royal pacfic big let down

[skyscanr]

Well we just got back from our 3 week vaction which had the pyal pacfic as our last stop .

I must say that after the service we got at the poly at WDW .

This hotel at the club level was a big big big let down.

While staying at the polys version of the club level we only had to ask one time for the amount of towels and such in the room ( having 3 ladys with me dw,dd,dd) . At the royal we had to keep asking and when one night when we did call down to get more towels it took over a hour to get them.

Then there was a mistake with our billing ( we had payed AAA in advance for the stay) The front desk might have well called me a lyer , telling me i was mistaken even when i showed them the paper work from AAA and our room keys with the days of our stay on them . It took over a hour for them to admit thier mistake .


Are the other lowes hotels at universal any better?

 

[Ariel07]

Wow...this is disappointing to hear. I was planning an upcoming trip (just a couple of nights) and I keep going back and forth between the Portofino (although I think this is more $$ ) and I was really leaning more to the Royal Pacific. I had actually read elsewhere that it was even better than the Poly.
Sorry to hear about your troubles there.

 

[goofy!]

Well we just got back from our 3 week vaction which had the pyal pacfic as our last stop .

I must say that after the service we got at the poly at WDW .

This hotel at the club level was a big big big let down.

While staying at the polys version of the club level we only had to ask one time for the amount of towels and such in the room ( having 3 ladys with me dw,dd,dd) . At the royal we had to keep asking and when one night when we did call down to get more towels it took over a hour to get them.

Then there was a mistake with our billing ( we had payed AAA in advance for the stay) The front desk might have well called me a lyer , telling me i was mistaken even when i showed them the paper work from AAA and our room keys with the days of our stay on them . It took over a hour for them to admit thier mistake .


Are the other lowes hotels at universal any better?

Welcome back! Sorry your stay was less than stellar.

However, it is good to keep in mind that stuff happens no matter where you are. Doesn't make your disappointment any better and isn't an excuse. But sometimes there are roadbumps no matter where we are.

While we have had fantastic stays at both the Poly concierge, Royal Pacific and Portofino, our absolute worst stay ever, in any hotel ever, out of any vacation, Disney, Universal, Hawaii, Europe, etc, was at the Poly concierge. I have gone into detail about it before here, so I will spare the details but let's just say it involved green bodily fluids on pillows where mousekeeping made the bed right over it so we didn't catch it until my then 4 year old slept on the pillow all night, prescription blisterpacks still sitting on top of the TV and a garbage can with cough syrup in it. Pretty much grossed me out to no end.

We have also had check-in problems at Royal Pacific. Haven't stayed at the Hard Rock, and haven't had a problem yet at the Portofino. But I know others here have run into annoyances at both one time or another.

When you get your survey, make sure you fill it out and let them know your disappointment. They can't fix it without knowing about it. I would even consider dropping a note to the Royal Pacific management politely telling them what happened.

And hopefully you will give Universal another try.

How was the rest of your trip?

 

[Motherfletcher]

Staying here at PBH now and having stayed at RPR and HRH recently I'd have to say that PBH rules! The one mistake they made calling and saying our room was ready when it wasn't they made up for by giving us lunch up to $45 for 2 days at the Trattoria. The Club has been busy at beer time and it seems like people are always looking at me to hurry up when I'm on one of the two computers like this but that's to be expected for the holiday. I'm loving this little surprise unplanned trip to PBH.

 

[damo]

It is disappointing when you hear about bad service. Make sure you let the manager know so that he can make sure that the service improves.

 

[micksterlee]

We just got back from the Hard Rock and everything was great no problems at all with anything important. Had a couple of minor problems like the ice machine on our floor always seemed empty and house keeping there has a bad habit of leaving carts parked in the middle ofthe hallways.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

Haven't stayed at the RPR or PB, but we've stayed lots at HRH and had very similar issues. Always, always a problem with $$$ either at check-in or check-out. We stayed there in May and had problems with not having enough supplies in our room, too (tissues & TP!).

Honestly, tho, the worst hotel stay ever, in my life, was at a WDW onsite hotel, CSR. I'm not going to go into it again, either, but our problem also involved bodily fluids. Yellow ones, not green. And I fully expect there to be a problem or two anywhere, but I don't expect the hotel management to find it acceptable that I literally lay in that problem until the morning. I couldn't get to the HRH fast enough, even with the small problems the USO hotels seem to have!

Definitely talk about this stuff on the survey. These complaints are brought up so very often on these boards. Maybe if enough of us fill out the survey indicating these common issues, something will finally be done about it.

