Back from RPR!! Awesome resort!!

[*Fantasia*]

We just got back last night from Universal/Disney trip!! We had a wonderful time!!

We were suppose to stay at RPR for the whole 7 nights but decided to do Disney for the last 2 nights. We stayed at ASSp.

So from 4/17--4/22 we were at RPR. This place is beautiful!!! The staff is wonderful!! Everyone I met was sooo friendly and helpful. They are just great!! We got the std room. King size bed and a love seat with ottaman (leg rest). Yep garden view is what we had. It was facing the front entrance. We couldn't see the parking lot cause of the tall palm trees. We had a nice view of the Incredible Hulk coaster and that 2 towers that is a drop ride( I don't know what its called for I don't like those kinds of rides). It was awesome view. We saw the fireworks from our room. The fireworks was at IOA. I think this is every nite cause we saw the fireworks again...but this time...from the pool!!! Oh it was awesome!!!!

BRB...gotta do my laundry!!! I will continue...later...

 

[*Fantasia*]

Im back!!

The walk to IOA was about 10 minute. The water taxi is comes every 20 minute and stops at the City Walk which is nice, the walk is short to IOA. The bus comes about every 30 minute. It stops at Portofino first and then to Hard Rock, then to Universal.

It seems like we are always the only ones taking the bus. Probably most of the guest are already in the parks. Anyway...this is kewl cause we always have the bus to ourselves. The water taxi was nice...ver relaxing.

The kids got their seashells necklace and pail and shovel.

The pool was awesome! The deepest it comes is 4'7ft. The water is heated, very comfortable. You can rent the floaties for $10 a day. The beach was so kewl too!! The volleyball court is on the beach.

One afternoon, we pool hopped to HRH. It was very nice. The sand was right there at the pool. The water was cold. Maybe they forgot to turn the heat on...I don't know. All I know is that the water at RPH is definitely warmer which is great! I surely don't mind staying here at HRH.

The food is expensive here. Our first night we called a room service. I had chicken...it was very good!! Then that morning..again we had a room service. It was very pricey. We did most of our eating at the parks. We ate at City Walk...Hard Rock Cafe and NBA. Very kewl restaurant.

We did the Wantilan Luau. Unfortunately they had to have it at the Pacifica Ballroom due to the weather. It didn't even rain that night...but I guess they just wanted to play it safe. It was great. The food was...well...not soo much to choose from. Either that or I am just picky. The hula gurls were great.

We did the Easter dining at Islands. The food was ok. Maybe I was just being picky that's all. The kids and I got our pix taken with the Easter Bunny. Poloroid was used, so we were able to see our pix right away.

We did character meal at Islands. This time I didn't do the buffet. I ordered from the menu. I ordered the chicken that I had when we first got to this resort...again it was delicious!
Scooby and Shaggy was there. We were almost done with our food and still no Saggy or Scooby come to our table. The lady came up to me and ask me if we were visited yet. I said well it's been 45 minutes and we are practically done with our lunch. I mentioned that it was my birthday so...a few minutes later...Shaggy and Scooby came to our table. Shaggy holding a plate of cake (the cake was nicely decorated w/ a candle) and they started singing happy birthday. It was really nice!! My son got the autograph and pix.

Any questions??

 

[luckytso]

*Fantasia* welcome back. Glad you had a good trip. Did you like WDW or Universal better this time? Was it a let down to go to Universal first and then WDW afterwards?

How did your kids like the interactive water play area?

Thanks

 

[pathubia]

Welcome back!!

Did your kids do the Easter Egg hunt. It was a zoo.

I cant wait to go back.

Patty

 

[*Fantasia*]

It was not a let down for us when we did Universal first and then Disney last. I think it made our trip even more magical when when we saw Cindy's Castle and Mickey and friends and our favorite rides. One thing I regret though which was not thoroughly planned cause this is our visit to Universal was that... staying at Universal longer than staying at Disney. The whole plan was to stay at Universal but...the kids (4 & 6) can only do so much at USF/IOA.

BTW...If you're going to do Universal...plzzz....stay on their property! We took advantage of FOTL. It was great!! If I have to pay for rack rate on those resorts...I think I would have to...just to have that FOTL benefit.

