Questions about RPR Club Level + general stuff, please

[Bourquefam]

Hi everyone! I feel like I need to start this thread by saying I'm not usually so indecisive. I plan, plan, plan then chart my course of action and follow through. With this trip changing so much, so fast---few, if any, of that has happened!!!!

So....thank you all for helping me earlier this week decide which hotel to go with. I appreciated everyone's suggestions/ comments/ tips so much. I chose Portofino Bay bc of the bigger rooms and pool with slide. But, you know what----I couldn't stay away from these boards and I just kept reading and reading and gaining more and more knowledge/ wisdom/ fluff and I CHANGED MY MIND YESTERDAY! What???? I know!!!!!! I am in foreign territory and I have to admit---it feels kind of exciting! There's so many things I don't know and the mystery is killing me and making me even more excited about our trip!!!!

So, I booked Royal Pacific Club level for about + or - $50 more per night than I was paying at Portofino. I figure we'll make that up each day by eating breakfast and going to the dessert party in the club lounge. If we get up to the lounge even once for cocktail hour (I know it's actually beer/wine and $5 mixed drinks), we will most likely have our entire cost covered with that one visit!!! Oh, don't worry---we're not loud and obnoxious. We'll just chill and drink a bottle or two of wine and quietly stagger out. JK, again!!!

Okay, so what are my questions, right????? Let's see:
1. How does the valet vs. regular parking work? If they valet you when you get there, do you continue to pay the $22 per night for the duration of your trip? I'd like them to initially park our vehicle, but we are planning on staying put the rest of the trip, so....I don't know if it's worth it. How difficult is it to park yourself? Are the valets pushy or do you just tell them you're self parking and they easily back off?

2. Is there a seperate check-in for club level guests on the 7th floor or a seperate check-in line? I've read that check-in sometimes takes a LONG, LONG time?!?! I need all the perks I can get to justify my change in hotel and extra money spent to myself.

3. I've read about a bus shuttle that runs to and from one hotel to another. Is this the best way to travel if you want to visit another hotel pool? Or is the water taxi better?

4. Right now we have basic 1 park each day passes for 2 days. Should we spend the extra $ for a park to park pass? Should we do 3 days instead of ony 2?

5. On the morning we go to IOA, should we arrive a little more than one hour before park opens or even earlier than that? It seems like I read that they sometimes let you in the parks even earlier than 1 hour prior to opening???

6. Once in IOA, go to Forbidden Journey and after that go directly to Olivander's. Is that correct? I am so nervous/excited about this. I have NO idea how this is going to work? Tips/ Suggestions? Direct me to a thread w/ this information already provided, perhaps?

7. Do you all recommend the sushi restaurant onsite?

8. Is there a microwave available for use in the club lounge?

Whew! I think that's all! I thank you all for sharing your tips and info with me!!!!

Thanks!
Alice'

 

[RMulieri]

I can't answer most of your questions, but I will tell you do OLLIVANDERS FIRST..That line apparantly goes from 0 to HUGE wait within minutes

 

[Bourquefam]

I can't answer most of your questions, but I will tell you do OLLIVANDERS FIRST..That line apparantly goes from 0 to HUGE wait within minutes

Oh, thanks!!! Hey everybody else---YOU can answer just one question too. Please, please, puh-leaase with a Ollivander's wand on top!!!!!

 

[damo]

Okay, so what are my questions, right????? Let's see:
1. How does the valet vs. regular parking work? If they valet you when you get there, do you continue to pay the $22 per night for the duration of your trip? I'd like them to initially park our vehicle, but we are planning on staying put the rest of the trip, so....I don't know if it's worth it. How difficult is it to park yourself? Are the valets pushy or do you just tell them you're self parking and they easily back off?

2. Is there a seperate check-in for club level guests on the 7th floor or a seperate check-in line? I've read that check-in sometimes takes a LONG, LONG time?!?! I need all the perks I can get to justify my change in hotel and extra money spent to myself.

3. I've read about a bus shuttle that runs to and from one hotel to another. Is this the best way to travel if you want to visit another hotel pool? Or is the water taxi better?