Personally, I've given up. I gave USO hotels one final chance this past May and was really not impressed for the $$$ it cost. I go in the dead season where FOTL is totally not necessary. A condo, villa or timeshare takes care of our needs much better than a hotel room can, and the funds are paid well in advance. No problems ever at checkout. You get a closet full of about 30 towels. We stay in villas/timeshares/condos about three weeks out of every year now, and I can't remember the last time we've had to call housekeeping.

Sorry you had problems. I've learned to either lower my expectations at these theme park hotels or just stay offsite in a place that is as large as a home.

 

[swilphil]

We loved RPR, but didn't stay club level and we had plenty of towels so we didn't need extras.

I thought the rooms and overall decor of the hotel were much nicer than the Poly, plus the location to the theme parks is much better. The best part of the RP is the pool! We didn't go to the parks much because we loved hanging out at the pool.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Not trying to start an argument but I don't think it's fair to compare Poly to RPR just because they share the South Pacific theme.
RPR is the cheapest (usually) of the USO resorts. How would it compare to Disney's cheapest? Even that would be an unfair comparison b/c they're not similarly priced.

Just for the heck of it, I just checked on AAA.com to compare price of Poly vs. RPR for 2 adults midweek (9/12) for a 1 nt. stay. RPR was $167.20 and Poly was $329.
If you were looking at hotels anywhere else in the world, you wouldn't so closely compare one hotel to another that is almost double in price, and expect the same experience. So why do it in Orlando?
JMHO

 

[damo]

Not trying to start an argument but I don't think it's fair to compare Poly to RPR just because they share the South Pacific theme.
RPR is the cheapest (usually) of the USO resorts. How would it compare to Disney's cheapest? Even that would be an unfair comparison b/c they're not similarly priced.

Just for the heck of it, I just checked on AAA.com to compare price of Poly vs. RPR for 2 adults midweek (9/12) for a 1 nt. stay. RPR was $167.20 and Poly was $329.
If you were looking at hotels anywhere else in the world, you wouldn't so closely compare one hotel to another that is almost double in price, and expect the same experience. So why do it in Orlando?
JMHO

I think RPR is much nicer than the Poly and can't really be compared. It is bizarre that the Poly is so much more expensive than the RPR. We've stayed at both and would choose RPR any time.

I think they get compared because of the theme and Poly seems to be the lowest rated of the luxury hotels just as RPR is the lowest rated of the Universal deluxe hotels.

 

[keishashadow]

I'm waiting eagerly for my survey; just got back from RPR myself.

Bit of a comedy of errors:

*booked AAA rate 2 Q beds last November

*checked in around noon last Thursday & told we didn't have a room hotel was booked to capacity.

*they 'upgraded' us via what they termed a FL resident rate to a pool view room. Desk clerk assured me it contained a K bed & sofa chair. Unfortunately, it was a HC room w/K bed & a chair. Note I didn't say a sofa bed. The bathroom was approx. the same size as the sleeping area.

*tromped back to the desk to complain and was told they'd send a cot.

*went to park came back to find a huge cot, still upright squarely blocking the entry way.

*at that point went back to desk & insisted on speaking to mgr. After a long wait, an asst mgr. appeared & said they had no other room available. I suggested a club room ; magically - they found one they termed 'deluxe' facing international drive. His parting comment to me was that I was lucky to get any room since they were fully booked.

*never did get our welcome gift; when i called & inquired i was told it was because they switched us to an APH rate. Final bill was @ AAA rate. The desk clerk said I should have called again and complained

Other than the above garbage....the trip was great and we thought the resort/grounds beautiful. Certainly comparable in scope to WDW's deluxe/DVC offerings -- sans the pixie dust. I'd like to think the above stated lapse in service was an unfortunate fluke; certainly would stay again.

 

[damo]

I would be livid if I checked in at noon and they told me there would be no rooms available that day. How can that be? I can see possibly if you checked in at midnight, but noon? And then rooms miraculously turn up? I'd be visiting the manager, that's for sure. So what was going to happen to everyone checking in at 4:00?

Get the email of the manager and let him know how unhappy you are. That is unacceptable.

 

[Melanie230]

Hey Micksterlee...What floor and room were you in at the Hard Rock? Someone told my DH that the ice machine on our floor was out of ice a lot too. We were in room 6092.

 

[Cass]

Sorry the RPR Club level wasn't all you hoped it would be.

