Disappointed with RPR

jena

Earning My Ears
Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
7
Our family just returned from our first time visit to this resort. I had been planning since last December, and was really looking forward to it, based on what I read. We checked in at the Loews First aisle, and wasn't given any info except we gave our cell phone # so they could call when our room was ready. They didn't have my name, and I was the one who made the reservations. Everyone in the other lines we given a doodle pad for the kids, and I had to ask for my daughter. From there we took turns hanging out at the pool, but someone had to stay with our JRT dog in the van. At the pool, we saw a dead bird floating in the water and let the lifeguard know. We wanted to grab a bite by the Bula Bar at the pool, and had a difficult time on finding someone to wait on us. Finally, we did and the order was wrong. We checked a few times to see if room was ready and finally after 4, we checked again and got the #. No one had called us like they said.

We went to the room and saw a waste basket outside the door. Came in, and noticed a few lightbulbs near vanity area were out, and also the floor lamp didn't work. Also, the carpet was very stained. I realize that we were in a pet room so there would be more wear and tear, but was definitely not impressed with the room for the price. The only time we could go was during the highest Holiday rate with no discounts. There also was not enough towels and washclothes. Called, and they sent someone to replace the floor lamp bulb, but never did receive the towels and washcloths. We were told we would have a welcome gift for our dog, and requested the milk & cookies and USA Today for our paper. We had to go down and find out where these items were, and rec'd the NY times as the paper. Since we had a dog, we requested the next day that instead of cleaning service we just get the towels, washcloths, and soap and shampoo replacements. My son answered the door and got them. When I checked we only rec'd 2 big towels, 2 washcloths, and a hand towel. Definitely not what I requested for a family of 4.

The good things about the trip was the FOTL perk. At times, the wait for the popular rides was 1 hour +. We waited 10-15 minutes at the most. This made it possible for us to do 2 parks and ride the Hulk 3 times, and Deuling Dragons twice. My son finally got up the courage at the end of the day to go on the Ice Coaster. We were buckled in ready to go, and they said there was a problem and the ride was closing down. Never did find out what was the matter. The next day I took my daughter to the HRH pool, and she really liked it alot with the music and the water slide. It did seem cleaner. We also ate at the Hard Rock Cafe the first night, and even though it was packed, with a 45 min to an hour wait, we showed our room key and was taken in immediately. The kids loved the place and the food and service was great.

In all fairness, the RPR employees we saw in the hallways and lobby were pleasant. I guess this being the most we ever paid in our life for a room, we were letdown with the experience. We probably will never go there again. Maybe our experience was unique and I hope others have better luck. We live 3 hours from Cedar Point, and hope to give that a try, since my daughter overcame her fear of roller coasters at Universal!

:wave2:
 
Sorry you had a bad stay. I can tell you that is atypical of our RPR experience. I would write to them and let them know.

I had a crummy stay at the PBH, and when I switched my next ressie over to the RPR, I told them why. I received a call back and a request to document my troubles and send to an address that I no longer have. Bottom line, I was offered a free night in a Bay View room at PBH to return. When I passed on that, and wrote to the RPR that I would be staying there instead after an abysmal stay at PBH, we were treated like VIPs.

RPR should hear about your bad stay so that they can improve and be given the chance to make it up to you. Of course, it would have been better if you addressed your concerns with a manager while still on-site.

FWIW, we have been in line for Fire or Ice many a time when it has broken down. Seems to happen often. Sorry your son didn't get to go.
 
Thanks for your input. I think I will write to RPR. I know we probably should've talked to a mgr. then, but we were there for such a short stay, and I kept hoping things would turn around for the better. On the bright side, we did have fun on the rides, and my husband and I felt like kids again! :cool1:
 
I stayed at RPR this weekend and they sent an email yesterday to ask how I liked my stay. For some reason I thought they did that for everyone?
 

Motherfletcher said:
I stayed at RPR this weekend and they sent an email yesterday to ask how I liked my stay. For some reason I thought they did that for everyone?

I received it also, and just finished filling in out. At least they cared enough to find out our opinions and thoughts.
 
Welcome aboard.
What time of the day did you try to check in? If it was early afternoon say 1 or 2pm, then that explains a lot. You had to wait in line, you were ignored, and then got a room that had just been cleaned, broken light, a stain, and they didn't have time to fix those things.

