Keep res at RP?

[sadossey]

Came to UO for the first time last year with our 2 kids(8 and 5 this year) and stayed at RPR. We loved it.... the pool, location, tropical theming, the room was nice, price is cheapest of the deluxe hotels, bathroom kinda small but no biggie. We did go to the other hotels pools and really enjoyed PB.... HR pool was great too but kinda loud and busy. Anyway, made reservations for a week this July at RP again. Now I'm thinking about paying a little more and trying one of the other hotels. As far as PB goes, I don't like that it's further from the parks, we loved the short walk from RP, but it looked very nice. HR seems cool but seemed a little more busy and crowded at the pool. What to do? Someone just talk me into staying put. Also like that RP is closer to Cabana bay, want to go check out their pool area.

 

[HM]

Sounds like RP would work for you again.

We stayed there last trip, and HRH the trip before. The main things that we liked about HRH was the larger rooms, and the shorter walk to the parks.

We went in Dec (HRH) so the pool was not busy at all, and we spent some time there each day. RP trip was two weeks ago and the pool chairs did fill up in the afternoons.

 

[sadossey]

Yeah, I feel like I answered my own question but I like trying new places. I'll probably keep us at RP. At least Universal hotels allows guests to pool hop. We did that for a whole day last year. Will probably plan a couple days this year to do that since we have a full week.

 

[marchingstar]

If you're there for a full week, it might be worth looking into an annual pass. Only one member of your family would need an AP and you'd have access to AP room rates. It might not work out cheaper, because with the stay more save more promo a week long trip will have a good discount. But I would price it out--we're saving about 75$/night on a 3-night stay this May with an AP. Then price might not be much of a factor.

 

[sadossey]

I thought about that but we went ahead and bought the 3 park unlimited tix from UT. I think our room discount was 35% for 7 nights. Actually was just a few bucks more than 6 nights cause the discount is more for 7 nights than 6

 

[DPCummerbund]

I read somewhere that aside from the buses that run from CBBR to the parks, UO also runs buses among all the resorts as well (to enable people to at one resort to get to the restaurants at the other resorts). Is that true? All I can find on the official site is that "Shuttle Buses at all Universal Orlando Resort on-site hotels."


If that's true, it would be easy to visit CBBR from any of the deluxe resorts.

 

[macraven]

I read somewhere that aside from the buses that run from CBBR to the parks, UO also runs buses among all the resorts as well (to enable people to at one resort to get to the restaurants at the other resorts). Is that true? All I can find on the official site is that "Shuttle Buses at all Universal Orlando Resort on-site hotels."


If that's true, it would be easy to visit CBBR from any of the deluxe resorts.

yes, if you show the front desk at Cbay you have a reservation for dining at one of the other hotels, you will be provided with transportation to that hotel.
not sure if you have to show proof you did keep that reservation when you use the shuttle to return to Cbay.
and there was a 2 hour time limit on it last year at the time i was there onsite.

you can not use this service if you just want to go to one of the other resorts.
last time i was there was october and that is how it was set up then.
if anything has changed, i'm not aware of it.

you wouldn't be able to just use this service to go visit Cbay as they do not have any restaurants that accept reservations.

 

[macraven]

I thought about that but we went ahead and bought the 3 park unlimited tix from UT. I think our room discount was 35% for 7 nights. Actually was just a few bucks more than 6 nights cause the discount is more for 7 nights than 6

it is a good discount.
i use the smsm when aph is not available.
i stay 12-13 nights on site and get the 35% discount.
like you said, stays of 7 nights or more do get sums 35% discount off the rooms.

 

[sadossey]

I read somewhere that aside from the buses that run from CBBR to the parks, UO also runs buses among all the resorts as well (to enable people to at one resort to get to the restaurants at the other resorts). Is that true? All I can find on the official site is that "Shuttle Buses at all Universal Orlando Resort on-site hotels."


If that's true, it would be easy to visit CBBR from any of the deluxe resorts.