 

[keishashadow]

I would be livid if I checked in at noon and they told me there would be no rooms available that day. How can that be? I can see possibly if you checked in at midnight, but noon? And then rooms miraculously turn up? I'd be visiting the manager, that's for sure. So what was going to happen to everyone checking in at 4:00?

Get the email of the manager and let him know how unhappy you are. That is unacceptable.

not to hijack the thread (sorry to the op); i was going to be a good puppy & wait for the survey - think i shall track the RPRs email, copy my post & indicate that it's from a message board & see what transpires.

Must say I always thought that if you had a guaranteed ressie that was not only secured w/a CC but, already charged when the ressie was booked - the hotel is obligated to hold the room. Wouldn't this be 'double-dipping'?

 

[damo]

not to hijack the thread (sorry to the op); i was going to be a good puppy & wait for the survey - think i shall track the RPRs email, copy my post & indicate that it's from a message board & see what transpires.

Must say I always thought that if you had a guaranteed ressie that was not only secured w/a CC but, already charged when the ressie was booked - the hotel is obligated to hold the room. Wouldn't this be 'double-dipping'?

I would still think, no matter what, that since the mistake was theirs, they would have gone out of their way to make you happy. It seems that they really didn't care. That, to me, is absolutely unacceptable. You made the reservation in November through their reservation system and they didn't bother to let anyone know that they were overbooked? I can't believe the attitude. That is very, very poor customer service. And then to tell you that you were "lucky" to get a room? It's not like you just walked in and asked for a room, you had made reservations more than six months in advance. I'd be livid.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Wow, I cannot believe what I'm reading here. I mean, I CAN believe it. It just disheartens me.

Keisha ... if a hotel is overbooked, and you have a confirmation, aren't they obligated to put you up somewhere comparable if the hotel is sold out? Like comping you a stay at the PBH, HRH, heck, even the Doubletree until such a time as they could get you back to the hotel? I thought that was what was supposed to happen anyway. Still, you checked in plenty early and had a confirmation. If anyone were to be bumped, I would think it'd be the poor shlephead who tried to check in late into the evening. I am curious as to whether or not you paid one night deposit? Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't (luck of the draw, I guess. For our May and October stays, we were not charged a night's deposit. For our Nov/December stay, we already were.) Man, if you paid your deposit and then were threatened to be bumped with no help or apologies, boy would I have let it fly... Regardless, the way you were treated was absolutely unacceptable, and I sure hope you let someone know loud and clear.

 

[bubba's mom]

On a happier note....we stayed at RPR last week too keishashadow..... we had no problems at all. I confirmed my rate at check-in and the only "glitch" was no welcome gift waiting. (Will detail in TR, but all worked out well).... oh, and we almost switched rooms due to thermostat issues, but we "figured" it out

So, for every "problem" that occurs, someone else doesn't have any problems....we happen to be one of those families Don't fret or worry about staying at RPR....it will be fine. (Just be sure to take your confirmations like Keishashadow did )

 

[keishashadow]

Wow, I cannot believe what I'm reading here. I mean, I CAN believe it. It just disheartens me.

Keisha ... if a hotel is overbooked, and you have a confirmation, aren't they obligated to put you up somewhere comparable if the hotel is sold out? Like comping you a stay at the PBH, HRH, heck, even the Doubletree until such a time as they could get you back to the hotel? I thought that was what was supposed to happen anyway. Still, you checked in plenty early and had a confirmation. If anyone were to be bumped, I would think it'd be the poor shlephead who tried to check in late into the evening. I am curious as to whether or not you paid one night deposit? Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't (luck of the draw, I guess. For our May and October stays, we were not charged a night's deposit. For our Nov/December stay, we already were.) Man, if you paid your deposit and then were threatened to be bumped with no help or apologies, boy would I have let it fly... Regardless, the way you were treated was absolutely unacceptable, and I sure hope you let someone know loud and clear.

Indeed they charged my CC way back in Nov. for 1 night's stay.

I called the RPR yesterday & got the name/email address for what they termed 'post stay concerns' . The woman is on vacation until the 9th, I received an automated response...shall post the outcome.

Trip thus far had been so magical (see upcoming TR); i was afraid to break the good karma. Have traveled enough to take the good with the bad, upon reflection (had another issue w/2 year AP purchase) think I deserve an explanation, at the very least,as to what I think is a lapse in customer service at a deluxe resort with fantastic amenities.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

What was the issue with the two-year AP, keishashadow?

I bought the Bealls buy one, get second year free deal last year, and it's coming due this September. My mom is curious about taking advantage of the similar deals this year.

Inquiring minds what to know!