Hrh vs. Pbh

[disneywith3boys]

Need major help deciding between the hard rock and Pbh. We are a family of 5...kids are 10,8,6. We need a deluxe room, but would also like club level. Which hotel offers the best deluxe with club access. I have also read some negative feedback about the cleanliness of the hrh rooms? Which pool is better? Any help is appreciated.

 

[macraven]

check out the room dimensions on the UO website.
go to hotels and see which hotel room would suite you.

check out the difference of room cost for club level and decide which one is better for you financially.

that alone can help guide you to the hotel you would like to stay in.


you can pool hop so that shouldn't be a factor in choosing which hotel.
read some of the past threads of the club offerings at both hotels.
that will give you an idea of which place has food that you and the kids would enjoy.

 

[JessicaR]

You can't book a deluxe room on club level at Hard Rock. You can request it but it is first come first served. There are very few of them. If a deluxe room on club level is important you may want to book at Portofino Bay. When my kids were that age they really enjoyed Portofino. Now as teens they only want to stay at HRH.

Also, you can purchase a roll away for the room if it doesn't have a pull-out couch. They do charge. I think it's about $25 a night.

Personally, I like the club lounge and offerings better at Portofino. They also have 3 pools and a terrific slide!

 

[damo]

You can't book a deluxe room on club level at Hard Rock. You can request it but it is first come first served. There are very few of them. If a deluxe room on club level is important you may want to book at Portofino Bay. When my kids were that age they really enjoyed Portofino. Now as teens they only want to stay at HRH.

Also, you can purchase a roll away for the room if it doesn't have a pull-out couch. They do charge. I think it's about $25 a night.

Personally, I like the club lounge and offerings better at Portofino. They also have 3 pools and a terrific slide!

And Sal's deli!!!! Excellent pizza and a great place to get snacks!

 

[humphreydog]

"kids are 10,8,6"

The PBH lifeguards are excellent, all areas of the pool are constantly scanned. You will feel much more relaxed at PBH with your children.

The HRH pool is crazy. I watch my children like a hawk but at HRH pool I always lose track of them.

 

[disneywith3boys]

It sounds like PBH may be better for us. Any truth to the cleanliness issues at the Hard Rock? I hate giving up hope on the Hard Rock since its location can't be beat.
I can do without club level. I read somewhere that breakfast doesn't start at the club level until 7:30 and the early entry to Harry Potter is 7am?

 

[damo]

It sounds like PBH may be better for us. Any truth to the cleanliness issues at the Hard Rock? I hate giving up hope on the Hard Rock since its location can't be beat.
I can do without club level. I read somewhere that breakfast doesn't start at the club level until 7:30 and the early entry to Harry Potter is 7am?

All the hotels are managed by Loews, so one hotel shouldn't be any different than another. I've never found a cleanliness problems at the onsite hotels.

 

[JessicaR]

We stay at HRH often. No cleanliness issues for us at all. I'll be club level again in 4 weeks - last time it was 7:30A breakfast - will post an update if I find out differently when we return.

 

[macraven]

It sounds like PBH may be better for us. Any truth to the cleanliness issues at the Hard Rock? I hate giving up hope on the Hard Rock since its location can't be beat.
I can do without club level. I read somewhere that breakfast doesn't start at the club level until 7:30 and the early entry to Harry Potter is 7am?

i have no idea where those crazy rumors come from.


i have stayed at all 3 onsite hotels and have never encountered cleanliness issues at them.


what are your dates for your stay?


when the parks open at 9:00, early entrance will be at 8:00.
(at those times, parry hotter would not be open until 8:00 then.)
if you stayed at club, you would have time to utilize the early entry then.

it's only when the parks officially open at 8:00 that EE would be at 7:00.
this is usually during high seasons and holiday time periods.

 

[disneywith3boys]

We are staying Memorial Day thru the next Monday...I was thinking that hours would be 8am/7amEE during that time.

Any suggestions on room numbers at both the hotels?

HRH, near elevators, room that has balcony, etc.

PBH-near elevators, bay view, balcony, etc.

Again, we would be in a deluxe 2 queen either club or not.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[JessicaR]

We are staying Memorial Day thru the next Monday...I was thinking that hours would be 8am/7amEE during that time.

Any suggestions on room numbers at both the hotels?

HRH, near elevators, room that has balcony, etc.

PBH-near elevators, bay view, balcony, etc.

Again, we would be in a deluxe 2 queen either club or not.

Thanks for the advice.

No patio/balcony at Hard Rock. Very few at Portofino, request only. There are specific threads on room numbers, views, room types on this board. I'll bump them up for you.

 

[stormer]

It sounds like PBH may be better for us. Any truth to the cleanliness issues at the Hard Rock? I hate giving up hope on the Hard Rock since its location can't be beat.

We stayed at Hard Rock CLub level two weeks ago. We absolutley love it, but it was the second time we stayed there and had ants in the room. Last time they were on the table in the room and this time they were in the bathroom. We never eat in the room so it wasn't becasue we had food around.

 

[JessicaR]

We stayed at Hard Rock CLub level two weeks ago. We absolutley love it, but it was the second time we stayed there and had ants in the room. Last time they were on the table in the room and this time they were in the bathroom. We never eat in the room so it wasn't becasue we had food around.

Ewww - did you bring it to anyone's attention at the hotel? We'll be there soon and I don't want to see ants in my room!

