USO - IOA Great as usual...verrrrry Disappointed at RPR & Lowes!!!!

[goofy!]

Jayster...

Come on back. We really do want to hear the rest of your trip report. Again, sorry that you had such a rough check-in. But look at it this way - you have helped many new people on these boards understand Loews Perks just a little better. Hopefully at least one person won't have to experience the frustration you did when you checked in.

 

[tlinus]

Jayster...

Come on back. We really do want to hear the rest of your trip report. Again, sorry that you had such a rough check-in. But look at it this way - you have helped many new people on these boards understand Loews Perks just a little better. Hopefully at least one person won't have to experience the frustration you did when you checked in.

I agree with ^^^

Your experience, while frustrating as all get out, will help someone else. Also, I am a trip report addict....I need more, more, MORE!!!!

 

[AlexandNessa]

yeah...she's a doll...been helpin' me


makes sense now! I couldn't understand WHY anyone would want to upgrade when you could get a great view of IOA at RPR Now it makes sense....the upgrade is to pool view...no wonder i was never excited about getting upgrade But, now that we are going to be gold after this next trip (and we don't spend a lot of time in the room AND our first stay we got a perfect view) I will definately ask for the upgrade at RPR View doesn't mean that much anymore, and I'd rather get a bigger room. So, if i book 'standard' at RPR and ask for (gold) upgrade, what do i get? King? King bed w/ pullout sofa? (I'm just used to getting the 2 beds for the 3 of us ) Thanks for posting that Jodie...you made me see the light

OK, sorry, I may have confused you more! Gold at RPR upgrades you from a standard view to a pool view at the time of booking (with a qualifying rate, of course). That's it. That's the golden bananas there. Big woop, IMHO!

The reason I say Big Woop is this: If you request a theme park view room in Tower 1 (which is billed as a standard view), and you get it, your view may be better than the "upgraded" pool view room on, say, the second floor of the hotel. Or what if you get the "upgraded" water view room in Tower 2, and that means that you see a swamp if you look out the window and lean to the left? (I am just hypothesizing here ... I can just imagine people PMing me asking "what is the water view room in Tower 2 where all you see is a swamp?!!! I want to make sure I don't get that room!") All the rooms are the same size at RPR, no matter the view. Even the Club rooms are the same size as all the other rooms.

Platinum upgrades you to a King Suite, which only accommodates 3 people. That's it.

After the King Suite, then you get into the pricey, pricey suites that we never hear much about on these boards.

So summing up rooms at RPR: whether standard view, water view, or Club, all the room sizes and layouts are the same. The only difference is if you want to book 2 Queen beds or 1 King and a couch (and go figure, I've never looked to see if the couch was a pullout, though I would assume that it is since King Bedded rooms accommodate 3).

My complaint with the RPR is that they should have Deluxe rooms available there, and they don't.

Hopefully, that makes sense. If not, just PM me!

 

[jayster]

