4 Adults & 2 Kids - best hotel?

[Karenj2]

I'm a Disney freak, and have never had any desire to go to US or IoA while staying on Disney property. (I've got a misguided sense of loyalty, I guess.)

DH and DBil bugged my sister and I to go to US/IoA last year but we didn't, so I figured I should check into it for our 2009 trip...

I know nothing - can you point me in the right direction?

BTW - the kids are going to be 4 & 9.

 

[CarltonFamily5]

Hey Karen,

First of all you guys will LOVE US/IOA and that's coming from a HUGE Disney family. We've stayed at GF, WL and AKL and I have to tell you we did the Hard Rock Hotel in Dec 07 and we had the time of our lives. There is just no comparison for us between the rooms and ammenities at HRH and the disney properties. HRH wins hands down. We loved every minute and are planning our return trip now for this December!

We have 3 kids - 3/5/7 and Islands of Adventure was an absolute highlight of our last trip. We stayed all day and loved every minute of exploring that park - you will not be disappointed!

There's room for all the orlando parks on your vacation, so have fun!!

Robin

 

[macraven]

When i go to orlando, i stay on site at both wdw and universal.
i could not chose between them

i go solo now and have no problem doing both parks alone.
i am completely and totally addicted to universal's HHN.

i have done mnsshp 4 times and it is cute but nothing like HHN......

read up on the stickies on each forum to get an idea of what the park has to offer.

go to the universalorlando.com website and use the interactive map to explore the parks.

read new and old trip reports in the UO forum section.
you will see many pictures in the reports.

you are not forsaking the mouse to take a trip to the darkside.
you can enjoy them both for what they have to offer you.

potter island will be going in at UO and a whole new adventure lies ahead for the newbies out there.

 

[Karenj2]

Thanks for the input, folks!

Are there any 2br suites that won't break the bank, or should/can we just get connecting rooms? Any votes for hotels other than Hard Rock Hotel?

Are there shuttles from MCO to the hotels?

And, most importantly - does anyone know when the Harry Potter island will be open? Have they even started construction? (We are ALL HP fans!)

 

[calgarygary]

Sorry the 2 bedroom suites do break the bank so you should look at 2 rooms - someone else will help you about the connecting issue.

We absolutely love PBH, it has a great pool for your kids and there is no way to accurately describe how romantic music of the night is other than to say, are you looking for a third child!

There are no free shuttles from MCO but the cab will only set you back a portion of the price difference between a Loews hotel and a WDW deluxe. (I still don't get how anyone thinks that the ME is free - it's built into the cost of the rooms and those that don't use it are subsidizing those that do.)

HP likely won't open until late 2009, others may have more specific info.

 

[macraven]

Thanks for the input, folks!

Are there any 2br suites that won't break the bank, or should/can we just get connecting rooms? Any votes for hotels other than Hard Rock Hotel?

Are there shuttles from MCO to the hotels?

And, most importantly - does anyone know when the Harry Potter island will be open? Have they even started construction? (We are ALL HP fans!)

i have stayed at all 3 onsite hotels.

i suggest you get 2 connecting rooms. leave the door open between the rooms if you like. you would have 2 bathrooms, extra sinks, tv, wallsafes, closet space, etc.

you could get a queen deluxe and one standard room to cut costs.

i prefer the hrh due to the proximity to the parks. that is just me.

the pbh rooms are larger than hrh.
the west wing has suites that are wonderful.

construction has already started on potter land.
opening date is projected for later 09 with more additions to that park as time goes by.

car service for me was $50 from mco to universal.
taxi is another possibility.
mears has a van also that you book in advance for uo transportation from mco.

read some of the stickies and check out the hotel section on the universalorlando.com website.


some here can help you more when you make a decision when you decide to book.

 

[macraven]

came back to add that if you have more than 2 adults in a room, there is an extra nightly fee. disney does it the same way.

if you book 2 rooms, make sure you only have 2 adults booked per room.
you can have 5 people total booked per room but use it to your advantage.

if you have the connecting rooms, you can break up your group as you wish.
it is at the time of booking that will matter on the extra cost.

 

[Karenj2]

We absolutely love PBH, it has a great pool for your kids and there is no way to accurately describe how romantic music of the night is other than to say, are you looking for a third child!

The kids aren't mine - they're my nephew/niece!

I'd settle for a first kid! (I keep trying for a WDW souvenier, but it hasn't happened yet...)

Dumb question, which hotel is PBH?

 

[gschmerl]

PBH is the Portofino Bay Hotel. It is not as convenient to the parks as the Hard Rock or Royal Pacific. I would stick with the Hard Rock if I were you. The rooms are bigger than the Royal Pacific and it's such an easy walk to the parks.

 

[calgarygary]

PBH is the Portofino Bay Hotel. It is not as convenient to the parks as the Hard Rock or Royal Pacific. I would stick with the Hard Rock if I were you. The rooms are bigger than the Royal Pacific and it's such an easy walk to the parks.

The PBH is still very convenient to the parks - I've usually found the boat service to be within minutes, shuttle for stormy days, and it is only a 10 minute further walk than HRH. Also, it looks like HRH will not be participating in the LF benefits in the future.