pedestrianme
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2010
- Messages
- 5
Upon check-in at the Royal Pacific during a crowded weeknight in December, my spouse and I were offered a rate of $99 per night if we accepted a room with only a sofa bed. The room was comprised of the living room and kitchen sections of a suite. No one had booked the whole suite. So we ended up with a lower rate, a bigger space, but a worse bed. We saved $75 per night below our reserved rate. Not too bad.
The downgrade was optional, of course. Apparently the hotel was fully booked or overbooked, so they were offering child-free couples the sofa bed option.
We stayed for three nights and experienced nothing but perfect, friendly service. Everyone was so attentive and kind. We became suspicious, why is everyone so nice here? What a great staff.
Complimentary coffee in the rooms is awesome.
There are free postcards in each rooms informational binder. The gift shop sells stamps and has an outgoing mailbox.
The fitness center has a decent set of treadmills and free weights. $10 for entry.
Alas, it was too cold to swim.
WiFi in the rooms costs $10, which seems a little greedy. If the connection is too slow, be sure to ask the front desk for a refund; theyre aware of the problem. WiFi in the lobby is free, which explains the kids draped over all the furniture staring at Facebook.
You can request the Times brought to your room each morning for free instead of USA Today, thank goodness.
The concierge sold park-to-park tickets for exactly the same price as online.
Water taxis depart from near the swimming pool, but the walk to theme parks and Citywalk is just so short, circa three minutes. Check out the glaring of feral cats along the walk.
The Royal Pacifics sushi bar (Orchid Court) is subpar if youre used to good sushi joints. They have too few vegetable-based roles. Sushi is Japanese for vinegar rice, it doesnt always have heaps of fish in it. No ****ake mushrooms, no burdock, not even cucumber or plum on their menu. No tempura either.
The staff at the downstairs bar (Ricks American) are very friendly and accommodating, but the prices arent worth the beer selection or the junk food on offer.
Nearly all the breakfast options amounted to junk food, too. If your room has a microwave, pack some oatmeal. Room service doesnt have much healthy food on the menu, either. They offer a menu for dogs and cats. Cute.
Have no fear, Emerils Chop Tchoup, on the ground floor by the pool has terrific options. Their prices for lunch are pretty low for such comfy ambience. $14 bento box. For dinner the restaurant looks beautiful and one of the entrees is entirely vegan, $17.
Also nearby: Bob Marley, a Rasta themed restaurant at Citywalk. Theyre open from 4:00pm on and two of their entrees are vegetarian and seriously delicious (Ital Eats and Natty Dreads, $8-10).
Using the room key for express lines in the theme parks is unreal. After a few hours, you start to feel spoiled and unworthy. Its that quick. In some of the well-themed queues, we even stood aside and allowed others to pass just to experience the creative perspectivism for a bit. Both parks were very crowded, yet we never waited long to ride any ride, except Hollywood Rip Rockit. And our wait for the Hogwarts ride (HPFJ) was only twenty minutes long more on how we managed that in a later post.
The best part about staying on-site: I didnt see or hear a private automobile for three days. No stress. No worries. Just perfect.
We visited the other two resort properties while exploring food options. The public areas and restaurants of the Hard Rock Hotel are arranged like a food court at the mall. Its pretty boring, despite the name. Meanwhile Portofino Bay Hotel has one amazing pool area, but the resort feels empty and austere. Its very reminiscent of the new, mostly isolated mega-casinos on the Las Vegas strip. High ceilings, lots of plaster, and over-charged clientele. Stay at the Royal Pacific if you can.
Taxicab from the airport cost $45 with tip.
If youre continuing on to South Florida, Amtraks service out of Orlando has roomettes for $60 per couple, which includes a free lunch in the restaurant car. Each roomette has a bed, sink, toilet, and total privacy. Kinda awesome. (Departs daily at 1:10pm.) The taxi from Royal Pacific to Orlando-Amtrak costs about $20, plus tip. Theres a deliciously cheap Cuban restaurant across the street from the Amtrak station if you arrive early.
