Weird question re: on-site hotels

[wwessing]

Ok, I know this is kinda weird, but . . . . The on-site resorts seem to be very, very nice. Much more upscale than your "average" hotel. So, here is THE question. . . . while folks on these boards seem to be very nice, helpful, willing to share so much of their hard earned experience, I am wondering what your experiences may have been at these hotels regarding other guests. I am asking specifically about the "snob factor". . . you know what I'm talking about. My family and I are just good ol' folks, if you will. We do not subscribe to snobbery and would be very uncomfortable spending 7 or 8 days/nights in an environment where the majority of people think perhaps they are a step above the rest of the world. We have stayed in places like that before (shoulda done my research more thoroughly) and were unhappy even though the hotel was 5 star and wonderful. I would just as soon drink a beer right out of the bottle (frozen mugs are nice though too) than have someone hovering over my table wondering if the wine is acceptable. While we may choose to spend the money for the luxury, we would rather stay at Holiday Inn and do without the snobbery. My hope is that most people are just like us and with a good deal of advance financial planning, can afford a little luxury. Your honest response will be important in our decision making process and will be much appreciated.

By the way, I do realize that we are going to encounter judgemental, better than the rest of world types most everywhere you go. . . we are just wondering if the MAJORITY of guests at these hotels are this type.

 

[goofy!]

We have stayed in many upscale resorts and encountered the "snob" factor.

However, we have NOT experienced this at the Universal resorts. We see a variety of people, some decked out in designer clothes and heels (for walking around in a theme park? ), but mainly good old families having a great time.

Over Thanksgiving, we went to the Harbor Nights wine tasting and jazz festival at the PBH. It was definitely "upscale", including such celebrities as Liv Tyler (who stood in line for her wine just like anybody else - she was standing behind me Just bummed she wasn't with her dad ). Dress was lots of furs and diamonds (unlike our jeans and sweatshirts.) However, even at this event, I didn't detect any overt snobbishness. In fact, a very nice couple asked to share our table and we had a great time with them.

The folks in line were chatty (as we were all trying to stay warm) and friendly.

Overall, I don'y think you have to worry too much about a "snob" factor at the Universal resorts.

Personally, I have experienced more of a "snob" factor at the Deluxe resorts at Disney than I do at Universal. I think mainly because all three are deluxe, so nobody is "better" than anybody else.

 

[damo]

I haven't stayed at the PBH (will in Feb) but there is NO snob factor at the other two hotels, at all!!!

 

[wwessing]

Goofy -

Thanks for your post! I hope most of the responses will be like yours. Plus, when I show my hubby your post, he will drool with envy cuz he thinks Liv Tyler is the hottest hottie on earth (wait. . . except for Faith Hill). I don't know how one would plan a trip without boards like these!!

damo - you posted just before me - so thanks to you too. I have read alot of your posts and found them to be very helpful.

 

[tlinus]

Ok, I know this is kinda weird, but . . . . The on-site resorts seem to be very, very nice. Much more upscale than your "average" hotel. So, here is THE question. . . . while folks on these boards seem to be very nice, helpful, willing to share so much of their hard earned experience, I am wondering what your experiences may have been at these hotels regarding other guests. I am asking specifically about the "snob factor". . . you know what I'm talking about. My family and I are just good ol' folks, if you will. We do not subscribe to snobbery and would be very uncomfortable spending 7 or 8 days/nights in an environment where the majority of people think perhaps they are a step above the rest of the world. We have stayed in places like that before (shoulda done my research more thoroughly) and were unhappy even though the hotel was 5 star and wonderful. I would just as soon drink a beer right out of the bottle (frozen mugs are nice though too) than have someone hovering over my table wondering if the wine is acceptable. While we may choose to spend the money for the luxury, we would rather stay at Holiday Inn and do without the snobbery. My hope is that most people are just like us and with a good deal of advance financial planning, can afford a little luxury. Your honest response will be important in our decision making process and will be much appreciated.

By the way, I do realize that we are going to encounter judgemental, better than the rest of world types most everywhere you go. . . we are just wondering if the MAJORITY of guests at these hotels are this type.

How about out of a nice big plastic cup by the pool??! That is what we did at the HRH when we stayed there in October! Got poolside service and made me feel special!! No snobs around at all - and the dive in movies were great too!!The staff was awesome!

 

[wwessing]

I'm not picky . . plastic cups work just fine! As long as the beer is cold and my kids are having fun, we are easy to please! HRH is the place we are leaning towards right now. (So . . how big ARE those cups)

 

[Fan2CSkr]

No snob factor at all! Lots of famlies looking for fun times on vacation.

