To cabana or not to cabana that is the question!

[highlander447]

I will try to answer your questions if u are staying club u get a hefty discount on your Cabana I think half price so thats pretty good as for taking drinks etc in cabana its up to each person when I booked it I was told no personal coolers that was all as for stayig in it at night at HRH their is usually somr form of pool entertainment at night via a DJ playing music and organising games so it is nice to sit and chill in the Cabana watching the goings on our joining in at Movie night I suppose u can watch the movie from your cabana but do not know which cabana is better for that but I can tell u Cabanna 10 is the best more room better seating etc all Cabanas have TVs in them which is nice for some background noise if u are shading yourself everyone at pool has access to waitress but in cabanna u have a phone which u can use to order from bar etc as for tipping at the pool u are charged a 15% service charge for all purchases whether u use waitress or not so it can be pretty steep to tip waitress 15% and the bar at 15% thats a 30% increase on what u are paying for

 

[Kina]

Thanks Highlander

 

[maggiew]

OMG. I just reserved Cabana #1 at Hard Rock Hotel for Friday, Aug. 20!!! I NEVER splurge on things like this and it feels sooooo good!!!!! It was $100. I figure with all the money I have saved from these boards that I could spend this. I got a great rate at PBH ($155) and great price on tickets (5 days for $81.95) so I can splurge a little, right???

I figured it was going to be our 5th of 5 days at the Universal, so we could take it easy and relax at the pool!! This is the night of the dive-in movie, I believe.

One question I have. We are checking out of Portofino Bay that day. Can we store our things there until we leave? We won't have a rental car to load them in. We may stay offsite for this last night or have my in-laws pick us up late that night (They live in St. Pete. Beach).

Maggie

 

[AlexandNessa]

maggie, yes, the PBH will hold your luggage for you.

Everyone here seems to like the HRH cabanas, and there's lots of good info here on them.

What about the RPR cabanas? Anything special or different about them? We are two couples (30-something and 40-something), and we're all staying club level at RPR in October. Just looking for a place to relax without too much sun and hang by the pool. Hoping to sneak a few beers down from the Club Lounge and veg among good friends! We also require a bar and appetizers easily accessible. Being near a restroom wouldn't hurt either.

Do we need to book at the HRH instead to get the really good cabanas (obviously we will not be needing a themed cabana as all of us are childless. We're not even good aunts and uncles. I just found out that my only niece is 3 and not 4. Told her parents to save the birthday card I just sent her in February for next year. You know, the kiddy ones with the big cut-out "you're 4!!" Imagine my shame when, on Easter Sunday, I learned she just turned 3.)

And, I assume all the cabanas are basically the same in structure? I've seen the ones at the PBH -- can I expect the same kind of cabanas at the RPR?

P.S. Don't you think the PBH cabanas would be SSOOOOO much cooler at the Beach Pool than the Villa Pool?

Thanks for any help!

 

[AspiringCindy]

Bumping!...This thread has a lot of good info!

 

[expatscot]

Just booked #2 for August 17!! Nothing available for movie nights but still plenty mid week - might even book another day when we're there if its so good.

Thanks to everyone on the cabana threads, without them I would have known nothing about them!

 

[Michigandermom]

I just booked Cabana #1 for Friday July 30th! Can't wait!

 

[expatscot]

Your so lucky to get that for movie night at such short notice! Have a great time

 

[D&R love Disney]

I got cabana #2 for August 20th. It's our first time staying at HRH.

 

[d4est]

bumping--looking for a reply about RPR cabanas

 

[YCFAN]

Just had cabana #2 for movie night July 9. If you sit in the left hand lounge chairs your view will be obstructed a little by plants but the two right hand lounge chairs are perfect for the movie. I love the cabanas and we had one for each day we were there. It's perfect if you have little ones to get out of the sun and there's a feeling of just plain old being special when you're sitting in one. Does that make sense? All I know is this is our fourth trip to HRH and I get one everytime we go.

 

[Disbug]

What do you think? Will it be too cold to be hanging out at the pool in mid-December? HOW heated are the pools? My DD10 will swim no matter what, I am just wondering about the rest of us, LOL!

 

[bjakmom]

Disbug - you just never know about those winter days ! - we had a cabana for each of our 4 days this past January (16-19) and used them every day. Every day we were in bathing suits - it was about 70 degrees - on check out day it was much cooler and a bit drizzly, but we loved spending our last few hours after check out watching TV in the cabana, sitting in the hot tub, and enjoying our last meal in the cabana before we had to leave for the airport. IMHO, having a cabana in the cooler weather will make you more comfortable around the pool while the kids swim - you can close some of the sides. We had a large gang with 5 rooms, so it was a great place for kids, teens and adults to hang out together throughout the day and night.

 

[Disbug]

I've reserved HRH Cabana #9 for December 20 and 21st! What a nice surprise this will be for my family!

 

[bjakmom]

#9 is where we just were in August !!- awesome location - right next to the kiddie pool - close to the slide and rear hot tub - Enjoy!!

 

[SplashMom]

I have just booked cabana #1 for Friday night movie night (not for 6 months yet, Easter weekend--can you tell I am a bit obsessed with planning lol!!). Could anyone tell me if this is a good location? I have read this thread but I hadn't heard about the cabanas until this. I understand you get some soda, lounge chairs, and a TV. Do all cabanas get fruit baskets and tubes or only the themed ones? Any info on #1 would be appreciated. Since I have never been to HRH before, I have no idea about the location. There were other cabanas available but the lady who took the booking said that #1 would be great for the movie night. Our kids are older (14DD and 17DS) so the kiddy pool is not important. Thanks!

 

[highlander447]

I think all Cabanas get the tubes etc the themed ones get a free refill

 

[YCFAN]

The tubes and the re-fill on sodas for the frig come only with the themed cabanas. Fruit comes with all of them. #1 wil be great for the dive-in movie. We had #2 in July. #1 is the first cabana next to the Beach Club Bar and Grill. Every cabana also has a phone and a ceiling fan. I love the cabanas. We had one every day we were there in July. I prefer the ones over on the other side because they're near the kiddie pool and hot tub but for dive-in movie night #1 and 2 are best.

 

[smg1062]

for the ADD in me (no disrespect):

1) How far in advance should I book a cabana? (We're going for Xmas/New Years weeks)......3 months and counting.

2) Does it matter which cabana? Are there cabanas that offer more than others?

3) Is the cabana rented for a 24 hr period or pool hours?



THANKS IN ADVANCE for the tips!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve

 

[ellieb]

YCFAN- Thanks for the info on which cabana's are good for the dive in movie night. I have #2 for Friday April 15th and then #7 from 16 & 17. I actually chose themed and glad I did since it states that there is refills on drinks. We will be a party of 5 adults and 2 children so this will work out great for us.
I am really excited to get to this hotel. Now if only the ENT or AP rates would come out I would be all set