Universal Parking, Royal Pacific

[Joey04]

I am taking our family to our first trip to Universal, planning to stay at Royal Pacific, and just learned that parking at the hotel is going to be $18/day!!! (or $25/day for valet service...)

Wow that's a lot. I was talking to a Universal Rep and telling him Parking is not only free at the Disney resorts, but also staying at the Disney Resort we get free parking at all the parks. He tells me that at Disney Resorts we have to pay resort taxes that cover parking. And I am thinking at Disney, the value resort cost plus taxes is under $100/night while at their cheapest on site Universal hotel (where we are staying) its over $200/night...

Ok, rambling aside, is there any suggestions for parking when staying on site at Universal (other than the obvious suggestion of don't bring a car...)

Thanks!!!

Joey, DW, DS11, and DD8

 

[damo]

I am taking our family to our first trip to Universal, planning to stay at Royal Pacific, and just learned that parking at the hotel is going to be $18/day!!! (or $25/day for valet service...)

Wow that's a lot. I was talking to a Universal Rep and telling him Parking is not only free at the Disney resorts, but also staying at the Disney Resort we get free parking at all the parks. He tells me that at Disney Resorts we have to pay resort taxes that cover parking. And I am thinking at Disney, the value resort cost plus taxes is under $100/night while at their cheapest on site Universal hotel (where we are staying) its over $200/night...

Ok, rambling aside, is there any suggestions for parking when staying on site at Universal (other than the obvious suggestion of don't bring a car...)

Thanks!!!

Joey, DW, DS11, and DD8

You need to remember a few things. First of all the hotels at Universal are all deluxes....you can't compare them to the value hotels at WDW. If you take the Universal hotels' room rate and compare it to any of the Disney deluxes where you can walk to the parks, you'll find that the Disney prices are much higher. That parking fee is built into your price and then some. Also, at any of those WDW resorts, you aren't going to get unlimited express passes.

Here's an example for you ...
July 15 ... Grand Floridian ... $551, Poly ... $615, Yacht Club ... $525, Coronado Springs (a moderate) is $229 and you aren't anywhere near the parks
July 15 ... Portofino Bay Hotel ... $349, Hard Rock ... $349, Royal Pacific ... $289 (and if you stay at least 3 nights, all of those prices go down)

If you want to get a hotel that has free parking and has early entry for the same price as the Disney Values it can be done. Simply book an offsite package here... https://www.universalorlando.com/Vacation-Packages/bf/how-to-book.aspx You'll be closer to the parks than any of the Disney Values and you'll get the same perks and the same (if not better) quality hotel.

 

[kmc]

We have been going to universal for the past 12 years and I admit paying for parking was a hard pill to swallow at first......but the stress free vacation I feel when staying on site more than makes up for it

I would never even consider staying off site, but I also get a great fl resident discount. I'm not sure if My feelings would change if I had to pay rack rate at either universal or Disney.

 

[RMulieri]

You need to remember a few things. First of all the hotels at Universal are all deluxes....you can't compare them to the value hotels at WDW. If you take the Universal hotels' room rate and compare it to any of the Disney deluxes where you can walk to the parks, you'll find that the Disney prices are much higher. That parking fee is built into your price and then some. Also, at any of those WDW resorts, you aren't going to get unlimited express passes.

Here's an example for you ...
July 15 ... Grand Floridian ... $551, Poly ... $615, Yacht Club ... $525, Coronado Springs (a moderate) is $229 and you aren't anywhere near the parks
July 15 ... Portofino Bay Hotel ... $349, Hard Rock ... $349, Royal Pacific ... $289 (and if you stay at least 3 nights, all of those prices go down)

If you want to get a hotel that has free parking and has early entry for the same price as the Disney Values it can be done. Simply book an offsite package here... https://www.universalorlando.com/Vacation-Packages/bf/how-to-book.aspx You'll be closer to the parks than any of the Disney Values and you'll get the same perks and the same (if not better) quality hotel.

AGREE..You can not compare a Disney Value to a Universal Deluxe.DIsney Absolutely charges parking, they just build it into the resort rates and call it a perk.Outside of Disney, MANY hotels charge parking.Try parking in NYC or Washington DC ( $40 a night just to park)You dont need to park at any of Universals parks since by staying at a resort you are within walking distance.

If you stay onsite at Universal, there is NO way to avoid the parking charge other than not bring a car and park there.All the resorts charge the parking fee and the Universal parking garage services citywalk and the parks and they do not allow cars left overnight.

 

[Joey04]

I apologize. I completely understand the difference between hotel categories having different rates. I was just rambling about "the cheapest on site hotel with all on-site benefits" at both camps, and then having to pay extra for parking at Universal. Our kids love the value resorts at Disney, and we definitely want the on site benefits at Universal, so we are staying at Royal Pacific.

