I returned Tuesday, the 26th after staying 7 nights at Universal Orlando. Although I tried to pay close attention to detail, I just can't remember what we did every single day. (I'm getting old) So, I am going to divide my report into three categories, 1) The resorts,
2) The food and 3) The parks. I hope I don't bore anyone too much, as I am not nearly as talented a writer as most people on the board.
The "players" consist of me, age 45
My 14 year old son, Doug
My 10 year old daughter, Rachel
Doug's 16 year old friend, Chris
Due to the FOTL feature, I decided we would stay at least 5 nights on Universal property. I started calling several months ago to make ressies, and I was unable to get 5 nights in a row at either PB or HRH. I was able to make the first 3 nights at PB and the last 2 nights at HRH. I was able to get an entertainment rate at PB, of $187.50 per night for a bay view room, but had to pay rack rate for a garden view room at HRH, $205.00 per night.
When we finally pulled up to the Portofino Bay, I thought it was so beautiful that it took my breath away. I felt the same way when we entered the lobby, and also when we entered our room. The room was gorgeous, with a huge bathroom. I couldn't believe how big the bathroom was. I was surprised by the deep bathtub, definitely not what you would expect in a hotel room, but of course this wasn't just any hotel..... The beds at the PB were nothing short of heavenly. This is the only resort that I ever slept the entire first night, it usually takes me one night to just get used to the place. I was also very impressed with the pool. I thought the lava rocks were great and the slide was a blast, especially that zippy little drop!! After 3 nights it was time to move on, and I really hated to leave this place. However, it was easier leaving when I knew that I was going to the Hard Rock!!! Oh, I almost forgot to add, our original plan was to spend 3 nites at PB and 2 nites at HRH, but we were having so much fun, we decided to try and add 2 nites at HR. I called the front desk at the PB and they connected me with Loews Reservations. The lady told me the only thing available for the 2 nights we wanted was club level at $305.00 per night. I asked, don't you have any discount for that? She put me on hold and came back and offered the club level to me with a Loews First card discount of $239.00 per night, sounds good to me!!
We checked into the Hard Rock and had a garden view room. No one asked me about my Loew's First welcome gift, but I really didn't care. I was too busy looking at all of the Rock n Roll memoribilia all over the place. I had my camera out, walking around taking pictures of Eric Clapton's guitar, Elvis' clothes, Cher's dress, Elton's hats, well you get the picture, no pun intended. Wow! This was without a doubt the coolest place I have ever been, and where did they get all of the cool people that worked there? Did they advertise in the newspaper, cool people only need apply? No stiff shirts here. OUr room was great, although I have to admit that I liked the PB rooms better, but overall I really liked the HRH better. We stayed in our Garden view room for 2 nights, then had to check out to move up to the Club level. The Jefferson's theme song kept going through my head...Movin on up!!!
We moved up in the world to the 7th floor. I have to admit that I was disappointed that the room was exactly the same as the one I left, but they did have robes that weren't available in the Garden View. The Continental Breakfast was nice, we really appreciated having it, and the kids really took advantage of the soda. My daughter is a fruit lover and always was running to the lounge to get an apple or pear. I also enjoyed getting my morning paper here, something we did not get at the Garden View, but had previously received in the PB. Oh, I forgot to add that the pool is of course awesome, and my son and his friend had a blast playing basketball every night after the parks closed. I enjoyed the club level very much, but would not pay the full price $305.00 per night.
My impression of the resorts, I loved them both. But if they could take that heavenly room from the PB and put it over at the HRH, then we would have the perfect place. I had to laugh when we checked out of PB into HRH, my 14 yr old DS, said Thank God, we're out of Italy!!!!!!!!!
Hope I didn't bore you too much.
Kim
2) The food and 3) The parks. I hope I don't bore anyone too much, as I am not nearly as talented a writer as most people on the board.
The "players" consist of me, age 45
My 14 year old son, Doug
My 10 year old daughter, Rachel
Doug's 16 year old friend, Chris
Due to the FOTL feature, I decided we would stay at least 5 nights on Universal property. I started calling several months ago to make ressies, and I was unable to get 5 nights in a row at either PB or HRH. I was able to make the first 3 nights at PB and the last 2 nights at HRH. I was able to get an entertainment rate at PB, of $187.50 per night for a bay view room, but had to pay rack rate for a garden view room at HRH, $205.00 per night.
When we finally pulled up to the Portofino Bay, I thought it was so beautiful that it took my breath away. I felt the same way when we entered the lobby, and also when we entered our room. The room was gorgeous, with a huge bathroom. I couldn't believe how big the bathroom was. I was surprised by the deep bathtub, definitely not what you would expect in a hotel room, but of course this wasn't just any hotel..... The beds at the PB were nothing short of heavenly. This is the only resort that I ever slept the entire first night, it usually takes me one night to just get used to the place. I was also very impressed with the pool. I thought the lava rocks were great and the slide was a blast, especially that zippy little drop!! After 3 nights it was time to move on, and I really hated to leave this place. However, it was easier leaving when I knew that I was going to the Hard Rock!!! Oh, I almost forgot to add, our original plan was to spend 3 nites at PB and 2 nites at HRH, but we were having so much fun, we decided to try and add 2 nites at HR. I called the front desk at the PB and they connected me with Loews Reservations. The lady told me the only thing available for the 2 nights we wanted was club level at $305.00 per night. I asked, don't you have any discount for that? She put me on hold and came back and offered the club level to me with a Loews First card discount of $239.00 per night, sounds good to me!!
We checked into the Hard Rock and had a garden view room. No one asked me about my Loew's First welcome gift, but I really didn't care. I was too busy looking at all of the Rock n Roll memoribilia all over the place. I had my camera out, walking around taking pictures of Eric Clapton's guitar, Elvis' clothes, Cher's dress, Elton's hats, well you get the picture, no pun intended. Wow! This was without a doubt the coolest place I have ever been, and where did they get all of the cool people that worked there? Did they advertise in the newspaper, cool people only need apply? No stiff shirts here. OUr room was great, although I have to admit that I liked the PB rooms better, but overall I really liked the HRH better. We stayed in our Garden view room for 2 nights, then had to check out to move up to the Club level. The Jefferson's theme song kept going through my head...Movin on up!!!
We moved up in the world to the 7th floor. I have to admit that I was disappointed that the room was exactly the same as the one I left, but they did have robes that weren't available in the Garden View. The Continental Breakfast was nice, we really appreciated having it, and the kids really took advantage of the soda. My daughter is a fruit lover and always was running to the lounge to get an apple or pear. I also enjoyed getting my morning paper here, something we did not get at the Garden View, but had previously received in the PB. Oh, I forgot to add that the pool is of course awesome, and my son and his friend had a blast playing basketball every night after the parks closed. I enjoyed the club level very much, but would not pay the full price $305.00 per night.
My impression of the resorts, I loved them both. But if they could take that heavenly room from the PB and put it over at the HRH, then we would have the perfect place. I had to laugh when we checked out of PB into HRH, my 14 yr old DS, said Thank God, we're out of Italy!!!!!!!!!
Hope I didn't bore you too much.
Kim
clientele... any hotel that has Scooby Doo in a leather jacket is WAY 
