Anyone Game? It’s my Sep 2013 Blog! I'm home; with a TR link in #1189, 10/14

[WanderlustNZ]

Apparently the staff there are less caring than at the other two hotels. Price wise, it comes in between Hard Rock (most expensive) and Royal Pacific (least).

Interesting about the prices. Back when I booked, HRH was considerably cheaper than Portofino and not too much more expensive than RPR. The prices must vary a lot with the specials.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Oh, I suppose that's a valid reason for a not so positive review.

From what I remember of the area, I did see Portofino from the speeding car as we drove up. It did look lovely. If it weren't for those reviews, I think I would have booked Portofino without any issue. But given that I'm not ready to book right now, I might wait a while to see.

Interesting about the prices. Back when I booked, HRH was considerably cheaper than Portofino and not too much more expensive than RPR. The prices must vary a lot with the specials.

Seems like there is $20 per night difference between HRH to PBR and another $20 per night difference between PBR to RPH. $40 per night difference in total.

 

[zanzibar138]

From what I remember of the area, I did see Portofino from the speeding car as we drove up. It did look lovely. If it weren't for those reviews, I think I would have booked Portofino without any issue. But given that I'm not ready to book right now, I might wait a while to see.

If that's the one I liked the look of best, I don't think I'd let reviews about less than perfect customer service stop me booking there. Different if the staff are just plain rude or something, but the things I look out for in reviews are mainly comments about the rooms being dirty, noisy, or poky. Everyone has different priorities. Great staff do make a difference though, so it's a tough one

 

[PrincessInOz]

If that's the one I liked the look of best, I don't think I'd let reviews about less than perfect customer service stop me booking there. Different if the staff are just plain rude or something, but the things I look out for in reviews are mainly comments about the rooms being dirty, noisy, or poky. Everyone has different priorities. Great staff do make a difference though, so it's a tough one

That's what one or two of the comments were about. Front desk staff being rude, housekeeping requests being ignored.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Seems like the DisANZACs have been having a little poll on this matter and that HRH is the resort of choice for the Anzacs.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3098486



Feel free to vote and add to the chatter.

 

[ACDSNY]

Dibber dobber!




If NO one tells Mickey, he'll never ever really know.

(You reading this, ACDSNY!!!!???)

I'm an not a Dibber dobber.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm an not a Dibber dobber.

I LOVE it! That's a great picture!!!

 

[skier_pete]

I have no vote. However, I am 100% about the perks. I would go to the cheapest hotel that still gave me FOTL, but that is just me. I just had some friends go down and they stayed at the cheap one. (What is that, Royal Pacific). They were 5 in a room and thought it was great (3 teens) for 2 nights. They were barely at the hotel between the parks and city walk. Glad they didn't bother with more expensive hotels.

Pete


FYI - I drank a lot of wine tonight - so I can't vouch for myself or my comments.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I have no vote. However, I am 100% about the perks. I would go to the cheapest hotel that still gave me FOTL, but that is just me. I just had some friends go down and they stayed at the cheap one. (What is that, Royal Pacific). They were 5 in a room and thought it was great (3 teens) for 2 nights. They were barely at the hotel between the parks and city walk. Glad they didn't bother with more expensive hotels.

Pete


FYI - I drank a lot of wine tonight - so I can't vouch for myself or my comments.

Enjoy your wine.


And thanks for the feedback.

 

[zanzibar138]

I do have to agree with skier_pete really. None of them seem bad, I'd probably just go with the cheapest one

 

[PrincessInOz]

I do have to agree with skier_pete really. None of them seem bad, I'd probably just go with the cheapest one

AND Emeril's Tchoup Chop!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Plans as they stand for October 9 – October 10; The Last Days



Where are we going?

On Oct 9, we start making our way home and will be flying out of MCO to LAX. I’ve opted to spend a night in LA rather than having the long flight home. It is a very personal thing as to whether to stopover or not but I’ve found from experience that my family does prefer to have the additional night in LA before heading home.



What are we doing?

This part of the trip is something that I have not even thought about. Suffice to say, we will probably do some sightseeing in LA proper. Believe it or not, we have NOT taken DS to see Graumans, the Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive etc.


The plans here are really non-plans at this stage!



Where are we staying?

I have not yet worked this one out. There is a myriad of hotels in LA, from inexpensive to expensive. DH and I have had a chat about this….we will not be staying around the airport for the one night. So, I am looking around Hollywood for this night.



We will be arriving home on Saturday 12 October, 4 weeks after we left. I expect we will be ready to be home by that stage!

 

[rentayenta]

Thanks for the photo! I am like Jenny (if she will verify) I want to see you all and faces! I love people! and love to see the whole people part! I recognize Zanzibar from her TR but enjoy putting names to faces especially when they post on my TR! I love new 2D friends because who knows if they might become 3D friends!. When I first commented on your TR back in 2010 I had no idea what great friends we would become!

I can't wait for all the fun we will have this year on this meet!

Verified. I like faces and people too. And I like whole people parts.

I have to say ladies, I really wish I was going on y'alls trip. Its going to be a blast.

I think LA proper will be fun. I'm not a huge fan of Hollywood and all that but if DS hasn't visited there, you should check it out.

I can't believe your trip is 4 weeks total.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Verified. I like faces and people too. And I like whole people parts.

I have to say ladies, I really wish I was going on y'alls trip. Its going to be a blast.

I think LA proper will be fun. I'm not a huge fan of Hollywood and all that but if DS hasn't visited there, you should check it out.

I can't believe your trip is 4 weeks total.

A nice. short. vacay.

Wish you could swing coming along too.

And I'm with you. I've not been a big fan of LA proper in the past; but its time to make another visit for DS.

 

[zanzibar138]

We haven't done LA yet either - doesn't really interest me TBH. The closest I got was going through on the way to Universal. But MinnieSueOz seemed to find some good stuff to do there

Do you have some more time off to recover from your holiday? Or is straight back to work/school for all of you?

 

[ACDSNY]

The older I get the more I enjoy the longer vacations so 4 weeks sounds wonderful.

 

[Fairy Floss]

4 weeks!

How wonderful!
Can't wait to follow your adventures

 

[dgbg100106]

4 weeks sounds amazing...

David and I have done 3 weeks in the Baltics, but never 4, that is my new goal. You are my idol...

 

[Aussie Wendy]

We stayed a couple of nights at Orchid Suites Hotel-right behind Hollywood and Highland Centre so less than 5 mins walk to all shops and eateries there, the Kodak Theatre, Disney store across the road, Graumanns next door, wax museum down the street etc. Easy to walk to all the main Hollywood sights, catch HOHO bus if you want or train into town or bus to eg the Farmers Market and the Grove (or cab if you wanted). Great location. Place doesn't look like much from the outside but inside was clean and comfortable, had a kitchenette and table and chairs etc which we like rather than just a hotel room, included a simple continental breakfast we took back to our room to eat, has a pool for DS. We also used their recommended car hire service to take us to the airport on the way back and they were great too (I'd have to look his name up).

 

[kmedina]

Awesome. We like LA, Hollywood. You should check the El Capitan theatre out. It is always showing a Disney movie but tickets sell out ahead of time. Buy them online at least a week before.

A four week vacation would be my dream. My old employer never allowed more than 2 weeks off at a time (except when I had Xander, they let me take 6 weeks. Crap has never taken more than 2 weeks off at a time (even when Xander was born). He took less than that when Connor was born.

Is September your summer season, and that is the reason DS can be gone so long?