Thinking of staying @ RPR versus Disney deluxes-HELP?

[DreaminofDisney06]

Is the Royal Pacific Hotel better than the Disney Deluxes? TIA

 

[La2kw]

Is the Royal Pacific Hotel better than the Disney Deluxes? TIA

I don't know if it's better, but it's certainly as good as any of Disney's Deluxe resorts. I can tell you that AAA rates it four diamonds, whereas the only four diamond resorts at Disney are the Grand Floridian and the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts (the Beach Club Villas are three diamonds). I think Loews does a better job of running their hotels than Disney does. The overall service is much better and RPR feels very upscale as compared to some of Disney's deluxe resorts.

 

[mm6mm6]

Wow, that's an interesting question. I wonder if you're considering staying at one or the other and that begs the question of which parks are you planning on going to? I can't imagine staying at a Disney Deluxe and then not going to the WDW parks and taking advantage of EE and EMH and the transportation services.

Then again, I can't imagine staying at a Universal Resort and then not going to IOA and US.

I think the service at RPH or any of the Universal Resorts is just as good as Disney's. I think you might find a few more amenities at Disney Deluxes but when it comes to being treated right, Universal has no choice but to equal or out perform Disney's standard.

One thing I don't see discussed here is the Express vs FastPass systems. With Express, your keycard to your Universal Resort gets you into a much shorter line for VIRTUALLY EVERY RIDE at the two Universal parks. During our crowded summer visit, that meant almost instant access to rides with 1 1/2+ hour waits. Amazing.

To really show the monetary savings, a family of two adults and two kids would pay, let's say, $189 for a night's stay at the RPH. They have tickets for the parks for two days. But they can now use Express whenever they want. If they had to pay for Express (which you can do at the guest services near the entrance and I believe it's $20-$25, let's stick with just $20) that would be 4 X 20 = $80 for one day, double that to $160 for a second day and suddenly that $189 room charge is looking alot better, gee, about $29 for the room!
Because your keycards get you Express for the day you check in and the day you check out!

 

[magicmouse2]

I would only stay there of doing Universal Parks too. I have stayed at the Grand Floridian and the Royal Pacific.

Without considering there location to parks:

Pool at RPR is nicer.
Landscaping at RPR is nicer.
Theming at RPR is better. Really feels like you are in the South Pacific.

Rooms at Disney Deluxes have balconies. RPR doesnt and rooms are small like a moderate Disney resort.

You have the Disney 'Magic' which Universal just doesnt have.

You may encouter many conventions and meetings - suits with name tags whilst you are at the RPR. Weird when you are travelling in the elevator in your bikini.

Breakfast options are pricey at the RPR - sit down a la carte, or basic continental and Cinnabons in the Orchid court lounge.

Value for money ? Definately the RPR. You cant beat the perks of front of the line pass. I think Disney deluxes are way overpriced.

I have lots of RPR photos on my resort pages.

 

[damo]

The RPH is nicer than some of the Disney Deluxes. I like the rooms better than the Poly and Wilderness Lodge. It has nicer atmosphere than the Yacht and Beach Clubs but the rooms are smaller.

We've never paid anything near the price for the RPH than we have for the Disney Deluxes. We actually paid twice as much for the Wilderness Lodge and Yacht Club.

 

[webray]

We have stayed at all the disney deluxe resorts, many times, as well as many wonderful stays at Universal's Royal Pacific Resort. The service and ammenities are a notch above disney's deluxe resorts. The room decor is much much nicer. RPR is a Loews resort, a boutique hotel. The grounds are beautiful, the bars and restaurants wonderful. Not so much hit and miss like disney restaurants. You can usually count on a good meal and drink. The best part..the rooms are actually clean. Housekeeping does a much better job at universal.

 

[swilphil]

I've never been to Universal, but we're planning on going next Christmas. You've sold me on the RPH!

 

[rie'smom]

I agree with Webray- the service is soooo much better @ RPR. I also agree with damo-the price for the RPR is very good especially compared to WDW deluxe. However,it's the service that gets me everytime. After all when on vacation, I want to feel relaxed in knowing that if I have a problem it will be resolved.For example, the thermostats are motion sensitive. I HATE them. After I called the desk, in fewer than 15 minutes, the staff was there to reset it for us.Nothing like a day in the parks and returning to a cool room. Even if there are no problems, the staff @ RPR will greet me with a smile everytime they see me. Top notch.
( If you are interested in the same good service @ WDW by all means stay @ CSR.)

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I love the RPR, but it is missing some of the Disney deluxe amenities. I don't like that there is so little resort recreation at Universal. No boat rentals, bike rentals,etc. We usually split our 7-10 days stays between Disney and Universal, with Universal getting 2 nights. With FOTL, there is no reason to spend the whole day at the parks. Since there isn't much else to do at the resorts, we don't stay at Universal for more than 2 nights. I also think their fast food options are seriously lacking and expensive.

 

[stitchesmom]

We are staying at RPH - 2 nites in March - the rest of our trip will be with family at the Vistana Villages. We have stayed at the HRH and LOVED it based on these boards we are trying RPH.

When we were at the HRH we spent a day at the pool at PBH and my daughter loved the slide there. Universal allows you to pool hop between resorts.

Front of the line access can not be beat

The walk between the hotels and parks are not that bad at all. It is actually quite enjoyable.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Just this past weekend stayed at RPR for the first time and LOVED it. People amazing, beautiful rooms and decor, great food - have nothing bad to say. I would stay there again in a heartbeat and express pass worth its weight in gold. I liked it better than disney resorts and I'm a disney FANATIC.

 

[macraven]

after reading some of the threads and this one, i am trying rph for the first time in october.

all my stays have been at the hrh in the past.

i do hope rph is all that people post about.

i don't care about the surroundings or pool.

i spend the days and nights at the parks. with hhn happening, i will be at the park until it closes.

i do want to try the island dining resturant. some people have raved about their breakfast buffet.