Just back from HRH/IOA/US AND AK!

[lorivegas]

We arrived 4/26 and left out 4/29.Just thought I'd let you know we were back in case you had any questions. We stayed in a deluxe room, we brought our 14yr. old son, so we didn't do any clubs or bars at hotel or Citywalk... although we went in alot of restaurants on Citywalk. (We ate all our meals at Citywalk and US... no Mythos... or anywhere fancy... remember we had our teenager) Anyway, any questions... let em' rip!!

 

[Disney Debbie]

We're going in 2 weeks with our 15 year old DD. Where did you eat? DD likes to go to nice restaurants, but she likes fun ones too.

Did you have time for the pool? How did ya'll enjoy it? Is the music really loud?

 

[lorivegas]

As for restaurants, "GOTTA" do Margaritaville,Hard Rock Cafe, Nascar, NBA city, Flannigans..(on top level by the clubs... before 9 p.m. all the clubs require age 21 after 9 p.m.)At Nascar you can sit outside and they have "live" entertainment,your kids can sit with you. It has a wonderful view of the lake and great place to people watch!! Pool at HRH was AWESOME!! Very warm...bathwater warm!! (if you remember, I was the wus that hates cold pools) haha! Anyway, just an unbelievably beautiful resort! Service, is a joke though. The employees ALL "pass the buck" if there is a problem in your room, if you have incorrect charges to your room etc.... When you check out, you can look at your total bill from your T.V. in your room,... I'd guarantee they will charge you for something you didn't even use!! (We had a SWairlines pkg. and they charged us for2 days valet parking!!!) I called 3x's to get it fixed, so I wouldn't have to go to front desk to check out -our flight was VERY early ... and sure enough, when they slid the current bill under our door... there was the valet charges STILL on the bill! I had to go to front desk, and she blamed the Valet people for not removing it... fine, so they supposedly removed it, I have a $0.00 balance receipt... and 2 days after I got home... my credit card is NOW charged 3 days Valet Service!! ($30.00) I was pissed! ( I have also been trying since JANUARY to get back my $700.00 from a cancelled trip !!) Like I said. Great resort, CRAPPY service!!

 

[LisaMc]

We will be staying at HRH garden view standard room in July and I am trying to cut down on some of the packing. Is there a good blowdryer in the room? Also is the shampoo in the room pretty good? And last, are there towels for the pool? Thanks in advance!!

 

[lorivegas]

Yes, there are hair dryers in room and towels at pool. Pool is GREAT! Drinks poolside are EXPENSIVE! (Corona $4.55, call drinks $6.75 !!!)

 

[Disney Debbie]

Thanks Lori - We'd already decided we definitely wanted to do Margaritaville - we're all big Buffet fans. So you've reinforced our feelings on that! We've been to Hard Rock in Atlanta so we'll probably just walk in to look, but not eat. None of us are NASCAR fans at all - would we still enjoy it?

 

[Mabelette]

Sounds like a great time !! we can hardly wait. Can you tell us about some of the inexpensive places you ate? Like at IOA or US ?? thanks, M

 

[lorivegas]

Hi again.... sorry I left for awhile! Anyway, as for Debs question, yes, I think you will still enjoy Nascar Cafe... decent food and a fun atmoshere (cars on the wall and above your table) There are TVs everywhere, so you can watch sports and races etc... I'm not a fan either... but the place was very convenient for a quick bite. Also, keep in mind that the "clubs" , (even Margaritaville) charges $4 or $5 just to get in after 10pm on weekdays and 9pm on weekends. Also, as I stated before... the clubs are for 21 and older after 9 pm on weekends. There are all kinds of other little stands/counter restaurants with food at them , but beware of the high prices! There is a wing place right when you get into IOA , before the Hulk ride , that charged us $27.00 for 2 hot dogs w/fries (plain, no chicago style here), a turkey leg w/fries and 3 small drinks!!! Thats it!! I remember seeing that the wings cost $8.99 for 6 wings!! What a rip off! (We went to Disney too and it is ALOT cheaper to eat there!!) Now THATS a shock!! At Citywalk, you will find something for everyone!! (Motown, Emerils,Bob Marleys, Pat O'briens,(not Flannigans, as I posted earlier.. sorry), CityJazz, and this little munchie place called Pastamore Restaurant&Market... cheaper than some places, (pizza SLICES,Italian fare food, cappacinnos, etc.) They also have little table outdoors that the whole family can sit at... they have happy hour from 4-6 I believe... and the prices for beer even make you happy!! LOL!! Anyway, enjoy yourselves, breathe the fresh air and envelope the cool breezes... what a wonderful place... AAHHHH!!! I think I just escaped there this very minute!!! Okay, I'm back!! Have fun!!inkbounc

 

[lookingforward]

I had quite a difficult time with charges made to my room at the HRH. SO much so that my credit card company called me because there were charges being made to my Visa three days after I checked out! I prepaid my room before I checked in (Travelscape) but they held six hundred dollars on my account for a two night stay. This was not a problem, but when I checked out with a total of $260 in charges they kept the hold on the account for the $600, charged another $260, then made charges for $117 three times. I also forgot to fill out a mini bar sheet in my room so I told the clerk at check out that I had a few diet cokes. She thanked me for my honesty and I signed a form for the $12 charge. I was then charged for this twice. I had to make three seperate long distance calls to straighten them mess out and it took over a week after my stay to get it straight with my credit card. This was a minor inconvienence for me as I was home and did not need the credit line. However, if I had been traveling on after my stay at the HRH or was counting on the credit being available to me I would have been in trouble.
I agree that the HRH is a beautiful resort hotel but I KNOW that they need major renovations to their billing and service areas.
As for the food at IOA & US I found that eaating at Confiscos and Mythos was in fact cheaper that eating at a counter restaurant for my particular family. Myself and two boys, ages 8 & 10. We had lunch at COnfiscos and Mythos for under $35. Lunch at the counter fish shack near Jaws was $40!

 

[lorivegas]

I finally ended up talking to the manager, I left him a rather nasty voice mail and he called me back a few hours letter and apoligized... BIG WHIP!! We had other little problems that I told him about also. I mean after waiting 5 months for my $700.00 !! I wasn't too happy anyway, and then all the crap the hotel put us through!! I told him that he is lucky we are not the "hoyty toyty" type... they would have really had their hands full!! I would have expected AT LEAST a free nts. stay next time we come out... IF we ever do again... I also let him know about these boards and how bad publicity goes a LONG way ,... more so than GOOD publicity if you ask me!! He was the usual kind "HRH employee" , but kindness doesn't carry anything where their screwing up and our hard-earned money is concerned, don't you agree??

 

[Deb48]

We went to USf and IOA 4/22-4/27. We bought the 3 day ticket. When you buy the 3 day ticket to USF and IOA you get a 7 day pass to City Walk. What this means is that you do not have to pay the cover charge after 9;00 if you show them your ticket. my son and husband went into several of the clubs the last night we were there and they showed them their ticket when they went in or when they ordered something and they didn't have to pay the cover charge. You do have to be 21 after 9'00 to get in.