Switched ressie from HRH to PBH...Opinions?

[Baconbit]

Okay, I thought I just typed this out and posted it, but now I can't find the thread, so if this is a duplicate, I apologize...someone please point it out to me and I will try to fix it.
DH and I will be at US/IOA in Oct. We are both of Italian heritage and originally wanted to stay at PBH because it is as close to Italy as we will get anytime soon. When we booked, there were no affordable rooms for us at the PBH so we booked a pool view, 2 queen bed room at HRH. I just called back and now there is a king bed, garden view (requested west wing) room at PBH so we switched. I am just looking for some opinions so that we can switch back as there is still time if we so choose. I know the HRH is much closer to the parks, but is the transporation from PBH that bad? Is it buses/boat or both? Is one mode of transporation better over the other? Can you walk it? We are used to the spread out world of WDW so any advice is helpful.
We will not be using concierge so the difference in the concierge service for the 2 is not a factor. Just wanting some opinions. Is there a restaurant at either one that we should definitely eat at regardless of where we stay, or something we should do at either regardless of where we stay (I have heard that you can go visit the other resorts.)? And what is all this about Dive In movies? Do you have to pay to do that? People rent cabanas? Is that a necessity? Wow, this thread got long. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[lrauers]

When you leave the parks the first hotel you come to is HRH, then PBH. The walk from PBH to HRH is short, only 10 minutes more to the parks. If you have to wait at the dock for the next ferry, it can be quicker to walk. The landscaping along the walking path is beautiful. Although we stayed at PBH, we did not eat there. We did have lunch one day at HRH, I can't remember the name of the restaurant, not the deli. The food was average and the wait staff was annoying, trying too hard to be cool. I'm just not mch for the overall atmosphere at HRH. The beach pool at PBH is great for kids, the villa pool is better for adults (and the graounds around it are gorgeous). The hillside pool is very small, but private and quiet. The RPH pool is great for little kids and their Dive-in movie is fun - they set up a large screen poolside at night so you can float while you watch. Guests at PBH, HRH and RPH can use each others pools.

 

[lrauers]

I forgot. about the cabanas. If you are going to spend ALL of your time at the pool, if you have to HAVE to have a covered area, if you HAVE to have privacy I guess it would be worth the money. Otherwise, I think it's silly.

 

[Shawn Weldon]

Baconbit,

We have stayed at both resorts mulitple times, and enjoy both for different reasons. Our first visit was to PBH and its resemblance to Portofino Italy is remarkable. It is our opinion PBH gives us the feeling that we are visiting an Italian city. It does not feel like a resort. When we leave the parks and return to the hotel its like coming home. We love sitting on the piazza at night with our family and friends, drink a little wine. The staff is very accomodating and the atmosphere is old world. Not one complaint and we have high standards. We love it! We use the boat when my feet hurt and when they don't hurt, we use the walkway which is beautiful!

HRH is great! When we stay here we like the up-beat atmosphere this resort provides. We rent a cabana every day and make it our meeting place and end the day here! Again, the staff is up-beat and accomodating. Our experiences with this resort have all been positive.

Italian flavor or Party time, the choice is yours! That is what we like about Universal. That is why we go back every year!

Shawn

 

[MrsMud]

Baconbit,

We have stayed at both resorts mulitple times, and enjoy both for different reasons. Our first visit was to PBH and its resemblance to Portofino Italy is remarkable. It is our opinion PBH gives us the feeling that we are visiting an Italian city. It does not feel like a resort. When we leave the parks and return to the hotel its like coming home. We love sitting on the piazza at night with our family and friends, drink a little wine. The staff is very accomodating and the atmosphere is old world. Not one complaint and we have high standards. We love it! We use the boat when my feet hurt and when they don't hurt, we use the walkway which is beautiful!

HRH is great! When we stay here we like the up-beat atmosphere this resort provides. We rent a cabana every day and make it our meeting place and end the day here! Again, the staff is up-beat and accomodating. Our experiences with this resort have all been positive.

Italian flavor or Party time, the choice is yours! That is what we like about Universal. That is why we go back every year!

Shawn

I am currently trying to decide between these 2, also. I have a Gardenview queen booked at PBH, but may switch to a Deluxe queen at HRH. For us, the pros to HRH are: a bigger room, closer proximity to the parks
pros to PBH are : a little cheaper, maybe nicer atmosphere? (we have stayed at HRH but never PBH so we can't compare).
Any advice? Thanks!

 

[Shawn Weldon]

MrsMud:
I did some checking on the room sizes and the rooms at PBH are larger:
PBH garden - 463 sq ft deluxe - 490 sq ft
HRH garden - 375 sq ft deluxe - 400 sq ft

Have stayed at both hotels in a deluxe room and found the bathroom at PBH is much larger than HRH, however, the living space at HRH is larger because it is not being used for the bath.

Proximity to Universal Studios is best from HRH, just short walk.

If you want to try the PBH but do not want to miss out on the fun at the HRH, I would rent a cabana at the HRH. We love the feel of the PBH but we also love the pool at the HRH. This way, you have the best of both worlds.

Shawn

 

[MrsMud]

Thanks for the quick reply!
Wait, I thought the HRH deluxe rooms were 500 sq. feet, not 400. At least that's what the Loews website says. I definitely won't make the switch if the room is smaller. Can anyone verify?

 

[Shawn Weldon]

MrsMud,

The room measurements were taken from Loews Web site. Check it out, I don't think I mixed it up. We are going in three weeks and I am soooo excited!

Shawn

 

[MrsMud]

Okay, I found where on the website you found that. Interestingly, the King Deluxe (listed just below) says 500 sq feet, as does the reservation page (for the Queen Deluxe). I called HRH to ask, and guess what he told me? 450 sq. feet! When I questioned him he said, "Well they go from 400 to 500 sq. feet, it depends on how you measure them" (what?), "and some are a little bigger than others". He went on to say that "It's not important space", meaning the extra 100 sq feet. Hello? Oh well, I quess it will be hit or miss, whatever is available at check in.

 

[Shawn Weldon]

MrsMud,

That is just crazy!! I can tell you from experience that HRH deluxe had what felt like more space in the bedroom area, because the bathroom was alot smaller than the Portofino's. We had 5 grown people in our room with a rollaway at the PBH and it was comfortable. Whereas at the HRH we had 5 people with a pull out sofa. We put a crib in a neat little area where the closet is which is seperate from the living area.

Good Luck!!

Shawn