Just Back From RPR

[debandbill]

Wow, was I pleasantly surprised...I really liked this hotel!

Hubby and I stayed at HRH in early December and while it was nice and we had a very relaxed visit, I was not bowled over by the theming and such. Had a great pool view (standard room - Florida rate $154.) We were upgraded to the pool view from a standard view for our 30th anniversary.

Decided to try RP this time. We are APHs. It was a quick two night stay with sis and hubby and my nephew who was celebrating his 8th BD. It was love at first sight...loved the theming...loved the decor...loved the grounds. And I really loved our rate...$139 Florida ressie rate for standard view queen room. Our view was super...gardens and park in the background. Very quiet.

Our room (1509 - Tower 1) had the new decor, bedding, and paint...older TV but new pod coffee pot. Bath was very clean except for mold on the underside of the tub fixtures (EEEWWW!) Room seemed just as large as our HR room..just as nice.

Since we arrived Monday mid-day and left Wednesday am, we didn't have time to really enjoy the resort much...we were in the parks most of the time. Next visit, we will leave time to enjoy the pool and walk the grounds. The weather was just terrific on Monday...sunny and cool. Tuesday..not so nice and we eventually got caught in a major downpour. Even the boats weren't operating due to storms, so we caught the bus back to the resort. In the time it took us to get to the bus stop we could have run back to the hotel in the rain..we were cold and the bus AC was running full out. I was happy for a hot shower and dry clothes. We had avoided the wet rides...let my sis's family do that and watched them get wet...really wet on Bilge Rat Barges!
Then came the rain. We should have just enjoyed the rides with them.

Parks were not busy at all...we booked a week ahead of the busy time to get the good rates. Used our FOTL most of the time even thought the regular line waits were not bad. We saw just about everything at both parks with time to repeat some things in the afternoon before close.

So, we had a great trip, rain and all, and will definitely go back. Bottom line...even for this picky girl who does interior design and wants a nice hotel experience, I wouldn't pay extra for the HR or PB. RP really provides a nice experience.

Deb

 

[damo]

So glad to hear you liked it! There have been some negative reports about the new room decor.

 

[Hug the Mouse]

Thanks for the update. Makes me even more excited for our RPH visit in 3 weeks.

I'm doing all the planning for this trip and I think my family will be knocked out by this hotel and all the perks of staying onsite. Plus all of the great insight/tips from these boards are going to make for a great vacation.

 

[dyjama]

We just got back tonight. we stayed in tower one on the 6th floor!! We were practically neighbors I have to agree great hotel, great time and tuesday was a doozy!!! it rained a little bit today when we were there- kim

 

[bellebud]

thanks for the post! we'll be staying at rpr next month - getting very excited!! being from NY, we love the 'tropical' theme more than anything else, so even though rpr is the 'value' of the 3 resorts, it appeals to us the most.

 

[debandbill]

Geez, not sure why I like the tropical theme...I live in Florida and have to cut palm fronds down all the time...I must have 15 palm trees in my yard.

I did notice that they had piled a huge amount of landscape debris near the walkway from the boats..I pity the poor grounds keepers for RPR...its a jungle around there.

For those who pay attention to the details, here are a few observations:

While the reading lights over the beds are true to the theme, they sure are too high to comfortably reach from a sitting position on the bed...plus they are so high that they cast too much light on the other side of the bed and if you have queens, on the other bed. The headboards are very high, but they should have figured a way to mount the reading lights on the headboards.
The room had plenty of lights though, all kinds...task and ambient. I loved the light combination over the vanity...one bright spot and then sconces on either side of the mirror that worked with a rheostat...nice.

Sister and her hubby stayed for three nights and got the kids eat free thing. At the asian restaurant, kids had their own buffet and eating area...Logan loved it. He wore a wristband to identify the package.

Loved the curved shower curtain rod that keeps the curtain away from your body...makes the shower feel bigger, although, I did try to take a "tubby" one evening and that tub was SMALL.

The entire hotel seemed very pristine to me...lots of light and plants...clean public restrooms...nice concierge setup. I stayed confused about where I was since we didn't have time to walk the grounds the first day. Its a huge complex. I would plan a day to just enjoy the hotel and pool.

Elevators worked very nicely...we did not have to wait very much at all.

We arrived the first day before our room was ready..no problem...without asking, we got our keys for FOTL. The hotel called our cell around 3:00 pm to give us our room number and let us know it was ready. Nice.

Just a few thoughts here if you are the least bit interested...I like this type of info...so thought someone would appreciate it.

Hope all of you headed to UO in the next few weeks have as good a time as we did. Enjoy!

Deb

 

[bellebud]

I really appreciate all your details and taking the time to post them! Glad you enjoyed your trip too!

 

[chobie]

We love HRH, but when we were planning our after Christmas trip this last year, the price difference was $100 a night so we went with RPR and loved it. It was really cold so we only got into the pool one afternoon. I can't wait to go back there. My kids are happy to stay there as long as we make at least one pilgrimage to HRH for some Emack and Bolio's ice cream.