Staying on-site at Universal is awesome. Relaxing. Romantic. Do it, hipsters.
The downgrade was optional, of course. Apparently the hotel was fully booked or overbooked, so they were offering child-free couples the sofa bed option.
We stayed for three nights and experienced nothing but perfect, friendly service. Everyone was so attentive and kind. We became suspicious, why is everyone so nice here? What a great staff.
Complimentary coffee in the rooms is awesome.
There are free postcards in each rooms informational binder. The gift shop sells stamps and has an outgoing mailbox.
The fitness center has a decent set of treadmills and free weights. $10 for entry.
Alas, it was too cold to swim.
WiFi in the rooms costs $10, which seems a little greedy. If the connection is too slow, be sure to ask the front desk for a refund; theyre aware of the problem. WiFi in the lobby is free, which explains the kids draped over all the furniture staring at Facebook.
You can request the Times brought to your room each morning for free instead of USA Today, thank goodness.
The concierge sold park-to-park tickets for exactly the same price as online.
Water taxis depart from near the swimming pool, but the walk to theme parks and Citywalk is just so short, circa three minutes. Check out the glaring of feral cats along the walk.
The Royal Pacifics sushi bar (Orchid Court) is subpar if youre used to good sushi joints. They have too few vegetable-based roles. Sushi is Japanese for vinegar rice, it doesnt always have heaps of fish in it. No ****ake mushrooms, no burdock, not even cucumber or plum on their menu. No tempura either.
The staff at the downstairs bar (Ricks American) are very friendly and accommodating, but the prices arent worth the beer selection or the junk food on offer.
Nearly all the breakfast options amounted to junk food, too. If your room has a microwave, pack some oatmeal. Room service doesnt have much healthy food on the menu, either. They offer a menu for dogs and cats. Cute.
Have no fear, Emerils Chop Tchoup, on the ground floor by the pool has terrific options. Their prices for lunch are pretty low for such comfy ambience. $14 bento box. For dinner the restaurant looks beautiful and one of the entrees is entirely vegan, $17.
Also nearby: Bob Marley, a Rasta themed restaurant at Citywalk. Theyre open from 4:00pm on and two of their entrees are vegetarian and seriously delicious (Ital Eats and Natty Dreads, $8-10).
Using the room key for express lines in the theme parks is unreal. After a few hours, you start to feel spoiled and unworthy. Its that quick. In some of the well-themed queues, we even stood aside and allowed others to pass just to experience the creative perspectivism for a bit. Both parks were very crowded, yet we never waited long to ride any ride, except Hollywood Rip Rockit. And our wait for the Hogwarts ride (HPFJ) was only twenty minutes long more on how we managed that in a later post.
The best part about staying on-site: I didnt see or hear a private automobile for three days. No stress. No worries. Just perfect.
We visited the other two resort properties while exploring food options. The public areas and restaurants of the Hard Rock Hotel are arranged like a food court at the mall. Its pretty boring, despite the name. Meanwhile Portofino Bay Hotel has one amazing pool area, but the resort feels empty and austere. Its very reminiscent of the new, mostly isolated mega-casinos on the Las Vegas strip. High ceilings, lots of plaster, and over-charged clientele. Stay at the Royal Pacific if you can.
Taxicab from the airport cost $45 with tip.
If youre continuing on to South Florida, Amtraks service out of Orlando has roomettes for $60 per couple, which includes a free lunch in the restaurant car. Each roomette has a bed, sink, toilet, and total privacy. Kinda awesome. (Departs daily at 1:10pm.) The taxi from Royal Pacific to Orlando-Amtrak costs about $20, plus tip. Theres a deliciously cheap Cuban restaurant across the street from the Amtrak station if you arrive early.
Staying on-site at Universal is awesome. Relaxing. Romantic. Do it, hipsters.
, but it sounds like it worked great for you. Your post is great and I would love to hear more about your time in the parks and a whole trip report!