I bought the 5 consecutive days pass from the website. I did the e-machine at USF, very easy to do. We were at the parks everyday except Easter. We did the Easter lunch and just pretty much lounge around the hotel. This was our quiet relaxing day and we needed it cause everyday we are at the parks.

We did One fish two fish...sooo many times...ride after ride after ride. We also did Cat in the Hat...again...sooo many times. We did Jaws. The kids got scared. I told them that it is not real. MIB...OH BOY...I didn't know that the car was going to spin like crazy!!!...I thought I was going to throw up!! My son loved it!! My poor daughter she was scared of the ride and those aliens. AHHHH...the famous Spiderman ride that I always hear about. Well...my son loved it!!! I...well...I don't like to be jerked around soo much!! I got a headache from it. My daughter...again...she got scared. Unfortunately...we never rode those rides twice. Oh yes..Woody Woodpecker....I don't like roller coaster...but I must say...Oh yeah oh yeah...I liked this ride!! But unfortunately my kids didn't care for it...I think they were scared. They palyed at the Curious George. I made sure they have bathing suite underneath their clothes. UMMMM...what else...

All in all...we enjoyed ourselves at Universal! Since it was our first time...I was sooo excited and I was very facinated about everything. The food here seems cheaper that Disney. I purchased our refillable Spongebob mug...it was sooo worth it!! $.89 cent for refill. Then the other day we bought the rugrats. So now we have souvinier mugs.

I called the hotel to reserve the egg hunt...but unfortunately my kids didn't want to go they rather sleep in.

Water interact...well the water was soo cold...they didn't play on that boat or ship or whatever you want to call that where the the water play is at. Instead they rather play in the pool. They really enjoyed themselves there.

If I would to do it over again...which I am...I am going to do Universal first...then Disney. I want to end my trip with Mickey. I am going to do 3 nights at RPR and then 5 nights at ASSp.

Any questions??

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My 3yo was scared by a lot of rides, too. He didn't like simulator rides so was scared by BTTF and Jimmy Neutron and petrified by Spiderman because he thought that we were really up high and then really falling. He didn't mind Jaws, though because he could understand that it wasn't real and that we weren't in danger. He was also ok on Earthquake and Twister. Go figure. He eeked by with the height requirement on the 40" rides and if the workers had of wanted to be real picky they wouldn't have let him ride. Too bad that he wasn't big enough for JPRA or Popeye raft ride because I think that he would have really liked those. He loved One Fish, Two Fish and Cat in the Hat and we did those lots of times.

I'm glad that you had fun. Did RPR allow you to drop two days at the last minute or had that been planned for awhile?

T&B

 

[*Fantasia*]

Jimmy Nuetron was down one day...can't remember which day. We decided to skip this ride.

Actually what happened was that on April 22 early in the morn...I decided to move over to ASSp for one night and keep my room at RPR. But when we got to ASSp...WOW..LOVE the All Stars...I decided to go ahead and finish my trip here...but it was already 4pm when I decided to stay at ASSp. Called RPR at 4pm and cancelled my last night there. There is a $50 charge to cancel. I will get my money put back on my credit card in 5 working days. So...I caught a cab and went back to RPR and grab the rest of our things and express checked out for the 4/24.

So I guess there is a penalty for checking out early. That is ok cause we were starting to get bored with Universal cause we were doing the same rides...over and over again. The people that works there practically knows us cause we go to both parks day after day after day.

Oh no...no Earthquake...Twister..BTTF for me!!!....I don't like jerky rides. Don't like roller coasters either...but I really enjoyed the Woody Woodpecker ride. I would love to ride this one again...but the kids didn't want to...Oh well.

Any questions??

BTW...the pool at HRH is pretty shallow which is kewl for us cause non of us knows how to swim. I didn't mind that there was no slides at RPR cause my kids are too young anyways to go by themeslves. I need someone to be up there with my kids to slide down...and I would be down there to catch them or vise versa. I saw tons of families with little kids...this was kewl...made us feel like we fit right in. It is definitely not a stuffy place.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

So, you liked the Royal Pacific? What was it like? One of these times we'll have to stay at Universal.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Hi Cali...all I could say is that place is....AWESOME!!! It's a kewl place!...Lots of families with kids. Yes...you have to try this resort.