 

[tlinus]

I'm not picky . . plastic cups work just fine! As long as the beer is cold and my kids are having fun, we are easy to please! HRH is the place we are leaning towards right now. (So . . how big ARE those cups)

hmmmmmmmlet me see. 20ounces? I know I have a picture somewhere (rumage, rummage, shuffle-shuffle)aha - you can see the full size of the soda in fron of dd#1 & ds - it is the same size for beer....which he OBVIOUSLY isn't drinking!!

 

[ATAfamily]

We have stayed at the RPR twice now and have had NO experience what so ever with snobbery. Like your family, we love to kick back after a day at the park with a nice cold one by the pool. We have even had pizza delivered to the hotel and sat by the pool enjoying our drinks and having a "gourmet" slice of pizza

 

[rpbert1]

We where there last July for a week,at RPR, and people where very nice, never encountered anyone who thought they where better than anyone else.
enjoyed my stay that much i am coming back this July again.

 

[robvia]

You'll be right at home at the HRH. They serve Heinekin draft in a plastic cup like you saw in the picture up above. A waitress will even serve it to you in your chair. It's about $5 and you tip her a $1. Pop music plays on the speakers and you'll be right at home hanging out. This is what it looked like on a previous visit of mine.
http://www.nogodforme.com/images2005/IOA072905009.jpg
That's the view I had crashed out in a lounge chair with a waitress asking me if I wanted another when my cup ran out. They circle the pool serving drinks. If you don't want any more, just say no thanks. That's why I took that picture, it's what you think about when you're stuck at work.

 

[Robinrs]

I have to say that I HAVE witnessed the said "snob factor" in Orlando but never at the onsite hotels at USf. I just got back from the Hard Rock last week and every single time we road on the boat or sat at the restaurant we met the most happy unpretentious folks! One night I had to run up and down to the laundry room and had to pass LOTS of people, no snobs, just very nice people.

It's a true pleasure NOT to experience it for once, either.

BTW, I've stayed at all 3 and never had the problem, and honestly EXPECTED it at the PBH. Nope....

Have a great time!

 

[wwessing]

This looks great! I am relieved to hear such good things about these resorts. At this point, we are going to continue with our planning, assuming we will be choosing one of the on-site resorts (depends of where we can get the best deal for the best room). Thanks again for your responses (especially the part about the cold beer at the pool. I think I may be getting tired at the parks kinda early and might need to relax by the pool until my stack of empty cups supporting my full one reaches a respectable level! Just kidding (but only a little)!

 

[Cinderella822]

We stayed at PBH last summer and I had that same fear. It looked so nice in the pictures I had seen. But once I was there, I realized I had nothing to worry about. I thought everyone, guests, staff, etc., were all very friendly. Lots of families just having fun. People walking dogs, stopping to let kids play with them. We don't like the "snob factor" either and felt we fit right in. You'll love it!

 

[CJN]

BTW, I've stayed at all 3 and never had the problem, and honestly EXPECTED it at the PBH. Nope....

That's great to hear because, quite honestly, I've wondered a little bit about this subject also, especially since PBH is about to be invaded by three down-home Oregon farmer gals.

 

[AlexandNessa]

We are down-to-earth, Beer-out-of-a-bottle-drinkers-too. We live humbly in "real life" and splurge on vacation!

However, I wil chime in with one small voice of dissent ... it's been a few years now, but we have not stayed at the PBH since because we encountered snottiness there, not by fellow guests, but by staff. During our visit, we found them to be on the cold side and that turned us off to the PBH for some time. We were considering going back to the PBH this year, hoping things have changed by now, but hubby decided on HRH instead (primarily because he thought the renovated rooms were "cool."). It was sort of like any request we made we felt it was a bother to them. We didn't feel like guests there, we felt like intruders. Does that make sense? We were never greeted with smiles anywhere except Mama Della's.

Like I said, it's been a few years, and others have reported positive reviews lately, but that was our experience and it was enough to make us switch over to the RPR for the next 6 visits and not look back.

P.S. The snottiness we encounted at the PBH was probably on the same level as we encountered when we stayed concierge in the main building at the Grand Floridian, to be fair.

 

[LeahA]

We've only stayed at RP, and for the 2 times we were there, never did we feel the snob factor. RP is great for families!

 

[Snoopymom]

It hardly feels snobbish at the HRH when they hand your kids blow up guitars when you check in

Also, you can self park and carry your own bags in, and not sure about the other hotels but sometimes the pool bar automatically adds 17% gratuity.