Just returned from the Wingate Universal. It is about 1/2 mile from garage. Nice business hotel. Nothing special in the way of amenities, but really clean & convenient.
Even when Im going to Universal, I always stay at a Disney hotel, I have always had good experiences with Disney hotels, so when Im trying to keep the cost of our trip down, I stay at one of the POP hotels.
I stayed at the Days Inn at the corner of Kirkman and International Drive a few weeks ago. It was a nice budget hotel. The beds were comfy and the room was clean. It was a good deal at $40 a night.