Question about Loews First Welcome Gift

[slick_willy]

We will be staying at RPR and I was trying to select which welcome gift to get. I know a lot of you have received the welcome gift at the US hotels, so I figured I could come here and get good information. We will have 5 people in our room. If you select milk and cookies, will there be enough for all of us, or should I just be selfish and select beer and nuts for myself, since there's a possiblity that there wouldn't be enough for all anyway? What about the local gift?

Thanks in advance!

[ky07]

We will be staying at RPR and I was trying to select which welcome gift to get. I know a lot of you have received the welcome gift at the US hotels, so I figured I could come here and get good information. We will have 5 people in our room. If you select milk and cookies, will there be enough for all of us, or should I just be selfish and select beer and nuts for myself, since there's a possiblity that there wouldn't be enough for all anyway? What about the local gift?

Thanks in advance!

While its great to get the welcome gift if you get the milk and cookies I don't think it will be enough for 5 people.
so I would get what ever you really want cause I think you can got 3 options 1 being the milk and cookies 2 the beer and nuts 2 local welcome gifts.
Hope this helps.

[leahjade]

I reserved my room at PBH on the Loew's site - how do i get my gift?

[goofy!]

While its great to get the welcome gift if you get the milk and cookies I don't think it will be enough for 5 people.
so I would get what ever you really want cause I think you can got 3 options 1 being the milk and cookies 2 the beer and nuts 2 local welcome gifts.
Hope this helps.

I reserved my room at PBH on the Loew's site - how do i get my gift?

There are actually quite a few gifts to choose from. Anybody can become eligible for them for free. The only things you need to do is to join the Loews First (http://www.loews-first.com/Loewsfirst.asp=LoewsFirst program) and to book a Loews-First compatible rate. If you have already booked your reservation, you can just call back, inquire if it is a compatible Loews First rate and give them your Loews number.

The options are:
Milk and Cookies
Fruit and Bottled Water
Beer & Nuts
A bottle of Red Wine and Nuts
A bottle of White Wine and Nuts
A Uniquely Local Gift
A $10.00 Minibar Credit
Hero Stars Fresh Gourmet Dog Biscuits
500 AE Membership Awards Bonus Points or 500 AA AAdvantage Miles or 500 Amtrak Guest Reward Points.

We are a family of 5 and with the cookies and milk, there is enough if we just all want a taste. At PBH, it is usually 2 pint cartons of milk and 3 or 4 very large cookies. So half a cookie each. The kids get the milk.

The fruit basket has quite a bit of fruit in it and a bottle of the Fiji water - the big bottles they leave in the rooms for $7.00.

People have reported that the Unique local gift at RPR is great. I have never had it, but people have reported getting candy, a sarong, a disposable camera and other stuff.

[bubba's mom]

The first time, we got the fruit and water...water always good, DH said fruit was really yummy.

Second trip, got the milk and cookies for DS. But, we didn't get the 2 pints of milk :confused3 ....we got a bigger container (shown in TR for Feb 07 linked in sig)....got 3 cookies...huge (DS holding one in his hand in aformentioned TR)... 1 choc chip, 1 m&m and 1 sugar.....imho, they were a bit dry...but, he enjoyed them!

Last summer, got beer and nuts for DH. (again, pic would be TR linked in sig).... got 3 different beers: Amstel, Corona and Coors (i think).... got 1 jar of cashews and 1 jar of peanuts.....

hth

[apparition]

Get the cookies. They were really good. :goodvibes

[morningstar]

We get the bottle of red wine and nuts. Wine is actually pretty good. We book usually with the AAA discount and have had times where they say its not eligible for welcome gift. Other times they give it to us - seems very inconsistent, so I don't count on it!

[bubba's mom]

We get the bottle of red wine and nuts. Wine is actually pretty good. We book usually with the AAA discount and have had times where they say its not eligible for welcome gift. Other times they give it to us - seems very inconsistent, so I don't count on it!

You must have had someone who was new or confused....

AAA IS a qualifying rate entitling you to welcome gift :goodvibes

[GreyStr0ke]

Got the bottle of white wine for the 2 girls who were with us when we went to HHN. I was actually surprised to see how big it was. Needless to say they finished it within a few hours though.:rotfl2: Both said that it was good.

[jtdl]

We just returned today from RPR. We got the local gift and it was a Loews Hotel backpack full of chocolate bars and candy, a sarong and cute wood cat ornament. I will post a picture of it when I figure out how!

I was told by Loews that you have to be a Loews First member and book directly through the Loews Hotels site or reservation phone line in order to get it, but others have said they got it without booking directly through Loews. :confused3

[bubba's mom]

We just returned today from RPR.