Probably not a bad idea but one of the (many) reasons we like Univ better then WDW is not ever having to get on a bus. We loved being able to walk everywhere.

 

[CPanther95]

Personally, I think there's a reason the PBH is a premium and feel it's well worth every penny. I also don't feel that the greater distance from the parks is significant enough to be a major factor - not when it only takes about 10 minutes to walk to the Studios.

But if you stayed at the RPR and loved it, I'd hate to be the one to try and change your mind and risk you being disappointed for one reason or another. We've done everything at the RPR, with the exception of staying there for the night, and really like everything about the resort.

 

[jenrose66]

Came to UO for the first time last year with our 2 kids(8 and 5 this year) and stayed at RPR. We loved it.... the pool, location, tropical theming, the room was nice, price is cheapest of the deluxe hotels, bathroom kinda small but no biggie. We did go to the other hotels pools and really enjoyed PB.... HR pool was great too but kinda loud and busy. Anyway, made reservations for a week this July at RP again. Now I'm thinking about paying a little more and trying one of the other hotels. As far as PB goes, I don't like that it's further from the parks, we loved the short walk from RP, but it looked very nice. HR seems cool but seemed a little more busy and crowded at the pool. What to do? Someone just talk me into staying put. Also like that RP is closer to Cabana bay, want to go check out their pool area.

My family of 5 is staying at Royal Pacific for 6 nights next month. It's our first time at Universal. I was super happy with my choice to stay there, however, now I'm having second thoughts. My two main things are that RPR allows pets and myself and 2 of my kids are highly allergic to the point that being put in a room that has had pets will make the room uninhabitable for us, and, the rooms at PBH are about 100 sqft larger. We won't be in our room a ton, but with 5 of us, I'm wondering how much of a difference that extra space would make.

Staying at PBH would only cost $168 more total than what we are paying at RPR. I know I like the theme at RPR better from the pictures, so our decision to switch would based solely on the pet worry and the room size. I figured since your situation was similar to mine, I'd post on your thread I guess it's a common dilemma!

 

[sadossey]

My family of 5 is staying at Royal Pacific for 6 nights next month. It's our first time at Universal. I was super happy with my choice to stay there, however, now I'm having second thoughts. My two main things are that RPR allows pets and myself and 2 of my kids are highly allergic to the point that being put in a room that has had pets will make the room uninhabitable for us, and, the rooms at PBH are about 100 sqft larger. We won't be in our room a ton, but with 5 of us, I'm wondering how much of a difference that extra space would make.

Staying at PBH would only cost $168 more total than what we are paying at RPR. I know I like the theme at RPR better from the pictures, so our decision to switch would based solely on the pet worry and the room size. I figured since your situation was similar to mine, I'd post on your thread I guess it's a common dilemma!

I could be wrong but I think all the Loews hotels allow pets but I think only in certain rooms. Last year when we checked in to RP they told us our room wasn't ready yet and offered us a room that allowed pets. I declined. I also think all the pet friendly rooms are only in certain areas/halls.

 

[macraven]

all 3 deluxe hotels allow pets.
pet floors are the first floor in the buildings.
they have easy access to the dog walk section then.

if you won't be in your room much, go with the cheapest hotel.
use that saved money for butterbeer.

 

[djmeredith]

I've only stayed at PFB once (October 2014) and never at RPR, but I just changed my 2 nights Easter weekend from RPR to PFB. When I first booked I wanted to save money and went with RPR. However, I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that 2/3 of RPR currently has very old rooms, the rooms are much smaller, and the pool area is not near as nice. I didn't want to chance getting a non-refurbed room because I would have been very disappointed with an old room. I guess I've been spoiled by the luxurious feel of the PFB rooms. The room size makes a huge difference to me as well, the standard room would easily fit a rollaway for a 5th family member. For less than $200 for 6 nts, for a family of 5, the extra comforts and size of PFB would be well worth it.