jlima
Beep Beep!
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2000
- Messages
- 2,270
Me: 38 yrs old, work at Las Vegas strip resort.
DH: 39 yrs old, self employed tax man
DS10 & DS4
Fri 6/18 - Sat 6/19 - I miss entrance to parking garage at airport, on 2nd time around discover valet parking is full but the 3rd time's the charm; end up on 4th floor of parking garage in great spot near elevator. The person in the truck next to us walks up just as we pull up and offers us his luggage cart!! I offer to give him $3 and he declines. Get bags checked and discover flight is running 1 hr late. We are on direct flight from Vegas to Orlando on Delta Song. Dont get in the air until after midnight; with the time change we are in Orlando just after 8am and pull up the HRH just before 10a. I have made my reservation (AAA rate on concierge floor) to arrive Fri 6/18 and paid for the room for the night of the 18th so it will be available when we check in Sat morning, but get blank looks from security guard at guard shack (she had list of Sat arrivals; since our reservation was for Fri we were not on her list) and bellman who helped us at the car with our bags. Everybody tells us, Oh, we can hold your luggage, your room won't be ready, etc. but I had called the front desk 2x on Friday and I know they've already checked us in!! Get to room with no problem. Front desk clerk give me the kid's amenities (inflatable guitars!), asks me what newspaper I'd like and what Lowes amenity I'd like, and asks for the AAA card to verify that rate. Up to room just after 10am; and the lounge was still serving breakfast!!
Kids have slept on the airplane and are way too excited to rest anymore. We were in US by early afternoon; we did BTTF, MIB 2x and DS10& DH did the Terminator. Back to hotel to eat at The Kitchen, then over to IOA for Hulk, Spiderman and Bilge Rat Barges. Back to hotel to swim; ordered room service for dinner then called it a night.
Sun 6/20 - Sleep in, have breakfast in the lounge and stop at the Workout Room to pay for cabana. We're reserved the Yellow Submarine cabana for Sun & Mon. Drop off swimsuits in cabana, as the plan is to swim when we're done with the parks for the day without having to go up to the room for the suits. Get to US later in the morning. DS4 discovers that Jimmy Neutron Nicktoon Blast is the best thing since sliced bread and is on this 4x by the end of the day. ROTM is great but too short IMHO and doesn't live up to the hype. Since we are using Universal Express we are missing the backstory on the ride in the main part of the line, and I don't understand the mummy in the baseball cap and the video of Brendan Fraiser with the coffee at the end. Lunch is at Monsters Café. We are back to the hotel by mid afternoon but by now it's not only raining but there's lightening and the pool is closed and we can't use the cabana. DS10 suggests asking at the lounge if they have The Mummy movie and they do; we watch it in our room on our portable DVD player. Go to lounge for evening service and they have meatballs & anitipasto salad. When rain lets up we walk back to US; try to go on MIB but it breaks down!! We were at the very front of the line; the ride attendant had even asked us how many in our party. Try to see Jaws but it's closed too; too much lightening. This is definitely the low point of our trip. Play some of the carnival games, and end up at Twister (this is cheesy, why is this still here?), then ride ROTM one more time with DS10 while DH & DS4 go on Jimmy Neutron AGAIN. Walk over to HRC and have dinner there. Weird experience with hostess when we are being seated; she asks us how many in party, how many kids, picks up menus & crayons . . . then "YMCA" begins to blare over the PA system. She drops everything and runs off, climbs onto a nearby countertop with another server and dances while we wait for her to finish. Meanwhile the line to get tables gets longer, and longer and longer . . . After we are done I make a trip to Walmart & purchase umbrella stroller for $10.67. We did without a stroller on Sat, and on Sun we rented one for $10. Got great directions from guys at bell desk.
Mon 6/21 - Up early, bkfst in lounge then at IOA by 9a. Ride Pteradon Flyers, JP, Flying Unicorn & Dueling Dragons (the blue dragon is better!) then spend some time in Dr Seuss area. I want to go back to hotel but DH wants to ride Hulk & Spiderman. He wins. Manage to see some of the Marvel superheros and get pics with Captain America, Spiderman and X-men. Back at hotel by 1p and spend the afternoon in the cabana. I love it!! DS4 loves the yellow submarine inside the cabana. We get 2 pool floats, and spend time in the pool and have lunch in the cabana. Kids can watch cartoons on the TV while we eat lunch. We start to go in at about 4:30; minutes later it begins to rain and the pool is closed. We get upstairs just before 5p, and as we pass the lounge the line is out the door as they have just begun the evening service. They have hotdogs and pretzels - a popular item, and even more so because everybody who was at the pool is passing by the lounge. After we change, we try to get pretzels however they run out just after we get in line. I watched the lounge manager instruct someone to go to the kitchen to replenish the buffet. I would have sent her when I saw the long line, not when there were just 2 pretzels left. We didn't wait; it wasn't a productive use of our time. Back to US & rode MIB 3x . . . and we were galaxy defenders!!! But on the pictures our scores showed up on the photo that was after ours and our scores showed zeros!!! I love this ride. Rode Jaws, BTTF and DS10 & I saw the Terminator while DH & DS4 saw Jimmy Neutron AGAIN. Back at hotel kids want to try Camp Little Rock; drop them off at about 8:30 and we have dinner at The Kitchen. Salmon is divine. DH has steak. We pick up the kids by 11p and call it a day.
