just back! Great stay at HRH!

[joloco]

We just got back Sunday, stayed 4nts at HRH dlx then 5nts at POLY-GV. We really love HRH. Room was great!
Any questions?

 

[Disney Debbie]

Welcome home - glad you had fun!

 

[nicolep91]

Thanks, joloco!

Did you have a chance to visit any of the other Universal Resorts? I'm still trying to make up my mind between RPR and HRH. Did you use the pool, did you find it crowded? Did you have a waterview room and if so, could you hear noise from the pool? Did you try the restaurants?

Would love to hear more!!

 

[joloco]

sorry we did not visit other resorts.....We did have a Deluxe Pool View room on 5th floor. I could VERY VERY vaguely hear music. I don't think I would have noticed (except for these boards) I was with a party of five and no one commented on music. I think music is played from 8 or 9 am to 10pm.
We had dinner pool side one night and got carry out donuts and such for breakfast. We ate at Hard Rock, NBA City and Jimmy Buffets (my favorite). All were fun and decent meals. Lunches were pretty much on the run in the parks.

It was hot when we were there 90's everyday. I did not think pool was crowded. Short wait for slide. Life jacket available for little ones, chairs available. We were there Fri-May 9th to Tue - May 13th. Sat & Sun we were at pool in evenings, Monday we spent most of day at pool and very few people were there. Some cabanas rented, most not. I don't think it was necessary.

We did arrive early 10am and leave at 3pm from resort. Stored luggage and used locker room for health club. Worked great.
You can get a gym locker there, take shower, suana, steam room.
Worked great (and they let kids in!) We were able to check out, still enjoy pool, get showered before transfering to Disney.

Good luck deciding. I wouldn't worry about music noise. Not an issue. Hotel was beautiful. Service fantastic. We will go back.

no matter what you have FOTL and that is the best perk ever!
you really feel like a v.i.p. No watching the clock. No back tracking. If you like a ride you do it again and again.
have fun.

 

[nicolep91]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, joloco!

I've been leaning towards the HRH, but my dh is afraid that it will be too noisy and crowded. I will let him know your experience! I think we would normally be up until 10:00 and we usually don't nap during the day.

I'm still waiting to find a better rate for the HRH so for now I'm keeping my ressies at RPR. Plus, I have heard many good things about RPR so we might just end up keeping those.

Thanks again for all the details. Glad you had a nice trip!

 

[Dizma]

How does the HRH compare to the Poly? Which one would you recommend doing first if splitting a trip between the two? Thanks for your input! -Dizma

 

[JOC]

Hi Dizma,
I've stayed at both the Polynesian and HRH, but because they're themed so differently it's hard to say which one is "better." I grew up in Hawaii so the Polynesian felt "homey" to me. The Polynesian rooms are bigger, but I thought the beds at HRH were more comfortable. As far as which one to go to first, I'd stay at the Polynesian first then go to HRH because having FOTL privileges really spoils you and it's something you can look forward to.

 

[Connears]

We are staying at HRH for last night 6/26/03 after 4 nights at BCV. Can't wait to try it. Looks great andDS (12) and his friend are ready for the pool! Thanks for the info.
Connears

 

[joloco]

Dizma=
If you are staying in a DLX room at HRH the HRH rooms are bigger than the POLY. If you are staying Standard at HRH the Poly is bigger. I don't know how many in your party but DLX sleeps 5 w/out extra fee, and you get full bathroom plus an extra sink outside bathroom.
We did HRH first, then WDW last two years, I don't know which is better. The reason we do HRH first, is w/ FOTL we get our "fill" of rides, and then when we get to Disney the kids are o.k. w/ passing on a ride like maybe, the tea cups, if there is a long line, because they've already done something similar a few times at IOA or US w/out any wait. Just our personal choice. I think either way would work fine.

We enjoyed HRH resort better. than poly. View at poly is great., but no hottub, and imho resort was dated and lots of non-guests walking around for charachter breakfast and Luau at night.
We will return to HRH, had fun at POLY but won't stay there again...not to our taste(and we love Hawaii).

Have fun.