We just got back from a great weekend at US/IOA. I have to say that the parks were crowded but manageable and I was very impressed with the service and employees everywhere we went.
The RPR club floor is really great. I have stayed concierge at many of WDW resorts and at the HR and RPR is right up there with the best of them. The staff in the lounge were really, really nice and accomodating.
Breakfast was extensive. They had a good selection of fruit, yogurt, bagels, toast, muffins, cereals, oatmeal, teas, coffee, and juices. The lounge was fairly empty during this time because many people bring back their food to their rooms.
During the day they keep out a selection of tea and coffee, fruit, cookies and chips along with soda. The staff is so friendly and I felt very comfortabe just sitting in the lounge relaxing during the day. They were extremely helpful with reservations and even cancelled one for me. My kids had a great time, there are toys in one corner, two television areas, free computer access and comfortable places to sit and read. A lot of people have comment that the rooms at the RPR are small and they are. Our room was lovely but a bit tight for our family. We were three doors down from the lounge and had the room to spread out there for a little while.
Evening time is very busy in the lounge from 5 to 7 when they offer appetizers and beer and wine. They also have a full bar and you can have a drink for $5. The snacks were really good, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, dumplings, assorted salads, chips w/ salsa, guacomole, etc. It was all plentiful and delicious.
Later in the evening they put out lots of great desserts, apple cobbler, chocolate cake, cookies, pastries etc. (I tried not to get too close and lose control!).
Overall it was an amazing experience and we are going to go back during the holidays. We bought season passes, and with wait times of more than 60 minutes we never waited more than 10 minutes with our hotel passes. We ate at Finnegans and really enjoyed that! The shepards pie and corned beef were great. Emeril's Tchop Tchop was great too, the service there is amazing.
Any questions, let me know. The only small detail overlooked was that we did not recieve turndown service (my daughter likes the little gifts they put out) but we were in and out of the room so it might have been a timing issue.
Also, I paid $36 more to upgrade my Florida resident rate to rack rate so that I would get credit for the visit. I needed one more stay to get to Platinum status. We got welcome fruit and water and late check out (2 p.m.). I know they might have credited me anyway but since I am that close I wanted to make sure it happened. JOIN the Loews first program. The normal check in line was 15 people long when I just breezed up to the member check in desk. Was done in 10 minutes.
)
)
I loved that place. Hope you're having as good a time as we did.