First, before i continue with my trip report, let me clarify a few things....
1. I am and was fully aware of the Lowes benefit structure prior to my booking and going to USO. I had booked through SWA two years ago, and DID receive the Lowes benefits and upgrades under the Blue tier. As far as non-qualifying rates, the rate I paid at the time was in par with the peak hotel rate, as it was busy season. Hence, I imagine that is why I received the perks. This time around, I DID call ahead of taking my trip to confirm/verify/look into if the perks would be available due to the fact that i was traveling in an off season, and at a lower rate compared to the RPR posted rates (FYI- the rate I paid was thirteen dollars a night less than the Lowes posted rate) The Lowes person assured me they would put a note into RPR for me to receive the perks, and because my SWA package # was not a Lowes res. number, she would manually put the note in. (this inclusion was picked up by RPR 4 days into my stay) I was not being "difficult" as one poster put it, but just looking for something that I was promised. I imagine anyone else would be upset if the chain of events that took place happened to them!
Second, I was never charged the self-park charge in any of my stays before. NEVER. I looked at my ppwk from the last two trips (yes, I saved them) and the only parking charge was the three days of Valet that I paid for and was aware of. One of the rpr managers told me that they usually have charged it in the past, sometimes they didn't. I believed her.
Third- Those Portofino people that were asked to leave doomed themselves by cursing and creating a bit of a scene to the RPR employee and the other couple who went off on them. (I know I left most of that out- sorry) pool hopping is encouraged by the hotels, but when you become obnoxious and belligerent, I imagine that you will be asked to leave most any place. I was not the one who asked them to leave, it was the RPR security person who was insulted and cursed at that did.
Lastly- SWA Vacations contacted me last night (5/7) regarding my questions to them about my vacation. I asked them why they would promote RPR, HRH, and Port. as Lowes hotels with certain Lowes First perks and then not give them. I also reminded them of my package # being put into the hotel and that I was told i would receive the perks, but when I didn't RPR told me to contact SWA. a vice-versa if you will. (SWA told me when I called them to call Lowes Hotels) SWA looked into my trip two years ago and verified that the rate i paid was a high one that did in fact entitle me to the benefits, but i should have been told that i did not have a qualifying rate this time around, and would get them only at the generosity of Lowes. They wound up giving me a credit for my troubles (around 350.00) and i received full flight credit. I was very impressed by that, I didn't ask for it, and am willing to use them again if need be.

I am just upset I guess by some of the comments by the posters who become very defensive of Lowes and SWA and refer to me as "difficult" or "unreasonable" (stock holders?) I get mad only because I research the trips out very carefully, and If I am promised something,and am assured by someone that I am getting a perk or benefit I should get it. To be told that I am not qualified or inelegible for something at zero hour is frustrating and depressing.
If I was difficult, it was only because no one seemed to care at a resort that I was paying over 200 dollars a night for, and had some incompetent people working there. Reservations called me four nights into my trip (4pm) to discover that they found the note sent by Lowes First, and two minutes later there was a knock at the door and I got the beer and nuts delivery. The front desk called and asked if I wanted to be moved up to a poolview room, but I was checking out the next day. I thanked them anyway, and left it at that. I am sorry if my complaints seem misguided to some, but It was the way I reported it, and that is not going to change. Do mishaps happen to some of us...of course they do...just roll with it....and I did. I do not feel like I should have to defend my actions to anyone...I have seen people go bezerk over the silliest little thing while on vacation and they resolved their problems by stomping their feet and yelling. I didn't even come close to that.

 

[jayster]

LindaLinda- I am fully aware that upgrades are based on availability ( I mentioned that in my trip report). i also don't recall claiming to be "abused" by anyone or anything. Is calling the airline or hotel help desk trying to get answers to my questions overreacting? I dont think so. I do not speak down to people or create a "scene" by screaming and yelling, like others i saw at the hotel that morning, that will get me nowhere. It was an unfortunate chain of events that worked itself out eventually. I appreciate your honesty in posting, i just want to clear the air.

 

[AlexandNessa]

Welcome back, jayster!

I'm sorry they did not have their acts together. I am not defending Loews or the RPR or SW vacations. But, according to the rules, SW vacations is a 3rd party booking, and that shouldn't have counted at all, regardless of the rate you paid. You could pay a full rack rate anywhere (expedia, hotelkingdom, etc), and it shouldn't count unless you've booked it directly through Loews (according to the rules). You were fortunate to have it counted in the past and to find someone at Loews who was willing to make a note in your reservation. Lucky you!

I'm sure a lot of people are going to be jealous that you've never paid for parking. I'm sure you'll get a PM or 2 asking how you managed that!


How was the rest of your trip?

