Best pool at Universal resorts?

[Rookie626]

Which hotel's pool do you think DS10 and DD13 would enjoy the most? We are staying at Beach Club WDW 1st. They are bummed it's not Poly again, so I'm thinking they might like RPH. I'm concerned the music at HRH pool area won't let us relax. Can anyone share experiences? Thanks!

 

[Lewisc]

Universal allows pool hopping. You can try all 3 pools.

 

[momof4sweetgirls]

My family and I pool hop every Summer when we go to WDW when our passes are blacked out. We stay at a value resort and go from the poly to the Y and B club to the French Quarter. Its a blast!!

 

[Motherfletcher]

My family and I pool hop every Summer when we go to WDW

Welcome to the DIS! We have WDW pool hopped too but at Universal its encouraged.

 

[Rookie626]

Good to know that pool hopping is an alternative if I pick the "wrong"pool! I've read some posts that complain the RPH doesn't have a pool slide. Is that true? Could it be, at a luxury hotel in Orlando? Thanks for the help!

 

[Motherfletcher]

RPR has the largest pool in the City of Orlando. It does not have a slide. Its still a fun pool with volleyball and basketball. PBH and HRH have slides.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

We just returned from PBH. My kids really loved the beach pool and slide. The slide was long, so my kids thought it was alot of fun. My kids are younger than yours, though, 5, 7 and 9.

 

[robvia]

All 3 pools are unique, and offer different things. There is no "best" pool.

PBH = Slide
HRH = Slide, music underwater, nerf football pool.
RPR = No Slide, 1 volleyball net, 2 basketball hoops.

RPR would be a nice choice if they miss the Poly. They have a Laua on the weekends and there is plenty of action in the pool. Off to the side there is a beach area under trees. Scroll down my page here to see the RPR pool.

http://www.nogodforme.com/RPR2005.htm

 

[mhaley]

Is there is difference in the closing times of the pools? Which one stays open the latest in the fall...November to be exact?

 

[macraven]

if you are interested in relaxing in a cabana by the pool, rph only has 3 of them while hrh has 10 cabanas.
don't know how many pbh has.

the dive in movies at the pools are something your kids might want to see.

last year at hrh, not many in the pool for that.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Three beautifully themed pools to choose from at PBH:

BEACH POOL
The Beach Pool is the ideal place for the family to spend the day together. Enjoy a water-slide, sandy beach and relaxing in the sun. The theming is a Roman aquaduct/castle structure.

Adjacent children’s pool and play area
Splendido Poolside service – pizza, sandwiches and beverages
Two Jacuzzis are located at the Beach Pool
Three colorful Beach Cabanas

Call (407) 503-1745 to reserve a cabana Cabana Rental $75†; ask about the Deluxe Upgrade for an additional $25.

VILLA POOL
Offering more exclusivity with upgraded amenities and lounge chairs, the Villa Pool is the perfect place to relax for a couple of hours…or the entire afternoon. This pool is focused more for adults.

Two Jacuzzis are located at the Beach Pool
16 Cabanas are available on a first come, first serve basis

Cabana amenities include TV, VCR, fan, bar/refrigerator and phones. Reservations can be made at Beach Pool bar area or by calling 407.503.1745. Cabana Rental $75†; ask about the Deluxe Upgrade for an additional $25.

HILLSIDE POOL
The Portofino Bay Hotel offers another pool on the east wing of the hotel, offering a quiet place for contemplation and more privacy.

At HRH (my kids favorite) there is one pool that they describe like this:

The centerpiece of the Hard Rock Hotel is the 12,000 square foot pool - it's a "can't miss" activity during your stay with us.
Hang out at the beach and soak up the sun for day, your favorite tunes fill the air, plus the pool features an underwater sound system so you'll never miss a beat. Get yourself a refreshing beverage from the Beachclub and you'll be all set.

Rent one of our themed cabanas for the day and spend the afternoon in "The Yellow Submarine" or Stevie Wonder's "Musiquarium." Cabanas come equipped with ceiling fans, television, an outlet for your laptop and of course a server to bring you drinks for the day!

