How much better is Hard Rock than Royal Pacific

[deva]

Please Help...

We are planning a vacation for June (AP rates aren't out yet) beginning with a 4-night stay at Universal. We want to stay at the HR, but comparing the rates, RP would be roughly $100 cheaper per room per night than HR. Or, I could get a King Suite at RP for the cost of a regular room at the HR. We are a party of 7, so we need 2 rooms. One room will sleep 2 adults/3 kids, the other will sleep 2 grandparents.

My question(s) is(are)...

Is it worth it to pay the extra $ for the HR?

My wife has been to both and says the Pool and location are much better at HR than RP. Looking online, HR looks about 4 times closer to the park gates than RP. Is HR that much better? Is there a walking path from RP to the park gates? Will I be miserable sleeping 5 in one regular room at the HR? Are the pools that much different? Do they both have slides? If so, are they about the same? Are there any other factors I haven't considered that I should be concerned about?

Please advise, Universal experts...

 

[damo]

The King Suite only sleeps three. Not sure if you meant that to be for you or the grandparents. What you could do is get a king suite with an attaching 2 queen bedroom at RPR. That would give you two queen beds in one room, a pullout in the other and a king in the other. That would be lots of room for the bunch of you. The walk is about 5 minutes more from RPR than HRH. The pool has a great water play area at RPR that is really popular with kids but has no slide.

 

[gschmerl]

I prefer the RPR but the rooms at the Hard Rock are bigger.
There is a great walking path from the RPR that brings you out on City Walk by Margaritaville.
You can pool hop at all the on site hotels.

 

[IdesOmarch]

I personally like the RP much better than HR. To me the HR I just don't like the decor, very white, and kind of sterile? And for full disclosure, I've only strolled through the grounds and lobby of HR, never stayed there. But to me the tropical theming at RP is much superior, but that's just how I roll.

 

[deva]

You can pool hop at all the on site hotels.

Funny, I was just getting ready to ask this. So yes, I can pool-hop. This is confirmed, right?

Thanks so far everyone.

 

[damo]

Funny, I was just getting ready to ask this. So yes, I can pool-hop. This is confirmed, right?

Thanks so far everyone.

Yes, you can definitely pool hop.

 

[patster734]

I also prefer RPR to HRH. IMO, the restaurants at RPR are the best of the on-site hotel restaurants: Emeril's Tchoup Chop, Jake's American Bar, and Island Dining Room (excellent but expensive breakfast buffet). On Saturdays, RPR has the Wantiluan Luau (costs extra). Before the luaua, they have a tiki lamp lighting ceremony open to the public, but I've never witnessed this. Every now and then, they will also have an "Aloha Friday" party which also costs extra.

As Idesofmarch mention, the RPR decor is very good. For example, located in the entrance lobby is an elaborate fountian. In the center are three elephant statues, with water spraying out of their trunks. Surrounding the fountain are human statues that are also spraying water into the fountain. Also located around the fountain are various plants. Its very serene.

 

[sdmom]

I also prefer RPR to HRH. .

I didn't like all the "attitude" from the employees at HRH. Seemed like too many of them thought they were rock stars and not us.

We will stay at RPR when we go back in August and use the saved $ for a nice dinner.

 

[tricky1]

I personally like the RP much better than HR. To me the HR I just don't like the decor, very white, and kind of sterile? And for full disclosure, I've only strolled through the grounds and lobby of HR, never stayed there. But to me the tropical theming at RP is much superior, but that's just how I roll.

I agree, We stayed at the HRH once and to me it seemed like the
rooms where an office... with beds.
Now the pool area is great, which we visit along with PBH pool area also.

 

[RACEFAN9]

When we stayed at Royal Pacific,we asked for one king and a 2 queen connecting rooms and was told that connecting rooms had to be the same bed type.they did put us next to each other but not connecting.How old are your kids?That will make a difference with the pool.young kids would like RP,but teens would like Hard Rock.I also found that Hard Rocks bathrooms are TINY compared to the other resorts.

 

[jtdl]

In my opinion the pool area is much better at RP than HRH. The HRH pool only gets about 3.5 feet deep (if even that deep - it's been a few years). The RP pool is at least deep enough to swim in. The RP also has the water play area for the kids, although no slide. I also think the RP decor and grounds are much nicer than HRH.