 

[jayster]

Had a good nights sleep even though the trip started off kind of bumpy, went to USO with our bathing suits in tow (85 degrees felt like 100) straight to Curious George. Like yesterday, although the holiday weekend ment huge crowds, the people were so cool and everyone, I mean, everyone was having a blast in the water. Even the poor soul who walked under the big dump bucket with his Blackberry Phone unaware of what it was going to happen.
Animal Planet was a hoot...If anyone goes to the show, just remember....LISTEN TO THE HOST!!! DO NOT STAND UP WHEN HE TELLS YOU TO SIT DOWN!! let's just say the poor soul from Wisconsin that had his hat knocked off three rows behind him found out what having a Hawk crash into him feels like!
I couldn't help but notice the pre-show on many rides (Jimmy Neutron, Earthquake, Shrek, Terminator) were cut a little short due to the crowds. (This actually made the ride better and more tolerable especially w/ fotl- I didnt want to be "flogged" on Shrek again!) again, the cast members at USO deserve a huge gratis due to the job they do and keeping things at a safe pace and they made you have fun in the process!!

wiped from the whole day at the park we got back just in time to see the pool movie (Shrek 2) and hit the hottub. DS was claiming not to be tired, but was sleeping on the bed before I could dig out his PJ's. I turned to point this out to my DW who was one eye open on the other bed. The bed was the most comfortable thing in the world at this point.

 

[bubba's mom]

Thanks for coming back.....what a comp from SW! for you!!!! Sounds like a fun trip except for the hotel check-in part.....

i don't think anyone here was trying to label you as difficult or unreasonable, i remember you being here and asking your questions. I think you thought you knew what was going on because of your previous experience and was under the assumption all was good . I think you "cleared the air" perfectly when you said you were just trying to get what you were promised....and i don't think SW would've comped you anything if they didn't have a feeling they boo-booed.

So, i look forward to more reports.....and thank you

 

[bubba's mom]

OK, sorry, I may have confused you more! Gold at RPR upgrades you from a standard view to a pool view at the time of booking (with a qualifying rate, of course). That's it. That's the golden bananas there. Big woop, IMHO!

The reason I say Big Woop is this: If you request a theme park view room in Tower 1 (which is billed as a standard view), and you get it, your view may be better than the "upgraded" pool view room on, say, the second floor of the hotel. Or what if you get the "upgraded" water view room in Tower 2, and that means that you see a swamp if you look out the window and lean to the left? (I am just hypothesizing here ... I can just imagine people PMing me asking "what is the water view room in Tower 2 where all you see is a swamp?!!! I want to make sure I don't get that room!") All the rooms are the same size at RPR, no matter the view. Even the Club rooms are the same size as all the other rooms.

Platinum upgrades you to a King Suite, which only accommodates 3 people. That's it.

After the King Suite, then you get into the pricey, pricey suites that we never hear much about on these boards.

So summing up rooms at RPR: whether standard view, water view, or Club, all the room sizes and layouts are the same. The only difference is if you want to book 2 Queen beds or 1 King and a couch (and go figure, I've never looked to see if the couch was a pullout, though I would assume that it is since King Bedded rooms accommodate 3).

My complaint with the RPR is that they should have Deluxe rooms available there, and they don't.

Hopefully, that makes sense. If not, just PM me!

sorry to 'hijack' you Jayster..... i guess at Gold we'll be staying at HRH more often than RPR.....if we have to wait for plat to get the king room...forget it! Guess we'll be stayin' Hard Rock!

After your explanation, i was a little less confused! thx

 

[tlinus]

sorry to 'hijack' you Jayster..... i guess at Gold we'll be staying at HRH more often than RPR.....if we have to wait for plat to get the king room...forget it! Guess we'll be stayin' Hard Rock!

After your explanation, i was a little less confused! thx

I knew you would convert!!!

We are now GOLD and Jim wants to know what that gets us!!!! I told him less than a 2 hour wait for our room to be ready!!

Jayster -

Don't you just LOVE dive in movies??!!?? What a great trip report!! Any pictures? Perhaps?