Tue 6/22 - I had a massage at Mandara Spa at the Portofino Bay (made appt for 7a - ugh!), and DH takes the kids back into US one last time before we move to the Poly this afternoon.
They are using the second day of 2-day park tickets that we purchased in Nov 1999; we never used the second day until now. This was before DS4 was born and there were only 3 tickets. (For this trip we have purchased 3-day 2-park tickets and used them on Sat, Sun & Mon; the last day was a perfect fit for them to go back into US and me to have my massage.) He gets into US with no problem with the 5-year-old tickets.
I have my massage (wonderful, an 80-min combination shiatsu & Swedish massage), pack and check out. DH brings the bathing suits for the kids and they play in the Curious George kiddie area and have a great morning. They see Earthquake and ride Jimmy Neutron one last time before meeting me. DH keeps in touch with his cell phone, by the time he makes it to the lobby I have the car out of valet and the bags loaded . . . and we're off to the Poly.
Thoughts:
The HRH needs another restaurant! The Kitchen seems too formal, and The Palm is way over the top for vacation, IMHO. I've eaten at the one in Vegas and it is definitely a place for special occasions.
Spa - The HRH needs its own spa! Although it was easy enough to get over to the Portofino, (the HRH bell desk staff drove me over there in a van and the Mandara Spa had its own golf cart and they drove me back) I wish didn't have to leave property at all. Some nitwit ran a red light right in front of the golf cart as I was being driven back. Scary.
Concierge - Except for the incident in the lounge on Monday, the offerings in the lounge were excellent. Breakfast was adequate and the evening offerings were great, with at least one hot item and one cold item plus cheese & vegetable presentations. They had cookies after 8p (Oreos, Chips Ahoy, etc.) DH LOVED the CD library and having access to the movies was cool. Bottles of water & cans of soda were much appreciated and taken advantage of every day.
Weather - so hot, so humid. I grew up in Louisiana but lived in CA for 11 years and have lived in Las Vegas for 7 years and just not used to the humidity. Disappointing to not be able to use the cabana on Sunday, and frustrating for rides in the park to be closed because of rain.
If I were planning our vacation again I'd do Disney first and then Universal. Didn't have to wake up early to get into parks for short lines with Universal Express, and overall was a much less stressful experience.
Any questions just ask!!!
DH: 39 yrs old, self employed tax man
DS10 & DS4
Fri 6/18 - Sat 6/19 - I miss entrance to parking garage at airport, on 2nd time around discover valet parking is full but the 3rd time's the charm; end up on 4th floor of parking garage in great spot near elevator. The person in the truck next to us walks up just as we pull up and offers us his luggage cart!! I offer to give him $3 and he declines. Get bags checked and discover flight is running 1 hr late. We are on direct flight from Vegas to Orlando on Delta Song. Dont get in the air until after midnight; with the time change we are in Orlando just after 8am and pull up the HRH just before 10a. I have made my reservation (AAA rate on concierge floor) to arrive Fri 6/18 and paid for the room for the night of the 18th so it will be available when we check in Sat morning, but get blank looks from security guard at guard shack (she had list of Sat arrivals; since our reservation was for Fri we were not on her list) and bellman who helped us at the car with our bags. Everybody tells us, Oh, we can hold your luggage, your room won't be ready, etc. but I had called the front desk 2x on Friday and I know they've already checked us in!! Get to room with no problem. Front desk clerk give me the kid's amenities (inflatable guitars!), asks me what newspaper I'd like and what Lowes amenity I'd like, and asks for the AAA card to verify that rate. Up to room just after 10am; and the lounge was still serving breakfast!!
Kids have slept on the airplane and are way too excited to rest anymore. We were in US by early afternoon; we did BTTF, MIB 2x and DS10& DH did the Terminator. Back to hotel to eat at The Kitchen, then over to IOA for Hulk, Spiderman and Bilge Rat Barges. Back to hotel to swim; ordered room service for dinner then called it a night.
