Staying @ Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Resort, or Royal Pacific Resort? Start here!

[Pikester]

I am planning to go to Universal in June and plan to go to Royal Pacific and was reading on this board that you get FOTL privileges to any ride that has Express privileges. Does anybody know which rides don't have that? Does Forbidden Journey, Spiderman ride have it?

Thanks!

Island of Adventure: Forbidden Journey does not have the Express Pass


Universal Studios: Rip Ride Rockit does not have the Express Pass


There are a few other things that do not have the EP but that is because it'a a kids play area or a street show of some type so there is no need for an EP.

Spiderman was AWESOME by the way and does have the EP.

 

[pilferk]

Quick question:

We're doing 1 night at HRH (before moving to AKV, over at Disney) so we can do IOA on check out day.

What's the most efficient way to go from HRH to IOA? Walking? And what do they offer for transportation service (water taxi or shuttle bus) from HRH to IOA?

 

[macraven]

Quick question:

We're doing 1 night at HRH (before moving to AKV, over at Disney) so we can do IOA on check out day.

What's the most efficient way to go from HRH to IOA? Walking? And what do they offer for transportation service (water taxi or shuttle bus) from HRH to IOA?

walking will take you about 6 minutes.

if you take the water taxi, you are let out at the dock in city walk and still have a walk up the stairs to over the bridge to the entrance of IOA.


i would go with the walking

 

[Asherlloyd]

I had been to the hard rock hotel a few years back. And the experience was great. The ambiance and the service are good.

 

[Disneysnel]

I have been searching for a while now so I thought I would just go ahead and ask you smart people.

So, even if I have an annual pass - I still have to pay to park at the hotels (HRH) if I am staying there?
I saw somewhere that you can get this validated at a restaurant, is that correct?
How would that work?

Come to think of it - do you mind going over my plans with me to see if I my plans are good and cost-effective?

This trip is me, DH and DS (23) - we have never been.
We will be there 12/7-12/11.
1) AP Preferred
2) 3 day 1 park passes (from Costco possibly?)
4) nights @ HRH 2 Queen GV
1) AA pass - hoping for an upgrade to pool view.

Eating at a sit down once a day and a fast food once a day, I have allowed $200 per day for food.

I hope I put this in the right thread - thanks so much in advance!
Kelley

 

[macraven]

I have been searching for a while now so I thought I would just go ahead and ask you smart people.

So, even if I have an annual pass - I still have to pay to park at the hotels (HRH) if I am staying there?

yes, the hotel parking would be a cost per each night stay.
the hotels parking are separate charges than the parks.
I saw somewhere that you can get this validated at a restaurant, is that correct?
How would that work?

there is a parking charge for day visitors for the hotel parking lots.
some come to eat at the restuarants at the hotel.
for city walk, there has been some talk in past threads of parking validation from either a restaurant or cinema after a specific evening time period.
i don't see anyway around of by avoiding the hotel parking fees.

Come to think of it - do you mind going over my plans with me to see if I my plans are good and cost-effective?

This trip is me, DH and DS (23) - we have never been.
We will be there 12/7-12/11.
1) AP Preferred
2) 3 day 1 park passes (from Costco possibly?)
4) nights @ HRH 2 Queen GV
1) AA pass - hoping for an upgrade to pool view.

Eating at a sit down once a day and a fast food once a day, I have allowed $200 per day for food.

I hope I put this in the right thread - thanks so much in advance!
Kelley

your time period that you are going, is a great one.
the crowds will not be bad at all then.
weather could be a different issue.

if you can't get the cosco tickets or AAA tickets, the person that has the AP can buy discounted park tickets for the others.

your All Access pass can offer a free room upgrade.
ask when you check in if you are eligible and if upgrades are available.

if you don't buy alcoholic beverages, the $200 per day will be sufficient.

 

[pilferk]

walking will take you about 6 minutes.

if you take the water taxi, you are let out at the dock in city walk and still have a walk up the stairs to over the bridge to the entrance of IOA.


i would go with the walking

Thanks!

On a similar note:

We want to take advantage of Early Entry to WWOHP. How early should we get to the front gates of IOA? Park hours (current ones, anyway) say the park will be opening at 9 AM.

I was thinking we would want to be there around 7:30 AM.

It'll be a Thursday morning, the week before Columbus day.

 

[macraven]

Thanks!

On a similar note:

We want to take advantage of Early Entry to WWOHP. How early should we get to the front gates of IOA? Park hours (current ones, anyway) say the park will be opening at 9 AM.

I was thinking we would want to be there around 7:30 AM.

