Disney snob needing UV hotel help

[Ergens2]

Ok, I admit it. I am a Disney hotel snob (go ahead, point and laugh I can take it!) Background- former CM and born Disney addict. DH on the other hand, not so much. I have made a deal with him for our Nov/Dec trip that if we can stay at the Grand Floridian CL we can move for the last few days of our trip to a Universal hotel. This is where you all come in! We are a young 30 something couple without kids. I want to stay club level. Which would you recommend HRH or RPR? Please help me!! He really deserves a nice trip. Thank you all in advance!!

 

[phamton]

Actually, I'm a Universal snob. I refuse to stay at any themepark hotel that doesn't treat me like a VIP by giving me front of the line access. Waiting in lines is not my idea of a vacation.

Good for your husband for taking the chance to broaden your horizons. I bet you will love Universal/IoA if you give it a chance. We always stayed at the Hard Rock as we loved the short walk to the parks. No waiting on buses like at Disney. Royal Pacific is a little more luxurious than Hard Rock but we just preferred HR.

 

[AlexandNessa]

I have heard that once the food is finished at HRH club, it's finished. And people wait in lines early to get access to the 5pm food. Just what I've heard. At the RPR Club, they replenish the food when something is finished. In fact, it's happening right now! Shannan is the new supervisor in the club lounge (promotion), and she's great!

P.S. ITA with phamton. You will be totally spoiled by front of the line at UO. Waiting in line at Disney is a major, MAJOR bummer after being treated like such a VIP at Universal.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We prefer the Club level at RPH over HRH. In fact, when we stay again at HRH we will not stay Club level. We like HRH but the Club level was disappointing on two trips.

 

[gschmerl]

I have stayed at both and find the RPR more relaxing. I liked the HRH a lot, but after staying at the RPR for our last visit, I think we'll return there next time. You can't really go wrong with either one!

 

[robvia]

The RPR seems to be the fan favorite on these boards lately.
Last year at the HRH (including myself), some people had problems when their reservation mysteriously disappeared. After many e-mails, my ressie was re-instated and our trip turned out great. Others have arrived, only to find their room has been given away, and they are offered a room at the PBH or an offsite hotel for free. Most were not happy being moved, after looking forward to the HRH. We've since found out, that the HRH overbooks the hotel, just like an airline flight. It also seems the HRH is sold out more as conventions book it to impress guests. For these reasons and others, many are turning to the RPR, where these problems don't seem to happen as often.

 

[daywalker]

Is club level such a good deal for a couple?
I can see the attraction if you've got kids but I'm not so sure you'll get full value for money as a couple?
I just see it from our point of view, we are a couple in our early 30's, no kids. We like the idea of staying club but we don't feel it's good value for money, especially with all the happy hours you get at universal from between 2pm - 7pm - You don't get them at Disney!!

 

[AlexandNessa]

daywalker, we are also a couple in our early 30s, no kids and we have become addicted to Club Level. It's so convenient, and we like having the extra room by being able to hang out in the club lounge. Breakfast is good as well as we always manage to make it back to the lounge for some appetizers and beers. We enjoy it, but of course to each his own.

 

[lookingforward]

I would go with the ROyal Pacific if you stay club. If you choose to stay in a regular room then I would book a room at the Hard Rock (which is very convienently located to the parks). I too was a Disney snob but fell in LOVE with Universal. The express access to rides, great restaurants and the luxury of the Lowes brand hotels is very appealing.

We stayed at the HRH club rooms three times and ALL three times it was a bit dissapointing. The food was ravaged by the crowds and the offerings were not on par with other concierge lounges. Also, the lounge is small and crowded in the morning. However, you will love the HRH in general and we loved renting a cabana by the pool and spending a day just relaxing.

You will also love Citywalk and the many great places to have fun at night. Best of all, the Universal parks are so much different than WDW that I think you will fall in love with them in a different way. We live close to Orlando and visit both parks frequently. You will become addicted to not waiting in line, thats for sure!

 

[daywalker]

daywalker, we are also a couple in our early 30s, no kids and we have become addicted to Club Level. It's so convenient, and we like having the extra room by being able to hang out in the club lounge. Breakfast is good as well as we always manage to make it back to the lounge for some appetizers and beers. We enjoy it, but of course to each his own.

