What Universal hotel do you recommend?

[jennyerin]

Our kids are 5 and 10 and we thought we'd try a day at Universal this year in addition to our Disney stay. Which hotel do you recommend and why? Also, what is the meal plan?
Thanks!
Lynn

 

[tiggerguy2000]

The Hard Rock is my favorite but you might like the Royal Pacific resort with the young kids and it's cheaper.As a meal plan I dont have any idea if they have one.They do have a 2 free ticket deal that's not anymore then the regular rate if you stay so many nights.You also have front of line access with staying in a universal resort which is great.You spend alot less time waiting on line and more time enjoying yourself.We do a park in just a few hours and go back to the resort and get involved in the activities at the pool.They do a great job with the kids and they also have movie night which is called the dive-in movie and by the name you can see it's out at the pool.It's a great family night.

tiggerguy

 

[jennyerin]

We've done Disney a lot but never ventured over to Universal. Less time in line sounds great! Now to find a good deal...
Lynn

 

[bubba's mom]

5 & 10 years old huh?? Well...RPR is cheapest, but no slide at the pool. The other 2 have slides...but the HRH pool is only 4ft. deep. PB is more "classy" relaxed, HRH is more "fun". RPR is like Poly theme. Depends what you are looking for. You can stay at RPR cuz of the cost, and swim at the HRH...(pool hopping encouraged)

 

[goofy!]

The Portofino is our 'home.' It gives us the spacious rooms and the elegance we love, yet there is enough for the kids to do too. They love the beach pool and playing bocce ball.

And if we want something a bit more exciting, it is a short walk to the Hard Rock Pool.

We also love the Royal Pacific, but with a family of 5, there aren't any suite upgrades there for us, so it eliminates that hotel for us.

 

[Kimberle]

Don't forget, pool hopping is *allowded**! Stay at one and play at all 3! Since they are all deluxe, choose the one who's theming you like best. We loved loved loved the RPR. The pool is the largest in Orlando. We never had a problem finding pool chairs. Lot's of activities for the kids. When my dd wanted to slide, we spent an afternoon at HR.

 

[kelly01]

I have not stayed at the other 2 resorts, but my boys (9 yrs old at the time) loved the HardRock because 1)really short walk to parks...it is sooo great to just walk through the pool area, out the gate and just walk along the walkway to the entrance to U/S, and 2)they have lots of pool activities for the kids.

Now, the pool activities (especially at night), made the pool area a little like "spring break for the middle school set"...BUT my kids had a riot and DH and I were able to sit and relax on some chairs by the pool while keeping an eye on the kids.

HTH,

kelly

 

[1andrea]

We stayed at Hard Rock Hotel in June and loved it, we had no complaints at all, probably will stay here again next year if we dont try somewhere else...either way we will stay here again soon!

 

[MagikMom]

We will be staying at one of the 3 resorts but don't know which one yet. We don't have any say in it because my husband won a contest for this vacation and they book the flight & hotel. It is for 3 nights and 4 days. We just put in for our date requests. We had to give 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice. Our first choice is Veterans day weekend. We are Disney people and we have never been to universal before. Looking forward to it!

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

We haven't tried RPR yet, doing that this year...My kids love, love, love the HRH. The pool is the best we have been to anywhere. and it is super close to walk to the parks.

 

[cbdmhgp]

For children of young ages as young as 5 and 10, RPR would be the one to pick for us. WE love the service, espically if you stay on club-level, the service is even better up there, and so is the food and drinks. the pool isn't as good as HRH, but it has a boat with water guns on it, so they will enjoy that. But, last time we went which was about 3 months ago, the waterguns on the boat weren't working :[. Anybody know if they are now?

 

[tiggerguy2000]

We will be staying at one of the 3 resorts but don't know which one yet. We don't have any say in it because my husband won a contest for this vacation and they book the flight & hotel. It is for 3 nights and 4 days. We just put in for our date requests. We had to give 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice. Our first choice is Veterans day weekend. We are Disney people and we have never been to universal before. Looking forward to it!

Most likely if it's free it will be the RPR because it's the cheapest rate in universal but then I have seen giveaways that put you in a hotel just across the street.In any way it's free so enjoy your trip.

tiggerguy

 

[MagikMom]

Tiggerguy you're right it is RPR. We just found out. In addition to being free, It also looks pretty good. Especially the Spa!

 

[bubba's mom]

We really like RPR.... You will really love it....most like it better than the Poly @ Disney. Eh...just the walk to the parks is great...but a 4-star hotel you can walk back too Oh, and don't forget, pool hopping at the other hotels IS encouraged!