APH rates make me ponder switching from RPR to HRH

[Wee Annie]

So everyone here was kind enough to help me sort out which hotel was best for my family several weeks ago, and I decided on RPR. We have three daughters: 15, 13 and 7. I chose RPR because I valued proximity to the parks, the restaurants there appealed to me the most, and it was the least expensive. I currently have two connecting standard rooms booked there.

Now the APH rates have come out, and I see that I can get a good deal on a King Suite with a connecting two-queen room there. All five of us could sleep extremely comfortably (before, our youngest, who has separation anxiety, was going to sleep in the RPR room with my husband and I). I'm tempted to switch to the HRH hotel to this configuration. It will cost more money, but this is the last family vacation we'll be going on for a while.

Here are the reasons I decided against HRH before: honestly, the theme only appeals to my 13 year old; I was concerned about noise; and the restaurants didn't seem as appealing to me. Also, I had heard that the pool could get quite crowded, something that seriously bums my children out. They would rather have a less exciting pool with less people in it.

Can anyone speak to these concerns? I'm especially concerned about the noise, and the pool environment. But if you think the lesser expensive restaurants at HRH match up well (or don't) against those at RPR, I'd also like to hear about that.

I thought I had this decision made, but this King Suite with a connecting room configuration that's available at HRH is very, very tempting.

 

[damo]

At the RPR you could just use the double queen room for yourself, your husband and your youngest daughter and give the other room to the two other girls. They also have double queen connecting rooms if your teen daughters want their own beds.

I have never found noise at the HRH to be an issue. The pool can get crowded but you could always walk over to the PBH and use their pool which tends to be very, very quiet.

 

[Wee Annie]

Thanks, Damo.

I think the APH rates got me second guessing my choice of RPR. But it will cost more money to move to HRH, so perhaps we should just stay.

Does the pool get as crowded at RPR?

 

[damo]

Thanks, Damo.

I think the APH rates got me second guessing my choice of RPR. But it will cost more money to move to HRH, so perhaps we should just stay.

Does the pool get as crowded at RPR?

It doesn't seem to.

 

[Bluer101]

The pool at HRH can get very crowded at peak times and especially the summer. Normally around lunch and early afternoon it's hard to find any chairs. The pool itself gets very crowded. The other thing to consider is HRH pool is not really a swimming pool. It's pretty shallow in most all areas.

 

[Wee Annie]

The pool at HRH can get very crowded at peak times and especially the summer. Normally around lunch and early afternoon it's hard to find any chairs. The pool itself gets very crowded. The other thing to consider is HRH pool is not really a swimming pool. It's pretty shallow in most all areas.

Thanks for this feedback. This is not great for my older kids (one of whom is a swimmer). Then again, I doubt the RPR pool is much good for "real" swimming either.

 

[Wee Annie]

So I'm sticking with my initial decision, and staying with RPR. Just rebooked under APH rates to get a rate for two standard connecting rooms of $154 for 11/5 - 11/7, and $209 for 11/8 - 11/9. The APH will cost just a bit more than the 4 day park-to-park pass I was going to purchase, but will save us $500 on the room rate (so a net savings of over $300)

 

[bumbershoot]

had heard that the pool could get quite crowded, something that seriously bums my children out. They would rather have a less exciting pool with less people in it.

I doubt they'd love the HRH pool. As the other poster said, it's very shallow. DS and I couldn't figure out how to swim *at all* in it, actually.

RPR was way better for swimming. Best pool for actually swimming was the Portofino quiet pool, FYI.

Since pool-hopping is *encouraged*, be sure to check it out over there, especially if the swimmer in your group wants to do some laps.

We personally experienced noisy hallways at HRH, but there was a huge car dealership convention happening at the time. Which also caused the gorgeous wall of windows to be all curtained off for all of our stay (we were checking in as they put the curtains up) so that the off-the-lobby area could be used for private events. Serious bigtime bummer for me, because I loved that wall of windows and I wasn't invited to the events.


I think you're making a nice choice. RPR was our first Universal resort, and we're going back in October.

 

[justustoo]

DSs 18 and 20 and i were at HRH May 31-June 4. The pool was crowded, at least each time I went, and not swim friendly as its shallow and crowded. We were on the first floor, which was very convenient, but was noisy , especially noise coming from the pool area ( live bands, movies at night etc.). on,y restaurant we tried was Emacs- food was good but expensiv. And they didnt give AP discount.When we go back, I will pick one of the other resorts.

 

[Wee Annie]

Thanks justustoo,

it's good to hear feedback that makes me feel better about my resort choice I'm sure we'd be fine at HRH (and know some love it), but I was getting that vibe about the pool, and my kids may be odd, but they will forgo things like slides and cool aesthetics to have a calmer swimming experience. That being said, I understand that no place in Orlando will have a totally calm swimming experience, when they cater to families with children

My teens also don't like real "teen scenes," which led me to think HRH was not the place for us.

 

[Bluer101]

Thanks justustoo,

it's good to hear feedback that makes me feel better about my resort choice I'm sure we'd be fine at HRH (and know some love it), but I was getting that vibe about the pool, and my kids may be odd, but they will forgo things like slides and cool aesthetics to have a calmer swimming experience. That being said, I understand that no place in Orlando will have a totally calm swimming experience, when they cater to families with children

My teens also don't like real "teen scenes," which led me to think HRH was not the place for us.

You will have a blast. At RPR they also have all types of poolside activities and games. Plus they have water volleyball which is real fun. They also have the dive in movies at select nights depending on season.

You can do what our family does. We will dedicate (depending on how many days there) a few days for this. We will go to the parks in the morning with bathing suits, t shirts, and sandals on. We will ride a few non water rides. Then we will do the water rides in IOA over and over, unlimited express is great. Be sure to hit Jurrasic and stand in the splash zone. Then go into camp Jurrasic for some water cannon play time. After you get tired or lunch time head out and over to HRH. By the time we walk over there we are almost dry.

We will sit up in the Beach Club and order a nice lunch in the shade poolside. We will also grab some towels with our room key. Normally DW sits and relaxes while DS and I hit the pool ( the pool is a few steps away). While waiting for lunch we will hit the waterside a few times and chill. By that time lunches served. After a great lunch then all of us will take a swim and hang out. DS will get involved in poolside games while we chill.

After we have had enough we will towel up and catch the water taxi back to Citywalk then catch the water taxi to RPR. Go get showered up and chill in the rooms for a few. Then by this time hit dinner in Citywalk and depending on park hours hit a park after dinner. This is a blast and can't wait for our 9 day trip at the end of this month.