We stayed at the HRH 10-12 for 7 nights. This was our first visit to Universal, and to be honest - we were all very skeptical that we would enjoy our stay. You see, my family are all confirmed Disney Fans. We have stayed at almost all of the Disney resorts and visited the parks at least once a year for the past 16+ years!!!
The reason for the visit to Universal instead of Disney was a combination of several reasons.
1. Disney prices are increasing too each year - without any
obvious benefits for the increases.
2. It is ridiculous all the hoops and rings I was having to jump
through to get the best rate.
3. I never received that "special" feeling at the parks for being
a Disney Resort guest.
4. As for being a loyal Disney guest, I feel that Disney just isn't
that concerned with keeping our family as a repeat guest.
Now, on to my experience with Universal Studios & Hard Rock Hotel. My family drove our SUV (Me, DH & DD who is 7), we met up with my parents who drove their minivan.
When we arrived I found out the there was parking charges. I was never informed of the charges previously and told them just that - they said OK, we won't apply the charges! WOW, that was a good start.
We stayed on the club level and LOVED it! Krispy Kreme doughnuts each morning!! We were in heaven! I know, not the healthiest breakfast, but we enjoyed every bite! They also had a great fruit bowl, cereals, bagels, juices, milk, coffee. Great! The lounge became crowded at times, but it was never any big deal, we always had the option to take food/drinks back to our room if we desired. The sodas & water all day was great too. Saved us a bundle! Also there was a variety of beers available for a couple hours in the afternoon - my husband really liked that! Then in the late-afternoon there was a different layout each day of finger-foods. But I could honestly make a meal out of the options! All was Super!!! My daughters favorite food option was milk and cookies each evening form 8:30-9:30pm. She called it our midnight snack. I will always stay club leve at the HRH from now on! I have been too spoiled now! Also the staff was super nice - not the least bit intrusive. I was wondering if they would be sort of a pain - but not at all. They were on hand if you had any needs, but did not make you feel like you were intruding their "lounge".
The HRH was gorgeous! Like I had previously mentioned, I have stayed at most of the WDW resorts (and they are great!) but I was most impressed with the resort. Everyone was very friendly! The pool was super! I love the layout and the music! I spent several afternoons relaxing by the pool, listening to the music while my daughter swam and thought THIS CAN'T GET MUCH BETTER!
The parks were awesome! The rides all wonderful! I loved the Hulk! Was disappointed to hear that the Hanna-Barbara show & the Hitchcock Tribute was both ending this year. The shows very entertaining! Being able to get to the head of the line for most of the rides is just wonderful! Sure beats the socks off of "Fast Pass" at WDW. We felt sooo special when we flashed our card and was led nearly right onto the ride each time! Disney needs to take lesssons here! It really felt like Universal appreciated us staying at there resorts & I appreciated that!
The crowds were really good - the weather great as well. Rained some at the beginning of the week. But nothing I couldn't handle.
OK, nothing can be perfect right?? The day before we were to leave, we decided to do some "sight-seeing". Well, we got lost!! Ended up somewhere in Orlando, (later the cab driver referred to as the "lowlands"???) There was hardly any lights, bars on all of the windows! Scary! You might be asking, why did you talk to a cab driver. Well, our SUV's wheel bearing broke!!! It was 8pm, dark and we were lost! We managed to get our SUV into a parking lot in front of a nearby business. Soon a lady pulled up and we explained our situation. Did she offer any help - NO! So we told her that we would have our SUV out of the parking lot the next day ASAP so they would not tow it. She said fine, her son owned the business and she would make certain to inform him. Luckily I had brought my cell phone, so I called the hotel. A staff member called the cab and helped us figure out where we were so they could get us back to the hotel. She went by the name of Mack and was sooo helpful. By 10pm the cab finally found us. When we returned to the hotel - our room phone was ringing, it was Mack making sure we had gotten back safely! Needless to say, I was a total basket case by this time. The next morning we drove to where our SUV was (we were fortunate enough to be able to use my parents van!). Guess what! Our SUV had been towed! This was 7:30AM and it had already been towed after being promised that it would be OK! I was livid. After finding the place where is had been towed to, we had to pay $110 to get it out!. Then we spent all day trying to find parts, tools, ect to fix the SUV. (My WONDERFULLY TALENTED husband can fix almost anything, so we are fortunate in that aspect). At 5pm we finally made it back to the hotel. Remember now, we were schedule to leave the next morning for a 15 hr drive! So I was really sweating it for a while, wondering what we would do it the SUV was not able to make the trip. Leaving it parked crossed my mind! My parents treated us to a dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and movies that evening. Alls well that ends well.
Except for that incident - the trip could not have been better. I am planning to return as soon as possible. Will we return to Disney - probably, but not nearly as often. Not that we have now found the wonderful world of Universal!!
