Juste returned from ........

[SnowWitch]

3 night at the Royal Pacific Resort with 3 day park hoppers. We were a party of 2 adults and 2 kiddos. We had not been to the "dark side" in 6 yrs so this was our first post Harry Potter experience.


This is what I learned:
1. Stay on-site
2. Utilize early entry if your going into the Potter areas.
3. Food in Potter world is crazy expensive. 2 kids breakfasts at Three Broomsticks $26
4. Butter Beer is "crack" in a cup!
5. Interactive wands are fun, daughter was chosen in Olivanders, totally made the child's trip.
6. Diagonal Alley, there are no words! Astonishing!
7. Merchandise has really increased in cost in 6 yrs. the HP items are really expensive. My daughters had $200 each and they blew through that very quickly.


Had a blast will definitely return. 2016 is our Disney AP year but it looks like 2017 will be our US/IOA AP year!

 

[damo]

I think of the HP restaurants as similar to the Be Our Guest restaurant. You're paying for atmosphere and the prices are almost identical.

 

[macraven]

SnowWitch, glad you came back to share your experience and suggestions with others.

crack in a cup.
beautiful way to describe it....!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

3. Food in Potter world is crazy expensive. 2 kids breakfasts at Three Broomsticks $26

I honestly didn't find this. We purchased one roast chicken platter, one chicken and ribs platter (both entrees came with sliced seasoned potatoes and corn on the cob) and two butterbeers for $31.92 including tax (with our AP discount) at Three Broomsticks. Considering this was a huge improvement on your standard burgers and fries at a theme park *and* included upgraded drinks, I thought the price was very reasonable.

 

[Bluer101]

4. Butter Beer is "crack" in a cup!

Frozen that is. Lol

 

[macraven]

of course frozen.

only way to go for the good "crack" stuff.

 

[SnowWitch]

I honestly didn't find this. We purchased one roast chicken platter, one chicken and ribs platter (both entrees came with sliced seasoned potatoes and corn on the cob) and two butterbeers for $31.92 including tax (with our AP discount) at Three Broomsticks. Considering this was a huge improvement on your standard burgers and fries at a theme park *and* included upgraded drinks, I thought the price was very reasonable.

2 kids breakfast $26 seems a bit much for me. We also had lunch another day at three broomstick, 1 chicken plater, 1 turkey leg platter and 1 chicken salad $51. Lunch at Sals at Portifino, small pizza ( more than enough for 2 kiddos), Italian sandwich and drinks $26. I consider this the deal of the week while in Orlando.

What one feels is expensive is subjective, $51 for counter service for 1 adult and 2 kids is expensive to me. Two children's breakfasts for $26 is a bit much.

Will we eat there again? Breakfast, no, lunch, yes!

 

[damo]

2 kids breakfast $26 seems a bit much for me. We also had lunch another day at three broomstick, 1 chicken plater, 1 turkey leg platter and 1 chicken salad $51. Lunch at Sals at Portifino, small pizza ( more than enough for 2 kiddos), Italian sandwich and drinks $26. I consider this the deal of the week while in Orlando.

What one feels is expensive is subjective, $51 for counter service for 1 adult and 2 kids is expensive to me. Two children's breakfasts for $26 is a bit much.

Will we eat there again? Breakfast, no, lunch, yes!

Sal's is a great value and the pizza is excellent.

I find all theme park food to be overpriced, breakfasts are crazy! The best deal for breakfast, in my opinion, is the egg croissant-wiches at Boulangerie. They are delicious and come with a small side of fruit.

 

[SnowWitch]

Absolutely Damo, we really enjoyed it. Shall be staying at Portifino the next trip and enjoying Sals more than once!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

2 kids breakfast $26 seems a bit much for me. We also had lunch another day at three broomstick, 1 chicken plater, 1 turkey leg platter and 1 chicken salad $51. Lunch at Sals at Portifino, small pizza ( more than enough for 2 kiddos), Italian sandwich and drinks $26. I consider this the deal of the week while in Orlando.

What one feels is expensive is subjective, $51 for counter service for 1 adult and 2 kids is expensive to me. Two children's breakfasts for $26 is a bit much.

Will we eat there again? Breakfast, no, lunch, yes!

"Choosing well" definitely factors into the overall costs, too. Turkey legs are ridiculously priced just about anywhere!

I thought Universal quick service offered better choices and way better value in comparison to Disney. The three of us paid over $50 for chicken strips, a hamburger and a chicken burger (with fries) and a shared drink at Typhoon Lagoon a couple of summers ago . Paltry quantities and really disappointing quality.

 

[SnowWitch]

"Choosing well" definitely factors into the overall costs, too. Turkey legs are ridiculously priced just about anywhere!

I thought Universal quick service offered better choices and way better value in comparison to Disney. The three of us paid over $50 for chicken strips, a hamburger and a chicken burger (with fries) and a shared drink at Typhoon Lagoon a couple of summers ago . Paltry quantities and really disappointing quality.

