PBH-Help Please

[spokanemom]

We are going to stay onsite at Universal over MLK weekend next year; this will be a first for us. My 12 & 14 yo sons really wanted to try HRH, but they are booked solid on one night of the weekend (Sunday). So, our choices are the other two. I have already reserved PBH, deluxe club, as this is what we, as a family, decided. Now, I am having second thoughts.

I see a couple of threads about "PBH-Never again"! I am wondering if I could get some pro-con for both PBH & RPR. I just want to make sure that our first Universal onsite visit will not be our last.

Thank you all!

 

[keishashadow]

We are going to stay onsite at Universal over MLK weekend next year; this will be a first for us. My 12 & 14 yo sons really wanted to try HRH, but they are booked solid on one night of the weekend (Sunday). So, our choices are the other two. I have already reserved PBH, deluxe club, as this is what we, as a family, decided. Now, I am having second thoughts.

I see a couple of threads about "PBH-Never again"! I am wondering if I could get some pro-con for both PBH & RPR. I just want to make sure that our first Universal onsite visit will not be our last.

Thank you all!

have u visited trip advisor yet? more of a general tourist overview

zagat lists it near the top of the heap in MCO too

 

[spokanemom]

I have looked at both Zagat & TripAdvisor. I wanted to get some honest opinions from enthusiasts. I know that everyone has their own favorite and it is all subjective, but I was just hoping to get some first hand experience from you all, so if I have a question, I will be able to ask.

Thanks about pointing me in that direction though!

 

[re121258]

I have never stayed at RPR, so I can't give any input there. I have stayed at HRH twice which we enjoyed. We last stayed at PBH in 2004 and had a wonderful experience. So much so we are going back again this October (without kids) and are considering it for next June (with kids). We really like the quietness of the resort and thought it really captured the feel of an Italian seaside city. We thought the food at Sal's and Mama Della's was really good. We enjoyed the pools and the our room was lovely. We also don't mind walking, so the slightly longer distant to the parks wasn't an issue for us.

We are a fairly easy going family, so it takes a lot to ruin our vacation. We don't expect perfection but we do expect to get what we pay for. For us, we judge a hotel on how they react when things go wrong and as long as the problems aren't excessive we can deal. When we checked in last time, there was a delay in getting our room because of a previous guest being reluctant to leave. In the end, PBH upgraded our room to a deluxe without us asking and sent us chocolated covered strawberries and champagne. That was enough for us.

We're really looking forward to our stay in October. If after our stay we're not happy we will probably look into the HRH for next June.

I too have read the recent 'never again' threads but personally none of the issues described in them would make me change my mind about staying at PBH. I thought the hotel's responses, as described by the reviewers, were acceptable and would have been enough for me considering the issues. But that's me. You have to judge for yourself whether those issues described would ruin your vacation.

 

[damo]

I've stayed at all three several times. If it was just me, I would stay at Portofino. My son's favourite is Hard Rock and my daughter's favourite is Royal Pacific.

I've never encountered anything at any of the hotels that would stop me from staying there again. In fact, we've received the most personal attention at Portofino.

 

[minniejack]

I've never stayed at RPR, but the PBH. You will love the bigger rooms that the deluxe club level will get you. We last stayed there in '06, toilet wouldnt' flush upon arrival, but was fixed immediately by a very apologetic maintenance man.

Atmosphere is great and the food is to die for. We never found the walk to be inconvenient and our kids were 10 & 12 at time.

Pools were never crowded.

If you can call it a problem.....we wanted to upgrade to a junior suite upon arrival, but due to their authenticity of having Italian desk clerks, we thought we would be charged an extra $600 per night and therefore thought that was way too much. Of course, later found it would've been $600 total....but we didn't mind and the rooms we had were huge and spacious with a magnificent bathroom--deluxe.

The evening strolling musicians make even Pizza seem elegant.

Shops with authentic Italian wares, such as Murano glass make your whole vacation seem as if you are not in Florida but truly in Europe--great getaway from the attractions in the parks.

Staying again right after Christmas this year

 

[minniejack]

Also check out the PBH room assignments sticky--you will drool over some of the rooms. I'd love to get the one with the piano--do you think my kids would practice over vaca?

 

[spokanemom]

Thank you all for your replies. It really sets my mind at ease to hear more of the great things than the problems that others have encountered.

Portofino Bay, here we come!

 

[balto]

Just my 2 cents. Stayed at PBH and RPH many times. Like them both. PBH is a little more "formal", RPH is a little more relaxed. Both are great.
PBH does have larger rooms, but we like the pool and BULA Bar at RPH. Also like the fact that RPH has laundry rooms, because we like to pack light. We have found that the employees at each are very helpful. We also love to sit at the Thirsty Fish at night and enjoy a glass of wine(great way to end a great day at the parks.) Whichever you choose, they are great Hotels and you should really enjoy your stay.