can put it in my car when we drive from our hotel to Universal parking. So if I understand correctly, driving to Universal to park will cost $12 or $15 each day we visit? I know we could definitely get a cheaper room then Disney, but I have a bad back and a good bed is really vital for me. I've heard that Disney's CSR rooms are totally renovated with new beds this year. Sleeping in a bad bed at a cheaper hotel would totally kill my trip. I'm sure the beds at Universal hotels must be nice because the rooms are so expensive. I am aware that staying onsite will give us the free fast pass to rides, but we're going the week before Thanksgiving week, so I'm hoping that the wait won't be too long. Are the lines long during this time?

 

[Jonny_Duck]

We're definitely going to stay away from Disney this trip. Originally, we were going to Disney for 10 full days. Then I won the Superbowl Universal tix. Decided to go to Disney for most of the time and Universal for 2 days. But I realized that the Universal tix are FREE and we got a good deal on the CSR hotel stay, so might as well just make a Univeral trip and take our time since we've never been. Will go to Disney in 2011 probably for a big blow-out vacation.

I am going to be renting an off-site ECV scooter anyway, so that I can use it at places like Downtown Disney, and we can put it in my car when we drive from our hotel to Universal parking. So if I understand correctly, driving to Universal to park will cost $12 or $15 each day we visit? I know we could definitely get a cheaper room then Disney, but I have a bad back and a good bed is really vital for me. I've heard that Disney's CSR rooms are totally renovated with new beds this year. Sleeping in a bad bed at a cheaper hotel would totally kill my trip. I'm sure the beds at Universal hotels must be nice because the rooms are so expensive. I am aware that staying onsite will give us the free fast pass to rides, but we're going the week before Thanksgiving week, so I'm hoping that the wait won't be too long. Are the lines long during this time?

The week before Thanksgiving shouldn't be too bad but ya never know with new coaster the crowds it bring but I think you should be ok w/o onsite. I believe if you take car then it is $12.

Enjoy trip and any other questions just ask away!

 

[Delboy]

Staying on site looks noce, the hotels look Fab

 

[damo]

Pixietwin, would you change to the Grand Floridian if you could get it for $170? That is pretty much the quality you'll get at Universal plus you get your unlimited fast pass.

Also, you start buildling your points at Loews hotels if you stay at the Royal Pacific or Portofino. For example, I am platinum level, which means that each stay, I get upgraded to a suite (if available or a deluxe room) and I get a $100 food and beverage credit (even if I am only staying for one night). I also get free internet.

There are tons of benefits to staying onsite at Universal.