Stayed at the RPR for 4 nights in June 13 - June 17, 2010 during the opening week of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It was my first ever experience of a Universal Orlando Hotel. I was not disappointed.
I was in Tower 3 on the 6th floor I think (cannot remember room number) and was facing across the interstate (bad view). However I only spent nighttime in the room so the view was not a problem for me personally.
Coming from London, UK, this trip cost me around £1500 ($2800?), which is very expensive considering I was only staying 4 nights. BUT, the price included a return flight from Gatwick on
Virgin Atlantic and an unlimited 14-day 2 park ticket with free unlimited Universal Express all included in the price.
My opinions of the room were very good. Very atmospheric, and nicely themed in the main room area. The bathroom was small and not anything special. I liked the flatscreen TV which has numerous channels.
The room was clean and well upkept. I had replacements of the free water and cookies twice during my 4 night stay. Room service was called on my final night to order a meal.
I had trouble phoning room service, and eventually had to go downstairs to the reception to inform somebody that I was having problems. Eventually it was sorted and my food arrived.
The man serving me the food for service kept addressing me by my name (Mr. _____) which I thought was waaaay too formal, and I didn't like the way he just came into my room and made himself at home. I would have prefered it if he gave it to me on the trolley at my door, rather than wheel it into my room and wait for me to sit down.
The personal safe in the closet is a nice addition, no problems using that.
One thing I did think of a lot was where are the fire exits? Nobody told me where they were, nor were there fire evacuation directions on the back of my door (which I thought was law in UK, maybe not in US).
I did not use the swimming pool but it looked amazing. Again, very nicely themed. The restaurants looked very good too, perhaps a little 1990s, but still very nicely themed to the Hawaiian, Fijian Island legend.
The walkway from the hotel to the park is astounding. I videoed the whole journey while walking on my handicam. Beautiful gardens and water.
The staff at RPR were a pleasure, from the bag handling guys, to the guy at Reception, and even an old lady in the hotel giftshop who who was very friendly and talkative when I went to buy some Coke and Lay's.
On my day of departure, my Mears shuttle was not picking me up until 3pm, so I was not going to waste a halfday of more Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I effectively checked out of my room and was allowed to leave my bags with the baggage handlers, while I went back to the parks. I was even offered a free complimentary shower at the hotel gym when I got back from the parks before my journey to the airport (great touch).
I would recommend RPR to everybody. There are evidences that it is a 4 star hotel (as opposed to a 5 star hotel), but it is the cheapest onsite hotel, and nowadays with WWoHP I feel you really do need to stay onsite (if you can afford it) to get the maximum benefits such as Unlimited Express and the extra hour in the morning. In that regard RPR gives you absolutely everything for a week or so onsite.
