Just returned from RPR!!

[manhattan]

Just returned from a 5 night stay at RPR and 1 night at PBH. Any questions- please let me know!!!

BTW- Opening day was very nice and smooth- heard someone complaining that they were at the hotel at 6:00 am to check in and were very angry that they were turned away.

I tried to answer some questions, but let me know if you have any others!

 

[MarieCW]

Hurray! Hope you had a wonderful time. I know folks have wondered about whether the pool has a slide, it would be great to hear about the pool.

Also the restaurants. I hear there is a breakfast buffet, did you try that?

What kind of view did you have? How was it?

Can't wait to hear all the questions and answers! Thanks.

 

[MarieCW]

Figures I think of another question as soon as I hit post. How was transportation to the parks? To the other hotels?

 

[eazyrider]

How was the restaruants?? buffetts??
What is the pool like?
How large are the rooms??
did you stay on club level?
just a start and will probably think of others later! Thanks

 

[manhattan]

I will answer each questions:

Like I said, opening day was pretty smooth. Arrived at the hotel at about 12:30 and everyone was very pleasant. We stored our luggage while we went to check in. There was a huge line, but they had someone handing out tropical drinks to those waiting on line. We must have waited about 20 minutes, we heard someone in front of us saying he was there at 6:00 am and was turned away, returned at 11:00 to be turned away again. He finally approached someone and told him that this was his third attempt at checking in. Well they checked him on the side and not even 5 minutes later he was back, he opened the door to his room and found someone sleeping in the bed. So he spent more time trying to get out of the line than we did in line and checking in.

The kids each rec'd a pail and shovel with a seashell necklace. We did receive our free gift for being Loews First members.

I did not ask for the upgrade, because I overheard people being told that they could get the upgrade for 1 or 2 nights, but then have to be moved for the remainder of the stay- which is not worth it to me.

Rooms looked slightly larger than the WL at Disney.

Pool was great- no slide, but it was still nice. Large enough to not feel as if you are bumping into someone, and the staff at the pool were extremely nice. They set up the towels for you and even roll one up to use as a pillow.

Restaurants were nice, again, the staff was incredible. My husband had the tuna both times we were there for dinner. I had the chicken, which was OK, and the buffet on Saturday, which for me was a great choice, since I am 7 mos pregnant and am very picky about what I want. I posted what was available on another thread.

The breakfast buffet was your typical buffet items (eggs, bacon, sausage, etc.) However, items on the menu were soooo much better. My husband had the eggs benedict and I had the french toast.

Room view was standard- overlooking the parking lot in front of the hotel. I could see Universal Boulevard in the distance, and another road that leads to the entrance, but other than that we had a great view of the bridge leading to the main building- the landscaping was gorgeus, we could see Citywalk, IOA and the HRH.

Any other questions- please ask!!!

 

[Sherrilatte]

1. Were the beds as comfy as HRH and PBH?

2. When I spoke with a rep there, she said that the convention area is sorta "set apart" from the rest of the hotel. Is it really?

3. I want to do the spa over at PBH, is it a long walk?


Thanks soooo much manhattan!

 

[manhattan]

1. Sort of- they were so new that they need to be broken in a bit to get to that point.

2. Yes the convention area is apart from the rest of the hotel- so if you are looking for the business center, you have to walk over there, and it is built so that you would almost think there is no building there, but there is. It is connected to the building, but definitely not part of the main building area.

3. The PBH is far from RP, I asked for a car to take us over when we were switching hotels. I walked once to Citywalk, which wasn't that bad of a walk, but definitely would NOT walk to PBH.

 

[Kay1]

We're having some nearby relatives over for pizza and cake for my son's b'day. Did you notice whether they have pizza delivery and does it look very expensive? Thanks.

 

[manhattan]

I didn't see any pizza on the menu's. However, when we were on International drive, we saw an ad that the pizzeria would deliver to the hotel. My husband said he saw someone delivering pizza to the hotel- but couldn't tell if they were Pizza Hut or Dominos, or something else. Just ask one of the staffers or the concierge and they can tell you where to order the pizza from.

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm dying to know about the walk to the parks.

How was it? Did it seem long or not bad? Where does it bring you exactly? Citywalk near IOA?

We stayed at HRH last year and walked each day and thought it was pleasant and not long of a walk at all. Would love to do the same this trip.

