RPR Report

linco711

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 17, 2004
Messages
976
Just back from the RPR, over the Presidents Day weekend. We paid $320.00 per night for a standard room. I was disappointed in the room for the price that we paid. It was very overpriced!! It was not as nice as some of the Holiday Inns we have stayed at.....and I must say at a much lower cost! :( The room really needed updating. That being said, you can't beat the fol access, or the location. The grounds were very nice, and the service was excellent. The room just didn't have a luxurious feel to it......just wasn't anything special. Would I do it again??? I'm not sure.....I might have to pay a little more and try one of the other onsite hotels, hoping they were in better condition.....Just wanted to give my opinion.......... :crazy2:
 
$320? Ouch! You need to spend a little time reading the Universal Hotels rate threads. I've never paid half that for a room at RPR.
Glad you liked FOTL!
 
Yes, I am well aware that I paid a premium price. I booked kind of last minute, about a month in advance, and it was a holiday weekend with Mardi Gra.........I checked many different discount sources.........not a novice at this........my only complaint was that the room was average at best.........I would gladly pay that rate again if I had to, but would like more for the money.........
 
We’ve stayed at all 3 Universal Hotels and most of the WDW deluxe and moderates. The first on-site at Universal (PBH) got us hooked on FOTL. We stayed at the other resorts out of curiosity. After that we usually only concentrated on cost as the factor to get us FOTL. RPR in most cases was the cheapest. We quickly found our favorite location in the hotel which is 1729 in Tower 1 with an awesome view of the Hulk, the rest of IOA and HRH. We have always found RPR to be clean, in good repair, good quietness of rooms, a prime location, nicely themed, well designed room layout (except for the handicap accessible rooms), good check-in efficiency, great amenities and recreation, adequate self-parking, huge pool, nice fitness center with dreamy co-ed whirlpool, superb restaurant in Tchoup Chop, bountiful breakfast buffet at the Islands, efficient shuttle service with both the boats and buses, and acceptable distance to the guest rooms from other hotel destinations. I don’t like the small tub or the one sink in the bathroom but have found a way to get around that by using the fitness center locker rooms and that way everyone can get ready at the same time as well. The room size is small at 335 square feet but it is the same as Animal Kingdom Lodge and the dark carved wooden appointments are very similar. Service at RPR is excellent from check-in to housekeeping to engineering we have always received the best service. Now that we’ve been there a few times we always are given a king suite which is more than enough room with the separate bedroom.
That said, our next stay is going to be PBH and surprisingly they had the best rates ($209 APH). PBH is one of the best hotels in the United States. At 463 square feet for an average room they are one of the biggest in the industry and impressive, luxurious and stylish.
The bathrooms are heaven with twin marble sinks, Italian tile, a tub that screams “take a bubble bath here”, the little ceramic vase with fresh flowers, the movable lighted make up mirror, the doublewide mirror framed with hand painted tiles, the nice wooden bathroom scale, the soaps, lotions, shampoo, conditioner, cotton balls, q-tips, shoe shine pad, and sewing kit. The deluxe rooms have a separate shower and a louvered window over the tub into the bedroom. The beds are sensational with duvet covers, white goose down duvet inserts, extra large bolster pillows, both comfy and high off the ground.
We are extremely lucky to be able to upgrade in advance to a Villa Suite that has 1,135 square feet with the deluxe two queen bedroom and adjoining parlor with entertainment center, TV, DVD, CD, fax, 3 phones, study off the foyer, an extra bathroom with shower, pullout sofa, 2 easy chairs, 8-person dining table, large granite coffee table, a service kitchen, and 2 balconies overlooking the reproduction of Portofino, Italy’s bay with details including the fishing boats. Turndown service is included where they replace towels, empty trash, tidy up the room, turn down the bed, fluff the pillows and leave a little trinket. Access to the 3,500 square foot Club Lounge is included with complimentary sodas, coffee and water all day, continental breakfast, evening hors d oeuvres, beer, wine, and late night milk and cookies.
So I’d have to recommend trying PBH! :thumbsup2
 

:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:
You have me scared. We are staying club level in June. Did we choose wrong? :confused3

I do agree with motherfletcher, the PBH is fantastic!!! :thumbsup2 We stayed June '04 and had a deluxe room with a patio looking out on the bachii ball court and then I got access to the club lounge and we had a fantastic time! I couldn't think of a bad thing to say about the place. I am hoping for the same kind of thing at RPR. I know the room will be small but I know that going in. I'm now worried it is run down like you said and not beautiful and peaceful like everyone is saying.

mother, tell me linco is loco (just kidding, it sounded good :teeth: ) and the RPR is fantastic from the inside to the outside and that we'll really enjoy it or is it just another puffed up holiday inn? :crazy2:

Thanks, YO
 
RPR rooms are not that small....just crowded with large wooden furniture. Beautiful asian themed furniture. The resort is in no way run down in any part that I saw, the only down part was the man made beach...it was sort of mucky and full of weeds and flies. But with the huge pool and jacuzzis you do not really need the beach area to relax. the bars and resturants are top notch, and the staff cannot do enough to help. Room service was prompt and anything you need can and will be found for you.
 
coachyo said:
:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:
mother, tell me linco is loco (just kidding, it sounded good :teeth: ) and the RPR is fantastic from the inside to the outside and that we'll really enjoy it or is it just another puffed up holiday inn? :crazy2:

Thanks, YO

RPR is fantastic. We are always upgraded to a king suite and if you can get the pool view king suite on club level you will be very happy.
During one of our many hurricanes we had to evacuate and our emergency escape destination has always been Orlando. We had to take our 2 dogs since they were warning that flood surge was going to swallow my house. RPR was packed and with the dogs we couldn't get an upgrade to a king suite. After 4 days the room did seem tight with the 4 of us, our livestock and all of our stuff that we didn't want blown away or soaked. The second day the parks were closed, the pool was closed and we were stuck in the hotel. My escape was the fitness center's whirlpool which I did every morning at 6 and never saw another person. There was always some place to go and forget about if your house would still be there when you got home. RPR staff was very understanding too. Even in a "pet" room I didn't notice any wear or tear. We moved to the HRH for a night before returning home and that was a little bigger, a nicer view (the dogs loved it because the windows were lower and they could see the pool) and a nice change of pace.
I can't lie though, we have stayed on the top floor of the Holiday Inn on International and had a great view of RPR and IOA and the room was nearly twice as big and had a fridge and microwave. We stayed at a La Quinta on 192 that was the same size for $29/night.
If I paid $320 I would expect a Club room at the Ritz.
 
Motherfletcher said:
RPR is fantastic. We are always upgraded to a king suite and if you can get the pool view king suite on club level you will be very happy.
During one of our many hurricanes we had to evacuate and our emergency escape destination has always been Orlando. We had to take our 2 dogs since they were warning that flood surge was going to swallow my house. RPR was packed and with the dogs we couldn't get an upgrade to a king suite. After 4 days the room did seem tight with the 4 of us, our livestock and all of our stuff that we didn't want blown away or soaked. The second day the parks were closed, the pool was closed and we were stuck in the hotel. My escape was the fitness center's whirlpool which I did every morning at 6 and never saw another person. There was always some place to go and forget about if your house would still be there when you got home. RPR staff was very understanding too. Even in a "pet" room I didn't notice any wear or tear. We moved to the HRH for a night before returning home and that was a little bigger, a nicer view (the dogs loved it because the windows were lower and they could see the pool) and a nice change of pace.
I can't lie though, we have stayed on the top floor of the Holiday Inn on International and had a great view of RPR and IOA and the room was nearly twice as big and had a fridge and microwave. We stayed at a La Quinta on 192 that was the same size for $29/night.
If I paid $320 I would expect a Club room at the Ritz.

