I'm back!!

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Well, I'm back from my wonderful vacation with DH - we had a really nice relaxing time. I am HOPING to post a trip report, if I can find the time. Some highlights -
Royal Pacific - really beautiful hotel, ok rooms, good service. We enjoyed room service (yummy chicken noodle soup), Jakes (great place for a beer), Tchoup Chop (superb), Islands Dining Room (great breakfast Buffet, and the pool bar (thumbs down).

IOA - rode both dragons in front (awesome!), Hulk twice, Dr. Dooms for the first time (fun!), Spiderman 3 times (still wonderful), Ripsaw Falls for the first time (got soaked), Jurassic Park, ate at Mythos (really, really good), and enjoyed the Christmas decorations in Suess Landing. They went up overnight between Sunday and Monday and we took lots of pictures. I'm sure there will be much more going up, but it was great to see.

Universal - T3- great, BTTF (I may be the only one who is not impressed with this ride), MIB (really fun, but I can't even mention my score ), Twister for the first time (ok, not a big thrill), Makeup show for the first time (great show), and saw tons of characters! We didn't see any of them this summer when we had our kids

Ate at Margaritaville - good as usual, and hung out at the Airport Bar. Also drank at the bar at the Hard Rock Cafe - a BIG mistake. We had been drinking a bit, and then I went and had two Hurricanes . I would NOT recommend this to anyone. I think they are all alcohol and I did not realize it. Anyway, the entire day on Sat. was spent in bed. I was so sick - I think I had a 24 hour bug, but the drinks did not help. So an entire day of our vacation was wasted - poor DH. But, he was a good sport and said it was nice just to sit around and relax without the kids - sure! Due to my sickness, we did not get to do as much as we wanted and I had to miss meeting Flyfly (sorry!!), so we could do all the things we missed on Sat. (including missing my Mythos ressies .

Like I said, I will try to do a trip report ASAP, but who knows when that will be. I got the IOA music CD and have been enjoying it a lot - feels like you are right there!!! All and All, a great trip.

 

[JessicaR]

Welcome back!! Aside from your one day bout of illness, what a great trip!! Did you get upgraded at RPR? What did you eat at Mythos? How wonderful that you got to see decorations going up!
Sounds like it was a terrific trip all in all! How did the kids do? Thanks for posting!

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Hey Jessica - I missed you guys! We did not get upgraded at RPR and I was surprized. The hotel seemed very, very, empty and when I checked in by Patricia, she mentioned our anniversary and everything, so I didn't even ask for an upgrade. Our first room was a first floor handicapped room in tower 1 and I hated it!! Our view was of nothing but the wooden stakes holding up the trees and I didn't like the handicapped bathroom at all. So I asked to be moved, so they moved us to tower 2, seventh floor - highway view! Yuck. I didn't care that much, but going the extra mile would have meant a lot to us. I loved the RPR atmosphere and the hotel was gorgeous, but the rooms were just ok - the HRH has them beat there and for this reason I would return to HRH or try Portifino next time. But, everyone was super nice and I don't have any real complaints.

At Mythos, I had the balsamic chicken and loved it. I wanted to try a dessert but I was too stuffed. DH had the wrap of the day, which was a beef wrap with mushrooms, gravy and mashed potatoes all wrapped up together - he loved it!

The Christmas decorations in Suess Landing were cool! I loved the crooked Christmas tree and I think the music may have been different too, more christmasy in a whoville kind of way

I will post a link to my pictures in a few minutes. The kids did great and the souvinears (sp) we brought back helped a lot!! LOL We brought back a Jurrasic Park helicopter set for Chandler (8) - it was so huge, we had to take it out of the package to get it home and he loved it. For Tatum (5) we brought her back a beauty kit and a little Horton - the Horton books are our favorite. It was a really fun trip!!

 

[JessicaR]

Ohhh good cant wait to see your pics! We all missed you too and glad your back with us again!

That helicopter at JP sounds like a great gift, I will look into that when we're there as a xmas gift if I can smuggle it back w/o my son seeing it!

I bet the kids loved their presents and will now let you go away anytime you like

I havent tried that chicken at Mythos but it gets such great reviews I will have to make it a point to order that.

I feel bad that RPR didnt go that extra mile. I know you had no complaints and it was a nice place to stay but...I would have felt the same way if it wasnt busy and they put me in those rooms. After all thgey knew it was your anniversary and you are a repeat visitor to Loews and your have a loews first card! I know its not a given but I would have liked to hear they did something special for you!!! Once again it really matters who we get at check-in and it doesnt hurt to ask for what you want.

I bought that IOA CD during one of our trips and I love listening to it...transports me back every time! I wish they had a holiday one too, you are right the music is different and I like that too!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Welcome back, Tonia! I'm sorry you got sick on your get-a-way, but glad that you made the most of it. We missed you on the boards. Can't wait to see your picks!

So...when is your next trip?

