First....let me say the golden key pass that lets you go to the front of the line is priceless. I would never ever go without it. 45 minute wait in line....but not with our pass...right to the front. We did not wait for any ride at all. And it changed out dinner waits from half an hour to 10 minutes. WEll worth the price. Also...we were there from a Sunday to a Thurs. The first three days were great...scattered people...no fuss. Wed got a little busier. ...Then Thursday....the parks started to get crowded. First of the week is definitely more relaxing. Of course the acts in the clubs etc were on the weekends...but we didnt care about that part...so no matter.
RPR...wonderful.....everyone friendly...LOVED the pool area....it was huge...tons of chairs....a bar...and they would serve you food right out at the pool.....towels free for the pool at poolside...dont need to take your own. Didnt eat at the restuarants in the hotel....too busy. They did have continental breakfast too, mostly danish and muffins and juice....and its only free if you stay and pay extra for the club level rooms.
3/4 mile walk along a tropical winding path to City Walk and the parks. Or take the water taxi which leaves about every 20 min from the dock near the pool. Our Fav...Captain Rich...who loved to crank up the speakers and rock and roll all the way to citywalk.
You can carry your drinks, cocktails along the path, but there is a guard at the end of the walk to Citywalk who will make you dump them out before entering....same returning. Cant take drinks back to the hotel. But you can wander CityWalk with them.
Dining...we ate at Margaritaville twice....loved that place...and the Lone Palm bar across the way from it. Ate at NBA twice...huge screen tv's..food again was great. Ate at Nascar Cafe twice...had good meals there too. My sister just got back and said they like the Hard Rock Cafe also. Kids said they loved it. All of the places would let you wander in and check things out...stores...restaurants..hotels....everyone was friendly and welcoming. Cant say enough bout that part.
Islands....Hulk awesome....we ate at the Enchanted Oak....smoked chicken, corn on cob, fries, corn muffin....very good. But large....my teenager and i split a dinner easy. Everything very clean. Also ate at the bakery just inside the entrance every morn. They make a ham and egg croissant, and have fruit cups and muffins etc. Enjoyed all the rides........mostly cause we had that pass that took us right to the front. Priceless!
Universal....rides great once again...with passes. I'm afraid my crew...two girls 14 and 16 were more into the rides than the shows....didnt see any but twister. I found Universal much hotter than Islands. Islands seemed to have many more misters and things to cool you off. We were in both parks 4 days in a row...and it was obvious each time...maybe its the buildings too...blocking the breezes.
Food warning....its expensive and you only have so many options...didnt notice much price difference between places aside from the fancier places....but a hot dog was $7...popcorn was $3....coke was $3....Fruit cup $2.75...prob the best buy in the park.
I loved City Walk...but the most fav spot of all of them....those brightly painted Anirondack chairs in front of Margaritaville. You could sit as long as you liked and watch everything going on. I sat for an hour and a half and just read my book.....heavenly. There's a bunch of them....20 at least...enjoy.
Cocktails...Mango Passion at NBA city....Chocolate martini at NBA....Bahama Mamma at margaritaville and...actually...anywhere I ordered it. Greatest spot to sit...Lone Palm Bar across from Margaritaville.
All snacks and bottles of pop at the gift shop at RPR were of course outragously expensive.....$275 for a bottle of coke....etc. If you have many children...bring your own snacks. There is no access to any stores for supplies unless you rent a car or take a taxi.
RPR...wonderful.....everyone friendly...LOVED the pool area....it was huge...tons of chairs....a bar...and they would serve you food right out at the pool.....towels free for the pool at poolside...dont need to take your own. Didnt eat at the restuarants in the hotel....too busy. They did have continental breakfast too, mostly danish and muffins and juice....and its only free if you stay and pay extra for the club level rooms.
3/4 mile walk along a tropical winding path to City Walk and the parks. Or take the water taxi which leaves about every 20 min from the dock near the pool. Our Fav...Captain Rich...who loved to crank up the speakers and rock and roll all the way to citywalk.
You can carry your drinks, cocktails along the path, but there is a guard at the end of the walk to Citywalk who will make you dump them out before entering....same returning. Cant take drinks back to the hotel. But you can wander CityWalk with them.
Dining...we ate at Margaritaville twice....loved that place...and the Lone Palm bar across the way from it. Ate at NBA twice...huge screen tv's..food again was great. Ate at Nascar Cafe twice...had good meals there too. My sister just got back and said they like the Hard Rock Cafe also. Kids said they loved it. All of the places would let you wander in and check things out...stores...restaurants..hotels....everyone was friendly and welcoming. Cant say enough bout that part.
Islands....Hulk awesome....we ate at the Enchanted Oak....smoked chicken, corn on cob, fries, corn muffin....very good. But large....my teenager and i split a dinner easy. Everything very clean. Also ate at the bakery just inside the entrance every morn. They make a ham and egg croissant, and have fruit cups and muffins etc. Enjoyed all the rides........mostly cause we had that pass that took us right to the front. Priceless!
Universal....rides great once again...with passes. I'm afraid my crew...two girls 14 and 16 were more into the rides than the shows....didnt see any but twister. I found Universal much hotter than Islands. Islands seemed to have many more misters and things to cool you off. We were in both parks 4 days in a row...and it was obvious each time...maybe its the buildings too...blocking the breezes.
Food warning....its expensive and you only have so many options...didnt notice much price difference between places aside from the fancier places....but a hot dog was $7...popcorn was $3....coke was $3....Fruit cup $2.75...prob the best buy in the park.
I loved City Walk...but the most fav spot of all of them....those brightly painted Anirondack chairs in front of Margaritaville. You could sit as long as you liked and watch everything going on. I sat for an hour and a half and just read my book.....heavenly. There's a bunch of them....20 at least...enjoy.
Cocktails...Mango Passion at NBA city....Chocolate martini at NBA....Bahama Mamma at margaritaville and...actually...anywhere I ordered it. Greatest spot to sit...Lone Palm Bar across from Margaritaville.
All snacks and bottles of pop at the gift shop at RPR were of course outragously expensive.....$275 for a bottle of coke....etc. If you have many children...bring your own snacks. There is no access to any stores for supplies unless you rent a car or take a taxi.
Thanks for all the info. 
We are planning our first universal trip for next March. Can't wait to try the front of the line tickets 
. We are stll deciding whether to stay at HRH or RP.
