WHY Does No One Talk About This MASSIVE Perk For Universal Orlando Parking?!

Many people argue over whether Disney World or Universal Orlando is the better theme park, but honestly, I love both of them!

I love the magic and nostalgia of Disney World, and I love the theming elements and thrilling rides at Universal Orlando. I’ve been a Disney World Annual Passholder for over a year now, but I just recently became a Universal Orlando Passholder again (I was one when I was younger since my brother went to college on Universal’s backlot). I have to admit, while there are perks to both parks, I cannot BELIEVE more people don’t talk about this major parking perk at Universal!

When you park at Disney World, it doesn’t matter what park you’re at; you’ll be walking in the sun all the way to the park, or at least to the parking tram. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE those parking trams, but those parking rows are LONG, and in the hot sun, it feels like a trek already. The only area of Disney World that has covered parking is Disney Springs in the Orange and Lime Garages — otherwise, you’re outside.

Now, again, you have the parking trams to take, which do save you a lot of walking, and when you’re getting ready to walk miles and miles inside the park, you’ll want to save every step you can. Thankfully, the parking trams are covered, so you’re not baking in the sun, so I won’t discount that, but again, you do have to walk to the tram, then walk from the tram into the park.

Over at Universal Orlando (Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, and Universal Studios, to be specific), the ENTIRETY of parking is covered! Yes, there are no parking trams, and if you’re parked at the far end of a row, it can be a bit of a walk to get to the escalators to take you up/down to the level you need to be at to go through security, and then you’ve got to walk to security, but you’re under cover that ENTIRE TIME.

In fact, the first time you step out into the sun after you’ve parked your car is the moment you step into CityWalk. I can hear you now, reminding me that you have to walk THROUGH CityWalk to get to either park, and trust me, I DO hear you. All in all, Universal Orlando is more walking, but 80% of that walk is covered, and I think that’s a MASSIVE perk.

Now, in Epic Universe, most of the parking isn’t covered, which is a bummer, BUT there is an option for valet parking that is under shade to help keep your car a little cooler during the day. Still not the same as a totally covered parking garage, but hey, it’s something. Disney, on the other hand, again, doesn’t have any part of their parking covered, even for those with handicapped parking signs.

Not to mention, the parking lot for Epic Universe isn’t nearly as large (or, it doesn’t feel that way — granted, I haven’t been parked at the very back just yet) as Disney’s parking lots or the parking garages for the other Universal Orlando parks, so the walk does feel shorter. In the hot sun, though, I’m sure that could change things — just another reason to get to the park earlier rather than later!

I can’t wait to go back to Orlando soon and have more adventures in both Universal Orlando and Disney World, and tell you all about them, so stay tuned to AllEars!