Disney wishes this would happen!

[rie'smom]

It's taken a few months to post but Universal was fabulous again! We stayed at our perennial fave the Royal Pacific. I don't remember our room number but I do remember that we had a pool view. The rooms were spotless. The maids were very sweet and told hubby to help himself to the coffee pouches in the supply room. When my daughter remarked that she loved the soap and shampoo, she was given handsful.
The room service was prompt and delicious.The Chicken Quesadilla was scrumptious and my hubby loved the Penne pasta with Oven roasted salmon.
The staff here was wonderful -never glum and always willing to go take that extra step. When hubby was overloaded with the kid's pool stuff,one of the
cleaners ran up to help.
We love the walk from the Royal pacific to the parks. It's absolutely stunning!! If we're too tired,there's the motor launch with the captain and his steady supply of humor.
We went to IOA first because my daughter loves the Hulk coaster. My favorite is Popeye's Bilge Barge. All three of us love The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. Even though we see The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad Show every time,we still think it's well done. High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride was not running yet,so we're looking forward to riding that on our next trip.
We ate at Mythos and the food was delicious!! I had the BLT Flat Bread with the Chinese Chicken salad.Yummy! My hubby really enjoyed his Balsamic chicken. Our daughter loved the Caesar salad.
At Universal Studios,I love the Lucy exhibit-I've always said that she's my idol. My favorite ride here is Men in Black,DD loves Back to the Future and DH
is wild about Revenge of the Mummy.
On this day,we ate at Finnegan's.We shared the Finnegan's Potato and Onion Webb as an appetizer and as usual we were not disappointed. Hubby had the Guinness Beef Stew-he'd love anything with Guinness and yes he drank one too. DD had the The Leprechaun's Rainbow fruit salad and it was as delicious as it was pretty. I really thought my Celtic Chicken Club Salad was outstanding.
You know what's really the icing on the cake-yep FOTL. Oh my gosh! It's really hard to go to WDW after a few days of being spoiled by this incredible feature.
As you can tell, we all thought our latest trip to Universal was over the top fantastic. We can't wait for May so that we can go "home" to the Royal Pacific.
Julie

 

[Motherfletcher]

FOTL is a Godsend. Good report.

 

[lindalinda]

Gotta love that FOTL!

 

[ldmilton]

QUOTE "You know what's really the icing on the cake-yep FOTL. Oh my gosh! It's really hard to go to WDW after a few days of being spoiled by this incredible feature."

Taking our first trip to UO/IOA this September. Doing WDW first then Universal. I was afraid we might be spoiled by FOTL and it would ruin some of the Disney magic!

I find it interesting that many on the disney boards recommend universal first then disney so you won't be disappointed with the less than "magical" service, atmosphere, etc. I love WDW, but I know I will love UO/IOA as well.

 

[OctoberNinth]

QUOTE "You know what's really the icing on the cake-yep FOTL. Oh my gosh! It's really hard to go to WDW after a few days of being spoiled by this incredible feature."

Taking our first trip to UO/IOA this September. Doing WDW first then Universal. I was afraid we might be spoiled by FOTL and it would ruin some of the Disney magic!

I find it interesting that many on the disney boards recommend universal first then disney so you won't be disappointed with the less than "magical" service, atmosphere, etc. I love WDW, but I know I will love UO/IOA as well.

I love the atmosphere at UO/IOA as well! I like hearing that guy on the loud speaker go "Welcome to Universal Orlando.." Without fail sometime during the trip we'll see that dancing security guard by the moving sidewalks! That always makes me smile. The Port of Entry is more "magical" to me than Main Street. Suess Landing makes me feel like a kid again. City Walk is so laid back, I love it! The water is beautiful, there's music playing, it's just a relaxing atmosphere. I'm so stoked, I can't wait to go back.

 

[yupikgal]

You brought back great memories of our trip to Universal in 2003, (I know, it's been a while!) we also stayed at the Royal Pacific, and loved it! It's good to hear a positive trip report, we are thinking of returning, but not until next Spring Break 2008, and now I'm really excited! Thanks again!

