Hotel Royal Plaza/Giraffe Cafe Menu?

[hellow]

Hi:

I can get a (larger) room at the HRP in Downtown Disney for the same price as the AAA discounted rate at the All Stars. Since my kids are teenagers, I am considering this option. Can anyone give me a review of the bus system? Is the dropoff at the parks pretty similar to where the Disney busses drop off? Is it an easy walk to Downtown Disney from HRP?

I was also wondering what price range we should expect to pay at the cafe to give me a comparison to the food court at All Stars. Does anyone have a menu posted somewhere?

We have stayed several times at the All stars, and with the age of my kids, the theming isn't quite as important as it used to be. However, I do like the feel of being "in our own little world of Disney" while on vacation when we stay onsite. Will we be giving up a lot (more efficient busses/better quick meals/fun theming) in exchange for a larger, probably nicer room?

All thoughts are appreciated!

 

[beatnik]

The Downtown Disney buses have a set schedule for pick up and drop off which is somewhat less convienent than the Disney buses (but we ride neither, finding them all far less convienent than our car). I am therefore not a huge expert on the bus system, but can tell you that the Downtown Disney hotel's buses drop you at the Ticket and Transportation Center not at the MK front gate (as do Disney buses)- so you need to leave time to take the ferry or monorail to the MK gate. Not sure where the drop off is for the other parks.

You can walk to Downtown Disney-- maybe 15 minute walk.

Giraffe Cafe is pretty good. We ate there last week even though we were staying at the Courtyard (have stayed at hrp in past). They have a good selection of reasonably priced sandwiches ($6-9, which includes curly fries) and some more expensive entrees ($12-20 approx.). My husband and I each had a tasty sandwich, fries, and a drink, which came to a but over $20 with tax and tip. This is a sit down restaurant, so perhaps not ideal for antsy teens, but is preferable to us over food court dining.

You will have a bigger and nicer room at HRP. The decor is nice but much more adult and understated than All Stars. The pool area is pretty plain-- perfectly fine pool, but nothing "special." There is a very tiny arcade, which your kids would probably find lame if they are pretty hip.

Having stayed at both HRP and AllStars, I can say that we personally much prefer HRP, but we are a middle-aged couple with no kids! But since the buses are important to you, and food court dining might be better for teens, I would think you could make a very good case for the AllStars.

It will be a tough decision. We have stayed at both places, so if you have any further questions, please let me know (our two AllStars stays were quite some time ago though).

Beatnik

 

[hellow]

Thanks for the helpful response, Beatnik! I thinkwith the bus system not quite "door to door", we may stick with the All Stars. Maybe we will get EXTREMELY lucky and they will have some special pricing on a Disney moderate for travel in March (even if it is peak spring break season). Then we would get the larger room and the convenience of the Disney busses and food courts.

THanks for you help!

 

[vickyBaby]

I think there was a sample menu in the Orlando Entertainment book. Unfortunately I don't have a copy. Maybe another member of this board might have it.

 

[beatnik]

There is a sample menu in the Orlando Entertainment Book, but it only lists the more expensive entrees and not the sandwiches, soups, and salads. (The reason for this is that the entrees are the only options eligible for the buy one-get one free option with the Entertainment Book.)

You can try to get to this version of the menu on entertainment.com or orlandoinfo.com.

Beatnik