At Hard Rock now... eh

[macraven]

You didn't say which resort you stayed at Disney?

in her siggie she has Caribbean Beach-August 25, 2012-September 2,2012, so maybe that is what she is comparing the darkside hotel to.

that hotel is a moderate so it would be less than the darkside resorts.

not sure if motherland rates have increased this year from last year.

 

[Sheaboys]

in her siggie she has Caribbean Beach-August 25, 2012-September 2,2012, so maybe that is what she is comparing the darkside hotel to.

that hotel is a moderate so it would be less than the darkside resorts.

not sure if motherland rates have increased this year from last year.

Believe me, I am well aware of the price difference. I knew that going in. I guess that is why, again, I expected a bit more from Hard Rock. It just did not impress me, like I thought it would. Again, I did not ask or expect compensation, for not having room access for nearly 8 hours. For one, rooms were ready at 8am, which I did not expect, only could get into 1 of those rooms. I understand people scamming the system and handing off tickets to people in the express line, and the resorts way of handling it (paper pictured tickets), I just found these tickets, room keys, park tickets, and city walk access tickets (although never used), just a pain to carry and hand out to my 5 kids over 3 days, trying to keep those express passes "safe", from ripping etc. But again, it is their way, I just think, there must be a better way for resort guest to have just 1. I have a hard seasons pass to a six flags park with my picture on it. They should consider that for hotel guests, so it keeps resorts room keys, park tickets and express pass access all in 1 place.

I don't think it matters what price you pay for something, front desk should have taken care of the room issue, long before we returned from the parks, especially since we told them 2x, before heading to the parks. I even told them when we would return from the parks. Like I said, just disappointed and not impressed. Not a money issue. We do moderate at disney because we like those resorts, not because of the price.

The parks, we liked, we loved the benefit of unlimited express passes, again, I just think they could do the ticket situation better.

 

[Bluer101]

We just put our AP, express pass, and hotel key in the lanyard pouch, problem solved. The express and AP can both be scanned through the pouch. We keep one barcode out one side and the other facing the other side. Then we put our room key and money in between.

 

[Sheaboys]

We just put our AP, express pass, and hotel key in the lanyard pouch, problem solved. The express and AP can both be scanned through the pouch. We keep one barcode out one side and the other facing the other side. Then we put our room key and money in between.

Absolutely doable, and I would have, if, I did not have to pay $5+ for each lanyard, times 5 kids and myself. Because there was no way 6 express passes and room keys are going to fit into one, or even be remotely doable.
For the savings of another $30+, I just carried it all. Just a pain. Not to mention when the older 2 (15 and 13) finished Rip Rocket, we were wearing out swimsuits to hit the pool as soon as we finished at the parks. They and myself forgot about them giving them to me, when the jumped in the pool with them in their pockets. Did not realize until the next day when I was dishing them out for all of us to ride a ride. So.... when we returned they had to reset their key cards, and get new ones. Not a big deal, again just a pain. But, you can't win them all I guess. It is what it is.

 

[waikiki]

Next time, I recommend Tripadvisor, Google and Youtube. it clearly gives you an idea of ​​what you get for your money.

 

[Sheaboys]

Next time, I recommend Tripadvisor, Google and Youtube. it clearly gives you an idea of ​​what you get for your money.

I did alot of research, but I saw nothing of pass situation, other than staying on site offers you unlimited express passes. As for "what you get for your money", I knew how much I paid for the rooms, I knew there was $18 a night to park (I did not just show up and find out, but still annoyed by that), I did not see anything about WIFI being an extra charge, but I could have missed that, as I just assumed it would have been (my mistake in assuming).

Again, I am not complaining about how much I paid, just surprised by what you did not get for the price. Like a call to confirm we were all set with our 2nd room, again I was not looking for compensation, things happen with electronics I understand that.

Live and learn, I am ok with that. But I can't see us going again anytime soon. Glad we did, but again, most likely will not be returning for quite along time. It was probably just a real inconvenience for me, being the only parent with 5 kids. So I look for the easy simple way to get things done and convenience (hence staying onsite).

