Royal Plaza - lanai rooms?

[rosiep]

sam.diss@btinternet: Buses start running an hour before park opening. You could also use the DTD buses to get to the Poly, but I'm not sure when they start running. It was a short walk to DTD from the hotel and DTD offers several food choices. DD and I ate late one night at the Rainforest Cafe..I had expected the food to be bad...but it was very good...and the prices reasonable.

RussellDisney: In all honesty, I would still choose the Royal over a Value Resort. Just my personal preference. I think the RP will be less crowded and quieter.

 

[RussellDisney]

The restaurant doesn't sound too good and the deli/cafe sounds like limited selections. If this is the case, we will need to make sure we eat at the parks or DTD. Speaking of, how easy is it REALLY to walk to DTD? Cross any major roadways?

You mentioned housekeeping being good, which is a plus. The DW likes her hotels extra-clean!

How was the pillowtop bedding?

You also mentioned the room seemed small initially. This is the biggest thing that scares me. We booked here primarily for the larger room, instead of two connecting value rooms.

The busses sound rather limited, with not being able to go to each park when you want. This isn't a biggie, as we will no doubt drive anyway.

 

[rosiep]

The restaurant doesn't sound too good and the deli/cafe sounds like limited selections. If this is the case, we will need to make sure we eat at the parks or DTD. Speaking of, how easy is it REALLY to walk to DTD? Cross any major roadways?

You mentioned housekeeping being good, which is a plus. The DW likes her hotels extra-clean!

How was the pillowtop bedding?

You also mentioned the room seemed small initially. This is the biggest thing that scares me. We booked here primarily for the larger room, instead of two connecting value rooms.

The buses sound rather limited, with not being able to go to each park when you want. This isn't a biggie, as we will no doubt drive anyway.

Easy access to DTD, no major streets to cross until you come to DTD. DD and I walked it in the dark and we felt safe. It didn't feel far to walk at all...maybe three city blocks long.
The bedding was heavenly, plenty of pillows and comfortable. I slept well.
Food at the hotel is limited....but I usually at at the parks or in DTD...it wasn't a hardship and neither were the buses...you just needed to know it's schedule.
As for the largeness of the room, I think because everyone touts how big they are I expected a very large room...so initially I was disappointed....but after being in the room for a few days..it did seem spacious for two grown women. How many will you be? What ages? I don't think I would want 5 people in that room, but two adults and two kids would be ok...but of course there's no privacy. Two connecting rooms at a value would certainly provide that.

 

[RussellDisney]

Easy access to DTD, no major streets to cross until you come to DTD. DD and I walked it in the dark and we felt safe. It didn't feel far to walk at all...maybe three city blocks long.
The bedding was heavenly, plenty of pillows and comfortable. I slept well.
Food at the hotel is limited....but I usually at at the parks or in DTD...it wasn't a hardship and neither were the buses...you just needed to know it's schedule.
As for the largeness of the room, I think because everyone touts how big they are I expected a very large room...so initially I was disappointed....but after being in the room for a few days..it did seem spacious for two grown women. How many will you be? What ages? I don't think I would want 5 people in that room, but two adults and two kids would be ok...but of course there's no privacy. Two connecting rooms at a value would certainly provide that.

There will be 2 adults and 2 kids, ages 6 and 4, in one room, 2 adults in the other. We would like some privacy from the kids, especially after they go to sleep so we could at least watch TV.

The kids are somewhat picky eaters. I remember the ASMo foodcourt had a decent variety 2 years ago.

As this is very likely a "once in a lifetime" trip for our friends, I just may bite the bullet and stay at ASMo. The atmosphere will be nicer, food choices better and DW and I will have privacy. By paying for 3 rooms instead of 2, our next trip to the World will be 2009 instead of next year. But you know, if this is the worst thing that happens to us next year I will consider myself VERY blessed!!

Thanks again rosiep for all your help!

 

[sam.diss@btinternet.]

Thanks rosie, maybe on that first morning we will drive to Mk and get the monorail from there. Glad to hear DTD is close enough to walk as its always nice to have the odd glass of wine in the evening with your meal and leave the car at the hotel

 

[rosiep]

Thanks rosie, maybe on that first morning we will drive to Mk and get the monorail from there. Glad to hear DTD is close enough to walk as its always nice to have the odd glass of wine in the evening with your meal and leave the car at the hotel

This was the first year DD was old enough to drink. I'm not a big drinker, but she had fun trying different wines with dinner. If she liked it, she asked the waiter to write it's name down for her. It was a surreal experience for me realizing she's an adult now. On the plus side..it was nice when she treated me to dinner!
As a side note..we walked to DTD but rode the bus back. The buses run till 2am...

 

[rosiep]

There will be 2 adults and 2 kids, ages 6 and 4, in one room, 2 adults in the other. We would like some privacy from the kids, especially after they go to sleep so we could at least watch TV.

The kids are somewhat picky eaters. I remember the ASMo foodcourt had a decent variety 2 years ago.

As this is very likely a "once in a lifetime" trip for our friends, I just may bite the bullet and stay at ASMo. The atmosphere will be nicer, food choices better and DW and I will have privacy. By paying for 3 rooms instead of 2, our next trip to the World will be 2009 instead of next year. But you know, if this is the worst thing that happens to us next year I will consider myself VERY blessed!!