Sun 6/20 - Sleep in, have breakfast in the lounge and stop at the Workout Room to pay for cabana. We're reserved the Yellow Submarine cabana for Sun & Mon. Drop off swimsuits in cabana, as the plan is to swim when we're done with the parks for the day without having to go up to the room for the suits. Get to US later in the morning. DS4 discovers that Jimmy Neutron Nicktoon Blast is the best thing since sliced bread and is on this 4x by the end of the day. ROTM is great but too short IMHO and doesn't live up to the hype. Since we are using Universal Express we are missing the backstory on the ride in the main part of the line, and I don't understand the mummy in the baseball cap and the video of Brendan Fraiser with the coffee at the end. Lunch is at Monsters Café. We are back to the hotel by mid afternoon but by now it's not only raining but there's lightening and the pool is closed and we can't use the cabana. DS10 suggests asking at the lounge if they have The Mummy movie and they do; we watch it in our room on our portable DVD player. Go to lounge for evening service and they have meatballs & anitipasto salad. When rain lets up we walk back to US; try to go on MIB but it breaks down!! We were at the very front of the line; the ride attendant had even asked us how many in our party. Try to see Jaws but it's closed too; too much lightening. This is definitely the low point of our trip. Play some of the carnival games, and end up at Twister (this is cheesy, why is this still here?), then ride ROTM one more time with DS10 while DH & DS4 go on Jimmy Neutron AGAIN. Walk over to HRC and have dinner there. Weird experience with hostess when we are being seated; she asks us how many in party, how many kids, picks up menus & crayons . . . then "YMCA" begins to blare over the PA system. She drops everything and runs off, climbs onto a nearby countertop with another server and dances while we wait for her to finish. Meanwhile the line to get tables gets longer, and longer and longer . . . After we are done I make a trip to Walmart & purchase umbrella stroller for $10.67. We did without a stroller on Sat, and on Sun we rented one for $10. Got great directions from guys at bell desk.
Mon 6/21 - Up early, bkfst in lounge then at IOA by 9a. Ride Pteradon Flyers, JP, Flying Unicorn & Dueling Dragons (the blue dragon is better!) then spend some time in Dr Seuss area. I want to go back to hotel but DH wants to ride Hulk & Spiderman. He wins. Manage to see some of the Marvel superheros and get pics with Captain America, Spiderman and X-men. Back at hotel by 1p and spend the afternoon in the cabana. I love it!! DS4 loves the yellow submarine inside the cabana. We get 2 pool floats, and spend time in the pool and have lunch in the cabana. Kids can watch cartoons on the TV while we eat lunch. We start to go in at about 4:30; minutes later it begins to rain and the pool is closed. We get upstairs just before 5p, and as we pass the lounge the line is out the door as they have just begun the evening service. They have hotdogs and pretzels - a popular item, and even more so because everybody who was at the pool is passing by the lounge. After we change, we try to get pretzels however they run out just after we get in line. I watched the lounge manager instruct someone to go to the kitchen to replenish the buffet. I would have sent her when I saw the long line, not when there were just 2 pretzels left. We didn't wait; it wasn't a productive use of our time. Back to US & rode MIB 3x . . . and we were galaxy defenders!!! But on the pictures our scores showed up on the photo that was after ours and our scores showed zeros!!! I love this ride. Rode Jaws, BTTF and DS10 & I saw the Terminator while DH & DS4 saw Jimmy Neutron AGAIN. Back at hotel kids want to try Camp Little Rock; drop them off at about 8:30 and we have dinner at The Kitchen. Salmon is divine. DH has steak. We pick up the kids by 11p and call it a day.
Tue 6/22 - I had a massage at Mandara Spa at the Portofino Bay (made appt for 7a - ugh!), and DH takes the kids back into US one last time before we move to the Poly this afternoon.
They are using the second day of 2-day park tickets that we purchased in Nov 1999; we never used the second day until now. This was before DS4 was born and there were only 3 tickets. (For this trip we have purchased 3-day 2-park tickets and used them on Sat, Sun & Mon; the last day was a perfect fit for them to go back into US and me to have my massage.) He gets into US with no problem with the 5-year-old tickets.
I have my massage (wonderful, an 80-min combination shiatsu & Swedish massage), pack and check out. DH brings the bathing suits for the kids and they play in the Curious George kiddie area and have a great morning. They see Earthquake and ride Jimmy Neutron one last time before meeting me. DH keeps in touch with his cell phone, by the time he makes it to the lobby I have the car out of valet and the bags loaded . . . and we're off to the Poly.
Thoughts:
The HRH needs another restaurant! The Kitchen seems too formal, and The Palm is way over the top for vacation, IMHO. I've eaten at the one in Vegas and it is definitely a place for special occasions.
Spa - The HRH needs its own spa! Although it was easy enough to get over to the Portofino, (the HRH bell desk staff drove me over there in a van and the Mandara Spa had its own golf cart and they drove me back) I wish didn't have to leave property at all. Some nitwit ran a red light right in front of the golf cart as I was being driven back. Scary.
Concierge - Except for the incident in the lounge on Monday, the offerings in the lounge were excellent. Breakfast was adequate and the evening offerings were great, with at least one hot item and one cold item plus cheese & vegetable presentations. They had cookies after 8p (Oreos, Chips Ahoy, etc.) DH LOVED the CD library and having access to the movies was cool. Bottles of water & cans of soda were much appreciated and taken advantage of every day.
Weather - so hot, so humid. I grew up in Louisiana but lived in CA for 11 years and have lived in Las Vegas for 7 years and just not used to the humidity. Disappointing to not be able to use the cabana on Sunday, and frustrating for rides in the park to be closed because of rain.
If I were planning our vacation again I'd do Disney first and then Universal. Didn't have to wake up early to get into parks for short lines with Universal Express, and overall was a much less stressful experience.
Any questions just ask!!!
