I won a trip to Universal! Need help.

[nanadeb]

I won Travelocity's Blue Man Group VIP Sweepstakes and it is now time to make my reservations. I have my choice of the 3 hotels for a 3 night stay and I would like to stay the weekend of 12/8/07.
I'm a Disney person and have no clue what to choose. Which hotel would be best for two 50-something Disneyphiles?
And would it be better to see an evening performance or a matinee of the Blue Man Group?
We will be getting a one day Universal pass each and haven't a clue what to focus on in the parks.
What is Universal like during that time in December? Are there Christmas themed decorations/shows?
This will be our first Orlando trip that doesn't involve a smiling rodent.
Help!

 

[Metro West]

I won Travelocity's Blue Man Group VIP Sweepstakes and it is now time to make my reservations. I have my choice of the 3 hotels for a 3 night stay and I would like to stay the weekend of 12/8/07.
I'm a Disney person and have no clue what to choose. Which hotel would be best for two 50-something Disneyphiles?
And would it be better to see an evening performance or a matinee of the Blue Man Group?
We will be getting a one day Universal pass each and haven't a clue what to focus on in the parks.
What is Universal like during that time in December? Are there Christmas themed decorations/shows?
This will be our first Orlando trip that doesn't involve a smiling rodent.
Help!

First off...let me say CONGRATS! Now...about the parks...Universal is different from Disney and offers a different feel so come with an open mind and don't try to compare with Disney. Both parks are decorated for the Christmas season and the week you'll be here, the crowds are pretty light. It's beautiful here that time of year!

I don't know much about the hotels so someone else will have to give you advice on those but I'm sure you will enjoy yourselves no matter what hotel you choose.

 

[Ishy]

The Royal pacific has lush gardens like the poly - beautiful, Emrils restuarant is there, and they have a dinner show better then the poly. The pool is wonderful -- and the parks are a short boat ride away. REALLY NICE.

The portofino is suppose to be more like Italy and the Hard Rock is suppose to be GREAT too. Both cost more then the Royal Pacific (just a few dollars more) --- so I dont think you can go wrong.

Let us know what you choose and how you like it... Its a rock-n-roll trip so you may want to choose the Hard Rock to compliment the entire theme... but the Royal Pacific(tropical) and Portofino(Italy) may offer more romance...

What kind of mood are you in is the real question!

you wont miss the mouse if you dont think of it as a disney vacation.

 

[lilkitty819]

Hi

Congrat's! We have stayed at Hard Rock once and it was ok and the Royal Pacific 2xs. We prefer the Royal to the Hard Rock just love the south pacific feel to it. And we are 40 something group too. So have fun no matter which hotel you choose you will love it.

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

I think for two adults with no children along I would recommend the PBH

 

[kimkarli]

WOW! People really do win!! I enter all the time, this gives me new hope! CONGRATS!!! Have a great trip! My co-worker just went to Universal and saw Blue Man Group, she said they were great and she had ALL good things to say about Universal as well. I know even as a Disney buff, I plan on visiting Uinversal when they build the new Harry Potter park!

 

[calgarygary]

The rooms at the RPR are just a little smaller than the smallest deluxe rooms at WDW (AKL & WL) while the rooms at PBH are over 100 sq ft larger. Although the furthest from the parks (still a very short boat ride) the PBH is our favourite universal hotel and it would get our vote.

 

[Motherfletcher]

PBH would be best. Why would yopu go during the value season and not peak?

 

[TracyK]

Congrats! I love them all but Portofino is my favourite

Tracy

 

[Cass]

Congratulations, how awesome!

I would definately stay at Portofino Bay, the Villa Pool is an absolute escape from the real world, very tranquil. I have stayed at all 3 hotels and I think PB is the nicest.

Have a great time

 

[nanadeb]

WOW! People really do win!! I enter all the time, this gives me new hope! CONGRATS!!! Have a great trip!

Amazing, isn't it? I don't usually win anything, so this took me absolutely by surprise. Keep trying. If I can win, so can you! All it takes is one entry. Thanks!

I think for two adults with no children along I would recommend the PBH

Thanks for the recommendation.

Let us know what you choose and how you like it... Its a rock-n-roll trip so you may want to choose the Hard Rock to compliment the entire theme... but the Royal Pacific(tropical) and Portofino(Italy) may offer more romance...

What kind of mood are you in is the real question!

you wont miss the mouse if you dont think of it as a disney vacation.

My contact at Travelocity has submitted an enquiry to Universal about room availability for this promotion at that time. I'll make my choice when she gets back to me---after I hear from all of you, of course!

As for my mood--I love surprises, and things that are new. Since I haven't been to any of these hotels before, they will all be new. I've lived in Europe, visited Hawaii, and done the Hard Rock Cafe think a few times, so they are all in the running right now.
Like you said, I won't think of this as a Disney vacation. Adventure, here we come!

PBH would be best. Why would you go during the value season and not peak?

My DH and I love traveling during the pre-holiday season. We also like not shoving our way through huge crowds. Last year we hosted our 4 children and 9 grandchildren in timeshares in Orlando. Some of them went to Universal for a couple of days, then we all did Disney for another 3. We left on December 23rd. It got too busy at the end. This year we want to go at whatever pace seems right at the time.
Besides that, we have to use the trip before January 30th. Rules of the contest, you know.
Want to hear the really funny part? When I got the email congratulating me for the win (and I almost deleted it without reading it because I thought it was junk mail!), I had already paid off a Disney Free Dining vacation for 9/1 to 9/8!
Wiser heads on the DIS WDW trip report boards have advised that you shouldn't do Universal after doing Disney, so we opted for a separate trip. Anyway, we probably would have been comatose after all that food!