 

[imallset]

Thanks for the info, we have stayed previously at HRH, and this time I am travelling alone with 4 kids and staying at RPR. Looking forward to leaving the northeast and snow next week!!

 

[debandbill]

Don't think you will be let down by changing to RPR...I just didn't see much difference in the quality of the hotel.

Our stay at the HR was very nice. We really enjoyed coming back from the parks..easy stroll...and sitting by the pool with a cold beer. The pool bar area was really nice and watching the kids come down the slide was fun...basic people watching and relaxing. We were pleased with our room and its amenities.

But, RPR was just as nice although we did not get to the pool at all...
so I can't comment on that comparison. The stroll back from the parks was just a bit longer but still nice and there is always a boat ride (unless, of course, it is too stormy and you are soaking wet and tired and cold...then no boats ) I really would not pay extra to stay at HR or PB. Sometime just to see how it compares, I might bite for PB for the novelty but don't really see the need.

Florida is not my homeplace of choice, but sometimes there are great advantages to being a Florida resident. I give all of you brave souls that are coming during spring break time a big pat on the back...I am so grateful to be able to book the park during less crazy times. Anyway, I hope again that you all have a great time!

Deb

 

[damo]

Don't think you will be let down by changing to RPR...I just didn't see much difference in the quality of the hotel.

Our stay at the HR was very nice. We really enjoyed coming back from the parks..easy stroll...and sitting by the pool with a cold beer. The pool bar area was really nice and watching the kids come down the slide was fun...basic people watching and relaxing. We were pleased with our room and its amenities.

But, RPR was just as nice although we did not get to the pool at all...
so I can't comment on that comparison. The stroll back from the parks was just a bit longer but still nice and there is always a boat ride (unless, of course, it is too stormy and you are soaking wet and tired and cold...then no boats ) I really would not pay extra to stay at HR or PB. Sometime just to see how it compares, I might bite for PB for the novelty but don't really see the need.

Florida is not my homeplace of choice, but sometimes there are great advantages to being a Florida resident. I give all of you brave souls that are coming during spring break time a big pat on the back...I am so grateful to be able to book the park during less crazy times. Anyway, I hope again that you all have a great time!

Deb

There is also bus transportation from the parks to all the resorts.

 

[ky07]

Glad to hear all of you liked RPR cause we are staying there in July and can't wait

 

[debandbill]

Yep, there are buses Damo..see my first post regarding the AC running full blast on our cold wet bodies. That bus stop is a pretty good walk from the boats...particularly in the pouring rain. We had come from Seuse Land in IO, past the sidewalk to RPR to the boats, only to find them not running. We then walked all the way past the US entrance to the other side to catch the bus, which by the way was not running very efficiently. We had to wait for a second one to to allow those who were waiting before us to get on (18 passenger capacity.)

I think the buses run to the hotels by way of Miami...RPR was the first stop and it still seemed to take forever (of course we were cold and wet and tired - that made it seem longer.) I wouldn't recommend the buses unless it's a last resort (ha - ha...I made a pun .) Walk or take the boats.

Deb

 

[damo]

I wouldn't recommend the buses unless it's a last resort (ha - ha...I made a pun .) Deb

Bwahahahaha! Sorry, I didn't remember about the bus comment in the original post when I made my comment about the bus.

I've never taken the bus in our umpteen trips. It always seems more convenient to walk.

 

[chobie]

Bwahahahaha! Sorry, I didn't remember about the bus comment in the original post when I made my comment about the bus.

I've never taken the bus in our umpteen trips. It always seems more convenient to walk.

The boats are great too. We never had to wait more than 5 minutes for one.

 

[Simbee3]

Really glad to hear that you and others enjoyed RPR. I am usually a pure Disney girl, but hubby wants to venture out. He wants to stay at HRH or PBH but me and the boys really want to stay at RPR. But, you know know majority rules so I guess RPR it is.
Now if only I could get a good deal.

 

[lwilliam]

and RPR wins out hands down, even with the teen boys.

Simbee 3: we are also TOTAL Disney freaks but every other year we stay at Universal, for the front-of-the-line access (I don't even like the rides or the restaurants at Universal like I do at Disney) and the beautiful resort.....

We DO love Tchoup-Tchoup for lunch at RPR!

 

[rangersfan]

Hey Iwiliam I noticed you said you loved the resturant ? is it verry expensive ? is there a good place and bad place to sit ? the view ? I am leaving tomrow for royal pacific and I have never been ??


Hey one more question where did you get that snoopy on the doghouse under your name ??

 

[lwilliam]

you MUST try Tchoup-Tchoup...we went in the summer two years ago...had reservations but didn't really need them - the place was empty - we sat by a window, there were six of us, went around 1:00 pm
EXCELLENT service
you MUST try the Emeril's banana creme pie

loved the fact that you could dress casually (our teens wore nice shirts and cargo shorts)
Here is the menu:
http://allearsnet.com/uni/menu/men_tchoup.htm

don't remember where i got the Snoopy - but it was when i signed up for the boards I know i had some kind of option for my signature - sorry

Enjoy - i advise you to splurge on this restaurant (like i said, we went at lunchtime - more affordable, as is in most restaurants)

Lucy