What to do at Universal without a ticket

Like the gift shop you exit into on the way out from a ride, many Universal Orlando guests have to walk through the resort’s CityWalk shopping, dining and entertainment complex to get to and from Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. That’s because CityWalk sits right between the resort’s main parking area and the parks. The only way around it is to take a water taxi or internal walking path from one of Universal’s hotels. 
But instead of considering it part of the journey, you may want to make CityWalk its own destination, because it’s one of the best places to experience Universal without paying for a park ticket. Here’s how and what else you can do around the Florida resort. 
Yes, admission to CityWalk is free. Here’s what else you can do for free:  
Pop into the Red Coconut Club for an immersive lounge experience and live performances during the resort’s Mardi Gras, Halloween Horror Nights and holiday celebrations. The club is usually open Thursdays through Sundays throughout the year, but during seasonal events, it gets a themed makeover and new name. It’s now the Dead Coconut Club for Halloween. It was the Cursed Coconut Club for Mardi Gras, and it has been the Green and Red Coconut Club for the holidays.  
Geek out over all the new things coming to the resort’s new theme park at the Universal Epic Universe Preview Center. There’s a big 3-D model map you can interact with using a free app on your smartphone. There are also free photo opps and souvenirs for sale. 
Free live entertainment pop-ups are also available in CityWalk at certain times of year. Other live entertainment is available across CityWalk with dining. 
Yes. You can spend an entire afternoon or evening in CityWalk for less than a park ticket. 
One of the coolest things karaoke lovers can do is sing along to a live band with backup singers on stage at CityWalk’s Rising Star. Or you can sing along from your seat to dueling piano performances at Pat O’Brien’s. Live music is also available at Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. All that entertainment is included with food or drink purchases. 
Free live, local music is also available Friday and Saturday nights on the patio of Hard Rock Cafe Orlando, the largest Hard Rock Cafe in the world, but you’ll have to pay for headliners like Luis Fonsi and Larry the Cable Guy at the indoor concert venue Hard Rock Live Orlando. 
Of course, there are numerous dining venues without live entertainment, but plenty of fans, like steampunk-inspired Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, which is famous for its milkshakes, and Voodoo Doughnut, which always has a line but also offers mobile ordering. 
Other activities include movie watching at Universal Cinemark, themed mini golf at Hollywood Drive-In Golf, and “Jurassic World” and “Back to the Future”-inspired escape rooms at Universal’s Great Movie Escape. Movie tickets start at $5 on Cinemark Movie Rewards Discount Tuesdays. Mini golf starts at $19.99 for kids ages 3 to 9 and $21.99 for guests ages 10 and up, with discounts available for military service members, seniors, AAA members and Universal Orlando Annual Passholders. Escape rooms start at $39.99 per person, for all ages. 
Universal Orlando Resorts offers a range of perks for guests staying at its hotels, including up to an hour of early admission to select parks, certain pool hopping privileges, free resort transportation, and free delivery of in-park purchases to hotels. Royal Pacific, Hard Rock and Portofino Bay guests also get free Universal Express Unlimited passes that can dramatically cut waits for rides. 
But you don’t have to be an overnight guest to enjoy on-site activities like pop-up character appearances and bowling at Galaxy Bowl in Universal’s retro-themed Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Bowling starts at $18.50 per person, including shoe rental, and requires reservations. 
On Saturday nights, Loews Royal Pacific hosts a full luau with live hula performances, fire dancing, music and a Polynesian-inspired buffet. Tickets for Wantilan Luau start at $45 per child ages 3 to 9 and $99 for guests age 10 and up, including gratuity and parking.  
There are also limited-time events like Harbor Nights at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Velvet Sessions and Velvet Unplugged at The Hard Rock Hotel, and Jake’s Beer Dinners and Festivals at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, with varying prices. 
Memorable dining experiences available year-round include Bar 17 Bistro, the rooftop bar at Universal Aventura Hotel with sweeping views of Orlando, and Mama Della’s Ristorante at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, where strolling musicians serenade diners and take song requests. 
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Yes, on non-Halloween Horror Nights nights, self-parking in the main garage by CityWalk is free after 6 p.m., though subject to change. 
Visitors going to see matinees at Universal Cinemark between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. may park free with the purchase of two movie tickets. You have to pay for parking up front but get reimbursed. 
Guests dining at most full-service restaurants in Universal’s resort hotels may park at the hotels free, for a limited window. 
Otherwise, regular parking costs $32 for the day in the main parking garage.