It was HOT...But we had FUN!

[disneyagain]

We arrived at HRH on 7/29 at 1:30 pm they had my reservation (YEAH!) I was really worried after the fiasco of accounting cancelling the ressie on 7/24 for no apparent reason, we had it reinstated on 7/26 (Whew!). We booked the entertainment rate of $140 poolview for the 1st 4 nights and the standard rate $219 for the final night. The room wasn't ready and no upgrades available (completely booked) at 1:30, they gave us our room keys, welcome bags for the kids along with the grade A kids mugs and bracelets, noted that we wanted milk & cookes for Loews 1st members, and a phone number to call at 4:00 to see if our room was ready (they would give us our room number over the phone and we could use our room keys, no need to stop back at the front desk)...Off to the parks! We called at 4:00 and the room was ready but we needed to go the front desk again...another line. Back to the hotel we went and our room key wouldn't work to get through the gate at the pool...so we walked around the hotel to the front entrance...grabbed our luggage out of our car on our way by. I waited in line and said to the front desk person when I finally got there (about 15 minutes) any upgrades available to club level? He said that yes there was room available, he would see if we qualified (maybe waiting in line a 2nd time wasn't so bad!) For $50/night we could upgrade to club...he said because I had a discounted room it was an additional $50/night...I asked about the 5th night that I was paying $219 for...He said he had me at $140 for all 5 nights (COOL !). So we took the upgrade and the savings for the last night. Club was good, we really enjoyed the convenience of the continental breakfast in the morning, used that every day (DH, DS(9) and DD(7) and myself). Having water and soda available all day is also a plus, we stopped on the way in from the parks everytime and grabbed one. We had milk and cookies most everynight also...we aren't late nighters, so we were back in the room by 8:00 everynight. Sorry to say but we only made it back for the evening snacks and drinks one night...that was Friday and it was chips and dips (finally got my bud light!). The staff was friendly and helpful.

We hit both parks and enjoyed FOTL.....I wish disney would do that...Even if they just did it at their deluxe hotels, I'd pay top dollar for that!

The water rides at IOA....YOU GET SOAKED! We got soaked the first day, but headed back to the hotel and changed....If you were there for the day and off-site..YUCK! We saw many people just soaked and uncomfortable walking around...actually they were kind of fun to watch! The next time we went on the water rides, we wore our bathing suits, they dry much quicker.

Check out was a breeze on Saturday...the express was under our door at 2 am, we left the hotel for the airport at 6:15 am. Everything looked correct, we signed it and dropped it in the drum on the way out.

We would stay at HRH again in a minute and if we could get the club level again for $190/night...we'd grab that.

Any questions...let me know!

 

[jacrazy]

Glad you had a great trip. I beg to differ with you about being wet and yucky. We were at IOA for the first itme, the day before you, on 7/28. We were staying off site. I think it was a very hot day but, my DD and I rode water rides all day. We didn't mind at all walking around wet; it kept us nice and cool and we felt very comfortable. I think the problem is when people don't wear the right clothing to get wet. As long as you are not wearing denim shorts and tennis shoes and socks, you should be okay. We were wearing light cotton or nylon shorts and teva sandals and everything was good.

Oh and a darker colored shorts are better. The first day we went, mine were tan and you could see through them when they got wet so I walked around with my DD back pack on for a while.