 

[nanadeb]

Congratulations, how awesome!

I would definately stay at Portofino Bay, the Villa Pool is an absolute escape from the real world, very tranquil. I have stayed at all 3 hotels and I think PB is the nicest.

Have a great time

Thanks, Cass. That's one for the Portofino.

Congrats! I love them all but Portofino is my favourite

Tracy

Thanks again, Tracy. That's 2 for the Portofino.

The rooms at the RPR are just a little smaller than the smallest deluxe rooms at WDW (AKL & WL) while the rooms at PBH are over 100 sq ft larger. Although the furthest from the parks (still a very short boat ride) the PBH is our favourite universal hotel and it would get our vote.

Thank you Calgary Gary (now say that 4 times fast!). That's 3.

Hi

Congrat's! We have stayed at Hard Rock once and it was ok and the Royal Pacific 2xs. We prefer the Royal to the Hard Rock just love the south pacific feel to it. And we are 40 something group too. So have fun no matter which hotel you choose you will love it.

We were 40 something, too, once. OK, maybe for 10 years. Hmmmmm. South Pacific. Palm trees. Thanks for the suggestion. Thats one for the Royal Pacific.

First off...let me say CONGRATS! Now...about the parks...Universal is different from Disney and offers a different feel so come with an open mind and don't try to compare with Disney. Both parks are decorated for the Christmas season and the week you'll be here, the crowds are pretty light. It's beautiful here that time of year!

I don't know much about the hotels so someone else will have to give you advice on those but I'm sure you will enjoy yourselves no matter what hotel you choose.

Shock! Universal is different from Disney? Who woulda figured. But no matter what, Christmas season is magical. Unless you're the Grinch.
What, no hotel recommendation? That's OK. Thanks for the congrats. I'm on myself.
All the congrats from you guys just makes me .
Thanks.

 

[nanadeb]

PBH would be best.

Thanks, Motherfletcher, that's 4 for PBH.

I think for two adults with no children along I would recommend the PBH

Make that 5. That must be some resort hotel to get so many votes. Anyone else?

Anyway, DisneyMAINEiac, wouldn't any hotel in Florida be better than December in, may I make a guess, Maine?

You know, sometimes I think that the planning is almost more fun than the vacation itself. I know that it is always more fun than the vacation aftermath. But not as much fun as the vacation.
You know, I am well known as an uber planner. I made all my ADR's for our TS meals in April on the first day of call in for the Disney VISA holders first shot at reservations for the DDP times. I started calling 5 minutes before the DTC lines opened. Reserved my resort and went straight on to making all my ADR's in the same call.
We have our park days planned out with CS roughed in. But you know what?
When the day comes, I'll drop all those plans in the trash (except for the ADR's for the TS---do you think I'm that dumb?!) and do whatever we feel like doing at the time.
Plans are made for us. We are not made for the plans. As long as we have a nice place to sleep, food in the works, and tickets in hand, we are good to go.
The detailed daily plans are for back up, Baby. When Mama is on vacation, Mama does not want to make plans. Mama wants to have fun. DH wants someone else to plan and point him in the right direction. So Mama makes plans, puts them in Word, and prints them out. When DH wants directions, Mama reads them out or hands them to DH.
Mama's not dumb.
Pass the Diet Dr. Pepper, please.

 

[bubba's mom]

I find it interesting that the Disney people say "not" to do Disney "after" Universal, when the Universal people recommend the complete opposite...know why? Because staying onsite your room key gives you unlimited Express Pass to every attraction (except Pteradon Flyers in IOA)...therefore, you are not standing in any lines for more than 5 - 10 minutes. At Disney, you do stand in lines (except for a couple of attractions you can FP). We always recommend UO after Disney for this reason...(it really DOES spoil you!)

To answer your question....if I had a choice, I'd stay at Portofino. Usually most expensive, but biggest rooms and romantic setting. The downfall is that it is the furthest from the parks, but you can take the boat and not worry about it.

Congrats and enjoy planning and the trip!

 

[goofy!]

Ok - make that 7 for the Portofino (after Bubba's Mom above)!

Since you are only getting a one day ticket into Universal, I would also recommend purchasing the 7 day ticket for $86.00. I know you don't need all 7 days, but it will give you 2 additional days into the parks.

 

[macraven]

congrats on winning the vacation !

lucky ducky


i have stayed at all three hotels.


i love hrh the best but think you should go with pbh. it's larger and costs more than the other 2 hotels. take advantage of this since you get to choose.


btw i am old, and i don't think that it matters what age you are for any of the on site hotels.......

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

Make that 5. That must be some resort hotel to get so many votes. Anyone else?

Anyway, DisneyMAINEiac, wouldn't any hotel in Florida be better than December in, may I make a guess, Maine?

truer words have not been spoken though! the really unbearable stuff doesn't settle in until January and February. I usually reach my breaking point around mid Feb and need a couple weeks to put me over the hump until spring arrives around the fourth of July On a related subject i have to report that we awoke to 32 degrees on the mercury yesterday morning