A little secret is to check in around 07:00am. They may have a room ready. In our case, we were accidentally put in a smoking room, so we went back and got it straightened out. Yes, it was a bummer for me to have to walk back, and get new cards, but at 07:00am, there is no one standing in line at the checkin counter.

We didn't receiver our cookies and milk until the 2nd day, and we had to call a few times. I expect these little problems during my stay, and don't let it ruin my trip.

Here's my report from last year.
http://www.nogodforme.com/RPR2005.htm
 
We had reservations at the RPR from May 3-6. We only stayed one night and then moved to the HRH. Our room 3356 must have been over a loading dock because we heard the beep beep of trucks backing up all night long. It was awful! The next morning I went to the Front Desk and told them about it and mentioned that I might want to switch to the HRH. The woman just said check out time is at noon. There was no "I'm sorry." No offer to switch my room. Nothing. So we checked out and moved to the HRH-which was wonderful.

I did get an email from RPR and I responded by telling them my experience. We'll see if anything comes of it.

Marianne in Texas
 
I'm sorry that you had a bad stay. All of our stays @ RPR have been fabulous-great service,lush landscaping,gorgeous pool.
 
manceor said:
We had reservations at the RPR from May 3-6. We only stayed one night and then moved to the HRH. Our room 3356 must have been over a loading dock because we heard the beep beep of trucks backing up all night long. It was awful! The next morning I went to the Front Desk and told them about it and mentioned that I might want to switch to the HRH. The woman just said check out time is at noon. There was no "I'm sorry." No offer to switch my room. Nothing. So we checked out and moved to the HRH-which was wonderful.

I did get an email from RPR and I responded by telling them my experience. We'll see if anything comes of it.

Marianne in Texas

Marianne in Texas, I had the same experience, when I told the front desk staff that I wasn't happy with my room, and was there a penalty if I checked out early. Like you, they simply said, "Nope, you didn't book a package, so just check out by 11." Not, "are you that unhappy?" Not, "what can we do to help?" Not, "sorry about that." Nothing. Two people did this to me.

I too just got done filling out my survey and expressed displeasure with the front desk staff (as well as bell services), and I already received a personal response back. Did you?
 
Hi Jodie,

I haven't heard back anything from RPR yet. When I was at the HRH I called the Lowe's First line to see why we didn't get our amenity at the RPR. She said that they sometimes bring the item on the second day. I told her about our poor experience at the RPR and she said I should have called the Front Desk manager and that person should have credited my night stay. So I did call and speak with the manager and she apologized for the front desk staff's behavior. She did not apologize for my poor night's sleep or offer any compensation. Given her attitude there was no incentive for me to ever try the RPR again. When I told her I wanted my amenity sent over to the HRH she did arrange for that to happen. When we got back from the park that afternoon both amenities (HRH and RPR) were in the room along with a note from the HRH. I'm not sure what the real policy is on those amenities-first or second day.

Did they offer you any sort of compensation for your poor experience Jodie?

Marianne
 
Marianne, no, I was not offered any compensation, and I really didn't expect any for sheer cluelessness and lack of good service on the part of the front desk staff and our bellboy. I received an e-mail survey from the hotel (check your SPAM folder if they have your e-mail address; that's where mine went). I gave an honest assessment of our check-in (while also singing the praises of their Club Staff), and I received a note from the assistant front office manager. She gave an apology, said the matter would be addressed immediately, and offered her personal assistance (I am guessing if we need her help for our next stay in September).

What I also said in my survey is that I probably wouldn't want to stay at the RPR if I weren't staying Club Level. The club staff always goes out of their way for us (perhaps because we have been there several times?). I think their club level is what keeps us going back again and again. I've ever only had a great experience at the front desk once -- and that was because the hotel manager had marked us VIPs since we were coming off a lousy stay at PBH. -- Now that one was a great stay! We got the most perfect room, our Loews amenity even though we booked at the AP rate (non-qualifying, usually), an extra gift from the hotel manager himself (champagne and strawberries), and extra diligent housekeeping twice a day.

