Onsite Hotel: Is one hotel location better than the others?

[Jedi5]

Planning a trip and we're looking to stay onsite.
I'm leaning towards the Hard Rock because from what I've read, I *believe* it has the best pool geared for young kids. Maybe I'm wrong but that's the impression I got.

I did before I even started looking at where each hotel is located.
I found a map online and I really don't see a difference or one standing out among the three. I mean the HR does seem closer but you're still walking across if you want to get to IOA.

For those of you that know more, is there an onsite hotel that is better located than the other two?

I'll have no car so we're walking where ever we go.

 

[francie57]

We stay at the HRH each trip and really enjoy it there. As far as the walking to the parks, HRH is the closest. It will literally take about 5 min. to get to Universal and about 3 min. more to get to IOA. The quickest route is to go past the entrance to Universal and walk past NBA City and Hard Rock Restaurant and IOA is right there.

 

[schumigirl]

HRH is closer to The Studios, RPR is closer to walk to IOA. PBH is only slightly further away, just past HRH.

All of them are totally walkable.....and I say that as someone who always takes the boat....even if there`s a queue

I love the pool area at RPR, it`s ideal for all ages.

You can`t really go wrong with any of them.....all lovely

 

[pixeegrl]

We have stayed at the RPR and love it. This time since our boys are older and take up more room we are staying at the HRH which has the Deluxe rooms that you can book. They are 500sq ft and come with a sleeper sofa. Some of the PBH rooms also have the couch but I feel like the HRH will appeal more to our family . You really can't go wrong at any of the 3 onsite hotels. You can also pool hop if you want to check out the other pools. Just bring your room keys to any of them to get your towels

 

[bumbershoot]

Planning a trip and we're looking to stay onsite.
I'm leaning towards the Hard Rock because from what I've read, I *believe* it has the best pool geared for young kids. Maybe I'm wrong but that's the impression I got.

Although their pool is nice and shallow everywhere but at the bottom of the slide, in my very limited experience it's LOUD LOUD LOUD with a live band (when DS and I went there), and filled entirely with people sitting in the pool, drinking alcohol and staring at each other.

Although my son loved the slide and we spent most of our time over in that area, I really really DISliked being there, feeling old and fat and distinctly UNcool, and it was truly impossible to actually *swim*. I also kept wondering if those people sitting in the water, drinking drink after drink, were getting up to use the restroom or just.....


I found RPR and PBH's pools to be *lovely* for DS (who is 7), and while DS likes the HRH *slide* better, he loved the water play area at RPR and the sandy bottom at PBH.

 

[pixeegrl]

Although their pool is nice and shallow everywhere but at the bottom of the slide, in my very limited experience it's LOUD LOUD LOUD with a live band (when DS and I went there), and filled entirely with people sitting in the pool, drinking alcohol and staring at each other.

Although my son loved the slide and we spent most of our time over in that area, I really really DISliked being there, feeling old and fat and distinctly UNcool, and it was truly impossible to actually *swim*. I also kept wondering if those people sitting in the water, drinking drink after drink, were getting up to use the restroom or just.....


I found RPR and PBH's pools to be *lovely* for DS (who is 7), and while DS likes the HRH *slide* better, he loved the water play area at RPR and the sandy bottom at PBH.

We were there pool hopping several times over Christmas Holiday when we went and never encountered this...just didn't want to scare off the OP....what we did see was lots of kids activities and games. Our sons won a couple and there is even a place where the have guitar hero set up to play...the teenager loved that lol

 

[macraven]

i've stayed at all three of the hotels and enjoyed them all.


for the past some years, i have made RPH my home.

i prefer it as it is a closer walk to IOA and City Walk.
and i enjoy the restaurants in this hotel. (especially Orchard Court Lounge as it opens at 6:00 am every morning)

there are evenings that i do City Walk for the restaurants.
this hotel, rph, is the closet one for that.

HRH is the closet walk to the studios.



if you take the water taxis, all of them empty you at city walk, lower level.
that negates the question of which hotel is closer to the parks.


i never choose a hotel for its pools.
you can pool hop when you stay onsite.

 

[francie57]

We have stayed at the HRH every Aug. and can honestly say we have never encountered what a pp said about the pool. There is music playing but it isn't outrageously loud and there are always kids activities going on. Yes you can get a drink at the pool bar but we have never seen anyone that has had too much or just sitting there staring at people. We actually enjoy spending the afternoons at the pool.

 

[macraven]

there are kid and teen activities at all the onsite hotel pools.

 

[buckeev]

No wrong choice here!...they are all awesome!
Royal Pacific is usually a little less expensive, but we like the fact that Hard Rock is SO close to US, (and only a few more minutes to get to IOA from there).
One little thing about RP...a couple of trips, we were just across the canal from The Hulk roller coaster....and if you're a light sleeper, you may hear, and feel, that rumble early in the morning. We we're getting up early anyway, so no big issue.

 

[islands]

I also kept wondering if those people sitting in the water, drinking drink after drink, were getting up to use the restroom or just.....

LOL!

 

[hayleyp]

Honestly, do not think you can go wrong with any of the onsite hotels! Our family of five (me. DH, DS10, DS10 & DD8) has stayed at HRH around 9 times and it has always been fantastic. Have a great trip!

 

[Brit_Jude]

We like Hard Rock, though as others have said they are all good. We have teenagers and we all like HRH. I found the pool to be great and there were all ages, including us old rockers!

 

[cbsnyber1]

We've stayed at PBH and HRH and prefer HR, for two reasons: closeness to the parks, and its "vibe". Hard to describe the latter, but it's the atmosphere, the decor, the activity in the lobby, the general feel of the place.

I thought it was easier to walk to the parks from HR than from PBH - much shorter trip. In fact, we walked only once from PBH; every other time we took the boat shuttle. And that's another point in favor of HR - the shuttle boat to/from PBH seemed to take forever. You have to wait for it, then wait for the onboard passengers to unload, then everyone gets on, then the boat re launches - it can be relaxing, but it is time consuming. Five minute walk from HR - you're at Universal.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I've stayed at HRH and RPH. Neither one is close to both park. HRH is close to US and RPH is close to IA. You have the City Walk that seperate those two parks. I prefer RPH because of the theme. I don't mind the 12 minute stroll to City Walk, but we always have the option to take the boat which we sometimes do. Do they still play the song, "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang? I can't wait to stay there again! HRH is a very nice resort, but I like tropical theme so I prefer this more.

 

[mjohnson96]

We have also pretty much stayed at RPH, this year we are going to try PBH to just get a different feel. My mom really likes the theme over there and since she is picking up the rooms this year I want her to enjoy the hotel.

DD loves the pool at PBH over the HRH one, but I think she has not really given HRH credit since when we do try to pool hop it always tends to storm when we get over there. I would like to try HRH so either I will do a room change this trip or wait until the next one.