 

[bubba's mom]

I knew you would convert!!!

we stayed at HRH in Feb...i said it was 'okay' and 'we'd stay again'....but we like the feel of RPR.....no biggie! ....HOWEVER, if the upgrades are better at HRH, well then, it really is a no brainer now, is it?? (besides, i may feel differently after the RPR gets remodeled )

 

[lindalinda]

LindaLinda- I am fully aware that upgrades are based on availability ( I mentioned that in my trip report). i also don't recall claiming to be "abused" by anyone or anything. Is calling the airline or hotel help desk trying to get answers to my questions overreacting? I dont think so. I do not speak down to people or create a "scene" by screaming and yelling, like others i saw at the hotel that morning, that will get me nowhere. It was an unfortunate chain of events that worked itself out eventually. I appreciate your honesty in posting, i just want to clear the air.

Sorry I offended you. I was concerned with people thinking the wrong thing about the loews perks. And you sounded very angry so it seemed like you thought you were abused. I have had issues with with billing myself, so I certainly understand your frustration, it just seemed like you were misinformed about some things.

 

[goofy!]

Jayster -
Thanks for coming back!!!! Great trip report so far. I LOVE Southwest's customer service. Great comp they gave you. I know it doesn't help what happened at the front desk, but now you can go again on their airfare

Glad you came back and clarified. That always is the problem with internet stuff. You write something one way, and somebody (like me - sorry), interprets it a totally different way.

How were the FOTL lines on a busy weekend? (If you have already answered this on the FOTL Isn't What It Used To Be thread, please ignore as I haven't made it over there for awhile.)

Jodi - I know exactly what you mean by the Gold upgrades at RPR. When we were gold, we were offered the "pool view" upgrade. Woohoo. We ended up in a room where the tower bend, so our room was pie shaped. It was really weird with a different bathroom layout. And it was on the third level, so if we wanted to see the pool, we had to crane our necks around the palm trunks. I thought to myself at the time "I gave up my park view regular room for this???"

But now we stay at PBH for the suite upgrades - can't get them at RPR because of a family of 5 and it seems they are always booked when I call HRH.

 

[macraven]

any pics with the trip report???



who am i to talk about adding pics.......i keep forgetting to do tr...

 

[scoobysmom]

Jayster
Oh no, seems like I just booked the same Southwest Vacation as you went on.
I will call the hotel before we go to confirm a non -pet room !
I did research and this was by far the cheapest option because we waited too late and are going in the middle of the summer.
Oh well live and learn

 

[damo]

It seems that the loews first awards are being followed more stringently than they used to be now that there are more members and more visitors to the hotels. I know that a few years ago, my annual pass rate plans counted towards my loews status but they haven't done that lately.

Also, sometimes the clerk forgets to ask if you have a car to add the parking charge on. It has always been there though.

 

[macraven]

i've paid that parking fee since the 90's.
only used the car to get to the hotel and then back to the airport.
it sat the entire time.


now, i use town service. for the $ i spend on that, i still come out ahead by no parking fees.

 

[LITTLEKID58]

 

[jayster]

Day 3: Gatorland!!!!! I did not realize that Gatorland was so close to USO! (20 min drive) I also did not know the trademark "Gator Mouth" and alot of the front property was destroyed in a fire! DS and myself were sad that we could not walk into the famous Gator mouth entrance...it was under reconstruction by the fenced off parking lot area...we were hoping to get some tourist pics (we are hokey at times) but alas we got there just in time to watch a guy wrestle an aligator and then people lined up to take pics while sitting on the gators back. The whole place really is a shrine to old time tourist spots as many of its sections are still the same from many years ago. FYI: for a couple of bucks buy a pack or two of the turkey franks..drop off pieces of them into the Gator tanks and watch how fast they snap down on them...ITS WILD!...also, go into the bird sanctuary and but a cup of nectar for a dollar or so and just hold it out....the birds will land on your head, arms,shoulders and drink from the cup..it was hysterical watching DW with ten or so birds on her...she laughed until one of the little birdies gave her a parting gift on her shirt...DW said by the end of her time in the cage that if having a bird poop on you is good luck..she's on the next plane to Vegas!!! she was blessed three times!...one of the attendents inside the area helped her clean up and was great about it giving her extra toweletts and paper towels to keep clean with.
The shows were funny and informative and only ten min. or so each...so the kids keep a peaked interest in whats going on. The train ride was nice and the tower is a must do while at the park...you climb up the four or five flights of stairs and oversee the park and surrounding areas...alot of information about the birds and reptiles in the area are easy to read, and informative.
try to end the day with the nature trail walk on the far end of the park. It only takes ten minutes or so, and is very tranquil.
Back to the RPR! - pool was not too crowded, DS loves the boat deck with the water guns and the beach area. wound up going to the kids dining room for dinner, had the room to ourselves, and Scooby and Shaggy as well! DS was in awe!...watched a movie in the room and went to bed.

