Thanks to all the Disboard posters who help others with their planning. I had an awesome vacation with my family with your advise. We resort hopped many times this trip because we wanted to experience different hotels and for convenience sake. Our trip to Florida was from 12/4 to 12/12.
12/4 - 12/10 Stayed at Disney properties. One night at POP, 3 nights at Grand Floridian, and 3 nights at Beach Club (free upgrade to Concierge level).
12/10 - 12/12 Stayed at Royal Pacific Resort Club level 7th floor.
Boy, people are way off when they compare Royal Pacific to Disney's Polynesian. We stayed at Polynesian in May. Royal Pacific is so much more elegant and beautiful! The lobby is spacious. The rooms, common hallways, and public areas are clean, bright and beautiful decorated with Asian touches. Polynesian is rustic and has a musty look. I feel like I am getting my money's worth for a room rate of over $200 at Royal Pacific vs. Polynesian. The pathway to the water taxi is lined with unique and cool pieces of Asian sculptures. I like the elaborate wall carvings just before you reach Tchoup Chop restaurant. The pool looked very inviting and fun for kids and adult.
Our King room was very clean. No spots on the carpet. Robes lying on the sofa. A nice long pillow roll accented the beautifully made bed. The complimentary bath products were a nice quality. The towels were fluffy, thick and had a pretty Loews logo. Our room had a very large picturesque window. The room colors of deep red, black and gold were very Asian and peaceful. The beds felt less lumpy than Disney beds. The room doors were heavy and seem to slam less loudly than Disney's.
The RPR club was unbelievable compared to Beach Club Concierge room. You walk in the RPR club lounge and see so many tables, sofas, coffee tables, arm chairs that invite you to eat, chat, relax, and be merry. At the Beach Club, it was constantly busy and guest were jockeying for a table. People were carrying trays of food and soda back to their rooms. There were two large T.V. on either end of the lounge area with coffee tables and sofa. At least 6 to 8 tables that sat groups of 4. At least another 6 tables that sat 2 or 3 guests. Two areas that had a coffee table surrounded by sofas. A desk with a desktop computer and printer for guest use (no charge).
The food offerings were very nice. At breakfast, they had hot cinnamon buns, big bagels (like Noah's vs. Beach Club served smaller ones that you buy from a chain supermarket), 4-6 different kinds of danishes, croissants, a beautifully arranged platter of different fruits (mangoes, 3 melons, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pineapples, kiwi, and grapes), individual paper bowls of cereal that you can pour the milk into and eat from (4-6 different kinds of cereal), basket of apples/oranges/bananas, fresh squeezed orange juice, and individual bottles of water. In the afternoon, they put out individual bags of ruffle potato chips and small bottle sodas of Diet Coke, Coke, and Spite. Oh, also small glass bottles of Perrier water. In the evening from 5-7pm, they offer one hot item like egg rolls one night and deep fried dumplings on another night with spicy sweet & sour sauce. Plus, chicken & cucumber salad, chips & salsa/guacamole/sour cream, crackers & 4 different kinds of cheese, and I think another fruit platter. From 8-10pm, they offer tasty cookies, 2 different kinds of fancy cheesecakes, and little pastries. They had sodas out as well as alcohol that the girls behind the desk will pour for you.
The concierge staff were helpful and offered to help me call to reserve dinner. They had a fancy book with the menus of on-site restaurants as well as nearby restaurants. The book was located on top of the concierge counter area with a bowl of candy. The staff were friendly and always greeted us when we entered. They efficiently cleaned leftover messes from guests. The food area never looked very messy or dirty. No food were left on the carpet, and the tables were never sticky (vs. Beach Club Concierge). One concierge volunteered to clean my daughter's sippy cup nightly in their dishwasher when I asked her for milk for my daughter. They also called the front desk for me to get a later check-out. They offered to help me print my SWA boarding pass when I inquired if the printer worked.
Maybe our club experience was exceptional because it was a slow period for the resort. It was wasn't crowded. No kids running down the hall screaming at the top of their lungs (we heard that every night on the Beach Club concierge level). We had lunch at the Island Dining Restaurant. It was pretty empty at 1:00pm. They accepted a $10 off coupon that I printed from the internet (this coupon was good for lunch or dinner if ordered 2 entrees).
We had a yummy dinner at Tchoup Chop. I ordered a chicken tender meal for my kids to share. They barely touched it. Instead, they fought over my appetitzer of mussels in lemongrass broth, my miso soup of mushrooms & lobster, and especially over my entree of kobe beef short ribs with beans and white rice. The short ribs were boneless and literally fell apart when you poke your fork in. It was favorful and slightly fatty so juicy and tender. We were too full to have dessert, and my young kids were getting antsy so we left without dessert. My husband had a delicious salad (he inhaled it so fast, I couldn't get a bite) and blackened grouper entree. This was a delightful meal, and I wished the Mariner Club would take kids under 4 so we can have our two kids in the Club while we ate at this restaurant. Would have been so much more enjoyable without our two young ones.
We only took the water taxis to the theme parks. Generally a 10-20 minute wait. If we got to the dock at the resort by 8:20am, the boat would be waiting or one would come around 8:30am. We generally got to either park entrance by 8:45am or slightly earlier.
It just seems as if the Royal Pacific Resort was more classy and modern looking than the Disney deluxes that we have stayed at. I did not checked out the Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Hotel so can not compare or comment.
Can't wait for our longer stay at RPR in February! Not going to mess with a fun and relaxing time by booking at another on-site resort. Maybe for our third stay in the future, we will try Portofino Resort. Thanks for reading my long-winded review.
