debandbill
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2005
- Messages
- 73
....and we had a really good time! This was our first stay on site at Universal Orlando. First time at a Loews hotel. Booked a Florida ressie rate ($154) for a standard garden room - 12/9 thru 12/13. Upon arrival, asked for a complimentary upgrade, if possible, for our 30th wedding anniversary....received a wonderful pool view room (6126) with US visible beyond. The room was very clean...beds were comfy...pillows were wonderful. The new pod coffee machine was there...we had fun learning how to work it. Coffee, of course, is very subjective, but I thought it very strong and needed two creams to lighten the taste. Loved the large flat panel HD TV but hated the remote....we should have called to have batteries changed.
The hotel was at about 30% occupancy, so we had no competition for any amenity. We never waited for an elevator the entire time we were there...just pushed the button and "DING," there was a door opening..crazy. The poor waiters at the pool bar were lamenting how slow it was. Speaking of pool bar....wow, is that Beach Club a great place to sit and have a drink and relax. We enjoyed that so much...coming back from the parks around 3pm and enjoying the pool.
The parks were lovely...no crowds. We rarely had to use our FOTL cards but were happy to have them when needed. Weather was wonderful....mostly cool in the shade and almost comfortable in the sun. We were actually cold coming off of the "wet" rides. Highly recommend this time of year to do the Orlando parks...we as Florida residents do have a great advantage. For us, its a 2.5 hour drive.
We ate at the Beach Club the first night, nachos and margaritas..very good. 18% gratuity added automatically to the bill (our first waiter did not tell us that...all subsequent waiters pointed it out.) Went to Pat O'Brien's the second night...gumbo and a seafood platter...good again. Bubba Gumps was the choice the third night and once again had a good meal... clam chowder and a mahi dish. Ate at the Hard Rock Cafe after the Blue Man show...light club sandwich. Bill and I share meals now...find that its plenty of food for both of us.
Bill and I returned to our room the second night to find a bucket of iced champagne, and two dark chocolate guitars with berries and truffles entwined and a note from the front desk (Thanks Javier) wishing us a wonderful 30th anniversary. The note front quoted the song "So Happy Together." Cute and delicious.
Positives:
The pool...just fabulous.
All the little extras in the room. Two sinks, one in the bath and the other at the vanity.
Linens were thick and lovely.
Everyone working there very pleasant....always greeted us. Front desk and concierge staff were very attentive.
Quiet...but I think that this is because we had our corridor to ourselves...never saw anyone in our hallway. The last am...someone had moved next door and they were noisy.
The grounds were so pretty...we enjoyed our walks to and from the hotel.
Negatives: (not too many)
Had to call for housekeeping our first full day. We returned from the parks after leaving around 8am to find our room not serviced at 3 pm. Felt that that was a little extreme with the hotel so empty.
Hairdryer didn't work...replaced upon request.
Very slow service at The Kitchen Thursday morning. I think the hotel is trying to make do with less people at a slow time and it showed. We waited a long time for breakfast.
Overall, we had a very positive experience.
Blue Man Group was a hoot. Felt like I had taken LSD or something. For those of you who have seen them...how do you tell someone what its all about???
We are home now and facing the Christmas rush. Our stay at the Hard Rock was a little chunk of paradise after a very wicked summer dealing with husband's throat cancer diagnosis (SEE: I'm Cheap...Anyone done this?) We will return for sure...our annual passes and the memories of a really good time will see to that.
Feel free to ask questions...Deb
The hotel was at about 30% occupancy, so we had no competition for any amenity. We never waited for an elevator the entire time we were there...just pushed the button and "DING," there was a door opening..crazy. The poor waiters at the pool bar were lamenting how slow it was. Speaking of pool bar....wow, is that Beach Club a great place to sit and have a drink and relax. We enjoyed that so much...coming back from the parks around 3pm and enjoying the pool.
The parks were lovely...no crowds. We rarely had to use our FOTL cards but were happy to have them when needed. Weather was wonderful....mostly cool in the shade and almost comfortable in the sun. We were actually cold coming off of the "wet" rides. Highly recommend this time of year to do the Orlando parks...we as Florida residents do have a great advantage. For us, its a 2.5 hour drive.
We ate at the Beach Club the first night, nachos and margaritas..very good. 18% gratuity added automatically to the bill (our first waiter did not tell us that...all subsequent waiters pointed it out.) Went to Pat O'Brien's the second night...gumbo and a seafood platter...good again. Bubba Gumps was the choice the third night and once again had a good meal... clam chowder and a mahi dish. Ate at the Hard Rock Cafe after the Blue Man show...light club sandwich. Bill and I share meals now...find that its plenty of food for both of us.
Bill and I returned to our room the second night to find a bucket of iced champagne, and two dark chocolate guitars with berries and truffles entwined and a note from the front desk (Thanks Javier) wishing us a wonderful 30th anniversary. The note front quoted the song "So Happy Together." Cute and delicious.
Positives:
The pool...just fabulous.
All the little extras in the room. Two sinks, one in the bath and the other at the vanity.
Linens were thick and lovely.
Everyone working there very pleasant....always greeted us. Front desk and concierge staff were very attentive.
Quiet...but I think that this is because we had our corridor to ourselves...never saw anyone in our hallway. The last am...someone had moved next door and they were noisy.
The grounds were so pretty...we enjoyed our walks to and from the hotel.
Negatives: (not too many)
Had to call for housekeeping our first full day. We returned from the parks after leaving around 8am to find our room not serviced at 3 pm. Felt that that was a little extreme with the hotel so empty.
Hairdryer didn't work...replaced upon request.
Very slow service at The Kitchen Thursday morning. I think the hotel is trying to make do with less people at a slow time and it showed. We waited a long time for breakfast.
Overall, we had a very positive experience.
Blue Man Group was a hoot. Felt like I had taken LSD or something. For those of you who have seen them...how do you tell someone what its all about???
We are home now and facing the Christmas rush. Our stay at the Hard Rock was a little chunk of paradise after a very wicked summer dealing with husband's throat cancer diagnosis (SEE: I'm Cheap...Anyone done this?) We will return for sure...our annual passes and the memories of a really good time will see to that.
Feel free to ask questions...Deb
