The social media posts about moms planning their daily timelines are 100 percent correct. You know, the clips that show her saying to herself:
“So… we have to be there at 9 a.m., that means we have to get up by 7 a.m., dressed by 7:30 a.m., breakfast by 8 a.m.… out the door by 8:15 a.m. to arrive by 8:45 a.m.… leaving us 15 minutes to get to the park and walk in.”
And it does not stop on vacation. The how and when of transporting the entire family to and from their destination is always on the top of the planning list. Luckily, Universal Orlando Resort has your back:
- On-site parking is available at all four Universal Orlando Resort destinations including the theme parks and Universal CityWalk. Different parking experiences are offered to suit guests’ preferences.
- Each Universal Orlando Resort offers a designated guest pick-up and drop-off location for guests arriving via ride-share, carpool, or taxi services.
- Complimentary shuttle bus transportation is offered at all Universal Orlando Resort on-site hotels. Some hotels also offer water taxi transportation.
- Each hotel offers a dedicated walking path to certain destinations.
TL;DR: Every way of getting into and around all four theme parks, 11 onsite hotels and Universal CityWalk is covered. Let’s dive in to the best way to plan and approach your Universal Orlando Resort vacation experience!
Arriving at Universal Orlando Resort
Self-Parking
All four theme parks and Universal CityWalk offer dedicated parking locations:
- Parking address for Universal Epic Universe: 1001 Epic Boulevard; Orlando, FL 32819
- Parking garage address for Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay and Universal CityWalk: 6000 Universal Boulevard; Orlando, FL 32819
Be sure to give yourself some extra time when self-parking. You will pay the daily parking fee at our Parking Toll Plaza. Once parked, you will need to walk into the theme park from the lot or through CityWalk – both Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida are accessible from the CityWalk entertainment area and are within walking distance of each other. Now, while the build-up is always a memorable moment, it does take some time to park and walk to each park. So, prep the family by allowing some extra time for this part of the day.
PRO TIP: Plan ahead and purchase pre-paid parking prior to your arrival — simply purchase online as a stand-alone transaction and save the QR code to present to the parking attendant. Pre-paid parking is valid for all four Universal theme parks and Universal CityWalk. Tickets are date-specific.
A few other notes about self-parking:
- Prime parking, which gets you a spot closer to the action, is available at both parking locations.
- For the ultimate convenience, valet parking is also available on-site at both parking locations; just follow directional signage across the resort to valet parking.
- When visiting Volcano Bay, make sure you follow the directional signs to the dedicated Volcano Bay parking section. From there, you will board a complimentary shuttle to the water theme park’s entrance.
- Designated accessible parking spaces are available at Universal Orlando Resort with a valid disability placard or license plate, which must be displayed at all times. For the latest information for guests with disabilities, please visit this dedicated web page or call (407) 817-8349.
- Electric Vehicle charging: A limited number of EV chargers are available at Universal Epic Universe only in Prime Parking locations. The units operate on a first come, first served basis.
Ride-Share, Carpool & Taxi
Universal Orlando offers designated locations for guest pick-up and drop-offs, including ride app services and taxis at the following locations; just follow the Ride App Drop-Off/Pick-Up Signage:
- Drop-Off/Pick-Up Area for Universal Epic Universe: 1201 Epic Boulevard; Orlando, FL 32819
- Drop-Off/Pick-Up Area for Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay and Universal CityWalk: North Parking Garage, 6000 Universal Boulevard; Orlando, FL 32819
Bonus! There is no parking fee for getting dropped off or picked up.
PRO TIP: Did you know that you can go park to park from within Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida via the Hogwarts Express? This immersive ride is an ideal way to travel between parks with stations in both Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Florida.
Staying On-site: Accessing the Theme Parks from On-site Hotels
My husband once said that the best vacation ever was the one where he parked the car and did not need to move it until the day we left. Well, honey, do I have the destination for you!
When staying on-site, you can park the car and not have to move it for the entire duration of your stay thanks to the Universal Orlando Resort Transportation system.
There are 11 onsite hotels at Universal Orlando Resort spread across all four theme parks. Let’s start with staying on-site at Universal Epic Universe:
Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel
Universal Helios Grand Hotel sits within Celestial Park at Universal Epic Universe and provides direct walking access to the theme park with its very own entry gate. Yep, if you have valid theme park admission, you can walk through the hotel lobby and directly into the theme park — right into the center of Universal Epic Universe. Additionally, as with all on-site properties, hotel guests can park at the hotel for the duration of their stay (for a daily fee). Guests can also take buses from stops just outside the hotel lobby to Universal Volcano Bay and Universal CityWalk, the gateway to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Bus service to additional onsite hotels is also available at the CityWalk Bus Hub.
Note: These buses are on multi-path routes, so they will stop at multiple locations, including other on-site hotels, before proceeding to their intended destination.
Universal Stella Nova Resort & Universal Terra Luna Resort
Both hotels sit across the way from Universal Epic Universe and offer bus service to the theme park entrance from Early Park Admission — a benefit of staying at an on-site hotel — to closing. Additionally, hotel guests can park within the hotel’s parking for the duration of their stay (for a daily fee) and catch buses from stops just outside the hotel lobby to Universal Volcano Bay and the Universal CityWalk Bus Hub, or follow a walking path to the entrance of Universal Epic Universe.
Fun Fact: Universal Orlando Resort operates one of the largest electric bus fleets in the world!
Staying On-site Near Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure & Universal Volcano Bay
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Hard Rock Hotel & Loews Royal Pacific Resort
When staying on-site at these Signature Collection Hotels, you can access complimentary transportation via Universal Orlando Resort’s water taxi system and take a serene boat ride directly from your hotel to Universal CityWalk, the gateway to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Once docked in the center of CityWalk, you are just a short walk away from the entrance to Universal Studios Florida or Universal Islands of Adventure. Each hotel also has landscaped walking paths to Universal CityWalk and offers bus transportation to Universal Volcano Bay, Universal Epic Universe and the Universal CityWalk Bus Hub.
Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort & Universal Aventura Hotel
When staying on-site at these hotels, you have direct access to Universal Volcano Bay via a short walking path, and access to Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, Universal Epic Universe and Universal CityWalk via bus transportation. Buses depart near the front of each hotel.
Universal Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites & Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites
When staying on-site at these hotels, you have access to Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, Universal Volcano Bay, Universal Epic Universe and Universal CityWalk via bus transportation. Buses depart near the front of each hotel.
PRO TIP: You may be asking yourself, “How do I travel between the Universal Orlando on-site hotels?” We have you covered there too. Simply ride a bus from your hotel to either the CityWalk Bus Hub or the Epic Universe Bus Hub. Transfers to all Universal Orlando hotels are available at each Bus Hub location.
Now you know how to get around Universal Orlando Resort — to and from all four theme parks, Universal CityWalk and all 11 onsite hotels. It can be daunting to navigate with family in tow, but, I promise, the entire experience has been well thought out for you in advance. So, leave the stress at home and easily meander from theme park to theme park during your next vacation, courtesy of the Universal Orlando Resort transportation team.
Do you have a favorite mode of transportation around Universal Orlando Resort? Shuttle bus, walking path, or water taxi? Let us know in the comments!
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