Thinking of trying Universal? Read this first timer’s impressions (kinda long)

[Cass]

Wow, that new room bedding is hideous! lol

I like the old ones better.

 

[damo]

Wow, that new room bedding is hideous! lol

I like the old ones better.

Haha. Ya, that's what we all said. We were hoping they would look better in person.

 

[Cass]

We were hoping they would look better in person.

Maybe,

(with the lights out and after a few drinks)

 

[Dagny]

I remember those pics!! Oh yeah, I took them, muahahahaha.

I agree, I will surely miss the old rooms I thought the dark colors were awesome. The new rooms look very "Florida-ish" to me.

 

[Dagny]

Maybe,

(with the lights out and after a few drinks)

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

We had the same experience last year when we did our first split stay first at HRH and then a 1-bdrm at BWV...DW and I both agreed that the studio room and stay at HRH was the highlight of our 3week trip. So much so that we are doing it again this year (room reserved at RPR this time) only RPR is our anchor leg this trip. The staff are first rate at HRH, hope we like RPR half as much. Thanks for the report

 

[MassMom94]

We went to Universal the first time last summer. We went against the usual advice and did our Universal days first, then Disney; worked out well for us! Stayed at the HRH. Even DH, who doesn't like theme parks, was wowed.

This year, back to the HRH for two nights, then on to Disney for five more. The only downside I see to Universal is that it costs a lot more to do a split stay between Universal/Disney than either park alone. (This is due to how the tickets are priced - not the rooms.) But hey, I have no one to blame but myself, since I'm the one who wanted to see Universal and booked it last year! I have suggested we do only Disney or Universal per trip, but that suggestion was not greeted with enthusiasm by my family members - thier reaction was more like this - So Uni/Disney, here we come back again.

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

Wow, that new room bedding is hideous! lol

I like the old ones better.

My wife just said the exact same thing as i was reading your post

 

[bubba's mom]

So glad to hear you enjoyed Universal. And you kept an open mind...didn't compare the two. That's where a lot of "Disney" people go wrong. Wonder if you'd get "flamed" if you posted this exact same post on the Disney Theme Park boards ...You are another piece of the pie proving you can love both parks Thanks for posting your review.

 

[huskies90]

So glad to hear you enjoyed Universal. And you kept an open mind...didn't compare the two. That's where a lot of "Disney" people go wrong. Wonder if you'd get "flamed" if you posted this exact same post on the Disney Theme Park boards ...You are another piece of the pie proving you can love both parks Thanks for posting your review.

I tried not to "compare" the two in my post. As much as they are similar, they are really two different animals. Like I said, nobody wanted to leave Disney. It is not like we were bored at Disney and it's not like going to Universal minimized our love for Disney. If I posted on those boards, I would state that first. But, yes, my post was directed at Disney lovers who are thinking about trying Universal. From my perspective, they are equally great resorts to visit. And you will have a great time at both.

 

[huskies90]

K...here are the pics that were posted.

I don't remember the flowers on the bedspread but everything else looks the same. That is definitely the carpet and the beds had that three pillow thing going. But I remember the beadspreads being darker and I don't think the walls were light blue either.

 

[Disneyhappy]

I don't remember the flowers on the bedspread but everything else looks the same. That is definitely the carpet and the beds had that three pillow thing going. But I remember the beadspreads being darker and I don't think the walls were light blue either.

So there is hope that the new rooms are not as hideous as Damo's pictures represent? Thank goodness, because those pictures do make the new rooms look awful! The picture of the old room gave me a sense of "home" when I saw it. All warm and fuzzy! Oops, maybe it was that Mummy Dust again!!!

 

[wicket2005]

Not that I would have the same bedding at home but I actually thought the new rooms looked more tropical and brighter with that bedding.

Thanks for posting the photos by the way.

 

[huskies90]

I just showed my wife the picture and she confirmed that is the same bedspread we had. It was folded over so that is why I don't remember it.

 

[Cass]

I used to do Universal/Disney combo trips - but now I alternate. I just seems better for us to have a universal state of mind and head there, or a Disney state of mind and head there. The are both great products

 

[breebella]

Just about every year we head to Disney. This was the first year that we split our stay. Started our trip at Disney's Coronado Springs and then headed off to Universal's Royal Pacific for our very first on-site experience. It would be hard for me to chose one over the other. I loved them both, but for different reasons. My oldest DD 14 and her friend 14 LOVED Universal. I think they rode the Mummy ride 25 times in one night. I don't think my youngest DD 5, would be able to decide because she loved them both too. You definitely get a different feel when your in Universal. Universal's hotels are top notch and we had wonderful service. You just can't beat the FOTL passes that's surely a +. The pool was huge and relaxing, just wish they were open later at night It would be nice to go for a swim after the parks closed at night. The only other thing I wish that Universal would incorporate would be a decent dining plan. I know they have that "Meal Deal" thing, but I wasn't interested. I just don't want to eat Counter Service burgers, chicken tenders and pizza all day long. Maybe someday they'll do something similar to Disney were you get one Counter Svs and one Table Svs meal, that way you could have one CS meal in the park and the other at one of the City Walk restaurants.
My family & I will definitely heading back to Universal again.

 

[wicket2005]

The only other thing I wish that Universal would incorporate would be a decent dining plan. I know they have that "Meal Deal" thing, but I wasn't interested. I just don't want to eat Counter Service burgers, chicken tenders and pizza all day long. Maybe someday they'll do something similar to Disney were you get one Counter Svs and one Table Svs meal, that way you could have one CS meal in the park and the other at one of the City Walk restaurants.

I would agree with you there, I am not interested in this food either on a day in day out basis. We loved the Royal Pacific. The only thing I thought would have been handy is a good deli, where you could have grabbed a sandwich to take back to your room. We stayed at the Rosen Centre, the last 2 years, and that had a fantastic deli shop.

 

[damo]

I would agree with you there, I am not interested in this food either on a day in day out basis. We loved the Royal Pacific. The only thing I thought would have been handy is a good deli, where you could have grabbed a sandwich to take back to your room. We stayed at the Rosen Centre, the last 2 years, and that had a fantastic deli shop.

PBH has a great deli!

 

[wicket2005]

PBH has a great deli!

Thanks I didn't know that. Is it far by boat from the Hard Rock?

 

[Cass]

Speaking of PBH, wow their Gelato - just WOW!

I'm diabetic so I can't have sugar but I couldn't resist a sample of the leche dolche when they were giving it out on little spoons to try - it was FABULOUS.

My DD loved the Peanut Butter cup flavour, and my sister the raspberry.