But the real question of my post is if there are strategies to getting a good rate on parking with a car, like if there is any nearby paid parking we can leave a car at (that we sometimes have to do in other cities where hotels only have high cost valet parking, but there is nearby discount parking with shuttles.) We are planning to stay at Royal Pacific 5 days and 4 nights.

Thanks!!!

 

[macraven]

I am taking our family to our first trip to Universal, planning to stay at Royal Pacific, and just learned that parking at the hotel is going to be $18/day!!! (or $25/day for valet service...)

Wow that's a lot. I was talking to a Universal Rep and telling him Parking is not only free at the Disney resorts, but also staying at the Disney Resort we get free parking at all the parks. He tells me that at Disney Resorts we have to pay resort taxes that cover parking. And I am thinking at Disney, the value resort cost plus taxes is under $100/night while at their cheapest on site Universal hotel (where we are staying) its over $200/night...


Thanks!!!

Joey, DW, DS11, and DD8

i'll post later about the parking fees but at this point, i'm looking at your figures for a value at the motherland.

i'm looking at my ressie i have for the motherland for this coming fall.
weekends my rate for a value resort is $125 a night.
weekdays are less, $94-99 a night.


depending on when you go will determine the room rates.
have a package? room rate is at rack.

compare the $125 room rate at disney to the $200 at universal is a big difference for the value you get.

yes, if you have a car or not at the motherland resorts, you have that hidden parking fee included in your onsite stay.

i'd rather the motherland change that system around and not penalize the homies that don't have a car while staying there.



to answer your question of other places you can park your car for a cheaper rate, the DoubleTree charges either $10 or 12 a night.
you might be able to contact them and see if you can set something up with them on your car left there while you stay onsite.

i know there are other hotels offsite that are nearby UO.
google and search for others that you could contact and try to work out parking with them.

you would want to only use places that you feel are safe and reliable.

i would avoid using Days Inn & Suites.

 

[Metro West]

But the real question of my post is if there are strategies to getting a good rate on parking with a car, like if there is any nearby paid parking we can leave a car at (that we sometimes have to do in other cities where hotels only have high cost valet parking, but there is nearby discount parking with shuttles.) We are planning to stay at Royal Pacific 5 days and 4 nights.

There are no municipal parking lots around the Universal area...only other hotel parking lots and those lots will only allow overnight parking to registered guests. I wouldn't suggest parking in one of those even if you get permission from the hotel in question. You'll come back and find your car either broken into or gone...having been towed.

You'll have to decide if the parking fee is the deal breaker for you. You can always stay at one of the partner hotels but you won't get the benefits of the onsite resorts.

 

[bumbershoot]

telling him Parking is not only free at the Disney resorts, but also staying at the Disney Resort we get free parking at all the parks.

Remember that when you park at the hotel there is no way that you are ever going to need to park at the parks. Leave your car at the hotel, and use one of the many ways of getting to the parks. Boat, pedicab, walking, even a shuttle. Don't use the car, it would be pointless. So you'll never have to double-pay, if that's what you're worried about.


EVERYONE pays for parking at Disney resorts; we just don't KNOW that we are. Even if you have never parked a car at a Disney resort once in your life, you're still helping to pay for those of us who do park a car.

At Universal, only the people with a car pay for parking.


Just work it into your budget. You'll be charged at each midnight, by the way. It doesn't go by day, but by the number of midnights your car is there.

 

[Bluer101]

I'm paying $160 this summer at RPR for my parking, I just factor it into the stay.

We have thought of renting a car one way and get one on the way back. Believe it or not we can save $40 but then we will not have a car.

 

[RMulieri]

There are no municipal parking lots around the Universal area...only other hotel parking lots and those lots will only allow overnight parking to registered guests. I wouldn't suggest parking in one of those even if you get permission from the hotel in question. You'll come back and find your car either broken into or gone...having been towed.

You'll have to decide if the parking fee is the deal breaker for you. You can always stay at one of the partner hotels but you won't get the benefits of the onsite resorts.

And some of them even charge for parking

 

[AJA]

My only advice is factor the parking fee into the per night cost (like a pp already suggested). We were a little taken aback at first but the value of staying on site at Universal more than makes up for it. There isn't anywhere close that I could imagine would be any cheaper to park? Keep in mind you are right in the middle of everything at Universal (land at a premium) instead of a bit out of the way like at Disney.

 

[schumigirl]

Honestly, just factor it in to the cost of the room for your stay.

We stay for 17 nights and have always just included the parking fee charge into our costs.

The convenience of staying onsite will more than outweigh the cost of parking and save you worrying if your car is safe or not at an offsite car park.