 

[Disfamplan]

I have stayed at both and although love the pool at HR - I love being able to afford the Jurrasic park suite for the kids even more at RPR. It has a king bed in the main room with a pull out sofa and the bathroom and a second Jurrasic park bedroom with 2 twins that only opens to the king bedroom. So it is very safe for the kids. We actually slept three kids in that room. The kids loved having their own room and we actually got some good sleep. We are going back this June and doing the RPR with the kids suite again. But then the next time we will probably go to the HR. We like mixing it up.

 

[sdmom]

I have stayed at both and although love the pool at HR - I love being able to afford the Jurrasic park suite for the kids even more at RPR. It has a king bed in the main room with a pull out sofa and the bathroom and a second Jurrasic park bedroom with 2 twins that only opens to the king bedroom. So it is very safe for the kids. We actually slept three kids in that room. The kids loved having their own room and we actually got some good sleep. We are going back this June and doing the RPR with the kids suite again. But then the next time we will probably go to the HR. We like mixing it up.

The kids suite sounds sweet. I'll have to check it out.

 

[IdesOmarch]

I also prefer RPR to HRH. IMO, the restaurants at RPR are the best of the on-site hotel restaurants: Emeril's Tchoup Chop, Jake's American Bar, and Island Dining Room (excellent but expensive breakfast buffet). On Saturdays, RPR has the Wantiluan Luau (costs extra). Before the luaua, they have a tiki lamp lighting ceremony open to the public, but I've never witnessed this. Every now and then, they will also have an "Aloha Friday" party which also costs extra.

As Idesofmarch mention, the RPR decor is very good. For example, located in the entrance lobby is an elaborate fountian. In the center are three elephant statues, with water spraying out of their trunks. Surrounding the fountain are human statues that are also spraying water into the fountain. Also located around the fountain are various plants. Its very serene.

Definite amundo.

 

[jjatwdw]

We love the HRH. The pool area is fantastic and the rooms are quite large.

 

[macraven]

Please Help...

We are planning a vacation for June (AP rates aren't out yet) beginning with a 4-night stay at Universal. We want to stay at the HR, but comparing the rates, RP would be roughly $100 cheaper per room per night than HR. Or, I could get a King Suite at RP for the cost of a regular room at the HR. We are a party of 7, so we need 2 rooms. One room will sleep 2 adults/3 kids, the other will sleep 2 grandparents.

My question(s) is(are)...

Is it worth it to pay the extra $ for the HR?

My wife has been to both and says the Pool and location are much better at HR than RP. Looking online, HR looks about 4 times closer to the park gates than RP. Is HR that much better? Is there a walking path from RP to the park gates? Will I be miserable sleeping 5 in one regular room at the HR? Are the pools that much different? Do they both have slides? If so, are they about the same? Are there any other factors I haven't considered that I should be concerned about?

Please advise, Universal experts...

i have stayed at HRH over 22 times.
also have stayed at RPH for a number of stays also.
once at PBH.

there are pros and cons between the two hotels, hrh and rph.
rooms are larger at hrh, but more limited in places to eat or snack during the day and night there.
you have the palms $$$, the kitchen on the 1st floor and then e & b outside the kitchen area in the foyer.

i have to say that the kitchen breakfast buffet is excellent and well worth the $18.xx cost.
you can hot food, cold food or order off the breakfast menu if not doing the buffet.
you can sit outside on the patio or inside the dining area.
staff will attend to you either way.

dinner is good at the Kitchen.
many good things on the menu there.

the room service i did not find to be very tasteful.
it's a bit more money for the same thing you can get elsewhere.

the walk to the studios is great.
so close.

a rock shop in the lobby area of the hotel but it is small.
the larger hrc is in city walk.

the atmosphere at HRH is very lively.
you can hear the music throughout the building but not in the rooms.


for RPH, yes, the rooms are smaller.
check out the hotel uo site for the dimensions to be exact.

to have 5 in the hrh or rph rooms could be tight.
depending on how much luggage and extras you need to store in the room.
but, hrh does have more square footage than rph for the regular rooms.

i go with the king suite and that is 670 sq ft at rph.
same as hrh but they are not separate rooms.