Welcome back! :goodvibes

[slick_willy]

Thank you for all of your responses! I'm still not sure which gift I want to choose...DW won't drink beer with me...I might get her to drink some wine, but she's more of a margarita chick. jtdl, I would love to see a photo of your welcome gift. Maybe we will pick that. The wife might like the sarong and maybe one of the kids would like the backpack. Is the backpack big enough for school books?

Thanks again!

[SnowWtch]

In December we booked a 1 night at RPR with the AP rate. It wasn't a qualifying rate for the welcome gift but the person who checked us in sent up a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate covered strawberries for our anniversary as well as a handwritten card congratulating us on our special day. Made for a wonderful first stay impression.

[jtdl]

OK thanks to Bubba's Mom I got instructions of how to add pictures, so here goes.

This is our welcome gift after about 3 days of picking away at it. I never thought to take a pic of it until then!

Slick_willy, the backpack wouldn't be big enough (or strong enough) for books. Just a nylon bag type backpack.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62/jtdlmc/Universal2008204.jpg

[idontknow]

Oh, My! That's a lot of chocolate. I know where the cat comes from.....There is a shop just inside of IOA on the left that sells them. I have a very similar cat fishing on the shelf next to me. LOL

[leahjade]

oh, man, which gift is that? I want that instead of fruit! I didn't see candy on the list?

[jtdl]

oh, man, which gift is that? I want that instead of fruit! I didn't see candy on the list?

That's the regional gift at RPR.

[leahjade]

what is the regional gift? we're staying at PBH and I ordered the fruit.

[disneyfanprincess]

My family of 4 stayed at RPR last summer for one night and I had requested the local area gift as well for our welcome gift. It was the same as the one pictured on the prior page except instead of the sarong we received a really nice HUGE beach towel with RPR logo on it and our cat was a little different. We also received a strange costume jewelry necklace made of black wooden rocks - think Wilma Flinstone. I was really surprised at how nice the welcome gift was. We're staying on site again this summer for two nights and plan on requesting the local area gift again.

[t-and-a]

Wow! I think I'll update my Loews First account to get the local gift when we go! That looks like a lot of stuff!

[wwessing]

Anyone had the local gift at HRH??

[msr709]

I'd also like to know about the "local gift" at HRH. Anyone? And how do you get it, I don't see that in the LF website?? :confused3

[msr709]

Never mind, I found where you ask for the local gift, I just changed my profile for. Thanks anyway! :cool1:

[stephensmum]

I asked for milk & cookies when I applied for my card. Can i change it for the local gift?

[bubba's mom]

I asked for milk & cookies when I applied for my card. Can i change it for the local gift?

Just go to Loews website and change your profile...confirm your change at check in. If it's wrong, call star services

[stephensmum]

Just go to Loews website and change your profile...confirm your change at check in. If it's wrong, call star services

Great, thanks a lot.

[MRS AR]

Anyone know what the gift is at PBH?

[bubba's mom]

Anyone know what the gift is at PBH?

Not sure...but i think someone posted it on the PBH sticky thread :confused3

[msr709]

I never got an answer on whether anyone knew what the "regional" or "local" gift was at HRH? Anyone?:confused3

[goofy!]

Anyone know what the gift is at PBH?

Which gift?

Except for the regional gift, all the others are consistent with the other hotels. It just depends on which gift you request.

We have only requested the regional gift at PBH once and we got fruit, a large bottle of water and a cd. I would love if PBH had the towel/sarong/candy gift like the PBH :goodvibes

The CD is the same one you can get in the club.

[MRS AR]

Thanks Goofy. I was hoping that the PBH was going to have the cool gift like RPH but I guess any welcome gift is appreciated.:flower3:

[jlm1006]

I booked a package through Universal a couple of days ago, to stay at RPH. When I read this thread, I went and signed up for Loews First. I called Loews to have them associate my reservation with the Loews First number but they would not talk to me since it was booked through Universal. They did transfer me to Universal, however.

When I got a reservationist from Universal on the line, she heard the first digit of my confirmation #, cut me off and said "you booked a package" and explained she would have to transfer me to package sales who would have to deal with me.

When I got a person from packages, she did take my Loews number, but put it in the comments and said they have nothing to do with Loews and that it would probably not do me any good. Then for the next 5 minutes she proceeded to try to upsell me to the luau, blue man group, etc.

Bottom line, no one is accountable in this situation! Is RPH not a Loews Hotel? I feel like a 2nd class citizen booking through the Universal website. I realize I may not be eligible for the welcome gifts and such, but the lack of continuity here is frightening. Maybe I'm just spoiled with Disney and the seamless nature of the backstage versus onstage experience.

Has anyone had any luck in getting this resolved?

[goofy!]

I booked a package through Universal a couple of days ago, to stay at RPH. When I read this thread, I went and signed up for Loews First. I called Loews to have them associate my reservation with the Loews First number but they would not talk to me since it was booked through Universal. They did transfer me to Universal, however.