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Maybe May for my son's birthday - we have two free nights at the HRH to use! How about you Jodie?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thanks for your report. Sorry to hear about your illness. We all hope for good weather while on vacation, but rarely do we think about being out of commission due to illness

Where did you find the IOA soundtrack? That was on my list of things to buy when I was there in August, but I did not really look for one and they were not obnoxiously apparent like some of the other souvenirs.

By the way, would you like to share why you have 2 free nights at HRH?!

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Sorry you didn't feel well! I was hoping we could have met up. I take it you didn't see any Ghostbuster Shows either...since I ended up going to all of them p )!

Something to look forward to next trip

Can't wait to read your trip report!!

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Howdy The IOA soundtrack was in almost all the shops at IOA right next to the registers. Kind of hard to find if you don't spot them there.

The two free nights at the Hard Rock were because of a bad experience there this summer. We were checked into a really bad smoking room when both of my kids have horrible allergies. They said they were going to bring in an ozone machine at least 3 times and it never came - and they couldn't move us until the next night. Also, had a horrible experience at the Sunset Grille (now the Kitchen). When I wrote to complain, the manager sent my kids a stuffed Scooby and us a gift certificate for two nights at the HRH. So.....hopefully things will go better if we ever get to redeem them.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I find it hard to believe they didn't give you a better room b/c of your anniversary!! Pia checked us in and because it was my Sweet 16 the next day, she gave us Room 1740 the night of November 10. They even sent me a birthday package with gifts and snacks.

Would have thought you would have gotten at least a nicer view!! Too bad!

 

[AlexandNessa]

Hi Tonia. We're thinking of going in April or May, depending when we can get the best deal. It'll be my birthday trip. Maybe we'll see you.

Did you get a chance to try any of the CityWalk clubs sans kiddies?

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Only the Hard Rock Cafe Bar - stay away from the Hurricanes, I repeat stay away from the Hurricanes! I have two souvinear glasses and I can't even bear to look at them! LOL

 

[damo]

Sounds like fun! I'm also surprised that they didn't give you a nicer room at the RPR. I don't think that the people at check in realize what a big deal this is or they would make more of an effort.

Last year when we went to the RPR I phoned to make sure that the room was non smoking. I think I would have camped out in the lobby if they couldn't have done something since sleeping in a smoking room makes me physically sick even with an ionizer. Again, I don't think people realize what a big deal being in a non-smoking room is to non smokers.

Like Homer Simpson says, "What are the chances of getting sick on a Saturday? About one in a million." LOL. I guess that applies to vacations as well. Glad it only lasted one day. DS was sick when we were at RPH as well and that room service chicken soup was very tasty!!!

ps. I hate BTTF as well.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

Welcome back Tigerlilly's mom! I thought of you this weekend. Glad you had a good time and it seems you made the best of your sick day. So do you like RPR or HRH better???? Do tell....

 

[highlander447]

Welcome back glad u had a good trip despite the off day did
tchoup tchoup live up to your expectations?

 

[DaddyDon]

Hi welcome back!I was hopeing to hear you also got a up grade for your anniversary,We will be there thanksgiving to celebrate ours.Did you get your welcome home gifts?How was the pool warm?Cant wait to see your pictures!So sorry you got sick what a crappy way to spend 1 day!!!! But it never fails one of us allways gets sick or has a migraine at least 1 day while we are on vacation.

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Spidey - We liked the HRH better honestly, the rooms are just nicer and bigger. I wonder if we should try the Portifino now?? LOL I was really just the attitude at the HRH that I didn't care for. Hopefully, they are changing that. Everyone at the RPR was very nice from check in to bell services to restaurant staff. I must say though, the maid knocked at our door VERY loudly on Saturday DESPITE a do not disturb sign. Perhaps she doesn't quite understand the meaning of the sign? LOL

Highlander - Tchoup Chop was great. I'm going to post a report on the restuarants soon.

Daddy - Sat. was going to be our pool day, so we never made it. I did notice however that on Sunday and Monday they had the kid's water stuff on the boat off. I would not have been happy if my kid's were there and it wasn't turned on. On Friday, when it was turned on, the kids there looked like they were having a blast.


And yes, we got our Welcome gifts - beer and nuts on the first night without asking which was nice. The beer was either Miller Light or Heiniken and the nuts were a mixture. Also, got our newspaper everyday including Sunday and a late check out (12:30) on Monday.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

Thanks Tigerlilly!!! Can't wait to go myself!

 

[DaddyDon]

Thanks!!!! We are hopeing this cold front comeing thru doesnt make it to cold to go swimming!My dd would really be bummed out if that happened!You know mom and dad would be dig bad wolfs lol...Getting to the short rows now and we are getting excited!!!!

 

[TigerLilly's Mom]

Daddy- We were at Disney early last Dec. and Mom and Dad both thought it was too cold to swim. The kids asked everyday - afterall, how can you walk two kids from NH past a really cool pool everyday and not let them swim? LOL We designated one afternoon as a pool afternooon and let them go crazy for a couple hours, I think it was about 79 degrees and they loved it! I hope your kids get to go swimming Your trip is so close now!!!