Hard Rock? Royal Pacific??? EXPERTS!

[disney's daughter]

When I went to Universal a few years back...the two hotels were very close in price...Now..Hard Rock is a lot more than Pacific? Why is that...? I have stayed at Hard Rock...but, not at R.Pacific...but, if there is a huge difference in price...we might be staying at R. Pacific...

Also...what are the chances of getting the AAA discount for a room for President's weekend? Should I call AAA now for that date or wait?

 

[damo]

I don't think rates are probably out yet for President's day weekend. Hard Rock rooms are larger than Royal Pacific and the hotel is closer. It is always more expensive now.

 

[disney's daughter]

Ahhhh.....I remember taking a boat from Hard Rock to City Walk....It isn't the same with Royal Pacific?

 

[Ruth B]

you can still take a boat from RPR to city walk. All 3 of the on-site hotel have the boat transportataion. We have stayed at RPR twice and loved it, this year we are staying at HRH as my son is now mad into music.

 

[disney's daughter]

Thank you for the information...My 14 year old granddaughter is into the music, too...but, three rooms at Hard Rock compared to three rooms at Royal Pacific...Hmmmm....might be a big cost difference!

 

[Ruth B]

you could always spend a day at HRH pool. Apparently you are allowed to pool hop if your staying onsite

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You can most definitely pool hop. HRH has become the most popular resort on property. It's often more expensive than Portofino Bay. IMHO, Portofino Bay is the nicest of the 3 resorts, followed by HRH, then RPR. If you're familiar with WDW resorts, RPR would fit in a similar category as WL & AKL. Still a deluxe, but closer to the moderates than the other deluxe resorts. Why is HRH most popular? Location, location, location!!! I don't know if you were aware of it or not when you stayed there, but you could have walked to Universal Studios in 5 min. from there. IOA is another 5 min. through CityWalk. From HRH, you don't really need the boat. It's actually slower, unless you're just in the mood for a relaxing ride. You can also walk from RPR, but it's a little further. We stayed there once & took the boat most of the time, but did walk occasionally. (If I were in better health, we probably would have walked more often than not.) From RPR, you're closer to IOA. The walkway comes out at Margaritaville. As a pp noted, the rooms are bigger at HRH. RPR doesn't have a pool slide, but does have a nice water feature. With the pool hopping feature, it isn't that much of an issue anyway. HRH is more lively (which is popular with preteens/ teens), while RPR has a laidback island feel. All that said, I don't think you'll be disappointed with RPR. I'm sure you'll all have a great stay.

 

[damo]

You can most definitely pool hop. HRH has become the most popular resort on property. It's often more expensive than Portofino Bay. IMHO, Portofino Bay is the nicest of the 3 resorts, followed by HRH, then RPR. If you're familiar with WDW resorts, RPR would fit in a similar category as WL & AKL. Still a deluxe, but closer to the moderates than the other deluxe resorts. Why is HRH most popular? Location, location, location!!! I don't know if you were aware of it or not when you stayed there, but you could have walked to Universal Studios in 5 min. from there. IOA is another 5 min. through CityWalk. From HRH, you don't really need the boat. It's actually slower, unless you're just in the mood for a relaxing ride. You can also walk from RPR, but it's a little further. We stayed there once & took the boat most of the time, but did walk occasionally. (If I were in better health, we probably would have walked more often than not.) From RPR, you're closer to IOA. The walkway comes out at Margaritaville. As a pp noted, the rooms are bigger at HRH. RPR doesn't have a pool slide, but does have a nice water feature. With the pool hopping feature, it isn't that much of an issue anyway. HRH is more lively (which is popular with preteens/ teens), while RPR has a laidback island feel. All that said, I don't think you'll be disappointed with RPR. I'm sure you'll all have a great stay.

Who you callin' a pp???

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Who you callin' a pp???

Sorry, I didn't remember who posted that. Thought it was some curly headed guy or something. He would be/ have a pp right.

 

[disney's daughter]

Well...right now..in our group would be two people in mid sixities...one who turned sixty..one in her late fifties (me)...two in their thirties and my granddaughter who will be almost fifteen...I don't know if my other son, his wife, and kids will be coming yet or not...I know my grandaughter would like Hard Rock better...My husband loved eating at the Palms the last time we were there....but, if there is a huge price difference...we may have to choose RP....No matter what...I know we'll have fun.. If my sister likes it...then, we'll have to split our trip times going to Disney AND Universal... We meet several times a year at Disney...just the two of us...Sometimes we take the husbands and grandchildren.... I'm just lacking in experience when it comes to Universal compared to Disney...Thank goodness for these boards!

 

[damo]

I think any of the hotels would be very pleasing. Just choose what you can afford!

 

[rie'smom]

Each has their fans. Personally,we've never stayed anywhere but the RPR. I'm guilty of being a resort reservation switcher. We've booked both the Portofino and the HRH in the past but chickened out and switched back to the RPR. We know we love that hotel.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I agree that any choice is a good one! We switch back and forth staying at all 3. They each have something different that appeals to us. If RPR is pricing best I would grab that! The pool area is wonderful and the Bula Bar is my favorite. Still an easy walk to the parks and the staff at RPR are some of the friendliest people I have ever encountered. Oh and breakfast at Island Dining Room is really great!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I agree that any choice is a good one! We switch back and forth staying at all 3. They each have something different that appeals to us. If RPR is pricing best I would grab that! The pool area is wonderful and the Bula Bar is my favorite. Still an easy walk to the parks and the staff at RPR are some of the friendliest people I have ever encountered. Oh and breakfast at Island Dining Room is really great!

I agree! We thought the same thing, when we stayed there.

 

[disney's daughter]

You all are making me feel much better about possibly staying at RP....

 

[damo]

The other thing to remember is that all of the rooms will have been recently refurbished so that everything will be very clean and new.

 

[disney's daughter]

Royal Pacific? Keep talking...I'm getting closer to going there!!!

 

[MommyBuzz909]

We are staying at AKL for 7-8 nights (not sure yet) and I know he wants to go to Universal for 2-3 days. I was originally looking at staying at HRH, but do you think that would be the best choice for myself and my DS5??

Let me know!

Thanks!!

 

[KLAIT]

I can only give you our opinion, but we bit the bullet this past spring and spent the extra to stay at HRH. I can honestly say that we enjoyed both RPR and PBR much better. There was really nothing wrong with the HRH, but there was nothing special about it either. When we return, but will be to one of the others, based on price for sure.

 

[jtdl]

For our upcoming trip I first made a ressie with RPR, then switched to HRH and then once again, switched back to RPR. What made me finally choose RPR? - the theming. Sure it would be "cool" to stay at HRH but both my DD16 and myself prefer the theming and grounds at RPR. So that's something to consider. I don't care if it takes 3 minutes longer to walk to the parks and we'll spend one of the days at the HRH pool (which was the main reason we considered HRH - the slide and the underwater music system).

We will be there over MLK weekend (not President's Day weekend as I said earlier!) and they offered both the AAA rate and the supersaver rate. The supersaver rate was better but I believe you have to stay for a minimum number of nights to qualify for the supersaver.