Thanks!

 

[manhattan]

First let me explain my perspective on the walk. I work in NYC and walk from the west side to the east side and consider that 14 block walk a stroll. But, right now I am 7 mos pregnant and have been told by the doctors not to walk. So for me to be able to walk over to CityWalk in about 15 minutes (at a very slow pace) it is not too bad of a walk. When you get to Citywalk you are right by Jimmy Buffet's restaurant and the first bridge to IOA. In my opinion this walk is a little longer than the walk from HRH- only because it doesn't go straight, it curves quite a bit.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Will the room feel cramped with a crib in it? Did the room have a sofa? We have two standard rooms booked for six nights, do you think that we (2 adults, three teens, a 10, a 4 & a1 year old) in the rooms? As far as the view went, do you think the savings (standard verses garden) is worth it or should I try to get a garden view? We stayed at Portofino in April, will we be disapointed with RPH? Thanks for your input.

 

[manhattan]

I am not sure what the crib size is, but I would say it may feel a tad cramped in that room. As for having two rooms for the eight of you- I think it will work fine. Again, I had no problem with the view- when I looked out the window I would see the palm trees and then further behind them CityWalk, and looking down you would see the bridge and the waterfall underneath it- actually very pretty to look at. As for comparing it to the PBH- we had a villa room there, so there was no comparing- the PBH villa room wins. But I also compared what I paid ($99) for at the RP versus a moderate at Disney- and RP wins. And what I paid for at PBH ($150) against the WL- again PBH wins. My family liked both hotels, my daughter loved the bathtub at the PBH and the speaker in the bathroom- but she was just as happy with the privacy of the outside sink at the RP. Also, forgot to mention, they had 30's music playing everywhere, which was fine for us, and by the end of our stay, our children seemed to enjoy it as well. I think you will be very happy with RP. I felt very safe letting my kids go to the stores, gameroom, or even the pool by themselves- which is something I would never let my kids do at any of the Disney resorts.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thank you! I kept going back and forth about the view, so as long as I can see something besides the parking lot I will be fine. Portofino is hard to beat, but again at 199.00 a night per room verses what it would cost for Portofino, I am sure I will be fine. My main concern is having enough room, but we won't be in the room too much anyway, and the older kids will be off on thier own in the parks, so I can't see it being much of a problem.

 

[MarieCW]

Are there boats that take you to Citywalk and/or the park entrances? Do they take you to the other Universal Hotels? Any idea how long a walk it would be to, say, PBH?

It's so great having someone who's stayed there, thanks for all your answers!

 

[FINFAN]

I read that there is supposed to be some sort of seaplane near the lagoon or bay area for effect...DS loves any kind of airplane and was wondering if it is there?TIA!

 

[CPM]

The seaplanes are for decoration only.
They do have a small area by the beach with a few lounge chairs set up, a volleyball court too.
You can also take the shuttle to PBH from the front entrance, with all the rain that's pretty much how I traveled. It didn't take long by shuttle to PBH.
The rooms are smaller then HRH, but probably the same as a Disney moderate except they have two queen beds instead of two full beds which might make the room seem smaller.
They have a mini bar & coffee maker.
The beds didn't seem as comfy cozy to me as HRH & PBH, but maybe they are still stiff! The big comfy comforter is not on the beds either!
The putting green is very small & simple.
The luau area is set up with tables & chairs but no cover????
The club rooms are only in tower three.
All towers are easily accesable to everything, they really worked the space well.
Staff was wonderful & I loved it!! (Not as much as PBH!)

 

[lorilori]

Hi CPM - if my daughter freaks about sharing a bed with her younger brother, do you think it would be too cramped to request a rollaway cot? Thanks!

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by lorilori
Hi CPM - if my daughter freaks about sharing a bed with her younger brother, do you think it would be too cramped to request a rollaway cot? Thanks!

Honestly I can't imagine one fitting. Maybe one of them can sleep on the floor between the beds.

 

[grumbada]

I read somewhere that parking at the RP is free. Was that true in your case? Or is it the standard $10 a day, like at the HRH? About how far away is the parking lot from the check-in area?

Did you get to try the hot tubs?

Hubby and I hope to make it there for our anniversary end of October.
WooHOO!!