For People Who Have Stayed at Onsite Hotels

[jagwebb1]

I really need some opinions on the best resort for our upcoming stay in May. Family of 3, daughter will be almost 5 when we go. We have gone to Disney the past few years and wanted to go to Universal this year. We live in FL so my husband and I have been to Universal several times (not recently) but never with our daughter. We love Disney's Beach Club - to give you an idea of the type of resort we like. The problem I seem to have deciding is that Hard Rock looks to be the nicest to me - most up to date and with the better pools...but I am concerned about the atmosphere for my little one. Is the atmosphere appropriate for a young child? And if not - - which of the other two resorts is the nicest, cleanest, best pools, etc...?

 

[Bluer101]

We always stay at RPR for the atmosphere and relaxation. Then we pool hop to HRH for the slide, beach, and music. You get the best of both worlds.

I have never stayed onsite at Disney so I cannot compare for you.

I forgot to add that all three hotels are very nice. It depends on the decor and atmosphere that suits you.

 

[damo]

I think the RPR would probably be more fun for your daughter. It has a great water play area in the pool. It doesn't have a water slide, however. HRH and PBH have water slides.

All of the hotels are perfectly welcoming for a 5 year old and the pool are all very accommodating.

 

[jagwebb1]

Thanks for the responses! The Universal boards are much slower than the Disney ones!! Well...when I called the only affordable rooms were at the Royal Pacific so I went with that one. I am a little disappointed b/c I really wanted to stay at Hard Rock but maybe something will open up before we leave. I have seen people compare the Royal Pacific to Disney's moderates - - which we have stayed at and did not like AT ALL but other people say RPR is actually better than the moderates so guess I will find out! Thanks for your help.

 

[gschmerl]

RPR is MUCH nicer than the Disney moderates. You can pool hop, so even if you stay at the RPR you can use the pool at the HRH.

 

[cvjw]

We have stayed at all of the onsite hotels at Universal. My kids prefer HRH - they love the slide and the fact that you can hear music underwater in the pool. It is also the easiest onsite hotel to get to the theme parks - you can walk there in just a few minutes. My kids did not like RPR because there was no pool slide - the slide at the pool has always been very important to their vacation satisfaction levels. FYI - Beach Club is also our favorite Disney resort. We loved it so much that we bought DVC points there.

 

[bumbershoot]

You had two accurate responses inside half an hour of posting...that's not bad.

Universal encourages pool-hopping, so just head on over to HRH if you wish!

It's possible that people were talking about room size when comparing RPR to a moderate, but I can't see how else it could be compared. GORGEOUS lobby, lovely outside areas, really nice employees and good service...the rooms are small, but nice.

 

[IdesOmarch]

IMO the Hard Rock is the last on my list. Portifino is the nicest/plushest, and also has the best kids pool or pool in general actually. It actually has 3 pools, an adults villa pool with cabanas, the main pool that has a castle with a waterfall slide, then they have a 3rd smaller pool.

Royal Pacific is themed like a pacific tropical resort, and also has a nice large pool with a kids play area type thing, we usually stay at RP to save dollars, but I stay at the Portifino when I don't mind splurging.

 

[jagwebb1]

Thanks for the info! I am sorry if I offended anyone with the "slow" comment. I didn't mean slow as in people are slow to respond. I meant - slow - as in not as much activity. People don't ask as many questions and there is less information in general - that is all. But from reading the forums - it seems like Universal is a little slower paced than Disney so maybe that is why.

 

[Bluer101]

Thanks for the info! I am sorry if I offended anyone with the "slow" comment. I didn't mean slow as in people are slow to respond. I meant - slow - as in not as much activity. People don't ask as many questions and there is less information in general - that is all. But from reading the forums - it seems like Universal is a little slower paced than Disney so maybe that is why.

Once you do a Universal vacation you will see how much easier it is than Disney. The only plans you need to make is to relax, that's what a vacation is truly about.

 

[yakkin' yeti]

We just got back from a long weekend at RPH, and can reassure you that it's MUCH nicer than Disney's moderates. (We've stayed at CSR post-renovation and POR a couple of years ago. I was happy at both and am not knocking Disney, but there's no comparison.)

The lobby is stunning and we spent hours at the pool every day. I was worried my son would miss the water slide, but when we offered to pool hop over to PBH, he didn't want to leave the RPH. We also had fun with the ping-pong tables that are poolside.

I hadn't been excited to stay there, because I love PBH (but it was just too pricey for this stay). I came away very pleased and would happily return.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Brynnie]

You will LOVE RPR! I would not compare it to a Disney moderate...I have stayed in all of the Dis mods and I think this property is so much nicer! I loved the tropical theme, the restaurants and the pool. I did not have kids with me when I went, but we still LOVED the pool! We watched a Dive in movie one night and just enjoyed having drinks and loving the ambiance of the place. I am a Disney girl AND a Universal girl....I think there are pros and cons to both places and I don't like to compare them. I have not been to Universal for a long time, because as soon as I heard about WWOHP, I decided to wait until it was open to visit. Your daughter will LOVE the kiddie play area at the RPR. Also, we did not think the room was too small....it was nice and comfy for us. I really hope you have a wonderful time! I am leaving on Monday for PBH....we are celebrating a special occasion and decided to splurge on that property, but I would stay at RPR agian in a heartbeat! Have fun!