OK, here we go. What an awesome place!!! To provide a brief background, we are DH40 (avid trip planner), DW 37, DD12 and DD7. This is day 1 (part one) of our report card as we stop in Orlando for three days before our drive back to the foot of snow that fell at home in New Jersey. Our trip began with two nights at the Swan on the way down (the entire Epcot resort area is beautiful) and seven nights at the Pointe de Santo condominiums in Sanibel Island, a tropical paradise. We left Sanibel at about 10 am and arrived at RPR at 2 pm on Saturday Dec. 6th, our first time ever at Universal Orlando, so the report card begins.
RPR entrance (Grade A+), greeting was warm and personal as they loaded our bags from the car; walk over bridge with blue-green river below, and into hotel lobby is magical and a delight to the senses; gingerbread village with working fountain and train, tall xmas tree in lobby.
RPR checkin (Grade A+), no lines at check in and extremely pleasant staff, thoroughly explained the hotel's amenities and how the room cards worked (FOTL), asked us which treat we would like to receive w/Loew's card (milk/yummy cookies), and even what time we would like to have it delivered, and we were upgraded to a terrific pool view without asking. Tower 1, fourth floor, all the way at the end of the hall from the elevator, but provided quick access by stairwell to the footpath or boat dock to IOA. Oh by the way (Ent. Card Rate was $110, but they did not ask to see our card, not that I would take a chance). The bellman was incredibly pleasant.
RPR room (Grade B+), room view was great, you could see the entire lagoon pool and boat dock/airplane in lake, though you could not see the parks. Carpet was stained a little but not a big deal. Room and beds at Swan were somewhat nicer.
RPR lagoon pool (Grade A), though it doesn't have the waterfalls or slide like the grotto pool at the Swan, the water was incredibly warm (we were told 84 degrees). DD's swam comfortably in the evening even though it was in the low 60s air temp. at best. Pool at Swan was much colder, but we still swam a little there.
Left RPR down the stairwell and took the footpath to IOA (to be continued ...............)
RPR entrance (Grade A+), greeting was warm and personal as they loaded our bags from the car; walk over bridge with blue-green river below, and into hotel lobby is magical and a delight to the senses; gingerbread village with working fountain and train, tall xmas tree in lobby.
RPR checkin (Grade A+), no lines at check in and extremely pleasant staff, thoroughly explained the hotel's amenities and how the room cards worked (FOTL), asked us which treat we would like to receive w/Loew's card (milk/yummy cookies), and even what time we would like to have it delivered, and we were upgraded to a terrific pool view without asking. Tower 1, fourth floor, all the way at the end of the hall from the elevator, but provided quick access by stairwell to the footpath or boat dock to IOA. Oh by the way (Ent. Card Rate was $110, but they did not ask to see our card, not that I would take a chance). The bellman was incredibly pleasant.
RPR room (Grade B+), room view was great, you could see the entire lagoon pool and boat dock/airplane in lake, though you could not see the parks. Carpet was stained a little but not a big deal. Room and beds at Swan were somewhat nicer.
RPR lagoon pool (Grade A), though it doesn't have the waterfalls or slide like the grotto pool at the Swan, the water was incredibly warm (we were told 84 degrees). DD's swam comfortably in the evening even though it was in the low 60s air temp. at best. Pool at Swan was much colder, but we still swam a little there.
Left RPR down the stairwell and took the footpath to IOA (to be continued ...............)
