Newbie with tons of questions!

[tinkerbellybutton]

Hi all,

I am new here and have lots of questions overall. My family and I have visited WDW 5 times since we had children. My hubby and I have been to Universal before we had children, but were waiting till our boys were a bit older to take them. Now that they are older we are looking forward to our next vacation to Orlando to be primarily spent in and around the universal parks. My first of many questions is about which resort would best suit our needs. I've read a great deal about each resort and just can't seem to make up my mind. I am not sure if PBR might be too "fancy" for a family with two young boys. HRH looks to be lots of fun, but I am worried about it being swamped with singles in their early 20's. Not that there is anything wrong with singles in their early 20's, I am just worried that it may not provide the best "kid friendly environment". RPR looks like a great family place, but there is no slide at the pool and that is a big "must" for my boys. We would like to have at least one day completely away from parks, spent at the pool and would like to rent a cabana and have a pool slide so that excludes RPR. Which of the remaining two resorts do you experts recommend for a family with two boys, ages 8 and 6 at the time of the trip? And cost is not a primary concern of ours, the difference in prices don't appear to be too broad. Thanks so much!

 

[macraven]

i have been to all 3 on site hotels and can't say that the pbh is too fancy.
hrh is the smallest of the 3 with only 650 rooms. pbh and rph are larger.

if you need more space, go with pbh. lots more space there. hrh next and rph is the smallest sq footage wise.

if you don't like long walks, go with hrh. a few minute walk to the studios from there. boats run every 15- 20 minutes. no sense waiting for the boat if you don't mind walking.

you can pool hop. hrh has a slide, rph does not. if you stay at pbh, take the boat or walk to hrh for the pool. it is encouraged.

each hotel has a pool room where you can change. towels are provided.
each hotel has resturants for everyone that are guests staying on site or off site. i think that the rph has great resturants for those with children. the Islands has a breakfast buffet that i love. the kitchen hotel at hrh has a child area that is entertaining. pbh likewise.

if you want more space, go with pbh.
if you want the closet hotel to the studios, go with hrh.

all the hotels have the dive in night where you view a hit movie at the pool.

the hrh has the most cabanas. i know of posters that might stay at rph or pbh and rent the cabana at hrh for the 24 hour period.

it depends on what type of activity you and the family are thinking of while at UO might help you decide which hotel that would suit your needs more.

there are plusses and cons for all the hotels.
i prefer the hrh as it is the smallest for occupancy and closest to the studios.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Our first stay at PBH my son and I felt like it was a little snobbish because some of the guests seemed to look down at my Dudley DoRight mounties hat. But we have stayed several times since and have not felt that. HRH is really not loaded with single 20 somethings. That has long been my kids' favorite pool. Our last stay at RPR though my son said that the RPR pool (largest in Orlando) is now his favorite. One reason is that the water activities like volleyball include everyone and a 6 and 8 would fit in. We have been to all 3 and like them all for different reasons.

 

[Flyin2MCO]

Since you are a family of four I'd say go with PBH for the larger space. HRH is probably "cooler", but your kids are young enough that it shouldn't matter. PBH has a great pool and the atmosphere will be really enjoyable for mom and dad.

 

[goofy!]

Do what we do:

Stay at PBH for the space and luxury.

For our all day pool day - rent a cabana at HRH.

My kids love both pools so this way they get to experience both.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

OK, so I didn't know that you were allowed to rent a cabana at a resort that you are not staying at. I think my kids are favoring HRH, but the youngest really likes the "pirate fort" look of the pool at PBR, and he loves the pirate ship kiddie pool area there as well. Can't you tell he loves priates! Another question I have is about the cabanas. Does anyone have a map showing where they are located? I would like to have one with a good view of the slide and the shallow area of the pool, and the kiddie pool if all of these things are in the same general location at the pool. Are there any good cabanas anyone can recommend for these needs. We would like to do a pool day on a day that there is a dive in movie. Are there any cabanas that are especially good to view the movie? And are those also close to the slide? I am very unfamiliar with everything at these resorts so any help on cabana locations and also the locations of the movies would be really helpful. Thanks so much for all of the replys so far.

 

[goofy!]

OK, so I didn't know that you were allowed to rent a cabana at a resort that you are not staying at. I think my kids are favoring HRH, but the youngest really likes the "pirate fort" look of the pool at PBR, and he loves the pirate ship kiddie pool area there as well. Can't you tell he loves priates! Another question I have is about the cabanas. Does anyone have a map showing where they are located? I would like to have one with a good view of the slide and the shallow area of the pool, and the kiddie pool if all of these things are in the same general location at the pool. Are there any good cabanas anyone can recommend for these needs. We would like to do a pool day on a day that there is a dive in movie. Are there any cabanas that are especially good to view the movie? And are those also close to the slide? I am very unfamiliar with everything at these resorts so any help on cabana locations and also the locations of the movies would be really helpful. Thanks so much for all of the replys so far.

Are you wanting info on the cabanas at PBH or HRH?

If HRH - 7 and 8 are right behind the kiddie pool and close to the slide, although 9 and 10 are closer - 10 being the closest and the best to keep a close eye on the slide from. With these, you also have a great view of the dive-in movie. Cabanas 7-10 are located on the beach side of the pool so are more expensive. But they are our favorites. We usually get 7 & 8 as they are the closest beach cabanas to the gate to Universal just in case somebody just has to get a ride or two in

I should add that #7 and #10 are "themed" cabanas.

 

[macraven]

.....yellow submarine.........

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

So if we rent the "yellow submarine" cabana for the day we should be close enough to the slide to watch our boys, and have a good spot for the dive in movie, is that correct? Also, is there a kiddie pool close to this cabana? How far in advanced should I call to rent? We are planning on going in May of next year. Another question about the cabana, does anyone know of a place I can find a map of the cabanas so that I have a better idea of where everything at the pool is located? And can anyone tell me where the screen is located during the dive in movie? I am sorry for all of the questions. I did a fair amount of research on my own, but there just doesn't seem to be enough information out there about these resorts. Thanks so much!

 

[macraven]

let me pm KEW80. i think she might have a map of the cabanas.
some time back i sent her info on the cabananas and she took the one i recommended.

there are two very choice ones. they are themed.
each has a phone, tv, table, lounge chairs, fans, etc in them.
you can have the flaps open or completely down.

 

[goofy!]

The Yellow Submarine cabana is #7. #7 and #8 are located directly behind the kiddie pool. The slide is on the same side, but since 7 & 8 are set back a bit behind the kiddie pool, you would have to come out of the cabana and sit on the other side of the kiddie pool to have the best view of the slide.

Here is a picture of #7 sitting behind the kiddie pool. You can see the corner of #8 to the right of it

and 7 & 8 again, 7 (Yellow Submarine) on the left, #8 on the right. To the right of #8 would be 9 & 10, then the slide at the end.

 

[macraven]

if you need a slide view, then don't pick yellow submarine.

thanks for the heads up goofy!

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Thanks so much for the replys so far. If cabanas 7 and 8 are a bit too far to see the slide I think we'll go with 9 or 10. Can you view the dive in movie from cabanas 9 and 10?

 

[Fan2CSkr]

We rented #8 in February and #10 (Stevie Wonder) a couple of weeks ago. #10 is ideal for viewing the slide. We didnt see the dive in movie so I cant comment on what side the screen is on.

 

[macraven]

at the hrh, the screen is on the opposite side of the doors you come out of to enter the pool.

when you leave the bottom floor of the hrh building, you walk straight ahead to the pool. the screen for the dive in movies is on the opposite side, across the pool