Day 4: IOA today! took a bike-rickshaw ride to the parks ( I personally felt bad for the guy because while my DW and DS are small in size and skinny, I am 6'2 and 265 lbs...let's just say a gave him a special extra tip for having to pedal my big butt to the park!) easy in -small lines...a family was leaving as we entered, and the nice lady gave us her rental stroller to use because they had to leave in a hurry (airport we guessed?) we offered her money and she refused, so we thanked her and left toventure into IOA. We let DS pick out first ride out and much to our suprise he chose Dudley Doo-right falls!! Ironically enough 1/2 way through the ride he was scared and wanted off...DW and I looked at him and said "you aint seen nothin yet kid!" at the same time...poor choice of words.... he had a look of horror on his face that was not about to improve as we freefell into the big slide that ends the ride. He left little hand size briuses on my waist as I pried his fingers off of me and his mother told him the ride was over, he could open his eyes now. If we could have got on the plane to fly home that very moment, DS would have cut the line to get on first...!!
Ok, time for a breather 15 min into the park! we went to Seuss-land and he relaxed a little on the new trolly ride they opened and then three back to back go rounds on the Cat in the hat ride. OK-DS..back in the game!!!
off to marvel island where Spiderman ride fotl came in soooooo handy (60 min wait otherwise) two trips on that...then picture time with all the heros...I must admit..the "handlers" for the charachter picture taking/autograph sessions must be applauded...they make it look easy as they corral a mass of people into a single line and move it along with such speed and ease that every person get the picture- autograph they want. its little things like that make USO / IOA great! back to citiwalk for dinner and a movie (Shrek 3 and Bubba Gumps) both were great...no wait at gumps and the food was superb-the movie was funny as expected. back to RpR - quick dip in the pool and beddy bye!!
Day 5: breakfast in the lobby area bar (Bula?) 26.00 for three cereals, two coffees and a bananna, bagel and milk!- a little pricey...but we were starving!!!!! hey, free refill on the coffee though! Back to USO for MIB contest (DS - DW- and I all claimed to be the ultimate champs) of course I won with a 400,000 average score...DS was bothered by this and threatened to deneurolize me...Dw has a thing for Agent K I think....Mummy, Twister, Jaws, Et (3 times), Terminator show and Shrek 4-d three more times (I swear - I could work the Shrek ride..i got the pre-show down verbatim!!!) It is still a running joke in the house ...DH>"clean your room or you'll be......." DS> "Flogged!"
Made it back to the hotel where there were police..security and people in suits by the elevator and in the hallway...Blood was splattered on the wall and broken glass by one of the rooms...I asked one of the security guards what happened and he sort of hustled us down the hall toward our room.and said "just making the hotel safer for everyone..(by staging a crime scene?????) we had most of our stuff packed and I went to put the bags in the car, I spoke to one of the policemen outside and asked what was going on and he said there was a domestic disturbance that ended just as quick as it started someone had to go to the hospital...anyway, checked out...went to the airport and pass the 27 security checks, smooth flight...and home before we knew it.!!
I will be posting pics by Friday!!!