First time trip to Universal - many questions!!!

[KristiKelly]

We have a trip to WDW planned for MLK week Jan. 2010. We've decided to knock off a couple of nights and spend @ Universal (this will be the kids main Christmas present). We plan on spending the 1st 2 nights (Sat & Sun) @ U since it's MLK weekend that way we will have express pass for the busy weekend then moving on to WDW afterwards.

I am trying to decide on which hotel, I have already signed up for LoewsFirst, not sure if it will do us any good for 1st timers. I will also sign up for AllAcess if I feel I need to. We will be getting 1 AP so we can get AP disc.

We are a family of 5 w/ 3 kids 4, 9, & 12. Here are my reasons for each resort and hope that someone can steer me in a direction

RP - cheapest of the 3
HRH - DS12 plays guitar and loves to look @ old guitars, etc
Port - most expensive but slight possibility of balcony.

Can't predict weather for Jan, but if it's warm our kids will won't pool time in afternoon as well, could someone tell me about the pools.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

[SNylund]

If you can swing the budget, definitely do the Portofino, best pool (has a castle over it with waterslide and waterfall, waterfall hottubs. It has a second villa pool and I think 1 or 2 other pools. It is the most elegant of the 3, but Royal P is very good too, and cheaper which is why I usually stay there, but when I have extra cash I will stay at the P.

 

[damo]

KristiKelly, here is a website with lots of pictures and videos. Maybe it will help in your decision.

http://www.uomeetingsandevents.com/Universal_Experience/experience.asp

Explore that entire site as the page I have linked you to is just the videos.

 

[rpbert1]

stayed at RPR and PBH, we usually stay at RPR and have split it a couple of times with PBH as well, while PBH is more expensive than RPR we Prefer RPR and not because its cheaper, the pool is much bigger here and always plenty going on at it, where at PBH, DD was a bit bored with the pools at PBH there was just nothing happening at them and was no atmosphere around the pools.
whichever resort you pick you will not be disappointed with the themeing of them and thay are all beautiful resorts,

 

[SNylund]

stayed at RPR and PBH, we usually stay at RPR and have split it a couple of times with PBH as well, while PBH is more expensive than RPR we Prefer RPR and not because its cheaper, the pool is much bigger here and always plenty going on at it, where at PBH, DD was a bit bored with the pools at PBH there was just nothing happening at them and was no atmosphere around the pools.
whichever resort you pick you will not be disappointed with the themeing of them and thay are all beautiful resorts,

Yes I didn't mean to imply that $$$ was the only reason we usually stay at the RP. I prefer the Portofino pool, but yes the RP pool is awesome and has that boat/play area thing for the kids, so may be a better choice in this regard. I do love the RP pool, the main reason I prefer the P pool ( and this is a slight prefer) is because of the waterfall/castle thing and the waterfall hottubs around the pool area. But I can easily see how someone else would prefer the RP pool. I didn't realize the RP pool was bigger, I was thinking they were close to the same size, but you are probably right.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Here's my advice -- stay at Disney first. It will drive you crazy to stand in line for rides after you've basically walked on them at Uni. I understand your reasoning for doing Uni first, but I've done it both ways and it's much less frustrating if you do Disney first.

We've stayed at RP and PB. RP has a very nice water play area for the kids, but if the slide is most important, I'd pick one of the other two hotels. You can also poolhop at Uni, so if you want to spend an afternoon at a different pool it's no problem. We stayed at PB on our last trip and walked over to HR for an afternoon. DS had a great time in the giant guitar pool, and it was very easy.

Maria

 

[rpbert1]

Yes I didn't mean to imply that $$$ was the only reason we usually stay at the RP. I prefer the Portofino pool, but yes the RP pool is awesome and has that boat/play area thing for the kids, so may be a better choice in this regard. I do love the RP pool, the main reason I prefer the P pool ( and this is a slight prefer) is because of the waterfall/castle thing and the waterfall hottubs around the pool area. But I can easily see how someone else would prefer the RP pool. I didn't realize the RP pool was bigger, I was thinking they were close to the same size, but you are probably right.

SNylund, thats not what i took from your post, that it was $$ being the reason for staying at RPR, so sorry if thats what you thought.
but PBH and pools would definetly be what i would choose if we where on our own KID FREE and yes the hot tubs at the beach pool are really nice.Like i said RPR themeing for us is really nice and the atmosphere at the pools is great, especially as DD is on her own and its much easier for her to make friends, especially as a lot are only staying a few days ,so she finds that ones she has made friends with usually leave after a few days ,so she is constantly having to make new friends.

 

[SNylund]

SNylund, thats not what i took from your post, that it was $$ being the reason for staying at RPR, so sorry if thats what you thought.
but PBH and pools would definetly be what i would choose if we where on our own KID FREE and yes the hot tubs at the beach pool are really nice.Like i said RPR themeing for us is really nice and the atmosphere at the pools is great, especially as DD is on her own and its much easier for her to make friends, especially as a lot are only staying a few days ,so she finds that ones she has made friends with usually leave after a few days ,so she is constantly having to make new friends.

Don't get me wrong, WE usually stay at the RP just because of the $$ savings, but one could easily choose the RP on its own merits, regardless of price. If I have money to burn I will stay at PBH, because of its pool, the balcony situation, and just the fact that we usually stay at the RP and want a change. The first few times we went we stayed at PBH, but RP last several, There is a pretty good $$ savings with the RP, and I do love the tropical theming. If the RP had a giant waterfall in the pool (like it needs IMO) I would probably stay at RP regardless of the price. The RP pool is huge and great, but I think a nice giant waterfall would top it off.

 

[rpbert1]

 

[macewindu]

Only been to Hard Rock Hotel but really like it. It has a big pool with a cool slide and you can take a walk round the hotel because all the old guitars are famous guitar players guitars and it has other things that are someone's who are famous. hope you like which ever one you pick

 

[macraven]

if you decide to stay at HRH, don't buy the all access card.
call the hotel and see if they are still giving them out to the guests that are checking in.

i read on another thread that the card was issued to guests in october...free at check in.
don't know if that is a seasonal thing or not.


i prefer the restaurants at rph than at pbh.
that's just me i guess.

i also like that rph can empty out on the walking path by margaritaville which is better than having to take a boat from pbh to cw then walking up the stairs to reach city walk.
not necessarily that margaritaville is the best place to dine in cw but cw entrance is very close to rph's walking path.


i wouldn't chose a hotel due to the pool.
pool hopping is encouraged by all the hotels.

take the water taxi to the hotel of choice for a day of swimming, get towels from that hotel poolside.

if you do not plan to spend most of the day in the room, any of the hotels would be fine for your family.

if a balcony or patio is a priority for your family, then pbh would be the only option for the onsite hotels.

i ate at pbh and rph on my last trip this month.
i stayed at rph and loved only having to walk steps to the restaurants at that hotel. there are a few to chose from.

whatever hotel you decide on, i hope you enjoy your stay at universal.
all of the hotels are good.

you can use the hotel key cards for the express lines on the day you check out of the hotel.
the perks are still valid until park closing that night for your family.

you can use the ex line for 3 days in the park and priority seating in city walk.