KS bathrooms are larger at rph than the ones at hrh.
they have sinks outside the bathroom and inside the shower/toilet area.

there are more places to get food at rph .
gift shops in the lobby and on ground level by the elevator for snack items.
the Orchid Lounge is open in the morning and you pay per item for what you want.
coffee refills free if you save your cup and go back on the same morning.
sushi bar open later in the day, separate from O.Lounge.

the Island has a great breakfast buffet also.
they will accomodate you with anything.

i wanted a BLT for breakfast from the buffet.
staff had me pick out the basics from the buffet and added mayo to it for me.
easy peasy...

jakes is good.
pizza and appetizers were great.

food service at pool side also, thinking it starts around 4:00 each day.
tchoup tchoup also available at the ground level located before the turn to the water taxis.

city walk is a closer walk or ride from rph than from hrh.
plenty of places there that are open very late for food, or shopping.

IOA is closer to RPH when walking.

The lobby at rph is a different set up from the hrh or pbh.
think frogs and polynesian set up..........very serene.

you can't go wrong with either hotel.
teens and pre teens do love the HRH with its ambiance.
on each floor by the end of the elevator will be rock and roll, music items in the show case.
check out each floor and take pics.
kids love that in this hotel.

you can pool hop, get towels from each hotel pool by showing your room key.
you can charge at any pool food, beverage, etc on your room key no matter which of the 3 you are staying at.

hrh has the least amount of rooms in the hotel.
it does fill quickly during certain times of the year.
if you book there, book soon.

with that in mind, you usually are not able to get into your room until 4:00 of check in day.
bummer.
i have better luck in earlier check in at rph. that hotel has many more rooms than hrh.

my boys loved the hard rock as teens but they really enjoyed the pool at rph better.

both hotels have dive in night for movies in the summertime.

my preference is staying at RPH.
the staff has been very attentive to guests, more food places and shops inside the building and on it's grounds, close to city walk and IOA and one important thing for me........
it is beautiful, calming, serene and atmosphere.

you don't have slides at the pool at rph but you can pool hop.
you can go to the lighting of the torches at the pool area.
my room was directly over that section last year.
what a great view i had for it.

if the family, kids really, vote for HRH, you will not regret it.
it will be a great stay for them.
you can't go wrong with either hotel.

you ask if it is worth paying $100 a day more for the room at HRH......
flip a coin.......$400 more is a tough question for me.

part of me says, go for it as you might not be back onsite again.
and you might be spending very little time at the hotel or inside the rooms except to sleep and shower.
the other part says, pay the lesser amount and spend more on souvies, snacks, tee shirts.

decide which are the most important factors in chosing your vacation.
room cost, pool and its amenities, food places/ shopping areas, etc.

 

[3MGIRLS]

Go to PBH! Seriously though, it's just a matter of opinion and what you like. Both (all 3) are nice.

 

[La2kw]

I wouldn't say one is better, they are just different. Yes, HRH is closer to Universal Studios, but not IOA. RPR is a tropical atmosphere, HRH is a mission style building with rock and pop music memorabilia. Both resorts are great, but we prefer RPR for the feeling of being at a tropical resort. We love the music aspect of HRH, but the resort feels like something from L.A. which is where I live. Plus there are plenty of Hard Rock Cafe's everywhere around the world, so it doesn't feel as unique as the RPR does to us. You can't go wrong with either resort. Oh, and the pool at the RPR is much larger and better than the HRH one.

 

[RayRing]

Thanks for all the excellent information.

We have never been to Universal Resorts before, and have reservations at HRH for late December.

We will have a 10 and 11 year old with us.

I am wondering if HRH is worth the extra $$'s, and which resort the kids might like better. They like to go to the pools for an afternoon break or a pre diner dip.

Any thoughts would be great.

Thanks again for all the great info.

 

[mick1229]

You cant go wrong,I have stayed at all 3 resorts,with kids in tow....all 3 are awesome properties with great pools....If i had my pick tonight,it would be PFB...tommorw? maybe HRH or RP...really its all good