Heather C.
Yelp
I loved my time at the Universal CityWalk. I highly recommend going here when you are in the Orlando area!
There is lots of parking when you're approaching CityWalk. I am really not sure if it is paid parking or not, as I took an Uber but I would assume you need to pay something. As far as the Uber system...it is weird. They have fences everywhere and it is a big inconvenience for the drivers and the riders. You then have to go through security, which I actually liked, as it brings peace of mind. However, they could really figure out these lines. There isn't really any. It is just a big cluster of people squeezing through security.
I visited Disney Springs quite a few times while I was in Orlando and thought it was the Bee's knees. When I first approached the Universal CityWalk, I thought it was massive! Once I did a loop around the lake, I realized it wasn't as big as I thought it was. However, there were perks to Universal CityWalk that I still really enjoyed. One of my first impressions was also the difference in pricing. I mean, it is still pretty pricey but I ended up getting a souvenir at CityWalk instead of anywhere else because it was only $30 something for a t shirt.
I really loved seeing the lake and the boats on it. It was kind of fun to sit on the grass or benches, and hang out. They also had an assortment of foods to choose from, which was great. This is where I found Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville (I wrote a review about my experience on their page, specifically), they had a Voodoo Doughnuts with the longest line I have ever seen. I wanted to try Voodoo Doughnuts but could not justify the line. They had a really nice steak restaurant that I would've loved to try. The vibe in there seemed amazing! They also had Cowfish, which is has one of my favorite meals (you can also find my review on their business page). They had a chocolate factory, which had incredible curb appeal but was pretty underwhelming on the inside. The Hard Rock Cafe was cool on the inside and the outside but I never got the chance to eat there. I also thought the bar with the plane coming out of it was a cool little place.
I also have a small story about my visit here, that I think is important. I got my aforementioned t shirt at the beginning of my visit to Universal CityWalk. I walked around the whole day with the bag in my hand. Then, when I am in the parking garage, about to get an Uber back to my hotel, I realize that I don't have my bag anymore...I must've left it somewhere. It's not the end of the world, as it's only a $30 shirt, but I was still stressed. Luckily, security let me go back in and look for the bag. I traced my steps and was able to find my shirt. I feel like this speaks volumes about the kind of place Universal CityWalk is. It was sitting in the same spot, untouched.
Overall, Universal CityWalk was an awesome experience. The best part is that it was free and you didn't have to pay any kind of admission fee or anything. It was fun to walk around and check out all the shops but it definitely isn't as big or has a big selection, compared to Disney Springs. I still highly recommend going to Universal CityWalk at least once while you are in the area!