Disappointed this trip to Universal

[camdevjor]

We are just back from 4 nights at RPR.Our group includesd mom, dad, 16 yr. old, 13 yr. old and 6 yr. old.Our first stay there as we have stayed at HRH previously. Granted express line passes are great as is location of resort. But, we found that Universal really tucks it to you once you are in the park. This is our fourth visit and found that food & beverage prices had increased dramatically. We found the RPR to be adequate and upgraded to a suite upon arrival as no club level rooms were available. The suite was nothing special, basically one bedroom and sitting area with pull out couch--only one bath. Typically mini bar and coffee maker.Walk up coffee bar at Orchid Cafe is astronomical! Rooms are dark Amenities/decor were nothing great. Our room was never made up until late in the day just about the time we were leaving the pool and heading back to change up to go to the parks for the evening. Also, guest across the hall had a dog who had a very annoying bark. I was also very dismayed at guest behavior at the pool. Now, I'm no prude, but the amount of drinking that goes on is unbelievable. There was a large fraternity group there, perhaps for some event who brought multiple glass bottles of hard liquor out to the pool in coolers and created their own cocktail lounge.One of the young staffers spoke to them about glass not being allowed poolside and they totally blew her off. I felt badly for her since she was of the same age group and was facing about 25 rowdy and very drunk college kids. There should have been some support for her in taking care of this potentially volatile situation. Not once during our stay did we see any hotel management around. I'm certainly not interested in going back to either Universal or their resorts any time soon--for the prices they charge, the value simply isn't there. We left there and moved over to Disney for the rest of our vacation and couldn't believe how reasonably priced we found Disney to be following our Universal stay!

 

[MamaKate]

Sorry to hear about your disappointing stay !

I've stayed at RPR and although I liked the decor of the hotel, we had several problems with our room & customer service issues. I emailed the manager & never got a response, so from now on we stay at HRH & our trip this year we are staying at PBH.

As far as cost of the food, I've never thought it was too high, but I don't like the fact that alot of the counter service facilities don't offer kids meals. A few do, but alot of them don't. I also take advantage of the AAA disount, so that offsets the cost some.

However, I'm from So. California & go to Disneyland about once a week and if you saw the prices for the food their, you'd think Universal was a bargain !

Hope you give Universal another shot. Although my family are Disney lovers, we can never take a trip to Orlando without going to Universal.

,
Katie

 

[johnvree]

Sorry about your disappointment. We stayed at the RPR last May and loved it. But we didn't have to deal with barking dogs or frat parties at the pool. I love dogs, especially mine, but if your dog barks a lot, leave him/her home. The pool issue must have been distressing too and management should have handled it much better. We loved the pool area and went there every day. There are much more appropriate locations in Florida to hold your Spring Break romps.

Chalk these experiences up to bad luck and give the RPR another try (unless you really hated the room and decor). Again, we loved the resort. RPR is pretty close to Disney's luxury resorts in quality, but priced closer to Disney's moderates. While Universal's resort prices have certainly gone up this year, I still think they are a bit of a bargain compared to Disney's.

The food and beverage prices, sadly, are something that we are going to have to live with. I find the food at Universal Orlando to be pretty good. All of the resort restaurants are very good and US and IOA has several good options too. You have to pay for that. And I'm surprised that you found Disney to be more of a bargain. Disney is our first love, but we typically spend twice as much in a week at Disney as we do in a week at UO.

Don't give up on Universal. We did four days there last year and we are doing 10 days at Universal this year. Again, Disney is our first love. But Universal is an awesome experience too and a nice second option.

 

[VW31]

camdevjor,

What tower did you stay in?

 

[marknj05]

I agree with johnvree.

We also spent almost twice as much on our Disney vacation then we did at Universal. We found the RPR a bargain compared to Disney lodging and we also appreciated not waiting in the long lines like Disney. Sorry you had a bad experience.

 

[gschmerl]

We also find our Disney vacations to cost a LOT more than Universal. In fact when we combine both WDW and Universal on a vacation, our food and beverage cost at Universal is a lot LESS than at Disney and I might say we like the food a lot better at the Universal restaurants.

 

[damo]

I also concur that Disney seems way more expensive than Universal. I have never paid more than $169 for a room at Universal but have paid $450 for a room at Disneyworld (before I knew better). Annual passes are also way more expensive at Disneyworld and staying onsite gives you no special benefits.

We don't even go to Disneyworld anymore. However, we did go to Disneyland last year and plan to go again this summer. The Grand Californian is going to cost us three times as much as a Unviersal resort and rooms are so much smaller than the HRH deluxe. We will have to limit our stay to two days because the price is so cost prohibitive. We will be going to Universal Orlando in a few weeks and staying onsite for 5 days because the price is so great.

I guess everyone has their own priorities. We have never had an issue at the Universal resorts that would keep us from going back. Actually, we manage to go twice a year because we feel we get the best bang for the buck.

 

[robvia]

Sorry to hear you were let down.

In my case, I try not to let the little things bug me. I've learned that on every trip, something will go wrong. If nothing goes wrong, then we'll be driving home, and I'm talking to the wife, and I'm saying, "Gee, something just has to go wrong, what is it?" Something always does, whether it be an argument, leaving something behind, bad service, whatever.

