Where should we eat on arrival night?

[Susie22]

This is our first time at Universal. We will be getting to our hotel (RPR) around 7:30 after a long day and flight with six kids. Everyone will be tired. I'm getting an annual pass, but won't have purchased it yet. Where should we eat that first night? I think we'll want to stay at the hotel. Can I buy my annual pass at the hotel so I can get the discount for dinner? Should we eat at Islands, poolside bar, or another option? I read that Islands dinner has a $6 kids buffet. Does that run every night?

 

[Metro West]

I'm going to move this over to the Resorts Board since you're asking about restaurants at the resorts. The experts will give you their opinions.

 

[patster734]

I've never had dinner at Island, so I can't comment on the price or experience, but if you're looking for a place at RPR, Jake's American Bar is a good option.

Citywalk is only a boat ride/short walk away from RPR, and you'll have a lot more dining options there: Margaritaville, Nascar Cafe, Bubba Gumps, Latin Quarter, NBA City, Hard Rock Cafe, and Pastamore.

 

[Bluer101]

I've never had dinner at Island, so I can't comment on the price or experience, but if you're looking for a place at RPR, Jake's American Bar is a good option.

Citywalk is only a boat ride/short walk away from RPR, and you'll have a lot more dining options there: Margaritaville, Nascar Cafe, Bubba Gumps, Latin Quarter, NBA City, Hard Rock Cafe, and Pastamore.

I would vote for Jakes if you want to stay at the hotel or poolside at Bula Bar and Grill.

 

[Susie22]

Is Jake's more restaurant than bar? Seeing as I'm bringing six kids with me, Sweet Home Alabama comes to mind ... "You have a baby. In a bar." Hee hee hee

 

[patster734]

Is Jake's more restaurant than bar? Seeing as I'm bringing six kids with me, Sweet Home Alabama comes to mind ... "You have a baby. In a bar." Hee hee hee

Yes. Here's a menu for Jakes: http://www.universalorlando.com/Images/2011_Jakes_Menu_tcm13-17461.pdf

 

[damo]

I suggest buying your annual pass online so you can just pick it up at the ticket kiosk at the hotel while you are there. Much simpler than using your time at Guest Services at the park. I don't know if concierge at the hotel sells annual passes.

You could go out to the pool and eat at the Bula Bar if they are still open. They have yummy stuff. Not sure when you are going.

We really like The Islands. I believe there is the buffet every night.

 

[bumbershoot]

I suggest buying your annual pass online so you can just pick it up at the ticket kiosk at the hotel while you are there. Much simpler than using your time at Guest Services at the park. I don't know if concierge at the hotel sells annual passes.

Agreed.

I know nothing about the RP restaurants, sorry.

 

[macraven]

i had the breakfast and dinnners at Island Dining at rph in october.

the breakfast i loved, the dinner menu: http://www.universalorlando.com/Images/islands_fall_menu_tcm13-29626.pdf

i did not.

i'm not a fan of pan asian foods.
just a couple of entrees appealed to me.

follow this link for the kids menu:
http://www.universalorlando.com/Hot...c-Resort/Restaurants/Islands-Dining-Room.aspx

there is a separate room for kids dining but don't know if they had a buffet set up in that room or not.
i didn't see anything about the kids buffet for dinner on the menu i received but did pull up a link as listed above.


breakfast buffet for 12 and under is $10 per kid.


i think the bula bar of jakes is a better deal than the island for dinner.
i ate at both bula and jakes while i was staying at the hotel.

i was there for 10 days so when it was late, i ate at the hotel.

show your ap for a 10% discount.

 

[macraven]

We really like The Islands. I believe there is the buffet every night.

damo, i was there for 9 nights/10 days month before last and didn't see a buffet for the dinner hour for Islands.
the only nights i was not present at Islands area was on friday/saturday/sunday.

there is a breakfast buffet everyday of the week at Islands.
i think it is fabulous.

also the Kitchen has a fantastic breakfast buffet also at hrh.

 

[damo]

damo, i was there for 9 nights/10 days month before last and didn't see a buffet for the dinner hour for Islands.
the only nights i was not present at Islands area was on friday/saturday/sunday.

there is a breakfast buffet everyday of the week at Islands.
i think it is fabulous.

also the Kitchen has a fantastic breakfast buffet also at hrh.

It is the buffet for the kids in their own special room, not an adult buffet. It is in the room where the breakfast buffet is held and they have the dvds playing in there and the buffet is set up along the back wall of that room. Hmmmm, wonder if it isn't there anymore or it was just not obvious to see. On the kids' menu is says that there is a buffet on select nights. I have no idea which nights that would be.

OP, you can just email the hotel and they'll give you that info.

 

[macraven]

no, i saw the kids room.
it is open to the dining room and located at the end of the building of the restaurant.

have not seen any kids in there but then, there never is much of a crowd at the dinner hour at Islands.

that is what i should have said in my prior post.
did not see any kids in that kid's room .......

 

[damo]

no, i saw the kids room.
it is open to the dining room and located at the end of the building of the restaurant.

have not seen any kids in there but then, there never is much of a crowd at the dinner hour at Islands.

that is what i should have said in my prior post.
did not see any kids in that kid's room .......

Maybe it is just on weekends now.

 

[Susie22]

Thanks for your great suggestions everyone!

 

[macraven]

susie, city walk is very close to rph.
if you go with the walking path and come out by margarittaville, that would only take you 5 minutes to get there.

Moes, Burger King, Panda are in city walk and very low priced compared to the restaurants.

you could easily feed your family there that night of arrival a lot cheaper than the hotel i am guessing.

city walk closes at 2:00 am every night.

there are quite a few eateries at CW that do stop serving food at midnight.

thought i would give you another option of cheap eating for that night.


top of the walk in city walk food court has the above places:

http://www.universalorlando.com/Restaurants/CityWalk-Casual-Dining.aspx


http://www.universalorlando.com/Nightlife/Citywalk-Nightlife.aspx is the main thread but go thru to see all of the places here.

 

[TheAviator]

I loved Jakes and its right there at your hotel. But Tchoup Choup if you want to go ahead and do a little more elegant dining, also at your hotel, I could alternate from those 2 every night, I really like them both. Jakes is more casual but great menu, not so pricey.

 

[d-r]

Its been a while since I've been here, but we've been to the character meal at Islands three times and they always had a bigger menu than the one posted on the web, things like burgers and steaks, they must have changed it though.

 

[macraven]

Its been a while since I've been here, but we've been to the character meal at Islands three times and they always had a bigger menu than the one posted on the web, things like burgers and steaks, they must have changed it though.

the dinner menu was changed 15+ months ago to pan asian.

 

[pigletto]

I think we'll give Jakes a try on this trip. We always end up at CityWalk because there's so many choices, so we've never tried any of the RPR restaurants on our trips.

 

[macraven]

Jakes is good, i usually eat there a few times during my stay at rph.


you can pull up their menu now and see the items they have available.