 

[stormer]

Ewww - did you bring it to anyone's attention at the hotel? We'll be there soon and I don't want to see ants in my room!

We let them know. I also took pictures and plan on writing a letter to make sure they know. Everyone was very nice there, but you never know if they are telling you they will take care of it just to get rid of you.

 

[kingken]

we stayed at HRH for the first time was really looking forward to it but was a little bit dissapointed to be honest for 5 star, the staff were very friendly, the deluxe room had 2 queen beds in and my eldest slept in the couch pull out bed which still left plenty of room, the sink outside the room had a large mirror which was covered in brown at the bottom and around sides, i suspect with water spalshes that had caused a bit of mould it was obvious that it had not been cleaned for some time, the bathroom needs a complete overall, the tiles were dirty with grout missing, the shower head looked like it had had several repairs but still leaked from it onto the side of the floor and when we tried adjusting it got worse, the toilet seat was discoloured badly.
the worse thing was when we woke first morning to find where the bottom sheet had been tucked in there was dry blood and i dont mean a little, i told front desk who said they would sort it only the sheet was changed
the rooms were cleaned everyday to a decent standard but not sure how many times it was hoovered as there was a plastic screw on floor and it stayed there for a few days, same in the hallway outside room
the pools were very good and had at least 2 guards on most of the time but could become very rowdy at times
the beachclub was a nice place to have a drink and a snack/tea but beware they add 18% tip regardless and to be honest the service was not great we had to wait for someone to come to table most times we went and invariably had to go looking for server to ask for bill although they were pleasant enough
the kitchen we went once but was nice if a little expensive comapared to citywalk resteraunts
we dont drive so had to use taxis to disney, it cost us $50 one way to all the disney parks as they have to cover the $14 parking fee that disney charge taxis for dropping off, i later found out that the $14 fees is not charged at magic kingdom as they drop off to side but i was still charged it, we tried yellow cab to epcot which is $37 but i had to pay the $14 at the gate so no cheaper
the lounge area has free wi fi which my sons used and again most nights tables were full of galsses from bar and most nights there were not moved whilst we were there
i our opinion the hotel needs it's first overhaul as it is looking a little tired now but we still enjoyed our stay but for the money we paid i was expecting better
the express tickets are the best thing about staying onsite and convienance of citywalk, hope that helps

 

[damo]

we stayed at HRH for the first time was really looking forward to it but was a little bit dissapointed to be honest for 5 star, the staff were very friendly, the deluxe room had 2 queen beds in and my eldest slept in the couch pull out bed which still left plenty of room, the sink outside the room had a large mirror which was covered in brown at the bottom and around sides, i suspect with water spalshes that had caused a bit of mould it was obvious that it had not been cleaned for some time, the bathroom needs a complete overall, the tiles were dirty with grout missing, the shower head looked like it had had several repairs but still leaked from it onto the side of the floor and when we tried adjusting it got worse, the toilet seat was discoloured badly.
the worse thing was when we woke first morning to find where the bottom sheet had been tucked in there was dry blood and i dont mean a little, i told front desk who said they would sort it only the sheet was changed
the rooms were cleaned everyday to a decent standard but not sure how many times it was hoovered as there was a plastic screw on floor and it stayed there for a few days, same in the hallway outside room
the pools were very good and had at least 2 guards on most of the time but could become very rowdy at times
the beachclub was a nice place to have a drink and a snack/tea but beware they add 18% tip regardless and to be honest the service was not great we had to wait for someone to come to table most times we went and invariably had to go looking for server to ask for bill although they were pleasant enough
the kitchen we went once but was nice if a little expensive comapared to citywalk resteraunts
we dont drive so had to use taxis to disney, it cost us $50 one way to all the disney parks as they have to cover the $14 parking fee that disney charge taxis for dropping off, i later found out that the $14 fees is not charged at magic kingdom as they drop off to side but i was still charged it, we tried yellow cab to epcot which is $37 but i had to pay the $14 at the gate so no cheaper
the lounge area has free wi fi which my sons used and again most nights tables were full of galsses from bar and most nights there were not moved whilst we were there
i our opinion the hotel needs it's first overhaul as it is looking a little tired now but we still enjoyed our stay but for the money we paid i was expecting better
the express tickets are the best thing about staying onsite and convienance of citywalk, hope that helps

Gotta love that Disney drop off charge!!! We had that happen once at AK and I swear we'll never do it again.

 

[kingken]

if i did it again i would get yellow taxi to magic kingdom and get the monorail or free bus to other parks, that $14 soon mounts up over several visits

 

[damo]

if i did it again i would get yellow taxi to magic kingdom and get the monorail or free bus to other parks, that $14 soon mounts up over several visits

Last year, we took a cab from RPR to the Contemporary since we were switching resorts in the middle of the vacation and we talked to the taxi driver about it. He said that there is a place at each park where the cabs can let you off without the extra charge. You just have to ask them to do that. I think it is where all of the off site buses let off. He pointed out the one at MK but that was the only one we saw.

 

[disneywith3boys]

Thanks for all the advice. I think we are going to stay at the Hard Rock. I just can't pass up it's great location. We decided that the room was more important than the club level. Deluxe Queen will be our choice...I looked thru the thread about room requests, and none addressed a Deluxe Queen, not on club level...so please help! Any advice on what Deluxe Queen room to stay in...non club. Non noisy, close to elevators/exit to walk to Universal.

 

[macraven]

you can request the deluxe rooms when you check in.
can't book them in advance.