 

[mom23guys2]

The RPR really had a classy feel to it. The lobby was stunning, with the elephant fountain area in the center. It had a relaxing feel to it, even with the hotel filled to capacity nothing seemed crowded(except the pool area). The service was impeccable. There is a lovely area outside of Jake's where you can sit and read in the morning and just listen to the waterfall. The doors on the rooms are quite heavy so although we were not far from the elevator we didn't hear noise outside our room. That said there were many families with young children and they were right at home. I think the RPR has that tranquil, elegant feel of the AKL, WL, or Poly. The PBH seemed quieter, I really saw few people walking around (although tons of people waiting for the boat)and the HRH was much busier. I was surprised at the HRH, it was quite impressive, I don't know why but I though it would be tacky but it too was beautiful.
I have never been a Universal fan. I don't really get a thrill out of thrill rides but with FOTL its my favorite place to be.

 

[polkadotminnie]

Which building were you in? I'm not sure that I want to be in the pet building because one of my DD's is terrified of dogs (even though we have 2 of them). How close to the pool were you?
How warm was it outside while you were there? We leave this Friday and I need packing advice. Last year it was 94 degrees at this time, but this year seems cooler even here in Alabama.
You mentioned that you didn't ride Jimmy Nuetron. Do you know if FOTL has been opened at Jimmy for resort guests yet?
Was the bucket, shovel... for Loews card holders or everyone? Did you have to ask for it?
Did you ever get to IOA at opening ? Is there security like Disney? Is there a long wait? Last year at Disney, security check took forever (not that I mind just wondered). Thanks for any info!

 

[mom23guys2]

I rode Jimmy Neutron. We used front of the line.We never made IOA at opening. With FOTL there really is no need to rush to be first at the gate. This was a neat perk. I was so used to getting up early to be at EE. It didn't make any difference what time we arrived there was very little wait. The security checks everyone's bags but unlike Disney it is immediately after you get through the turnstiles. There are plenty of checkers so there is no hold up. You just open your bag and they poke around with a long stick. I only had a small pouch on a belt so it was simple.
I only saw two dogs there the whole time and both were in the lobby so I don't know if Tower 1 was a pet building.
Funny story though. My son's friend who lives in Orlando came to visit with his puppy(just to show it to my son) They wanted to go down and get a soda before he left to bring the pup back so they decided to leave it in the bathroom(it was pretty large, both the puppy and the bathroom)) Anyway, they close the door and the puppy jumps up and hits the bathroom door lock(it's one of those push button type locks). Now they can't open the door and it starts to cry. My son and his friend are trying to calm it down by pushing toys, keys, etc under the door. Needless to say it didn't work.They had to call down and have maintenance open the door. They came immediately and I suppose had a good laugh after they left. By the way if this should happen with a child the door can be opened with a coin.
The weather was beautiful. Mid 80's during the day and not too humid. It cooled down to the low 60's at night. One night I needed a sweatshirt. It only rained last night but boy did it rain, heavy with lightning and even some hail in parts of Orlando.

 

[polkadotminnie]

Mom23guys2- Thank you so much for the info. I have 3 girls ages 6,4, and 1 (big Jimmy Neutron fans). It's good to know about the lock since the 1 year old is tall. We are so excited about the trip. We have been to IOA once several years ago but stayed offsite. I am so looking forward to staying at RPh. We are also staying at AKL at the end of the week.

 

[YenSid1222]

I dont think you will have any problem with running into dogs next week...starting monday a HUGE convention group is checking into RPR (RPR, not RPH). None of the guests in these groups bring pets!

 

[Robinrs]

Welcome back, Fantasia! I'm glad you liked RPR!

I have to agree, there is something very peaceful and tranquil about that resort. My son and I compare it to a big comfortable HUG! Quiet, friendly, just beautiful. Loews has a class act there.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks Robin!

I stayed in Tower 2, 5th floor close to the elevator..whew...thanks goodness!. I only saw one pet...a dog and we were there for 5 nights. I totally forgot that this place welcomes pets! No smell of any pets what so ever!

We were not that close to the pool...and this means that we were not close to the water taxi either...but we sure were close to the bus drop/pick-up area. It took me awhile to figure out how to get to the pool from our room. I got lost...twice!! I thought there was too many winding walk-way. Either that or I don't have good directions...ha ha ha.

I can't wait to stay at this resort again...I just felt so welcome and they made me feel right at home. Yes...there is something about this resort that just makes it sooo peaceful. I don't know maybe it's that music they play..LOL