I am not hear to offer tit for tat on Disney vs Universal, no where did I compare. Universal food cost to Disney, nor did I complain about the quality or selection of Universals offering. I have found all selections at waterparks to be disgusting. Why people feel the need to counter people's subjective opinions just because they do not reflect their own just cracks me up!

 

[Bluer101]

Absolutely Damo, we really enjoyed it. Shall be staying at Portifino the next trip and enjoying Sals more than once!

Even if we are staying at RPR we still visit Sal's for dinner. For the price and quality you cannot beat it at a resort.

We normally get a specialty veggie pizza, some mozzarella sticks, side Caesar salad and make it a meal for us. Besides its even better when we use our platinum credit and it costs us nothing.

 

[snoopboop]

I am not hear to offer tit for tat on Disney vs Universal, no where did I compare. Universal food cost to Disney, nor did I complain about the quality or selection of Universals offering. I have found all selections at waterparks to be disgusting. Why people feel the need to counter people's subjective opinions just because they do not reflect their own just cracks me up!

A very sweeping comment was made: "Food in Potter world is crazy expensive."

Many, many people read these forums, and especially threads like this one, to get ideas & inspiration for their own trips. I, too, would tend to counter such a broad claim if it seems out of line with what I've experienced in the parks... especially for the sake of others who might read these opinions and be swayed by them. I agree with other posters that I've not noticed the food in WWOHP to be any more expensive than other quick/counter-service options in the parks... and even if it were a bit more expensive, it would, to me, be worth it for the ambiance/experience.

(Now, the Gilly Water potions at Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment were crazily overpriced for bottled water and a flavor enhancer, but I was totally paying for the experience, LOL!)

 

[damo]

I am not hear to offer tit for tat on Disney vs Universal, no where did I compare. Universal food cost to Disney, nor did I complain about the quality or selection of Universals offering. I have found all selections at waterparks to be disgusting. Why people feel the need to counter people's subjective opinions just because they do not reflect their own just cracks me up!

The Universal boards tend to be information boards, first and foremost. It's important for people coming here to plan their vacations to be able to use the opinions of lots of people to help them make their decisions. Most people coming here are also Disney fans and being able to compare prices and quality and atmosphere is very helpful. Sorry if you felt that people were trying to discredit what you said....that isn't the way we work here.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Why people feel the need to counter people's subjective opinions just because they do not reflect their own just cracks me up!

I am sorry you have taken my differing opinion in such a negative manner. I was simply giving some examples of our experiences versus yours in an effort to provide those who read this thread with a point of comparison. I would hate to see someone pass up the opportunity to experience either Three Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron based on your initial assessment that "food in potter world is crazy expensive" when there can be some decent value options to be had. Obviously I touched a raw nerve, which was not my intent.

 

[snoopboop]

Even if we are staying at RPR we still visit Sal's for dinner. For the price and quality you cannot beat it at a resort.

We normally get a specialty veggie pizza, some mozzarella sticks, side Caesar salad and make it a meal for us. Besides its even better when we use our platinum credit and it costs us nothing.

Sal's pizza was so wonderful. I found myself wanting a bit more variety in restaurants when we stayed at PBH, but Sal's really was terrific! (Platinum credit... as in Loews platinum-level membership, or something else!?)

 

[larslovesyou]

Butterbeer is definitely Universal's crack. My Husband hates sweet drinks, but someone downed 4 Butterbeers in 3 days ( 3 frozen, one regular). Anytime we passed a Butterbeer stand he would jump in line!

I do agree that the breakfast prices seemed very high, but I noticed that park wide, not just in WWHOP. Lunch/Dinner in WWHOP is a much better deal, and much better food.

 

[macraven]

I am not hear to offer tit for tat on Disney vs Universal, no where did I compare. Universal food cost to Disney, nor did I complain about the quality or selection of Universals offering. I have found all selections at waterparks to be disgusting. Why people feel the need to counter people's subjective opinions just because they do not reflect their own just cracks me up!

SnowWitch many will post their thoughts and it isn't to updo another post.
gina has been around for sometime and i'm guessing she was wanting to relay how it went for her on the foods they found to be a way to keep the costs down.
she is not the type to refute others opinions.
just offering the options she used on her trip.
in all of her posts, she's really very nice.

but i think you phrased your post fine and you had no comparison listed.
you were clear about that.

sometimes i post and it could be taken not in the way i intended.
oh, yes, i get pm's when i do that........lol

i have not order childrens meals for breakfast to the potter places.
reading what you posted make my eyes bug out
that is an expensive breakfast to cover!
thanks for the heads up.

 

[HM]

I think my DH found the Butterbeer Ice Cream to be his "crack in a cup". He even went back to the park by himself one night just to get a cup. He's never done that on any trip we've ever made at a Disney before ( and we've been a lot). He'd go back just for that.

 

[Bluer101]

Sal's pizza was so wonderful. I found myself wanting a bit more variety in restaurants when we stayed at PBH, but Sal's really was terrific! (Platinum credit... as in Loews platinum-level membership, or something else!?)

Yep, Loews platinum credit is wonderful. One of those other perks for us to keep going so many times per year.