Drive up from Ft Lauderdale was quick and uneventful. Only complaint was the lack of decent radio stations along the way. Glad for CD's. Checkin also went quick and easy. No lines at regular check-in, so did not need to use Loews First line. Although, did find it this time. Got my room request - 1733. And it was ready upon check-in. Wonderful view of IOA. Kids really liked that. It was at the end of the hall. Last room before the stairs. Most of the time, very quiet. Stairs came in handy for quick trips to IOA. Cut down on time walking over to the boat at other end of RPR. Just down the stairs and along the walking path. Used the boat for trips to US and CW - kids liked the boat. Boat attendant George (ex fighter pilot) had lots of jokes. Kids stumped him on their jokes and he intended to add their jokes to his routine. First ride - Mummy - of course. Had not gone up for early opening, so was chomping at the bit to see this new ride after reading all the posts about it. After such a build up, was actually disappointed. Too short, not enough sights. Dont get me wrong. I thought the ride was really cool and I handled the coaster part really well (I am not a coaster person - get queezy on Dueling Dragons). I just thought there could be a lot more to the ride. Certainly, they could beef up the beetle area. Some air drafts to the legs could simulate beetles attacking. And I had heard that the mummy's minions would jump on your car. They popped up, but did not come too close to the car. The backwards run was great, especially the drop. The FOTL helped, although it usually ran about 20 minutes. Better than the hour posted for the regular line. After Mummy, we looped MIB a few times. The four of us really battle for high score. I always win - muh ha ha. This time around, my son got picked for the weather man. He really liked that. The last three trips, I had been picked as the stunt man to be dropped from the rafters. So, my oldest son was always complaining he never got picked. (By the way, I am trying to get him a floating card like the one sold by the magician vendor if anyone knows where they can be located on the web. We could not find the magician the last two days of our stay and I had told my son we'd get the floating card at the end of our trip)
The RPR was nice and quiet - as usual. Very relaxing. This trip, we did not eat at any of the hotel restaurants, but from prior trips, I can vouch for all of 'em, especially Tchoup Chop. You have to try the chef's bar. Great meal. Great entertainment (they cook for you right infront of where you sit). We did eat at HRH's The Kitchen. They have a wonderful selection and great food. I got the chicken chorizo quesadilla. It was fantastic. My wife got the crabcakes and said they were as good as she had ever eaten. The kids' buffet was much better than at RPR. The deserts (off the menu - not the kids buffet) were killer. I got the apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. My wife got the smores - and she was in heaven. Absolutely to die for. Most of our meals were at City Walk or offsite (we met up with friends staying off site quite a number of times). We ate at Bob Marley's one night. Got there before the crowds, around 6:30. Live entertainment - steel drum player. I got a Caribbean Calamity to start. Great drink. Then, a cheese fondue that we all really enjoyed. Tangy but not too spicey for the kids. It had bread, grapes, flat bread and assorted vegetables to dip. For dinner, we had meat and vegetable patties. Very tasty. Buffalo Soldier wings - the sauce was very spicey but very good. And my wife got the curry chicken and loved it. Also ate at Richters Burgers one day (over by Earthquake). Make your own burger style where you get your own lettuce, onions, tomatoes and pickles from a bar area. Decent burgers but nothing to run back to. Mostly - kids were starving and it was close by.
Once again, found the FOTL to be the only way to go. Although with better planning would go back to Portofino if go with the kids (2 boys 8 and 12). the rooms are bigger and the bathroom set up is much better than at RPR. Although, I heard the deluxe rooms at HRH could also work. But, they were sold out when I checked.
Any questions, just send me an email "Jsgrossman@earthlink.net"
The RPR was nice and quiet - as usual. Very relaxing. This trip, we did not eat at any of the hotel restaurants, but from prior trips, I can vouch for all of 'em, especially Tchoup Chop. You have to try the chef's bar. Great meal. Great entertainment (they cook for you right infront of where you sit). We did eat at HRH's The Kitchen. They have a wonderful selection and great food. I got the chicken chorizo quesadilla. It was fantastic. My wife got the crabcakes and said they were as good as she had ever eaten. The kids' buffet was much better than at RPR. The deserts (off the menu - not the kids buffet) were killer. I got the apple pie with cinnamon ice cream. My wife got the smores - and she was in heaven. Absolutely to die for. Most of our meals were at City Walk or offsite (we met up with friends staying off site quite a number of times). We ate at Bob Marley's one night. Got there before the crowds, around 6:30. Live entertainment - steel drum player. I got a Caribbean Calamity to start. Great drink. Then, a cheese fondue that we all really enjoyed. Tangy but not too spicey for the kids. It had bread, grapes, flat bread and assorted vegetables to dip. For dinner, we had meat and vegetable patties. Very tasty. Buffalo Soldier wings - the sauce was very spicey but very good. And my wife got the curry chicken and loved it. Also ate at Richters Burgers one day (over by Earthquake). Make your own burger style where you get your own lettuce, onions, tomatoes and pickles from a bar area. Decent burgers but nothing to run back to. Mostly - kids were starving and it was close by.
Once again, found the FOTL to be the only way to go. Although with better planning would go back to Portofino if go with the kids (2 boys 8 and 12). the rooms are bigger and the bathroom set up is much better than at RPR. Although, I heard the deluxe rooms at HRH could also work. But, they were sold out when I checked.
Any questions, just send me an email "Jsgrossman@earthlink.net"