 

[Bluer101]

Absolutely doable, and I would have, if, I did not have to pay $5+ for each lanyard, times 5 kids and myself. Because there was no way 6 express passes and room keys are going to fit into one, or even be remotely doable.
For the savings of another $30+, I just carried it all. Just a pain. Not to mention when the older 2 (15 and 13) finished Rip Rocket, we were wearing out swimsuits to hit the pool as soon as we finished at the parks. They and myself forgot about them giving them to me, when the jumped in the pool with them in their pockets. Did not realize until the next day when I was dishing them out for all of us to ride a ride. So.... when we returned they had to reset their key cards, and get new ones. Not a big deal, again just a pain. But, you can't win them all I guess. It is what it is.

I have purchased over the years a lot of lanyards too. I have even purchased lanyards for my DW's brothers friends that have joined us. It's just easier to hold. We used lanyards when it was only our AP years ago when staying offsite. Then staying onsite we only had our room key and AP. then about 1 1/2 years ago they implemented the photo express.

One think I could agree on is they could take your photo at the counter and add it to the room key. Then there is no need for the paper express.

 

[rowan555]

I must admit, when I began last month to do research for our trip to Universal, I was quite taken aback at the Express Pass process. I simply assumed the resort key would have our name and photo on it, and that would serve as our entry into the park (if we got our tickets through Universal's site) and our express passes. I'm certainly not going to let it bug me too much, but it seems odd, for sure. When the dinky water parks in our area give you a plastic photo card with your $45 annual pass, it seems Universal could make photo cards/room keys/express passes for the $1,000 or so we're spending the 4 days we're there. I imagine there's a lot more to it than that...it just surprised me to learn that wasn't how it was done.

 

[damo]

Because Universal doesn't run the Loews hotels, I am sure there are more cards than there would be if they did. The plastic door key is a Loews card and the express pass is a Universal card. With all the convention people that go through the onsite hotels and never step foot in the parks, Loews probably doesn't want to have to have all of them getting their photos taken unnecessarily.

 

[Kristine316]

I am with those that weren't impressed with HRH. We haven't stayed at the other two Universal onsite hotels but, plan to stay at RPR this coming January.

I felt very nickel and dimed at HRH.. and I realize all of the Universal on site hotels nickel and dime you to death. I just feel if you spend hundreds of bucks a night for a hotel, parking and wifi should be included.. maybe I am asking too much.. I don't know.

I definitely think the vast majority of people stay on site for the Unlimited Express Pass.. so I am sure they figure they could throw us a tent, some pillows and a blanket and we would still stay onsite for that pass. Charging us for every little thing is just what we have to put up with.

I think the pass is invaluable. It is a key to walk on pretty much every ride with little to no wait. As much as I love Disney, Universal offers me a better experience in their parks because of that magical little pass... Disney doesn't charge us to park or use wifi but, they also don't give us a pass to avoid waiting in most lines at their parks. I say Universal wins that one.

 

[Bluer101]

I am with those that weren't impressed with HRH. We haven't stayed at the other two Universal onsite hotels but, plan to stay at RPR this coming January.

I felt very nickel and dimed at HRH.. and I realize all of the Universal on site hotels nickel and dime you to death. I just feel if you spend hundreds of bucks a night for a hotel, parking and wifi should be included.. maybe I am asking too much.. I don't know.

I definitely think the vast majority of people stay on site for the Unlimited Express Pass.. so I am sure they figure they could throw us a tent, some pillows and a blanket and we would still stay onsite for that pass. Charging us for every little thing is just what we have to put up with.

I think the pass is invaluable. It is a key to walk on pretty much every ride with little to no wait. As much as I love Disney, Universal offers me a better experience in their parks because of that magical little pass... Disney doesn't charge us to park or use wifi but, they also don't give us a pass to avoid waiting in most lines at their parks. I say Universal wins that one.

You will have to pay for wifi in all 3 hotels if you want it in your room. There is free wifi in the lobby areas for everyone. As for parking Loews charges someone for parking if they bring a car. If you choose to valet or self park that's your choice but you will pay. At Disney if you bring a car or not everyone pays, it's in the price.