4. Right now we have basic 1 park each day passes for 2 days. Should we spend the extra $ for a park to park pass? Should we do 3 days instead of ony 2?

5. On the morning we go to IOA, should we arrive a little more than one hour before park opens or even earlier than that? It seems like I read that they sometimes let you in the parks even earlier than 1 hour prior to opening???

6. Once in IOA, go to Forbidden Journey and after that go directly to Olivander's. Is that correct? I am so nervous/excited about this. I have NO idea how this is going to work? Tips/ Suggestions? Direct me to a thread w/ this information already provided, perhaps?

7. Do you all recommend the sushi restaurant onsite?

8. Is there a microwave available for use in the club lounge?

Whew! I think that's all! I thank you all for sharing your tips and info with me!!!!

Thanks!
Alice'

1. Yes you will continue to pay for the valet. Just park normally. There is no pushiness at the hotels.
2. No separate check-in.
3. The boat will take you to citywalk. The bus starts at one hotel, then goes to the next, then the next and then the park (near Universal). So the bus is a good way to pool hop.
4 You can upgrade to park to park once you are already there and decide.
5. Arrive around 7:30 - 7:45 for an 8 am early entry.
6. Go to Ollivander's first and then FJ.
7. Never tried the Sushi there.
8. Yes there is a microwave there.

 

[Hermione_12]

Since you are staying on site I would recommend getting the two park passes.
It's nice to be able to go to one park, head back and cool off at the pool, and then hit the other park.
If you want to do three days I say go for it!
That way you can average a park a day and then on the last you can see all of your favorites again.
When I was there last year, I got to IOA at 7:00.
They ended up opening at 7:30 on both of the days we went early.

 

[IdesOmarch]

Hi everyone! I feel like I need to start this thread by saying I'm not usually so indecisive. I plan, plan, plan then chart my course of action and follow through. With this trip changing so much, so fast---few, if any, of that has happened!!!!

So....thank you all for helping me earlier this week decide which hotel to go with. I appreciated everyone's suggestions/ comments/ tips so much. I chose Portofino Bay bc of the bigger rooms and pool with slide. But, you know what----I couldn't stay away from these boards and I just kept reading and reading and gaining more and more knowledge/ wisdom/ fluff and I CHANGED MY MIND YESTERDAY! What???? I know!!!!!! I am in foreign territory and I have to admit---it feels kind of exciting! There's so many things I don't know and the mystery is killing me and making me even more excited about our trip!!!!

So, I booked Royal Pacific Club level for about + or - $50 more per night than I was paying at Portofino. I figure we'll make that up each day by eating breakfast and going to the dessert party in the club lounge. If we get up to the lounge even once for cocktail hour (I know it's actually beer/wine and $5 mixed drinks), we will most likely have our entire cost covered with that one visit!!! Oh, don't worry---we're not loud and obnoxious. We'll just chill and drink a bottle or two of wine and quietly stagger out. JK, again!!!

Okay, so what are my questions, right????? Let's see:
1. How does the valet vs. regular parking work? If they valet you when you get there, do you continue to pay the $22 per night for the duration of your trip? I'd like them to initially park our vehicle, but we are planning on staying put the rest of the trip, so....I don't know if it's worth it. How difficult is it to park yourself? Are the valets pushy or do you just tell them you're self parking and they easily back off?

2. Is there a seperate check-in for club level guests on the 7th floor or a seperate check-in line? I've read that check-in sometimes takes a LONG, LONG time?!?! I need all the perks I can get to justify my change in hotel and extra money spent to myself.

3. I've read about a bus shuttle that runs to and from one hotel to another. Is this the best way to travel if you want to visit another hotel pool? Or is the water taxi better?

4. Right now we have basic 1 park each day passes for 2 days. Should we spend the extra $ for a park to park pass? Should we do 3 days instead of ony 2?

5. On the morning we go to IOA, should we arrive a little more than one hour before park opens or even earlier than that? It seems like I read that they sometimes let you in the parks even earlier than 1 hour prior to opening???

6. Once in IOA, go to Forbidden Journey and after that go directly to Olivander's. Is that correct? I am so nervous/excited about this. I have NO idea how this is going to work? Tips/ Suggestions? Direct me to a thread w/ this information already provided, perhaps?