When I got a reservationist from Universal on the line, she heard the first digit of my confirmation #, cut me off and said "you booked a package" and explained she would have to transfer me to package sales who would have to deal with me.

When I got a person from packages, she did take my Loews number, but put it in the comments and said they have nothing to do with Loews and that it would probably not do me any good. Then for the next 5 minutes she proceeded to try to upsell me to the luau, blue man group, etc.

Bottom line, no one is accountable in this situation! Is RPH not a Loews Hotel? I feel like a 2nd class citizen booking through the Universal website. I realize I may not be eligible for the welcome gifts and such, but the lack of continuity here is frightening. Maybe I'm just spoiled with Disney and the seamless nature of the backstage versus onstage experience.

Has anyone had any luck in getting this resolved?

RPH is definitely a Loews hotel.

But since you booked a package through a third party travel agency, Universal Vacations, this nullifies any Loews First perks.

Loews First is not available to any third party bookings which include Expedia, Orbitz or even Universal Vacations.

To get the Loews First amenities, you need to book directly with Loews or Universal Reservations (different than Universal Vacations.) It is incredibly confusing on the Universal website, even for us veteran Universal goers. But as a Disney person, think of it as booking a room only reservation with Disney reservations vs. booking a package with WDTC. Same park, but 2 different booking areas with different rules and restrictions.

If you want your Loews number to count, you might consider cancelling your package and booking everything separately through Loews. It is usually cheaper that way anyway.

From the Loews First Terms and Conditions:
2. LoewsFirst benefits and mileage or points awards are based upon completion of a qualifying stay at any Loews Hotel. A qualifying stay is any rate published by the hotel. Group, negotiated, third party, government, Universal Passholder and Universal Florida residents rates do not qualify. Not valid with any other discount program, coupon, complimentary or promotional offer.

[MamaKate]

I just got back from HRH and I opted for the regional gift at check-in just so I could report what it was to the DIS folks. HRH gives a chocolate CD in a HRH tin along with a HRH pin.

It was OK, but I think I should have just stuck with the milk and cookies since my kids fought over the CD :headache:. But sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the sake of research :laughing: .

So it looks like RPR may have the best regional gift :thumbsup2 .

[AlexandNessa]

OK thanks to Bubba's Mom I got instructions of how to add pictures, so here goes.

This is our welcome gift after about 3 days of picking away at it. I never thought to take a pic of it until then!

Slick_willy, the backpack wouldn't be big enough (or strong enough) for books. Just a nylon bag type backpack.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg62/jtdlmc/Universal2008204.jpg




Sweet Lord Jesus, did they want to welcome you or give you Diabetes????

[FireandIce]

Sweet Lord Jesus, did they want to welcome you or give you Diabetes????

:rotfl2: :lmao: :rotfl: :rotfl2: :lmao: :rotfl:

[MRS AR]

Looks to me that the PBH gives the least thought in their gifts>lol
:rotfl: Go figure

[jtdl]

I booked a package through Universal a couple of days ago, to stay at RPH. When I read this thread, I went and signed up for Loews First. I called Loews to have them associate my reservation with the Loews First number but they would not talk to me since it was booked through Universal. They did transfer me to Universal, however.

When I got a reservationist from Universal on the line, she heard the first digit of my confirmation #, cut me off and said "you booked a package" and explained she would have to transfer me to package sales who would have to deal with me.

When I got a person from packages, she did take my Loews number, but put it in the comments and said they have nothing to do with Loews and that it would probably not do me any good. Then for the next 5 minutes she proceeded to try to upsell me to the luau, blue man group, etc.

Bottom line, no one is accountable in this situation! Is RPH not a Loews Hotel? I feel like a 2nd class citizen booking through the Universal website. I realize I may not be eligible for the welcome gifts and such, but the lack of continuity here is frightening. Maybe I'm just spoiled with Disney and the seamless nature of the backstage versus onstage experience.

Has anyone had any luck in getting this resolved?


I booked my stay at RPH through the Universal website (not Universal Vacations) and this is the reply I got from Loews when I questioned my eligibility for the Loews First perks:

Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, reservations booked through Universal are considered third party bookings and are non-qualifying under the LoewsFirst Terms and Conditions (http://www.loewsfirst.com/loewsfirst_terms.asp). Group, negotiated, third party, government, Universal PassHolder and Florida residents’ rates do not qualify for LoewsFirst benefits. Unfortunately, if a stay is considered non-qualifying members are not entitled to LoewsFirst benefits, which includes the welcome gift or free access to the fitness room.

To guarantee your next stay is qualifying, please book directly through Loews Hotels either by visiting loewshotels.com, by emailing this inbox with your reservations request, or by calling 1.800.LOEWS.11, our reservations line reserved exclusively for LoewsFirst members.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

They did end up honouring my Loews First benefits, but according to the Loews employees that responded to me, the only way to be eligible for the perks is to book directly with Loews.