Hard Rock/Universal ??? Help, never been!

[taylor1293]

Universal Questions!

We are considering cancelling our last 3 nights at AKL Concierge and heading over to Universal instead.

I called the hotels and got was quoted some decent rates with the entertainment club card.

Questions about the Hard Rock Hotel:

1) Club Level, is it worth the extra money?

2) Will my girls love the pool. They are ages 9 and 2.

3) Is the Universal express ride access as awesome as it sounds???

4) Can you charge to your room? And if you can, can you give them the limit you want to charge?

5) Can 3 adults and 2 children be in one room?

Thanks

Teresa

 

[Disney Debbie]

1) Club Level, is it worth the extra money?

Don't know

2) Will my girls love the pool. They are ages 9 and 2.

YES! The pool is great - zero entry, beach area, slide. They will love it.

3) Is the Universal express ride access as awesome as it sounds???

YES!!!!

4) Can you charge to your room? And if you can, can you give them the limit you want to charge?

Yes and I don't know.

5) Can 3 adults and 2 children be in one room?

Yes - but you'll have to pay an extra adult child for the 3rd one and may need to rent a cot for another $25. Someone else discusses that in another thread here - look for it.

 

[laf0165]

1) Club Level, is it worth the extra money?

We thought that Club Level was worth the extra money for us. We grabbed something quick to eat in the morning before we hit the parks at the Club Level Lounge. Ate a nice big lunch at City Walk (usually at the Hard Rock Cafe). Had a small snack with beer & wine at the Club Level Cocktail Hour (it was actually 2 hours). Then had milk & cookies at the club lounge for a snack. We also took several bottles of water from the club lounge to take to the parks every day.

2) Will my girls love the pool. They are ages 9 and 2.

Your girls will LOVE the pool. The music is great and the slide is awesome.

3) Is the Universal express ride access as awesome as it sounds???

Express Ride Access is the best invention since sliced bread!!! We went to Disney after we stayed 4 nights a HRH and hated the 2 hour wait to get on a ride. Even with Disney's so called equivilent Fast Pass it was a wait. Universal's Express is well worth what you pay to stay onsite. You will wonder how you ever went to a park without it.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Our kids were 1, 3, & 5 in December, they Loved it. The club level is a personal choice, but for us the only way to go. It saves so much time in the morning without having to stop somewhere for breakfast. You know kids have to eat NOW! MY two dds ages 3 & 5 honestly liked Universal better than WDW. I am sure FOTL had something to do with it. And when we were ther the characters were out in abundance. IMHO you won't be dissappointed.

 

[highlander447]

Hope this helps but u can put money into the kids card so that after they spend it thats it until topped up

 

[taylor1293]

Thanks so much for all your help!!!

I've booked the club level for 4 nights at a total of $923 (includ. tax). Is this a good rate? It was the best one I could find.

Now I've just got to convince myself to cancel my AKL reservation !

Teresa

 

[floridafam]

Taylor1293,

We are also considering staying at Universal instead of AKL.

We originally had a 1br suite booked at AKL but have decided we want to go to the beach also on this trip.

We can either go to AKL or RPR for 4 nights before going to the beach.

I just can't decide what to do.

Let us know what you decide.

Our kids love all of the Universal characters and I know we would have a great time but would miss AKL.

Anyway, have fun and please do a trip report.

 

[taylor1293]

floridafam,

Have you stayed at AKL before? If so, did you enjoy it? We haven't and I was looking forward to it and the Sunrise Safari.

However, I started reading on the Universal website and universal sent us a video (that I didn't request!). It looked so great.

If you go to Universal instead of AKL, are you planning on still staying at Disney before moving over to Universal?

We will still have 5 1/2 days at the parks at Disney if we go the Disney/Universal route. Is this enough time? This is my main concern?

I think I'm overthinking the whole thing, lol!

I'll post when I cancel one of the two reservations! Hmmm...What to do, what to do?!?!

Teresa

 

[floridafam]

We will either do Disney or Universal, not both.

Our trip was originally scheduled to be 9 nights at AKL but I just couldn't go to Florida without going to the beach.

We will only be in Orlando 4 nights. Either at AKL or RPR.

I am trying to decide between the 2.

I don't think 4 nights is long enough at Disney but it would be long enough at Universal, at least for us because there is only so much that my kids can go on.

I think we are leaning toward RPR but I am having trouble finding reviews on it.

We will probably go back to AKL when we can stay longer, which will be next April.

I like the pool cabanas at RPR, they look great and I was already able to reserve one.

The Sunrise Safari is great but I hate getting up early on vacation and I just don't know if we would make it this time. So, if we aren't going to the SS then that is another reason not to stay there, I guess.

I simply can't decide between the two. I'm also overthinking the whole thing.

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by taylor1293

4) Can you charge to your room? And if you can, can you give them the limit you want to charge?

At RPR I was asked how much I thought I'd want to spend over my room cost. I said $100 and they added it to my room key. I went over by $18, no problem. This was because I was paying with my debit card I thought. Not sure how they handle credit cards.

 

[lUVTOGO]

TAYLOR1293,

Yes that is the price I booked for HRH in November, stay 3 nights, get the 4th night free. Club level, it comes out to about 239 a night if you break it down for 4 nights! I have never been to Universal before, so we are staying at our timeshare for 7 nights then HRH for 4. I am looking forward to it.

 

[taylor1293]

floridafam - Good luck making your decision! I've decided just this morning to cancel the AKL and go to Universal! I'm really looking forward to it, especially the FOTL access on rides!

Robin - Thanks for the info about charging to the rooms!

luvtogo - sounds like we both got a great rate then!!! Have a great trip!

Teresa

 

[dtk'smom]

Can you use entertainment rate with club level? Do they charge to change reservation types?

 

[taylor1293]

You can use the Entertainment card for the club level. But the rate HRH quoted us was much more than the one available at www.hotelkingdom.com They are having a "4th night is free" special right now!

Teresa