12,000-square foot sand beach pool featuring an underwater stereo sound system
Interactive play area for children, including a 260-foot water slide
Two (2) Jacuzzis
Sand volleyball court

 

[Motherfletcher]

Here's the propaganda for the RPR pool:

At Royal Pacific Resort, you'll feel you've been transported to the tropics.
One of the most impressive features of this resort is the lagoon-style swimming pool and sandy beach.
Sink your toes into the sand and ease your body into your lounge chair.
Lagoon style swimming pool featuring a white sand beach and the following:
Private cabanas available for rental. Call 407-503-3235 to reserve a cabana
Royal Bali Sea interactive water play area for children
Three (3) hot tubs - Beach volleyball Court

Dive-In Movies
Catch the “movie of the week” on a big screen poolside. Saturdays at Dusk *weather permitting

Poolside Activities
From ping pong tournaments, to pool basketball to hula hoop contests and arts & crafts you’ll find something fun to do poolside for the whole family. Check with the front desk upon your arrival to find out what’s going during your stay.
Torch Lighting Ceremony
Join us poolside on select evenings at 6:30pm poolside for the torch lighting ceremony featuring the “oli aloha” welcoming chant, a fire dancer and more. The torch lighting ceremony at Royal Pacific Resort is based on an ancient Hawaiian tradition called “kukui hele po” which translates to “light to move in the night”.

 

[Rookie626]

Thanks, everyone, especially Motherfletcher. I think I'll go w/ RPH for relaxing factor. They'll have done SAB at WDW already, so maybe don't need slide.

 

[subtchr]

My family and I pool hop every Summer when we go to WDW when our passes are blacked out. We stay at a value resort and go from the poly to the Y and B club to the French Quarter. Its a blast!!

I realize what your response will be to this (we do it all the time and no one ever stopped it), but this is not permitted at Disney. If you stay at an All Star, you are permitted to hop to the other all star pools, but that is all. Also, if you stay at POFQ, you can use both that pool and POR. Other than that, unless you are a DVC member, CM's are supposed to restrict use of a resort pool to guests at that resort. Those people at the Poly pool paid several hundred dollars to stay there. How is it fair that guests from a value resort share that privilege? When we stayed at the Contemporary, CM's came around to check resort ID's and asked those who were not staying there to leave. Also, I have heard that at Y&B they have resort guests wear wristbands to identify them as resort guests. I am glad pool hopping is permitted at Universal, but it is not at WDW.

 

[sha_lyn]

subtchr.... that is momof4sweetgirls only post on the DIS.
DOn't feed the Trolls

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

If you're coming from the BC with a 10 and 13 yo, I personally would not pick the RPR, I would choose either HR or the Portofino. When we stayed at HR I didn't notice the music too loud and the pool there is really nice, tho shallow, and the slide is great. Never stayed at Portofino but know they do have a nice slide and pool. Have stayed at RPR and honestly with a 10 and 13 yo coming from BC first, I wouldn't choose there personally. HR is the one I would choose with kids, its also the most convenient to the parks. Although I know you'll love whatever you choose!

 

[sha_lyn]

My 16 DS and 8 DD love the pool at RPR. I think they actually liked it better than HRH. We looked at the pools at PBR, and the large one with the slides/play areas was nice. However it was closed when we were there in Dec

 

[Motherfletcher]

All of the resort pools are nice in their own way. HRH is my kid's favorite because of the "cool" factor more than anything. DS17 thinks the bikinis are better at HRH. HRH is the closest resort to Universal but I think RPR is a closer walk to IOA. If you take the bus from RPR to US the walk is even shorter than from HRH. My kids have actually felt lonely at the PBH Beach pool since it was so empty. At RPR you can always find a mix of ages/genders playing a fun game of volleyball. RPR also has the "secret" co-ed whirlpool in their fitness locker room (my favorite). I say secret because I've spent hours in this whirlpool and only once had someone join me. Another advantage of RPR is you can walk to IOA and do the water rides before or after your swim.
Coming from WDW the kids will not notice the pool as much as they notice that they aren't standing in line all day. FOTL has won the hearts of many diehard WDW fans!

 

[maggiew]

Here are some of our pool pictures:

HRH

PBH Quiet Pool

RPR

I didn't get a picture of the main pool at PBH because we were staying there and I thought I would have plenty of time to go take a picture, but my girls preferred the quiet pool to the main pool.

We liked the poolside food best at the HRH.

Maggie

 

[cbdmhgp]

HRH has best pool for teens-adults because even i loved the slide!!! RPR is definately for kids but i still loved it.