Please help a newbie out with some ?'s

[disneyinseptember]

Hi guys,
We are planning our first trip to US/IOA staying at HRH and are trying to figure out the best way to go. We are planning for the first week of January, so that leads to my first question, is it too cold to use the pool then? Never been to FL in January before... also, how are the crowds then?
Do they have any kind of a dining program like Disney?
Do they have pin trading?
Is there a reasonably priced restaurant in the hotel?
We also are going to Magic Kingdom for 1 or 2 days, so to avoid renting a car, we are considering staying at MK the first night so we can use the Disney Express from the airport, then taking a taxi to HRH and staying for 4 nights, then back to Disney for 1 night and taking Magic Express back to the airport. Does this sound like more trouble than it's worth? We have never been to US/IOA before and I'm just not sure what is the best way to go about it all. Thanks so much in advance for any advice you have for me!

 

[Sylvester McBean]

weather in January here can be all over the place, but the HRH's pool is heated. the parks have a dining program, there are reviews of it right below this post. the parks do have tons of pins and pintrading. the kitchen is good at the hard rock, but the big variety of restaurants are minutes away in citywalk. I'd take advantage of the magical express, the cab ride over to to HRH and back considering you will be there for 4 nights sounds like money well spent.

 

[JenniferW]

Pools are comfortably heated, but if it is super cold you may change your mind. I've been in Feb and Novmeber many times and i always get in, but getting out isn't as easy!

You can split your stay that way, but I am one of those who likes to move hotels the least nunber of times. January assuming it isn't a holiday weekend or around the 1st shouldn't be super busy. I would probably do the 2 days at Disney either at the beginning or the end and just pay for a shuttle, but that is just my recommendation. (I have a 3 year old so moving is a real pain!) If you are on site at Disney you can use early entry, but if you had to check out of Universal, get a taxi, check in there and then get the shuttle to the park for early entry day that would make it super early wake up time.

As for food, never have eaten in the restaurants at the hotel, but it is so close to Citiwalk that I've always picked up food on the way to the parks. There are a lot of choices there : )

Jenn