Thanks for the info, I do like the sound of the lounging about, I guess the only thing for me is I'm addicted to espresso coffee so I have to have a Starbucks cappucino (usually with one or two extra shots ) in the morning! We then tend to eat very lightly at breakfast, same for lunch (if we bother) as we like to save ourselves for a big evening meal. The free use of the fitness centre holds appeal (I usually go every morning for an hour or so) but obviously we can pick that up free with the loews card. As you say though, each to their own, I can fully understand why you go for it from what you've said though

Congrats on your recent marriage BTW, we get married in a month then have 14 nights at the RPR booked for our honeymoon We've been to Florida every year for 14 nights each time since 1999, we love Universal, we know what to expect so at least they're will be no nasty surprises for us. We've booked upper class with Virgin as a treat, so there's me, saying club aint value for money for us and I go and book upper class for X2 8 hour flights

 

[robvia]

It all depends on what type of people you are. There is nothing wrong with each.
Commando - Stops at Publix on the way, picks up a cooler, eats doughnuts and milk in the room, gets to the park at 08:15am, and is first into the park. Advantage, they get front seat rides on Hulk and Dueling Dragons. (FOTL Doesn't give you this). These people hit the parks early and leave before the crowd hits. These people are also trying to save money by stocking the cooler so they don't have to pay high drink prices.

Laid back - You hang out, relax, no worries. You wake up at 9am, stroll into Citywalk, get a Cinnobon, hang out. Walk into the parks, go on a few rides with your magic keys, then head to lunch around 2pm. Your main goal at this point is your dinner ressie at a Citywalk restaurant or a fancy place like Emerils. Nothing wrong with this either if you like to go slow. Both styles are good.

But many on these boards are looking to save money, so that's what I give advice on.

 

[macraven]

i have stayed at hrh and once at pbh.

i prefer the hard rock, hands down.

twice i did club level at hrh and did not experience the food shortage like some mentioned here.

i have visited friends at rph last year and much prefered my room style, design and coloring at hrh better.

i will say, the food , breakfast buffet is outstanding at rph !! it sure does beat out the other 2 hotels.

i think i enjoy the hrh best as it is loud with music in the lobby area and so close to the park. people are always up during the night in the lobby and garden area.........and has a very safe secure feeling there.

rph is much cheaper of the 3 hotels. the staff there is excellent, the lobby quiet, calm and tranquil. more and better food places at rph.......

jmo

 

[webray]

We haven't done club level, but RPR is the more relaxing of the two resort choices you are looking at. Rooms are beautifully decorated, the grounds are beautiful and the restaurant choices are wonderful.

We have tried the restaurants at HRH and are not impressed.

We have also done GF concierge...this was our biggest disappointement ever. Huge, huge waste of money. Worst concierge on disney property.

 

[macraven]

i have to agree with you on hrh's the kitchen.
the breakfast buffet is just average and overpriced.

the food there costs more than the parks and not anything better than the greasy spoon down the street.

rph has great food.


but i still love hard rock a lot.

 

[glawgirl]

My first choice would be the Portofino and my second choice would be the Hard Rock. The Royal Pacific is in a beautiful tropical setting and has Emeril's newest restaurant but the rooms there are smaller than at the Portofino or at the Hard Rock. I only stay on site at Universal. You cannot compare the on site hotels at Universal to Disney - Universal beats Disney hands down when it comes to hotels.

 

[johnvree]

My vote is for the Portofino. The rooms are huge and the resort is incredible. It also has the best slide (sorry hardrockers, we did both on the same day last week and, through very scientific testing, I determined the Portofino's slide to be superior).

We stayed at the RPR last and loved it. It is a lot like the Polynesian, just with smaller rooms. In fact, my only complaint was that the rooms are a little on the small side and there are no larger deluxe rooms to upgrade to, only suites. Also, the pool could use a slide. But otherwise, the pool is great.

Oh yeah, I am a Disney fanatic too. This year we did something I would have never thought possible - a Universal-only/Disney-free vacation. I still love Disney and we are going to WDW next year. But Universal, Sea World and BGT gave WDW a real run for their money. I will be posting my trip reports later this week.

 

[Ergens2]

Thank you all so much!!! I am very excited now. We went to IOA last Dec. and had a blast!!! We went over to Hard Rock and had lunch and then went to City Walk that night. What a great time!! The Universal area feels more adult to me. We like that aspect of it. We are going to go with RPH It seems to fit our laid back style better.

 

[etink67]

We just stayed concierge at PBH in July. We LOVED this resort. We have stayed concierge at Polynesian and GF, BW, AKL and Contemporary. DH insists that this hotel was much better. I liked the hotel but didn't think concierge was anything special. Plenty of soda, water, coffee etc. . nothing special for breakfast and only one hot appetizer for evening. It was also not convenient to have the lounge on a different floor. They also made it clear that you were not welcome unless you were dressed (no jammies, slippers or bathing suit cover ups).

The concierge staff was always there but not overly friendly or helpful. I would definately stay at PBH again but probably not pay for concierge.