Cynthia
12/4 - 12/10 Stayed at Disney properties. One night at POP, 3 nights at Grand Floridian, and 3 nights at Beach Club (free upgrade to Concierge level).
12/10 - 12/12 Stayed at Royal Pacific Resort Club level 7th floor.
Boy, people are way off when they compare Royal Pacific to Disney's Polynesian. We stayed at Polynesian in May. Royal Pacific is so much more elegant and beautiful! The lobby is spacious. The rooms, common hallways, and public areas are clean, bright and beautiful decorated with Asian touches. Polynesian is rustic and has a musty look. I feel like I am getting my money's worth for a room rate of over $200 at Royal Pacific vs. Polynesian. The pathway to the water taxi is lined with unique and cool pieces of Asian sculptures. I like the elaborate wall carvings just before you reach Tchoup Chop restaurant. The pool looked very inviting and fun for kids and adult.
Our King room was very clean. No spots on the carpet. Robes lying on the sofa. A nice long pillow roll accented the beautifully made bed. The complimentary bath products were a nice quality. The towels were fluffy, thick and had a pretty Loews logo. Our room had a very large picturesque window. The room colors of deep red, black and gold were very Asian and peaceful. The beds felt less lumpy than Disney beds. The room doors were heavy and seem to slam less loudly than Disney's.
The RPR club was unbelievable compared to Beach Club Concierge room. You walk in the RPR club lounge and see so many tables, sofas, coffee tables, arm chairs that invite you to eat, chat, relax, and be merry. At the Beach Club, it was constantly busy and guest were jockeying for a table. People were carrying trays of food and soda back to their rooms. There were two large T.V. on either end of the lounge area with coffee tables and sofa. At least 6 to 8 tables that sat groups of 4. At least another 6 tables that sat 2 or 3 guests. Two areas that had a coffee table surrounded by sofas. A desk with a desktop computer and printer for guest use (no charge).
The food offerings were very nice. At breakfast, they had hot cinnamon buns, big bagels (like Noah's vs. Beach Club served smaller ones that you buy from a chain supermarket), 4-6 different kinds of danishes, croissants, a beautifully arranged platter of different fruits (mangoes, 3 melons, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, pineapples, kiwi, and grapes), individual paper bowls of cereal that you can pour the milk into and eat from (4-6 different kinds of cereal), basket of apples/oranges/bananas, fresh squeezed orange juice, and individual bottles of water. In the afternoon, they put out individual bags of ruffle potato chips and small bottle sodas of Diet Coke, Coke, and Spite. Oh, also small glass bottles of Perrier water. In the evening from 5-7pm, they offer one hot item like egg rolls one night and deep fried dumplings on another night with spicy sweet & sour sauce. Plus, chicken & cucumber salad, chips & salsa/guacamole/sour cream, crackers & 4 different kinds of cheese, and I think another fruit platter. From 8-10pm, they offer tasty cookies, 2 different kinds of fancy cheesecakes, and little pastries. They had sodas out as well as alcohol that the girls behind the desk will pour for you.
The concierge staff were helpful and offered to help me call to reserve dinner. They had a fancy book with the menus of on-site restaurants as well as nearby restaurants. The book was located on top of the concierge counter area with a bowl of candy. The staff were friendly and always greeted us when we entered. They efficiently cleaned leftover messes from guests. The food area never looked very messy or dirty. No food were left on the carpet, and the tables were never sticky (vs. Beach Club Concierge). One concierge volunteered to clean my daughter's sippy cup nightly in their dishwasher when I asked her for milk for my daughter. They also called the front desk for me to get a later check-out. They offered to help me print my SWA boarding pass when I inquired if the printer worked.
Maybe our club experience was exceptional because it was a slow period for the resort. It was wasn't crowded. No kids running down the hall screaming at the top of their lungs (we heard that every night on the Beach Club concierge level). We had lunch at the Island Dining Restaurant. It was pretty empty at 1:00pm. They accepted a $10 off coupon that I printed from the internet (this coupon was good for lunch or dinner if ordered 2 entrees).
We had a yummy dinner at Tchoup Chop. I ordered a chicken tender meal for my kids to share. They barely touched it. Instead, they fought over my appetitzer of mussels in lemongrass broth, my miso soup of mushrooms & lobster, and especially over my entree of kobe beef short ribs with beans and white rice. The short ribs were boneless and literally fell apart when you poke your fork in. It was favorful and slightly fatty so juicy and tender. We were too full to have dessert, and my young kids were getting antsy so we left without dessert. My husband had a delicious salad (he inhaled it so fast, I couldn't get a bite) and blackened grouper entree. This was a delightful meal, and I wished the Mariner Club would take kids under 4 so we can have our two kids in the Club while we ate at this restaurant. Would have been so much more enjoyable without our two young ones.
We only took the water taxis to the theme parks. Generally a 10-20 minute wait. If we got to the dock at the resort by 8:20am, the boat would be waiting or one would come around 8:30am. We generally got to either park entrance by 8:45am or slightly earlier.
It just seems as if the Royal Pacific Resort was more classy and modern looking than the Disney deluxes that we have stayed at. I did not checked out the Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Hotel so can not compare or comment.
Can't wait for our longer stay at RPR in February! Not going to mess with a fun and relaxing time by booking at another on-site resort. Maybe for our third stay in the future, we will try Portofino Resort. Thanks for reading my long-winded review.
Cynthia
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