In your case of the food prices, this is why I post my web site with directions to the grocery store. On every trip, I visit grocery stores, and stock a cooler. It's a lot of work carrying the supplies up to the room, and then re-filling the cooler with ice, but it's something I do to save money and time once in the room.
http://www.nogodforme.com/tribalwar/pictures/DSC07028.JPG

I don't mind paying for food and a few drinks once inside the park. But having some snacks and drinks in the hotel room helps.

 

[keishashadow]

I agree that staying on-site @ Universal (using the best discount rate available) is cheaper than a deluxe resort @ WDW. Bought 1 PAP for room discount, used it extensively for food & merchandise discounts in parks & Citiwalk. We originally assumed that Universal would be a one-time attraction for us. Instead, hope to revisit each time we're in Orlando.

Main complaint was the lack of a casual dining spot @ the HRH. Other than the great displays, we've never cared for the HR restaurant chains, including the Kitchen. Wish they'd have a snack bar or food court for a quick sit-down breakfast @ the hotel. We got tired of eating Cinnabons.

We're in the process of purchasing a DVC resale in order to save on accommodations @ WDW. Wonder if Loews or Universal ever considered a similar program?

 

[AllieKat]

I'm sorry you had such a crummy time.

 

[robvia]

Right, believe it or not, I stay at the All Star Resorts at Disney because of the Food Courts, especially the one at ASM. They have this place called Lyric, and they make the best beef taco salad you've ever had in your life. I've driven there just to eat one, even when I wasn't staying on the property.

I agree, the HRH would be cool if they had a food court area.

 

[damo]

I doubt that we will ever see a Loews hotel with a food court. I think we would be more likely to see one at Citywalk.

 

[deelam]

I was at the Royal Pacific the first week of May. I really enjoyed that hotel. I did notice quite a bit of boozing at the pool. Most of the drinkers were people just relaxing on vacation. I think the Hard rock has just as much, if not more boozing around their pool. I didn't see the bottles of hard liquor around. I would have complained to a manager if I saw unruly people with bottles of hard liquor. I also would have complained if I was bothered by a barking dog. You paid your money and are entitled not to be disturbed by a dog barking (sorry dog lovers). I think this hotel will really go out of their way to resolve the problem, you may get your room changed if the dog bothered you. I do plan to stay at this hotel again. I always make note on my reservation that I am allergic to dogs so that I am not on a floor with pets.

My question to those who bring their dogs, where do the dogs go to the bathroom while you are out?

 

[robvia]

While you are out? Not sure exactly what you mean here. We brought our dog last year and we never left her alone in the room. Dogs can hold it for 8 hours. They usually go poo in the morning, then at night. They're used to sleeping all day as people are at work. But yeah, I could see them barking if left in a room with no one there. I don't think most do that. A cat, yeah, but not a dog.

If you mean, where do we walk the dog, at the HRH, it's to the left and right of the boat dock. There are grass areas boardering the hotel where they go, people don't walk there, they usually stay on the sidewalks.
As to them barking, it's usually caused by excited children playing with their dog. We brought ours last year, the kids were all excited, played, dog barked, and then someone complained, management called, and came by to visit, and this was in the day time. After that, we made sure she didn't bark.
We're staying at the RPR in July and we'll make sure she stays quiet.
We would never leave our dog in the room alone, now that's a problem if someone does that. In our case, we take the dog to the kennel in the morning, then bring her back in the afternoon. The dog is like a human child to us, and the entire reason we're staying onsite is so we can bring her.

 

[deelam]

What I meant is, what happens if the dog has to go to the bathroom when you are out of the room. I know that many people spend many hours not in their room. And when nature calls their isn't much you can do. Do they have a doggie litter box or something like that?

I just wanted to add something, I re-read your email, do your mean that most people take the dogs out with them? I don't recall ever seeing a dog in the parks. I guess I am wondering what happens to the dogs when you are in the parks?

 

[Sleepy]

No, there is no litterpan for a dog. I guess you are use to an all outside dog? One who is outside all the time and can go when they feel the need? There are alot of people who have only inside dogs. These dogs are trained to wait to use the bathroom. (although I guess that could become a debate). they go just before the owner goes to work and they go when the owner gets home in the afternoon.

While the owners are at Universal, I would imagine the dog goes to the bathroom in the morning and then again several hours later when the owners come back to the room. The dog would stay in the room alone when owners are away...otherwise, the owners would take them to a kennel.

Does this clarify?

 

[deelam]

Yes, you did answer my questions. I don't have a dog, I'm allergic.

 

[highlander447]

its always disapointing hen the holiday des not live up to expectations i ad a bottle beer at RPR in january and server came over ith a up fr me to our it into i didn't mind but on saying that i never `saw a sign asking u r telling u that bottles not allowed at pool area and i was sure it was because i had not purchased at their bar by the pool as plenty of guests as had bttles they bought at the bar, but i cant fault their service they made us feel welcome but unfortunately u will always get people who exp good and others who exp bad

 

[theterms]

We first brought our dog (actually, he was 10 mos. old at the time) a couple of years ago and stayed at the RPR. He loved the AC! He passed away in Feb. this year, so we're bringing our 7 mo. old pup with us in a couple of weeks. He is crate (a very large cage) trained, and will be in his crate while we're out of the room. He loves his crate and had only one 'accident' in it after a reaction to his puppy shots. He would never think of going to the bathroom in it otherwise. We, or DH, will go back to the room every few hours to let him out, but he probably won't need to go - just stretch his legs. And, he's not a barker, unless he wants to play!

 

[disneyfreakk]

theterms, I am so sorry for the loss of your furbaby.