Kelly

 

[StudiosFan]

I have never seen the dancing security guard by the moving sidewalks. I'll have to look for him/her next time.

I love US and IOA. One of the greatest things is the music at both parks. I especially like walking through the Studios side and hearing ominous movie themes playing, or the theme song to the TV show "Simon & Simon." It's just soooo cool.

I hope that GE/NBCwhoever will get the parks back to where they should be. Only a couple of things were not being maintained as well as they should be, but we had a blast.

Our last trip was in November. My friend is down there now at a conference and staying at the Royal Pacific. She says it's awesome.

Both parks are so nostalgic to me. And, again, I think a lot of the feeling comes from the great music there.

BTW, we saw the Lucy & Ricky show for the first time and it was so much fun. We loved the Blues Brothers, too!

 

[FireandIce]

I find it interesting that many on the disney boards recommend universal first then disney so you won't be disappointed with the less than "magical" service, atmosphere, etc. I love WDW, but I know I will love UO/IOA as well.[/QUOTE]

My experience was totally opposite. After having FOTL, going to Disney was a bummer. IMHO, I would never do Universal before Disney.

 

[tlinus]

we always end our vacations with US/IOA and have been EXTREMELY happy that way!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I find it interesting that many on the disney boards recommend universal first then disney so you won't be disappointed with the less than "magical" service, atmosphere, etc. I love WDW, but I know I will love UO/IOA as well.

Those are the people who've never actually stayed onsite at Universal. Anyone who has knows better.

 

[lookingforward]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time! We are going the first week of April. I love staying onsite and the RPC is our favorite too. This time we are at the hard rock...which we also love.

Thanks for the report. We plan on eating at Mythos too, I hope they still have their tempura shrimp appetizer!

 

[rie'smom]

On our May 31st trip,we will stay at the RPR(again) at the end of our trip. We are doing this for the first time as we always go to Universal and then WDW.
I've talked my brother and his wife and kids into joining us at RPR. They're staying at the RPR at the beginning of their trip. We've given them 4 nights at BWV and I'm hoping that they are not disappointed with the WDW lines. However,I am planning their itinerary and using all the tips and hints that I've learned on the DIS.
Thanks for all of the nice replies.

 

[Joan S.]

RIE'SMOM, We stayed at HRH last Summer and I was really IMPRESSED by their POOLSIDE service.It was like we had our own personal waitperson! I LOVE WDW but usually end up getting up and getting my own drink. Never seem to be ENOUGH servers around! Anyway, how is the poolside service at RPR?? We will be staying there for the 1st time this summer. I got a good AAA rate plus an upgrade with my LOEWS GOLD. And since I really LOVED HRH, I am a little nervous about RPR. But you make the service in the hotel sound EXCELLENT! Joan

 

[rie'smom]

Joan,my husband(the pool guy along with DD) said the pool service is excellent. You'll love it!!

 

[pixeegrl]

Without fail sometime during the trip we'll see that dancing security guard by the moving sidewalks! That always makes me smile.

OMG me and my best friend on a girls only trip saw him too! LOL! I had forgotten all about that!!!

 

[mikkiwikki]

Ummm....Is FOTL
"First over the line?"
Or does it mean one of the following?

FOTL Fat Of The Land (Prodigy music album)
FOTL Follow On To Lance (Missile System)
FOTL Friends of the Library
FOTL Fruit of the Loom (clothing company)
FOTL Future of the Left (Welsh Band)

 

[Metro West]

FOTL = Front Of The Line...a perk only available to onsite guests.

 

[keishashadow]

we always end our vacations with US/IOA and have been EXTREMELY happy that way!!

as clueless newbies we did it in reverse our 1st time (didn't help we hit President's Day weekend crowds @ WDW) ; was hard not to grumble & compare.

if anything it convinced DH that U was swell & worth the extra $ to visit

 

[eshankin]

I just Love Disney!!!!