- Emily Marie's Rating
First (I believe) came Downtown Disney; as strip of land on Disney property that offered people the chance to spend money on Disney-related stuff without having to pay an entry fee to either of the parks. Universal CityWalk is the same type of scenario, costing only the parking or transportation fees needed to get there.
CityWalk seems larger, with more shops than DTDis, but isn't as airy. CityWalk is like an outdoors, two-level mall, but with little you actually need to buy for home. Instead it's tchotchke-like stuff, such as movie toys (this is, after all, Universal), nostalgia shops and some outlets of things you'll find at your local mall. These seemed to be your more pricey chains, if you catch my drift.
There are a number of bars and restaurants, which is what lured me to Universal in the first place. I wanted to see the Hard Rock Cafe of Hollywood, which is it's own building inside the walk. It sounds like, just as with The House of Blues and Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney, that this is where to go after a night of running around the theme park if you are staying on property or stretching your time before you leave. The selection here though, for shopping, dining and bar hopping, is a bit larger than in Anaheim. One cool night scene I would have liked to experience was Sci-Fi night, where the Sci-Fi channel sponsors free outdoor movies on the big screen, such as Star Wars.
One standout in an otherwise boring trip to this area of Universal City was this water fountain built into the mall walk. The fountains go off in unexpected patterns and visitors are encouraged to walk through the fountain and not get wet.
"Free" is a tricky word here. Unless you are walking or have pre-paid transportation, you will be spending some money. I also highly doubt you can enter this section and not spend money in at least one establishment. Unless you are going to the park itself, steer clear of CityWalk, because, as the cliche goes, "you get what you pay for."
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