First timer just back!!!!

[maggiew]

We just got back from our first trip to Universal. All I can say is WOW!!! We had such a great time. Portofino was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! We went swimming in all 3 pools. We ate at most of the restaurants in Portofino and many at City Walk (Latin Quarter, Pat O'Briens, Pastamore, Motown and Hard Rock) plus Tchoup Chop! The hotel FOTL key is SOOOO NICE! That scored big points with DH and the kids. They couldn't believe it. My younger DD and I rode Spiderman 4 times in a row (NO WAIT) while my older DD and DH went on the Hulk. We also went on the Unicorn coaster 4 times while older DD and DH went on Dueling Dragons. We had to stop at 4 because that was all I could take in a row!! NO WAITS. Each time we walked right up to the loading area.

Basically what we did was sleep in until 9 or 9:30. Then go hit the parks until noon or so. Go back to the hotel and swim and eat lunch at the pool. Then we went back around 5 or so and did a few more rides until the park closed at 8 pm. Then we ate dinner at City Walk. We accomplished all the major rides at least once and many of them we did many times - and we never spent more than 3 hours at a time in the park!

We went to the Dive In movie at the Hard Rock on Friday night. They played Back to the Future. I had also rented a cabana for that day. Boy! That is the life!!

We loved Universal, the resorts, the taxi boats and the FOTL. We will definitely be going back. Except we can't decide where to stay! They were all so nice.

Thanks for all the help and tips.

Maggie

 

[bratray]

hi maggie

glad to hear you had such a good time!

may was my first trip & i am hooked-

FOTL is the best thing going

enjoyed reading your trip report

 

[Motherfletcher]

All 3 PBH pools? Its kind of a long walk to the hillside pool isn't it? It is pretty quiet/romantic there too.
FOTL has kidnapped quite a few of us former WDW fans! I hate lines!
I've been to all 3 and had a good experience at each. Try HRH next time but beware, that is where the kids will want to stay every time.
Glad you had fun.

 

[highlander447]

Sounds like u had a wonderful time

 

[maggiew]

Originally posted by Motherfletcher
All 3 PBH pools? Its kind of a long walk to the hillside pool isn't it? It is pretty quiet/romantic there too.
FOTL has kidnapped quite a few of us former WDW fans! I hate lines!
I've been to all 3 and had a good experience at each. Try HRH next time but beware, that is where the kids will want to stay every time.
Glad you had fun.

OOOPS. I meant we swam at all the main pools - Hard Rock, Portofino and Royal Pacific. We did swim once in the Hillside Pool. It wasn't too far of a walk for us. We were just on the other end of the East Wing. My girls like to swim in less crowded pools (they aren't into jumping in every 5 seconds and splashing around) so they really loved the Hillside Pool. There were only a handful of people there.

My older DD liked the Hard Rock pool the best, but my younger DD liked Portofino (although she liked the Hard Rock slide better). I liked the Royal Pacific pool best. It seemed the most relaxing.

Maggie

 

[Motherfletcher]

We have done the pool hopping tour as well. My kids still like HRH the best at ages 10 and 16. The underwater music, the basketball hoop, the slide and the "cool" are hard to beat.

 

[AspiringCindy]

Glad to hear about your nice stay! It was also nice meeting you and doing the Pal Mickey swap!