Just Back! Any questions? RPR 1/8-1/12

[angierae]

Just returned from our first trip to Universal, staying at RPR for four nights. I'm working on a trip report but if anyone has any questions I'd be happy to answer if I can!

 

[BunsenH]

How long did it take to get from RPR to each of the parks and CW? Did you take the shuttle? boat? walk? I expect that we will walk most of the time. Do signs or view make the route obvious?

We will be there next week. Thanks for any info.

 

[angierae]

We never walked (we got plenty of walking in at the parks themselves - Saturday we walked 9 miles and Sunday 7 miles!) but the boats were very quick. Only once did we have to wait for a boat at RPR, most of the time when we arrived at the bag check, there was a boat there, or just arriving) and only once did we have to wait for a boat at Citywalk.

The boat ride itself is almost exactly five minutes once they launch. It drops you off on the other side of the water from both parks - you go left to go to USF, right to go to IOA. From there, it's probably a two minute walk to USF, maybe another minute longer to IOA? There's no shuttle from RPR, just the boat or the walking path. We saw lots of people using the walking path.

We were coming from Tower 3, which was the most convenient for the boat dock. You come out of the elevator, go outside, and the signs to the path were very easily marked.

 

[schumigirl]

From RP to entrance to IOA it takes just over 5 minutes for us from the pool area......slightly longer to Studios.

It's a really pleasant walk with lots of shade for most of it. It's clearly marked too.

 

[nkereina]

From RP to entrance to IOA it takes just over 5 minutes for us from the pool area......slightly longer to Studios.

It's a really pleasant walk with lots of shade for most of it. It's clearly marked too.

Agree with this. We always stay at RPR and almost always walk.

 

[MC0810]

we are going this weekend and staying at RPR..first time, what were some good places to eat in the hotel or citywalk? any affordable options?

 

[Squirlz]

we are going this weekend and staying at RPR..first time, what were some good places to eat in the hotel or citywalk? any affordable options?

Everything is pretty pricey in the resort. We arrived at 2AM this Monday morning thanks to a 9 hour Southwestern delay. We just wanted a couple cans of pop to make cocktails. No machines in the building; the only option was to order cans of Coke from room service. $4 each plus a $3 dollar service charge and 22% gratuity. We passed on that.

The only place I've ever eaten here is Tchoup Chop. Very good but not "affordable". The best deal we have found is Happy Hour there. There are a few appetizers that are discounted and the regular priced appetizers aren't ridiculous. We made a meal out of them the other night for a total of $24 for the two of us. We tried to do that last night again but they were closed for a Private Event. Lots of Conventioneers here this week. Luckily Flipper's Pizza delivers here and is pretty good!

Cowfish on City Walk is very good!

 

[Jenster]

Thanks for the info! We are headed to RPR in two weeks, for 4 nights (first time at URO!). Did the boat get you to the parks for early entry? Were you on the club level- if so, was there time to get breakfast before leaving for early entry? Thank you for your time!

 

[angierae]

We did not stay club, and to be honest, we never made it to the parks for early entry - we arrived around 8:45-9am each day, but we knew crowds would be reasonable. For instance, at IOA one day we arrived at 9, and had ridden all three rides in the Marvel area by 9:30. Our waits for the Potter rides were also reasonable - we went through the regular line once each, and it couldn't have been more than half an hour, even mid-day.

 

[angierae]

we are going this weekend and staying at RPR..first time, what were some good places to eat in the hotel or citywalk? any affordable options?

We ate at Red Oven Pizza in Citywalk one night and were quite surprised at how good the "Big Eye Pepperoni" pizza was. I think we got a pizza and two sodas for $21. We ate at Islands for breakfast, but that definitely wasn't cheap (but very, very good) and we went down to Jake's for drinks and dessert one night, which was also not cheap. ($40 for two drinks and two desserts, including tip.)

 

[SuperTink]

We just returned from the same location! The Garden Walk to the parks only took us about 6 minutes and was lovely. We also skipped early entry and had little wait using our Express Passes. HP lands on both sides were wall-to-wall people, but as the OP said, we never waited more than 30 minutes for either Gringotts or Forbidden Journey. It was so relaxing compared to Disney!

 

[Csaks]

Our last trip during October we walked, it was faster than taking the boats. The wait for them was the killer, if it was there we would take it otherwise we'd walk. Maybe 5 minutes at an average pace.