It'll be a Thursday morning, the week before Columbus day.

i'm staying on site and will be in that line also at 7:30 that october 6th...
if they let us in at 7:45, we will still have to wait in the seussland area until given the go ahead for potterland...

since you have littles, i suggest you do the olivanders before anything else once you have hit potterland.

if you are park hopping that day, the studios side should be getting more crowds around 3ish that day.
studios will close at 5 pm for hhn that night.

 

[pilferk]

i'm staying on site and will be in that line also at 7:30 that october 6th...
if they let us in at 7:45, we will still have to wait in the seussland area until given the go ahead for potterland...

since you have littles, i suggest you do the olivanders before anything else once you have hit potterland.

if you are park hopping that day, the studios side should be getting more crowds around 3ish that day.
studios will close at 5 pm for hhn that night.

LOL! There are going to be 7 of us (4 adults, 3 kids)...we'll probably be tough to miss!

I think the plan is to do Olivander's and then FJ...so good to hear that's probably the best idea! We'll be using child swap on FJ...my youngest is likely not going to be tall enough (it would actually be close...my kids are tall), and I"m not sure she'd really enjoy it. Sounds a little "intense" for her (she'll be 5 by the time we travel).

We're not park hopping...actually doing one day of IOA and then heading over to AKV (and for 2 of the adults ASM) for the rest of our vacation. We're arriving late on the 5th (driving down from CT), crashing for one night at the HRH JUST so we can do IOA on the 6th with UE/FOTL (for most of the rides) and EE to WWOHP (which seems to be worth it's weight in gold). Figure we should be able to knock out IOA in one day, that way. We MIGHT come back to USF later in the trip...that'll depend on what's going on at WDW and how tired we (and by we, I mean the ADULTS!) are.

Thanks for the advice and info!

 

[Disneysnel]

Thank you so much Macraven! You rock

 

[macraven]

 

[seetheworld]

I would be grateful for any advice. We are staying at The Royal Pacific for 3 nights after we finsih our WDW trip over Easter break. How soon should we leave our hotel in AM to use the extra hour to get in and get into IOA for Harry Potter? My dad is coming with us and this is the most important thing to him & we are pretty excited as well. Also, if anyone has any good tips, especially since it will be so crowded, I would be so appreciative.

 

[macraven]

I would be grateful for any advice. We are staying at The Royal Pacific for 3 nights after we finsih our WDW trip over Easter break. How soon should we leave our hotel in AM to use the extra hour to get in and get into IOA for Harry Potter? My dad is coming with us and this is the most important thing to him & we are pretty excited as well. Also, if anyone has any good tips, especially since it will be so crowded, I would be so appreciative.

i also stay at both resorts on the same visit.
i check out of the motherland resort before 7 in the morning.
i have car service pick me up at 7:00 and dropped off at RPH.

around 7:30, i have checked into the hotel, checked my luggage with valet and have my room keys in hand.

i usually miss traffic on the highway since i leave early.
very very few people at check in at the universal hotels in the early morning, so little or no wait.

short walk to IOA gate.

onsite and packaged guests show their hotel key and allowed to enter early,
around 8 in the morning.


you can do express check out at the disney resorts the night before you leave.
that always saves time.

the earliest i have ever checked into the
RPH has been 6:50 am.

 

[seetheworld]

i also stay at both resorts on the same visit.
i check out of the motherland resort before 7 in the morning.
i have car service pick me up at 7:00 and dropped off at RPH.

around 7:30, i have checked into the hotel, checked my luggage with valet and have my room keys in hand.

i usually miss traffic on the highway since i leave early.
very very few people at check in at the universal hotels in the early morning, so little or no wait.

short walk to IOA gate.

onsite and packaged guests show their hotel key and allowed to enter early,
around 8 in the morning.


you can do express check out at the disney resorts the night before you leave.
that always saves time.

the earliest i have ever checked into the
RPH has been 6:50 am.

Thank you Macraven! We appreciate your help SO much! You are awesome!

 

[macraven]

Thank you Macraven! We appreciate your help SO much! You are awesome!

you don't really have to say that because i would answer any question that i am knowledgeable on. i like to share what i have experienced personally to help others going through the newbie stage.
we all started there before.
but tanks.....

i started going to the motherland in 1974 and the darkside in 1993.
since 1993, i have made it a 2 week vacation each year and stay at both resorts.

i can't imagine going to orlando and not visiting both disney and universal.


i discovered HHN back in 1999 at Universal and have been attending that ever since each year.
i always hit the end of september for the motherland then transfer to the darkside hotels by oct 4th for 8 night stays.
this year i have a 16 day trip booked.


when you move to RPH, be sure to get the claim ticket when you store your belongings.
your items are locked and safe once you check them in with valet/luggage.

you do not have to stop by the front desk when you return to the hotel for a room number.
you can get a text or phone call to let you know the room number and time your room is available.
you can call star service on the phone in your room to have valet bring your luggage to your room.

or, you can request to have valet have all your luggage in your room once the room is ready, if you are present or not.

anything you need or if you have forgotten, can be done be calling the Star Service button on the phone in your guest room.

they will send any item to your room that you request.
toothpaste, razor, gel, toothbrush, etc.....you forgot yours....
they will replace it free, no charge.

also, if you want more pillows, blankets, brighter light bulbs for your room, call star service.
they will provide it for your comfort.