Definitely write to the RPR directly and tell them they didn't leave a good impression. (Selfishly, I would love for their check-in staff to improve. :))

Oh, and your Loews amenity (when we've gotten it), usually does come for us on the second night.
 
When we stayed at the RPR we checked in at around 11:00 am and our room was ready so we took our luggage up to hit the parks. When we got inside we noticed a nice spicy pine scent and was plesantly surpised. Once we returned from that parks later that day is when things went horribly wrong.

When we entered the room there was no longer the pleasant pine scent but the heavy scent of vomit. Upon further inspection on the other side of the far bead was a wet vomit stain and you can tell a very very poor attempt was made to clean it up. The bed spread still had vomit on it and smell was getting un bearable. We called the front desk to tell them and they said they would send some right up. Well an hour later someone showed up and looked at it. When he arrived I told him I wanted to move to another room he picked up the phone and called, I assume the front desk. He then informed me there were no more rooms available. I told him fine but I wanted the carpet steam cleaned and all the bedding removed including the mattress which had also become soaked.

An hour and a half later a guy shows up with a squirt bottle of beach sprays it around and leaves without saying a word. 45 minutes later housekeeping shows up with new sheets and comforter to change the linens. When I told her the matress was soaked through as well and linens would do no good she looked at me and said "I'm sorry I dont speak english". By this time I could have used the steam coming from my ears to clean the carpet. I snatched up the phone and called the front desk and explained to them what I wanted done, they said no problem they would send everything right up. An hour later they showed up with a new matress and bed skirt to replace the bedding. When I asked about the steam cleaner they said maintenance was gone for the night and they couldnt do it so I said fine, I would take it up with the frontdesk tommorow it was now 1:30 am. The whole night I got to smell the plesant aroma of clorox and vomit, on top of that the Clampetts next door thought it would be funny to come in drunk and bang on everybody's doors at 3 in the morning and scream about the amazing party going on at the City Walk. Needless to say none of us slept a wink that night including my 9 yr old son.

The next morning I go downstairs to the frontdesk and am greeted with a smile. I told the clerk of my tribulations and she said "They put you in a vomit room?" She went and talked to a manager he came out and I took him up to the room where he immediately began to repeat "Oh, my God". We went back down stairs the whole time apologizing profusely and gave us a room upgrade to a corner room away from anyone else. He also told me that there were plenty of rooms available last night and they should have moved me then. Then he went on to say they have steam cleaners on hand in housekeeping because of the pet rooms and the accidents that sometimes happen there. He said there was no excuse for the treatment we received and would take it up with management. He didnt charge me for the horror night and he also comp'd us valet parking as well.

After the room change we had no more problems everynight was Clampett free and we went on to have the best vacation ever.

After we got home I received an email from some guy at Loews apologizing for everything that went on and as a token of that he told me he removed all minibar charges from my room bill. I emailed him back and said thanks that would be great if I had actually used the minibar, I told him no further action was required and the local manager had already taken care of everything.

We are going back in July but decided not to stay at the RPR again we are staying at the PBH.
 
Jokan you just put some reality back into my trip report! I thought trucks and elevators were bad, but vomit! Ew! I'm glad they were able to change your room and the rest of your vacation went well!

Just a heads up to everyone to continue checking rates. When I originally booked our trip, the HRH had no low rates. I picked the RPR because they had the cheapest rate. I was surprised when I called to switch hotels that both HRH and PBH had the same rate and it was a lot lower than the original rate I had been quoted a few months before. There is a cancellation period but up until that point I would keep checking the ever changing rates!

Marianne
 
I think these hotels have great service - except during their busiest times. We stayed at HRH Club level the week before Easter - encountered some great employees, but the hotel in and of itself was a disappointment... if not for FOTL we would have moved off site. For what we paid, we could have stayed anywhere in Orlando for the same $ or less!
 
Just an update. I did receive a survey in my email. I completed it with all the details. I recently received a very apologetic reply, and a $100 credit on my card for all the trouble we encountered. It does show me that they do care about the quality of their service. Maybe if we ever get another opportunity, we would try them again.
 
Good to hear that you got at least that. I am going to RPR next month and decided to go ahead and try it (I was thinking of switching back to HRH). Crossing my fingers that all will go well.
 














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