First time to Uni'... well, kind of.

[Skipper Dan]

Okay, so everyone here knows how "passionate" I am with all things Disney - especially the parks - and how I've spent most of my teenage years, and two years after hating Universal Studios and bashing it's name. But my inner child/nerd is begging me to go to Hogwarts. I'm planning on taking a quick trip down to the World, and taking a day to see Potter, so here's my question. Whenever I'm near Orlando, I just park the car at the Coronado Springs, just tell 'em I'm goin' to eat, and hop on a bus. Could I do something similar at Uni'? I'm more than willing to pay for parking, but I just was curious if there was any insider tips anyone would have. I don't even know if they have busses. The last time I was at Uni', I was three and I'm twenty now. I just want to go spend a day at Potter, then leave... ashamed that I let Walt down, kidding :lol: :lookaroun . But is there any of you that could give me some details on what to do when I get there? Where to go and stuff?. I'd greatly appreciate it! :veryconfu

 

[jonnyc]

The official Uni parking is $15 if I remember correctly, and then you are a 5/10 minute walk from both parks. We usually opt for this because it is so close to the two parks.

 

[wvugeoggrad]

There's really no way to get around the parking at Universal unless you want to park somewhere off property and walk a LONG ways. If you stayed at a nearby hotel they may have shuttle service to the parks but that would really be the only option.

 

[shipley731]

If you try to park at one of the on-site hotels, there is a self parking fee of $16 per day. From the onsite hotels you can take a boat to the parks.

I thought Universal parking was $14 when I was there in July, but I could be wrong.

The hotel that is directly across from the main entrance to Universal has a gated lot & it's around $12 a day to park. You may be able to park in one of the resturant lots that's just outside of the main gates, but you'd probably risk being towed. Plus, there isn't a bus that picks you up from there & you'd have a hike.

Pay the $14 to park in the Universal lot. (Edit: Fee has increased; Was at Uni this weekend (9/5),parking had moved up to $15 per day.)

 

[love disney]

I was at Uni in June and it was $14 to park. Best bet is to just pay it and park there. Also, if other die-hard WDW fans read this post be ready for lots of comments at you not paying for parking there. In any case, enjoy WWoHP, they really did a great job on it! (aside from the re-vamped Dueling Dragons ride which should have received more work/themeing)

 

[spock]

If you try to park at one of the on-site hotels, there is a self parking fee of $16 per day. From the onsite hotels you can take a boat to the parks.

I thought Universal parking was $14 when I was there in July, but I could be wrong.

The hotel that is directly across from the main entrance to Universal has a gated lot & it's around $12 a day to park. You may be able to park in one of the resturant lots that's just outside of the main gates, but you'd probably risk being towed. Plus, there isn't a bus that picks you up from there & you'd have a hike.

Pay the $14 to park in the Universal lot.

I was at Uni in June and it was $14 to park. Best bet is to just pay it and park there. Also, if other die-hard WDW fans read this post be ready for lots of comments at you not paying for parking there. In any case, enjoy WWoHP, they really did a great job on it! (aside from the re-vamped Dueling Dragons ride which should have received more work/themeing)

I was just there last week. It is $15 to park. If you pay $20 you can park in preferred parking, but in all honesty I didn't find preferred parking to really be that much closer. If you arrive after 6pm, parking is $3. Another option is to park at the Hard Rock Hotel. They charge if you are not a guest, but I believe it is under $20 to park there for the day (It's been a couple years since we did that option). Hard Rock is a super easy walk to Universal Studios, but if your main goal is to see Potter (which is at IOA), then you are just as well off parking in the main parking lot.

 

[Chrononymous]

I know that the last time I went to Uni...maybe 5 years ago now...
we stayed at a suite hotel (I want to say Comfort Suites or Amerisuites...but I can't be sure)

It was right across the street from the Studios parking garage, and we walked to the entrance every day.

It was a bit of a hike past all the parking lots(maybe a mile and a half or so) but really didn't seem like a lot considering how much walking you do inside the parks!
And anyway, once you get to the bus parking section, there are moving walkways.

Back then we did the trip on the barest of budgets, so paying for parking everyday would have killed us.

But this arrangement worked out great for us! (we also had a coupon from a travel mag for less than $60 a night at the Suite motel!) That was the best trip I remember!

 

[fosse76]

I know that the last time I went to Uni...maybe 5 years ago now...
we stayed at a suite hotel (I want to say Comfort Suites or Amerisuites...but I can't be sure)

It was right across the street from the Studios parking garage, and we walked to the entrance every day.

It was a bit of a hike past all the parking lots(maybe a mile and a half or so) but really didn't seem like a lot considering how much walking you do inside the parks!
And anyway, once you get to the bus parking section, there are moving walkways.

Back then we did the trip on the barest of budgets, so paying for parking everyday would have killed us.

But this arrangement worked out great for us! (we also had a coupon from a travel mag for less than $60 a night at the Suite motel!) That was the best trip I remember!

I was just at Universal three weeks ago. Stayed at the Hyatt Place across the street. About a ten minute walk. Free parking. There is a Holiday Inn next to it as well, though I don't know what the parking costs are for that (if any, it also looked free).