We just returned from a getaway weekend at Universal Orlando.
I was able to book the Florida Resident Rate of $139 on Friday but couldn't get anything for Saturday night. Then I saw the Peabody was running a holiday special, $149 for their club level (concierge) rooms so I decided to go with that.
We arrived at RP shortly after 1pm on Friday and I was assisted right away at the Loews First desk. I had booked my room online, and I thought at the last minute to bring the postcard I received a few months ago for a free room upgrade. It worked like a dream; the lady at the front desk told me we could have a king executive suite and that it was ready for us! I'm sure the fact that we were only staying for one night helped secure the free upgrade (it does state on the postcard that it will only be honored if something is available at check in)
Well, now I am spoiled. We've stayed before in a standard room; this is like having 2 standard rooms together; one with the king bed and the other as your sitting/60 inch tv room. Very comfortable...it is sooo nice to have all that space. (hence, the reason we love to stay at the Holiday Inn Family Suites when we do Disney, but I digress) My boys were supposed to share the pull out (it is only full size) but my 8 year old declared it uncomfortable and he climbed into the king with me and poor hubby was booted out to the pull out with our other son. I slept well though. ha ha
We received our Loews welcome gift around 5:30pm; we enjoyed our wine and then had a WONDERFUL dinner at the Islands Dining Room right there at the hotel. It rivals Yachtsman or Flying Fish for service and quality of food. I had the filet and hubby had the NY Strip with maytag blue cheese. We shared an appetizer of ahi tuna and the boys had the kids buffet. (pizza, chicken fingers, desserts) There was a strolling musician accompanied by 2 lovely hawaiian dancers; I know all 3 of my boys enjoyed that. Insert eye roll here. Anyway, I can't rave enough about dinner, the food was excellent, top quality and reasonably priced (my filet was $25 I believe, served with smashed potatoes and a spinach au gratin in a wine sauce)
Came back to the room to be pleasantly surprised by the turn down service; I thought that was only on request, which I had forgotten to do, but I guess in the suites they do it automatically.
Checked into the Peabody Club level the next day, a splurge of sorts, but the price was right. As nice as it was, the loews hotels really spoil you and make you feel pampered. (I mean, nobody at the Peabody was bringing me a free bottle of nice red wine to the room, you know?) Don't get me wrong, the Peabody staff was very pleasant and helpful, but I would have rather stayed put at the Royal Pacific. Did enjoy the Peabody lounge and the twice daily food offerings. It was nice this weekend to see how 'the other half' lives, lol.
And watching the duck parade was priceless!
Happy Vacations everyone.
I was able to book the Florida Resident Rate of $139 on Friday but couldn't get anything for Saturday night. Then I saw the Peabody was running a holiday special, $149 for their club level (concierge) rooms so I decided to go with that.
We arrived at RP shortly after 1pm on Friday and I was assisted right away at the Loews First desk. I had booked my room online, and I thought at the last minute to bring the postcard I received a few months ago for a free room upgrade. It worked like a dream; the lady at the front desk told me we could have a king executive suite and that it was ready for us! I'm sure the fact that we were only staying for one night helped secure the free upgrade (it does state on the postcard that it will only be honored if something is available at check in)
Well, now I am spoiled. We've stayed before in a standard room; this is like having 2 standard rooms together; one with the king bed and the other as your sitting/60 inch tv room. Very comfortable...it is sooo nice to have all that space. (hence, the reason we love to stay at the Holiday Inn Family Suites when we do Disney, but I digress) My boys were supposed to share the pull out (it is only full size) but my 8 year old declared it uncomfortable and he climbed into the king with me and poor hubby was booted out to the pull out with our other son. I slept well though. ha ha
We received our Loews welcome gift around 5:30pm; we enjoyed our wine and then had a WONDERFUL dinner at the Islands Dining Room right there at the hotel. It rivals Yachtsman or Flying Fish for service and quality of food. I had the filet and hubby had the NY Strip with maytag blue cheese. We shared an appetizer of ahi tuna and the boys had the kids buffet. (pizza, chicken fingers, desserts) There was a strolling musician accompanied by 2 lovely hawaiian dancers; I know all 3 of my boys enjoyed that. Insert eye roll here. Anyway, I can't rave enough about dinner, the food was excellent, top quality and reasonably priced (my filet was $25 I believe, served with smashed potatoes and a spinach au gratin in a wine sauce)
Came back to the room to be pleasantly surprised by the turn down service; I thought that was only on request, which I had forgotten to do, but I guess in the suites they do it automatically.
Checked into the Peabody Club level the next day, a splurge of sorts, but the price was right. As nice as it was, the loews hotels really spoil you and make you feel pampered. (I mean, nobody at the Peabody was bringing me a free bottle of nice red wine to the room, you know?) Don't get me wrong, the Peabody staff was very pleasant and helpful, but I would have rather stayed put at the Royal Pacific. Did enjoy the Peabody lounge and the twice daily food offerings. It was nice this weekend to see how 'the other half' lives, lol.
And watching the duck parade was priceless!
Happy Vacations everyone.