Thanks again rosiep for all your help!

I think you'll like that better too. Please take pictures for me...I'm always interested in the other resorts. We had tea at the Grand Floridian...georgeous but so out of my price range...and we used the spa at the Coronado Springs...within my price range and lovely...I've got my eye on that place for 2009! They are the only moderate that offers room service...and I do love room service.

 

[lucyanna girl]

DD and I have stayed at the Hotel Royal Plaza three different times (so it obviously isn't too bad) and on Disney property at least six times, but if I were taking someone on a once in a lifetime trip I would definitely stay on property. We only stay there when I cannot get a room at a moderate on property because we decide at the last minute to go or if a super good rate comes along that lets us stay several extra days.

Our last trip there the hotel discontinued valet parking with no warning right in the middle of our trip. Not a big deal for most people but it was a big draw for us as DD and I often travel alone. Coming in from the parks late and having to park in the outer parking spaces is a little scary for a mom and teen alone at night. I was very disappointed and I'm not sure if we will ever stay there again. Like I said, it may not matter to many people but does to us. I don't mind tipping or paying a valet fee for the peace of mind when I travel with my DD.

We were at the HRP in May of this year. Usually we stay in a deluxe tower room but on one occasion we were put in a pool room for the first night. It is smaller than the tower rooms, especially the bathroom.

The bus system beats no bus system at all but is light years behind the Disney on property one.

I hope this helps. Wherever you stay I'm sure you will have a great trip.

Penny

 

[sam.diss@btinternet.]

This was the first year DD was old enough to drink. I'm not a big drinker, but she had fun trying different wines with dinner. If she liked it, she asked the waiter to write it's name down for her. It was a surreal experience for me realizing she's an adult now. On the plus side..it was nice when she treated me to dinner!

I will look forward to this! My daughters are only 10 and 8 but the years are going by so fast I know it wont be long till they are grown up and buying me dinner I like the idea of getting the bus back I didn't realise they ran that late, not that we would ever be able to stay awake past ten at the most, especially with being at the parks all day.

Thanks Penny for your insight, we have thought about changing to an onsite value hotel a few times but just liked the location of HRP as we can go to lots of different restaurants without being limited to the Disney ones.but every now again I start thinking about changing as I know our DD's would love it.

 

[RussellDisney]

lucyanna girl: You say the pool rooms are a little smaller than the tower, huh? Well that just about settles it for me, looks like it will be ASMo! We initially booked RP for the larger room and while even the pool rooms are no doubt bigger than the values, it's not going to be worth it.

This is the first time I've ever really participated in a chatroom, dicussion board, what-ever-you-call-it. I have lurked, but never really joined in and thought many times these things were quite silly! But you know, this one topic alone has really made a huge difference for our trip - and other threads here have given me lots of good advice, too!

Thanks again rosiep, you're the best! If I can figure out how to post pics here, I'll certainly put up plenty from our trip.

 

[sam.diss@btinternet.]

lucyanna girl:
This is the first time I've ever really participated in a chatroom, dicussion board, what-ever-you-call-it. I have lurked, but never really joined in and thought many times these things were quite silly! But you know, this one topic alone has really made a huge difference for our trip - and other threads here have given me lots of good advice, too!

.

I totally agree, this site has really helped us make lots of decisions for our trip and hopefully helped us avoid any big mistakes.You spend alot of money on your holidays and look forward to them for ages (well i do ) so anything that helps you get it right has got to be good.

 

[rosiep]

I'm so glad that you are both utilizing all the information available. The biggest thing to take into consideration when reading all these threads is that everyone has their own unique idea of what constitutes "good" and "bad". Some people rate places to stay on price, some on distance and others on cleanliness....it's really a matter of personal preference. What's so great about staying on the boards is you'll get a feel of the places based on not just one experience, but many...and you can usually decipher "why" a person liked or disliked a place and if their "tastes" jive with your own.

Disney is wonderful, magical AND expensive! it's worth every second to do your homework and plan the best vacation for yourself that you can!

I hope you all have a great trip!

 

[lucyanna girl]

Glad to be of help to you. I know I have learned so much about Disney that I would never have discovered on my own.

I asked DD this afternoon if I was remembering correctly about the pool rooms being smaller than the tower rooms and she agreed they were noticeably smaller. The bathrooms are also just tiny regular bathrooms, not big bathroom with an oversize tub like the tower rooms have.

We have never stayed in a value, just moderates. I can tell you rooms at Caribbean Beach seem to be a little larger than Port Orleans French Quarter or Riverside. We have not stayed at Coronado Springs yet - it's next on my list.

I'm sure you will have a great time where ever you end up. We never seem to do anything much other than sleep, bath and change in our rooms anyway.

Penny

 

[rosiep]

.

We have never stayed in a value, just moderates. I can tell you rooms at Caribbean Beach seem to be a little larger than Port Orleans French Quarter or Riverside. We have not stayed at Coronado Springs yet - it's next on my list.



Penny

Oh, me too! I learned too late that this is the only moderate to offer real room service...not just pizza. DD and I visited there to use the spa facilities..It's the only place that has a tanning bed! ($10). I didn't use it, but the place looked lovely.