I'm not a fan of HRH for staying we do however enjoy the pool and lunch poolside. We are strictly a RPR family much more laid back and relaxing. You get that warm feeling every time we are there, just like home.

To stay at Disney a couple hundred a night would not get you a deluxe hotel which is compared to universals hotels. So for us Universal offers a better overall deal. This is one if the reasons we keep coming back.

 

[damo]

I am with those that weren't impressed with HRH. We haven't stayed at the other two Universal onsite hotels but, plan to stay at RPR this coming January.

I felt very nickel and dimed at HRH.. and I realize all of the Universal on site hotels nickel and dime you to death. I just feel if you spend hundreds of bucks a night for a hotel, parking and wifi should be included.. maybe I am asking too much.. I don't know.

I definitely think the vast majority of people stay on site for the Unlimited Express Pass.. so I am sure they figure they could throw us a tent, some pillows and a blanket and we would still stay onsite for that pass. Charging us for every little thing is just what we have to put up with.

I think the pass is invaluable. It is a key to walk on pretty much every ride with little to no wait. As much as I love Disney, Universal offers me a better experience in their parks because of that magical little pass... Disney doesn't charge us to park or use wifi but, they also don't give us a pass to avoid waiting in most lines at their parks. I say Universal wins that one.

But Disney does actually charge for wifi, parking, ME, etc....they just hide it in the prices of their mod and deluxe hotels. If you look at the prices of the deluxe hotels they are at least $100 more per night than the deluxe Universal hotels even if you include the price of parking and wifi in the Universal hotels.

For some reason, people just don't compare prices and see what value they are actually getting at the UO hotels. I've done comparisons many times and posted them here and Disney ALWAYS comes out way more expensive for the comparables of a deluxe hotel within walking distance of the parks. However, because the Disney value hotels are cheaper, that is what UO hotels tend to get compared to when people think Universal is so much more expensive.

 

[mischief32]

Personally I like the HRH. We had stayed only at RPR up until last DEcember and my family feel in love with the HRH. It was the closest to the parks and we just loved the vibe. If anyone nickels and dimes you it is Disney. At Disney unless you eat the one of the nicer restuarants I was not impressed with the food. I only used Wifi a little bit since we were either at the parks or the pools most of the time. They do call it a vacation so put down the electronics and have some fun. I can not afford to stay at a deluxe hotel at Disney but I can at Universal. I even asked my daughter where she preferred to go either Disney or Universal for an upcoming trip and hands down she wanted to stay at Universal and HRH. She is only 7. She loves the thrill rides.

 

[RMulieri]

But Disney does actually charge for wifi, parking, ME, etc....they just hide it in the prices of their mod and deluxe hotels. If you look at the prices of the deluxe hotels they are at least $100 more per night than the deluxe Universal hotels even if you include the price of parking and wifi in the Universal hotels.

For some reason, people just don't compare prices and see what value they are actually getting at the UO hotels. I've done comparisons many times and posted them here and Disney ALWAYS comes out way more expensive for the comparables of a deluxe hotel within walking distance of the parks. However, because the Disney value hotels are cheaper, that is what UO hotels tend to get compared to when people think Universal is so much more expensive.

I agree with you 100%..My Universal trips of comparable stays at Disneys Beach Club resort or Polynesian resort and for the same amount of time is always CHEAPER and by quite a bit..I think the last trip was almost $2000 LESS than what we paid at Disney .I am not sure why people think that Universal should not be as expensive as Disney or should be a bargain vacation , it is still a themepark destination and in direct competition with the mouse house down the road .If you are used to paying for a value/moderate resort, YES it is going to be expensive at Universal.The Universal resorts ( the current 3), are DELUXE resorts in a PRIMO location.It would be like expecting to get a room at the Contemporary at the rate of Pop Century..not going to happen..But even at the deluxe pricing, the Universal resorts are still ( most of the time) MUCH cheaper than what Disney Considers deluxe.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Agree with the ain't worth it fans.

Just got back couple of weeks ago. Not worth the added money.

We enjoyed the movie at night once, and thekids loved the slide. But was not worth added $.

They also gave us a view of the valet and called it garden view.
Later they switched for me, but still trying to pass off the room they gave me as a garden view was sad.