7. Do you all recommend the sushi restaurant onsite?

8. Is there a microwave available for use in the club lounge?

Whew! I think that's all! I thank you all for sharing your tips and info with me!!!!

Thanks!
Alice'

I would spend the extra $ for the park to park passes, and a 3 day park hopper if this is available (not sure we usually just got the 7 day park hopper tickets that used to be $99 give or take)

Microwave should be available I believe.

Sushi restaurant is pretty good IMO.

Water taxi/boat is best way to get around the hotels IMO. No need for a bus or shuttle for that for sure, you can even walk if you wanted, but it would be a long walk to go from RP to the other 2 hotels, but can be done.

I would not waste money on the valet parking unless you have money to burn, then yes if money is no object.

General consensus that I've read (haven't done this yet) is to do Olivanders first, then FJ.

 

[jds]

Re the sushi restaurant: It's actually a section of the Orchid Lounge, and we enjoyed a relaxing, light dinner there last month. The sushi is a bit pricey, but quite good; we also had seaweed salad and edamame. Definitely a nice break from CityWalk and the parks...

 

[cajunaggie]

Thanks for asking all this. I am a bit like you-plan, plan, plan. My husband laughs but he also says he is glad he actually "relax" because he know I have everything figured out!

 

[Bourquefam]

Thanks for asking all this. I am a bit like you-plan, plan, plan. My husband laughs but he also says he is glad he actually "relax" because he know I have everything figured out!

That's funny! My husband said the SAME thing tonight!!!!

 

[camsmomE]

Hey there!

I can tell you we just got back from two days at Universal /Portofino and we took advantage of the early park opening on January 17th. The lady at the front desk said the hotel was at capacity so we should get to the gate as early as possible... we got there (2-year-old in tow and all!) at 7:30, and they let us in at 7:40. We went straight to forbidden journey and rode TWICE before the park opened to the general public. i will tell you though... Olivander's was RIDICULOUS on our walk-by (on the way to forbidden journey) at like 7:50AM. I found it amusing that the poor woman selling wands outside FJ told me she sells all the same wands and I seriously saw her approached by 2, maybe 3 people.

We loved Portofino SO MUCH that we are going back for another 2-day trip in a week. Did i mention we live in Daytona- 1 hour away- we are so pathetic! No really... we'll be back again March 14-15...

I too booked club level at RPR for our JUNE trip- I couldn't resist the perks either, so make sure to report back how much you loved it ('cause I'm sure you will!) Have a blast! oh- and get the 3 day, 2-park!!

and Lord! as many mini trips as we have planned, we'll probably see you in passing.

-Stacey

 

[Bourquefam]

Hey there!

I can tell you we just got back from two days at Universal /Portofino and we took advantage of the early park opening on January 17th. The lady at the front desk said the hotel was at capacity so we should get to the gate as early as possible... we got there (2-year-old in tow and all!) at 7:30, and they let us in at 7:40. We went straight to forbidden journey and rode TWICE before the park opened to the general public. i will tell you though... Olivander's was RIDICULOUS on our walk-by (on the way to forbidden journey) at like 7:50AM. I found it amusing that the poor woman selling wands outside FJ told me she sells all the same wands and I seriously saw her approached by 2, maybe 3 people.

We loved Portofino SO MUCH that we are going back for another 2-day trip in a week. Did i mention we live in Daytona- 1 hour away- we are so pathetic! No really... we'll be back again March 14-15...

I too booked club level at RPR for our JUNE trip- I couldn't resist the perks either, so make sure to report back how much you loved it ('cause I'm sure you will!) Have a blast! oh- and get the 3 day, 2-park!!

and Lord! as many mini trips as we have planned, we'll probably see you in passing.

-Stacey

Thanks to everyone for replying to my many, many questions!!! I think I have a good understanding now of all things RPR and am ready for WWOHP!!! A few weeks ago I had no idea what all these "letters" even stood for!!!!

Stacey, I will surely try to give you an update after our May trip!!! You do the same after your March trip, okay?

Happy Friday, everybody!!!
Alice'