Sorry if I have rambled, but this is my first trip report - even after all those trips to Disney I have never felt inclined to state my opinion. But I really was impressed with Universal and HRH and wanted to share. If anyone has a particular question that I might answer, please feel free to ask.
The reason for the visit to Universal instead of Disney was a combination of several reasons.
1. Disney prices are increasing too each year - without any
obvious benefits for the increases.
2. It is ridiculous all the hoops and rings I was having to jump
through to get the best rate.
3. I never received that "special" feeling at the parks for being
a Disney Resort guest.
4. As for being a loyal Disney guest, I feel that Disney just isn't
that concerned with keeping our family as a repeat guest.
Now, on to my experience with Universal Studios & Hard Rock Hotel. My family drove our SUV (Me, DH & DD who is 7), we met up with my parents who drove their minivan.
When we arrived I found out the there was parking charges. I was never informed of the charges previously and told them just that - they said OK, we won't apply the charges! WOW, that was a good start.
We stayed on the club level and LOVED it! Krispy Kreme doughnuts each morning!! We were in heaven! I know, not the healthiest breakfast, but we enjoyed every bite! They also had a great fruit bowl, cereals, bagels, juices, milk, coffee. Great! The lounge became crowded at times, but it was never any big deal, we always had the option to take food/drinks back to our room if we desired. The sodas & water all day was great too. Saved us a bundle! Also there was a variety of beers available for a couple hours in the afternoon - my husband really liked that! Then in the late-afternoon there was a different layout each day of finger-foods. But I could honestly make a meal out of the options! All was Super!!! My daughters favorite food option was milk and cookies each evening form 8:30-9:30pm. She called it our midnight snack. I will always stay club leve at the HRH from now on! I have been too spoiled now! Also the staff was super nice - not the least bit intrusive. I was wondering if they would be sort of a pain - but not at all. They were on hand if you had any needs, but did not make you feel like you were intruding their "lounge".
The HRH was gorgeous! Like I had previously mentioned, I have stayed at most of the WDW resorts (and they are great!) but I was most impressed with the resort. Everyone was very friendly! The pool was super! I love the layout and the music! I spent several afternoons relaxing by the pool, listening to the music while my daughter swam and thought THIS CAN'T GET MUCH BETTER!
The parks were awesome! The rides all wonderful! I loved the Hulk! Was disappointed to hear that the Hanna-Barbara show & the Hitchcock Tribute was both ending this year. The shows very entertaining! Being able to get to the head of the line for most of the rides is just wonderful! Sure beats the socks off of "Fast Pass" at WDW. We felt sooo special when we flashed our card and was led nearly right onto the ride each time! Disney needs to take lesssons here! It really felt like Universal appreciated us staying at there resorts & I appreciated that!
The crowds were really good - the weather great as well. Rained some at the beginning of the week. But nothing I couldn't handle.
OK, nothing can be perfect right?? The day before we were to leave, we decided to do some "sight-seeing". Well, we got lost!! Ended up somewhere in Orlando, (later the cab driver referred to as the "lowlands"???) There was hardly any lights, bars on all of the windows! Scary! You might be asking, why did you talk to a cab driver. Well, our SUV's wheel bearing broke!!! It was 8pm, dark and we were lost! We managed to get our SUV into a parking lot in front of a nearby business. Soon a lady pulled up and we explained our situation. Did she offer any help - NO! So we told her that we would have our SUV out of the parking lot the next day ASAP so they would not tow it. She said fine, her son owned the business and she would make certain to inform him. Luckily I had brought my cell phone, so I called the hotel. A staff member called the cab and helped us figure out where we were so they could get us back to the hotel. She went by the name of Mack and was sooo helpful. By 10pm the cab finally found us. When we returned to the hotel - our room phone was ringing, it was Mack making sure we had gotten back safely! Needless to say, I was a total basket case by this time. The next morning we drove to where our SUV was (we were fortunate enough to be able to use my parents van!). Guess what! Our SUV had been towed! This was 7:30AM and it had already been towed after being promised that it would be OK! I was livid. After finding the place where is had been towed to, we had to pay $110 to get it out!. Then we spent all day trying to find parts, tools, ect to fix the SUV. (My WONDERFULLY TALENTED husband can fix almost anything, so we are fortunate in that aspect). At 5pm we finally made it back to the hotel. Remember now, we were schedule to leave the next morning for a 15 hr drive! So I was really sweating it for a while, wondering what we would do it the SUV was not able to make the trip. Leaving it parked crossed my mind! My parents treated us to a dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and movies that evening. Alls well that ends well.
Except for that incident - the trip could not have been better. I am planning to return as soon as possible. Will we return to Disney - probably, but not nearly as often. Not that we have now found the wonderful world of Universal!!
Sorry if I have rambled, but this is my first trip report - even after all those trips to Disney I have never felt inclined to state my opinion. But I really was impressed with Universal and HRH and wanted to share. If anyone has a particular question that I might answer, please feel free to ask.
Spread the word!!