 

[Harry Potter]

I hope someone can advise me here.

I tried to extend my holiday with Virgin Holidays by an extra 2 days.

Instead of 7 nights at RPR (which I have already paid for), I wanted a quote for how much it would be for an extra 2 nights to bring the total to 9.

I checked on the Virgin Holidays website (as if I was booking a new holiday) for the dates I wanted, May 29-June 7. It came up as around £200 more than the 7 night package I booked at RPR previously.

However, when I phoned them immediately after checking on their website, they said they could extend it by 2 nights - for an extra £800! As if I'm going to pay £400 per night!

Why was I quoted more for a simple extension, compared to if I booked the same dates as a new holiday?

Underhand tactics maybe?

I know Virgin Holidays is inclusive of the flights from UK, too. But I find it hard to believe that the Tuesday night flight out of Orlando is already nearly full, hence the extra charge I am being given? Stupid.

 

[cmesq61]

Can anyone tell me about laundry facilities at RPR? Do they have them, how much, busy times, etc.? Thanks. 13 days till our 1st ever Universal trip!

 

[damo]

I hope someone can advise me here.

I tried to extend my holiday with Virgin Holidays by an extra 2 days.

Instead of 7 nights at RPR (which I have already paid for), I wanted a quote for how much it would be for an extra 2 nights to bring the total to 9.

I checked on the Virgin Holidays website (as if I was booking a new holiday) for the dates I wanted, May 29-June 7. It came up as around £200 more than the 7 night package I booked at RPR previously.

However, when I phoned them immediately after checking on their website, they said they could extend it by 2 nights - for an extra £800! As if I'm going to pay £400 per night!

Why was I quoted more for a simple extension, compared to if I booked the same dates as a new holiday?

Underhand tactics maybe?

I know Virgin Holidays is inclusive of the flights from UK, too. But I find it hard to believe that the Tuesday night flight out of Orlando is already nearly full, hence the extra charge I am being given? Stupid.

When you change your vacation dates, the hotel rates are altered to reflect current pricing. So there may not be the discounts that you secured with your original bookings.

 

[Harry Potter]

When you change your vacation dates, the hotel rates are altered to reflect current pricing. So there may not be the discounts that you secured with your original bookings.

Maybe you are right. I have long since given up on the idea of extending the vacation anyway. Shame, as an extra 2 nights would have given me the chance to do Busch Gardens and I daresay even a Disney waterpark. Oh well.

But regarding your theory

If somebody else booked my desired hotel dates (inc the 2 night extension), it would cost them £600 LESS than if I agreed to add 2 nights onto the end of my existing PAID-FOR holiday. Obviously I thought of cancelling what I had already booked, and then re-book again immediately with the new rates...until Virgin Holidays politely informed me that there would be a 50% penalty of my full holiday price if I wanted to cancel it.

So really, they knew they had me bent over backwards. It would have been cheaper to pay a ludicrous extra £400 per night for that 2 night extension, then it would to actually cancel the holiday and rebook (please note that as I am coming from the UK, this extra £800 fee would be inclusive of flights too, so it's not necessarily a problem with Loews, it's more than likely that there are not enough cheap seats left on the flight I wanted on the new proposed day to come home, thus the price of the seats suddenly got higher).

Don't get me wrong, I am still perfectly happy with my booking, and I will always use Virgin Holidays. From the UK, they are perfect and work closely with Loews in particular at UOR (not so much HRH), even having travel reps available at the hotel to sort out any queries first hand for their customers.

But I guess I'm just disappointed that I can't get those extra 2 nights at the advertised rate due to smallprint.

 

[Harry Potter]

I really want to learn a bit more about room service. Is it the same set menus for each hotel, or does each hotel have their own room service choices? From personal experience I have only ever been at RPR.

Does room service, include breakfast options? And if so, when can I start to order? I like to be on my way to IOA by 7.30 at the latest (for early entry), so if I can get breakfast to wake me up at say 7.00, that would be awesome.

I have only ever ordered dinner for room service, and that was at about 9pm, so I am new to these kind of things.

Is the service 24hr? And I presume alcohol wouldn't be 24hr even if the food/soda is. So when can I start ordering alcohol (lol only want it with a meal )?