MF, did you do anything special to get the king suite upgrade? DS and I are going down on the 12th. We have the water view room booked with APH rate. We are platinum members and I would love the king suite upgrade. Any suggestions?
 
I showed them my Platinum card and asked to talk to Eric Moller who has since been replaced. But the name drop and the plat were enough. I booked with APH.
 
So you just laid your card on the reservations desk and asked if there were any upgrades available? Did you have a king room booked or a queen?
 
Damo--If you book at the AAA (CAA) rate, reservations will upgrade you if you tell them you are platinum. The other thing you can do is call the hotel now and ask to be upgraded. Last time I stayed the woman in charge of the Loews First program was Yasmin.

The first time I stayed RPR, I had a room request for a standard room, and it was honored. The second time I requested the same room, and my request was not honored because I was informed at check in that I had been upgraded to a King Suite. The third time I reserved a standard room at RPR, Yasmin called a few days in advance of my stay asking if I would "mind" being assigned a King Suite instead of my requested room! For my upcoming RPR stay, I asked reservations if an upgrade was available when I booked and they said as long as I booked at the AAA rate instead of the AP rate, they could do the upgrade from a standard room to a King Suite. The funny thing is, the AAA rate is $183 and the AP rate is $203!

Good luck getting the upgrade. As long as you are not looking for a king suite on club it should not be a problem. DS and I went back in August, and it was great having the separate room. I took the bedroom and DS crashed on the pullout. Worked out very well.
 
IMGONNABE40! said:
Damo--If you book at the AAA (CAA) rate, reservations will upgrade you if you tell them you are platinum. The other thing you can do is call the hotel now and ask to be upgraded. Last time I stayed the woman in charge of the Loews First program was Yasmin.

The first time I stayed RPR, I had a room request for a standard room, and it was honored. The second time I requested the same room, and my request was not honored because I was informed at check in that I had been upgraded to a King Suite. The third time I reserved a standard room at RPR, Yasmin called a few days in advance of my stay asking if I would "mind" being assigned a King Suite instead of my requested room! For my upcoming RPR stay, I asked reservations if an upgrade was available when I booked and they said as long as I booked at the AAA rate instead of the AP rate, they could do the upgrade from a standard room to a King Suite. The funny thing is, the AAA rate is $183 and the AP rate is $203!

Good luck getting the upgrade. As long as you are not looking for a king suite on club it should not be a problem. DS and I went back in August, and it was great having the separate room. I took the bedroom and DS crashed on the pullout. Worked out very well.

The AAA rates are $60 more. I keep checking but the AAA rates aren't dropping. If they were close, I would just switch my reservation. Did you call the reservations number and give your request or did you call the hotel and ask to speak to somone in particular?
 
I told them that we stay there all the time and even though we booked 2 queens standard APH I'd like to request an upgrade. They have said "How about a water view?" and I answer with, "I was hoping for a king suite." If there is any hesitation I asked to see Eric who is now Yasmin? and they have always honored my request. They even send up the Loew's 1st amenity and give us turndown service. This not only has worked for me but RyGuy as well. They have asked if I wanted to pay for the upgrade and I say that since I'm plat that I'd request the complimentary upgrade. If you get it and want to go a step further you should ask for water view on an upper floor of Tower 3. You can see IOA from those suites.
 
Damo--in that case I would call the hotel directly and request the upgrade. I have found RPR to be very accomodating about such things. I know that I have been upgraded in past when using the AP rate. In fact, that was the rate I had when I was called back in August about the upgrade.
 
Thanks guys!!! I will give the hotel a call. It can't hurt. Especially since we won't get to the hotel until about 8 pm and all the upgrades may be gone.
 
I paid about that for Club level the Sat night of Pres weekend. I thought it was OK for that but wouldnt have paid it for a regular room.
 





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