Newbie here with lots of questions!

[chitown_disneylovers]

I just booked a 5 night stay during the last week in March (25th-30th) for my family, DH, DD 12 and DS 9. We will be staying at the Royal Pacific Hotel.

We will have 4 full days in the parks so I bought 4 day park "hoppers".

Can we fill 4 days with the studios and IOA? We love thrill rides, shows, and we will visit Harry Potter attraction but are not huge fans.

Do we need to make dining reservations for dinner?

Where are some good places to eat?

Are there buses or other modes of transportation to places like Downtown Disney or other parks?

We are not water park people but do like pools. What are your opinions on the Royal Pacific Hotel pool? Can we make an afternoon of it?

Thanks in advance to anyone who responds. We know Disney inside and out but Universal is new territory for us. We are SO excited to check it out!!

 

[mischief32]

Yes, I do believe that you can fill up 4 days at the parks. The pool is just fabulous. We have stayed at the Royal pacific twice so far and just love the beautiful heated pool. We were there last in November and swam every day. We went to the parks in the morning, came back and swam and went back to the parks and closed them down. You will have a great time. There is no hotel transportation to DTD but you can call the MEARS shuttle and they can get you there.

 

[heidi8]

The Royal Pacific is our "home" hotel - we've been there over a dozen times in the last six years, and we love it. The pool there is fun, relaxing and next to a terrific bar/restaurant - definitely worth an afternoon! If you're not huge Harry Potter fans but good at waking up early, I recommend getting into that section of the Park when it opens early for the hotel guests, seeing the excitement, trying the rides, skipping Ollivander's (unless you loved the first HP film), downing some Butterbeer and heading elsewhere when it's very crowded later in the day.

We've easily filled up four days at Universal, between the Parks, the hotels and CityWalk, but yeah, an afternoon + dinner at Downtown Disney would be a lovely addition, too.

Have fun!

 

[pixeegrl]

you can also pool hop! Check out the other pools on Universal property. All you have to do is show your room card from RPR to get towels at HRH and PBH. I say you can easily fill four days with a nice relaxing vacation. Hitting your favorites, taking a lunch or dinner whenever you want taking a break at the pools! Margarittaville is always fun in the evenings with the stilt walkers. At Studios we like to eat outside on the dock at Lombards and at IOA everyone always recommends Mythos. You can make reservations day of, no need to book months in advance. Have fun!

 

[Bluer101]

We go multiple times a year, benefit of living in FL. We always stay at RPR and love every minute of it. When we pull in we say it's good to be home again. We always stay a week in the summer then try to get in a few 4 day trips. Then a couple of overnight stays. I think it depends on if you can just sit back, relax, and soak it all in. Touring Universal this way is way different than Disney. This is truly a vacation!

 

[chitown_disneylovers]

OK now I am SUPER excited for our trip! Having time to relax at the pool and take it all in sounds fabulous. And pool hopping??? I can't believe it!

It will be nice to not need a vacation after my vacation! (please don't get me wrong we Disney but I am always exhausted after our commando trip there)

Thanks so much for all your help. I feel like I should be booking dining reservations though............ LOL!

 

[RMulieri]

Sure can fill up 4 days..We just did at Portofino Bay..It was the most relaxing trip we have ever done..We did each park 2x and went at a very leisurely pace.Spent plenty of downtime at our pool( it was fabulous so felt no need to pool hop) .We loved it so much, we are skipping Disney again and are going back probably Jan 2013

 

[Bluer101]

I forgot to add about RPR pool. The pool area is very big and relaxing atmosphere. There is a kids water play area plus volleyball in pool. They normally have a pool director with poolside games for everyone. My DS 9 loves when we stay for the week in the summer. He normally makes new friends to play with at the pool.

Also I would suggest one day going to the parks in the am, then take the boat or walk to HRH. We have lunch poolside at Beachclub while our son swims and uses the water slide ( I sneak in a few rides too ) Then we will hang out there for a few more hours after lunch, then return to RPR to get showered up. Then go enjoy a nice dinner somewhere in City Walk.

Like I said before, no commando style here while staying onsite. Slow down (yes that's hard to do until you do it once) take your time and relax. You will have plenty of time to see and ride your favorites over and over something that is normally difficult at Disney.

 

[Sandy321]

we're also from the Chicagoland area, and we do have Spring Break the last week of March, we're going to hit Universal for 3 or 4 days, staying at Royal Pacific also!!

Taking it all in, I think we'll be happy to see Harry Potter!!

 

[macraven]

nice to see more chgoians here.

how do you like the weather today???????

 

[Sandy321]

nice to see more chgoians here.

how do you like the weather today???????

Since I have a Spring trip planned to Florida - I'll take the cold -

all the better to enjoy the heat in March!
(85 deg F in Ft Myers today! at the coldest, with a windchill I think it was -10 F? felt more like -50 F )

 

[Sandy321]

OK now I am SUPER excited for our trip! Having time to relax at the pool and take it all in sounds fabulous. And pool hopping??? I can't believe it!

It will be nice to not need a vacation after my vacation! (please don't get me wrong we Disney but I am always exhausted after our commando trip there)

Thanks so much for all your help. I feel like I should be booking dining reservations though............ LOL!

I havent booked Dining - but I sure have "researched" it!!

(Margaritaville, Mythos... seem like "must do's - and I'm thinking $40 for the Brazillian meat fest (ie Churrascaria at CityWalk) might be on the list as well!! I love going through all the menus posted here! Great list!)

 

[chitown_disneylovers]

Mythos and Margaritaville are on our list too! Sandy321 we just might run into each other (and not even know it!)

It finally "feels" like winter in Chicago. Not that I'm happy about that but we all knew it was coming. Can't wait for warm sunny Orlando!

 

[Candycane83]

Sorry to veer a little off topic but I'm looking to book RP for October 2012 but I'm a little concerned about when to book. My husband and I plan to stay at RP for three nights before heading for Disney. I booked for Disney already since I want to book ADRs 6montha in advance. I was going to book for Universal as well but rates right now are pretty high for Oct. Can anyone give me some advise?

 

[Metro West]

Sorry to veer a little off topic but I'm looking to book RP for October 2012 but I'm a little concerned about when to book. My husband and I plan to stay at RP for three nights before heading for Disney. I booked for Disney already since I want to book ADRs 6montha in advance. I was going to book for Universal as well but rates right now are pretty high for Oct. Can anyone give me some advise?

You should probably post this on the Universal Resorts & Hotels board.

 

[tippyproject]

We were at IOA last week - ate at Mythos and I loved my "risotto of the day" dish. YUM.

LOVED, LOVED LOVED Harry Potter world - so cool, so unique - such a well made attraction. I really hope they expand that section - there is so much more they could do with the HP series but what is there now is very good.
Butterbeer is delicious....I liked it both cold and frozen. Frozen may have a slight edge....

 

[Sandy321]

Thanks Tippyproject!

we went googled and got a recipe for butterbeer - of course it doesnt include the foam I hear is amazing! nor the frozen concoction. We're looking forward to our WWoHP experience!