US expert? I need your help...

[niklynn1]

I consider myself pretty good when it comes to planning Disney vacas, but US is new to me. I am late in the game with my planning this year, but getting very close to booking a US/IOA trip for July. I have some questions though, so if there's anyone out there who can help, I'd much appreciate it!

1. I know FOTL express pass comes with on-site rooms, but does this also include early entry in the mornings? I've seen this mentioned on the Universal site in regards to WWoHP packages, but if I just get a regular room at RPH or HRH, do we also get early entry? Trying to figure out how to manage those Harry Potter crowds.

2. Are we allowed to pool hop b/t all 3 hotels? If so, what is the distance between them and is it really feasible?

3. Does the hotel provide a shuttle to Sea World? Is there a cost?

4. What is the on-site dining like? Is it family-friendly and cost effective? We really enjoyed the food courts in Disney resorts, but I'm not seeing anything similar at RPH or HRH? Not really interested in doing fancy dining in the hot, sweaty month of July.

5. How close are the hotels to the park entrance? Is the water taxi or walking better?

Any advice anyone could give would really help! I'm on a budget and wanting to get something booked TODAY. Been researching for hours and hours over the last few days and need to make a decision.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

I consider myself pretty good when it comes to planning Disney vacas, but US is new to me. I am late in the game with my planning this year, but getting very close to booking a US/IOA trip for July. I have some questions though, so if there's anyone out there who can help, I'd much appreciate it!

1. I know FOTL express pass comes with on-site rooms, but does this also include early entry in the mornings? I've seen this mentioned on the Universal site in regards to WWoHP packages, but if I just get a regular room at RPH or HRH, do we also get early entry? Trying to figure out how to manage those Harry Potter crowds.

2. Are we allowed to pool hop b/t all 3 hotels? If so, what is the distance between them and is it really feasible?

3. Does the hotel provide a shuttle to Sea World? Is there a cost?

4. What is the on-site dining like? Is it family-friendly and cost effective? We really enjoyed the food courts in Disney resorts, but I'm not seeing anything similar at RPH or HRH? Not really interested in doing fancy dining in the hot, sweaty month of July.

5. How close are the hotels to the park entrance? Is the water taxi or walking better?

Any advice anyone could give would really help! I'm on a budget and wanting to get something booked TODAY. Been researching for hours and hours over the last few days and need to make a decision.

1. I know certain times they have the promotion to allow early entry for onsite guests. Idk if the promotion is going on right now but if you see it on the site I believe its for all onsite and not only for HP packages.

2. Yes you can pool hop. They are not too far from each other. Feasible depends how much you want to walk there.

3. Not that I know of. But I don't think so.

4. I don't think its that cost effective personally. They rly only have the fancy places like Emerils etc...They do have this mini mart type thing at RPR or HR idr which that has drinks and stuff and has an ice cream parlor inside.(Vitamin water was about $4 last I went iirc)

5. They are roughly 5-15 min walk depending on which park and which hotel you are coming from. As for which is best it mostly depends on how lucky you get and if boat shows up right when you get there.

Edit: The difference in the pools...HR and Portofino have water slides and the RPR has a kids water play area. Portofino I think would be quite a hike to hop to but HR and RPR are fairly close to each other. Tbh I never found need to hop. I think their all great in their own right.

Suggestions...If your AAA member try for that rate on hotel. If you have kids I would bring some snacks from Walmart or something as parks and hotels are not budget friendly.(However I didn't find few places at City Walk overly expensive) They have Panda Express, Moes, and BK iirc and may have a cpl more places to eat that may save you some money on eating w/o having to walk too far.

 

[Planogirl]

There are plenty of casual places to eat in and around the hotels. The 'regular' restaurant at each hotel is not fancy (even if it is expensive!) and you should find plenty of options in Citiwalk which is just a short walk or boat ride from every resort. Check out http://www.wdwinfo.com/universal/universal-resorts/index.htm to link to dining options. We ate once at Islands at RPH and it was fine. The Hard Rock has one that I think isn't exclusively buffets called The Kitchen but it's all there on the link.

When we stayed at RPH, DH and DS hopped to the Hard Rock pool and were very jazzed by it. They loved the different atmosphere and music in the water (don't ask me!) and that it was so easy to get to the other pool. You'll find that it's all pretty much right there with PBH being the furthest away. PBH is the only one that I'd bother grabbing the boat for.

 

[damo]

There is a free shuttle to SeaWorld.

 

[mjohnson96]

We stay at RPH and this year we will be there starting on June 19th for 6 nights. So some answers on your questions...

1. From what we have all heard, Onsite guests will get in either an hour or 30 minutes early. From what I understood that maybe the ones that purchased a package will get in an hour early and the others will get in 30 minutes early. We are taking one day, I think Tuesday, to do this and just focus on the WWOHP first thing with the whole family (10 going)

2. Pool hopping is encouraged. We have taken the boat and walked to the HRH so we can hang out at the pool bar there. Our DD (7) really enjoys the pool and both my DH and I love the bar area. I like the RPH better for overall experience. We have not been to the PBH but plan on going over there this year. I have seen some posts that they have some type of shuttle between the hotels but have not done that.

3. Yes they provide a shuttle, you need to make arrangements to use it when you check in since it is small and can fill up fast. I don't know if we will use it or not this year but plan on going to Sea World and Aquatica while we are there.

4. RPH has several different dining options but there is no low cost dining. Of the 3 hotels RPH has lower prices but it can get costly pretty quick. Since City Walk is just down the walkway, and to me it is like the walk from the far side of POP at WDW to the Main lobby (done it many times), there is a food court with some lower pricing options to choose from.

5. Depending on which hotel you pick. RPH is the closest to IOA and is about a 10 minute walk and HRH is closest to US. RBH is the furthest away, there are pedi cabs that will take you for tips. Last time we did end up using one, I was 6 mo pregnant and just couldn't walk anymore that day.

You might want to get in and book your room now, because of WWOHP it is getting harder to find a room at a discount, but you might be able to still. AAA is an option, I woudl check first before looking at the AP pass since the rates for the week we are going are now gone.

Have lots of fun!

 

[disneysteve]

Suggestions...If your AAA member try for that rate on hotel.

I can't seem to find a spot on the Universal site to check for an AAA rate. Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.