Parking at Cabana Bay for visit/dinner

[SusanDK]

We're headed to Cabana Bay to meet up with friends who are staying there. They did not rent a car, so we agreed to meet them there and have a quick bite to eat. We arrive ca. 6 pm and will likely finish up by 8 pm because they have little kids so probably early to bed.

I just read in the Cabana Bay sticky that parking is $45! Really?!

If we are only there a couple of hours at most and/or if we eat in one of the restaurants - is that really the cost? Do the restaurants validate?

If we park at the main Universal lot near City Walk, is it still free in the evening and, if so, how far is it to walk from there?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

The busses from CityWalk to Cabana Bay are quite efficient. I would park at CityWalk. I read about the really high CB hourly parking, too. When we were there last April, parking at CityWalk was free after 6, but in October, free parking didn't start until 8 or so. But that might have been so people going to Halloween Horror Nights had to pay for parking.

 

[SusanDK]

Thank you! It looks like it should be free from 6 pm at CityWalk so that's what we'll do and walk to CB.

 

[georgina]

Thank you! It looks like it should be free from 6 pm at CityWalk so that's what we'll do and walk to CB.

From the parking garage it's at least 20 min walk plus the security checkpoint. If you decide to take the bus, go down the escalators/steps to the left of the main security area (don't go through security) and go to the right at the bottom of the steps. (Unless they have changed it since I was last there 2 years ago)

 

[AJA]

Thank you! It looks like it should be free from 6 pm at CityWalk so that's what we'll do and walk to CB.

From City Walk You can take the boat to Sapphire Falls and then walk to CB. Don’t cross the street outside of SF, there is s bridge walkway to your right as you exit SF.

 

[kbelle8995]

I would grab a bus from halfway to the moving walkway. It will take you right in front of the hotel and hop, skip and a jump to Bayliner Diner. This might be easier than parking.

 

[SusanDK]

Thanks all. We parked at the main lot at 6 pm (where hundreds of cars were queueing to enter from before 6 pm, waiting for it to switch to free parking). Our friends took the CB bus to City Walk to meet us to have dinner at City Walk (more options than CB). I was glad I checked in advance because it would have been a shock had we driven to CB as we originally planned and been met with a $45 charge for a less-than-two-hour meet up.

 

[mike0035]

Related question....when picking up my room keys from HRH at 7am check in day...will I need to pay to park if all im doing is picking up my room keys and leaving immediately?

 

[georgina]

Related question....when picking up my room keys from HRH at 7am check in day...will I need to pay to park if all im doing is picking up my room keys and leaving immediately?

No. I have parked temporarily for check-in, pick up stored luggage, etc. The luggage guys near the door will direct you to a spot to park.