Where should we stay?

[SmallWorld71]

We are headed to Universal/ Sea World for a week in August. We want to stay at one of Universal's on-site hotels but have changed our minds so many times about where that my head is spinning. So, I'm looking for input. A few things to consider:

1) There are five of us: me, DH, DS14, DS11, DD7

2) The pool. We will be there in August, so a good pool area is a must. Also, DS11 is hoping for a pool slide.

3) Children's activities. We'll be there for the whole week so we'll be looking for things to do outside the parks and I don't really want to rent a car.

4) I need somewhere with a nice place for DH to relax with a drink after I make him spend all his hard earned money on Harry Potter trinkets.

We had been leaning towards HRH, but a friend of DH's is quite insistent that it is more adult oriented and suggested PBH. ??? All opinions welcome.

 

[mjohnson96]

HRH and PBH both have slides at their pool for the kids, RPH has a boat which is nice for the smaller kids running around.

The rooms at PBH are larger, I kinda wish I would have upgraded our rooms to PBH sooner, kinda late now There will be more room for a family of 5 there for you. RPH has the smallest rooms.

HRH is a little more adult oriented but we love the pool bar there and all 3 hotel pools have activites at the pool throughout the day. Now HRH will sometimes throw in some Adult Activites for free drinks, etc. Where I have never seen them do that at RPH while we were there.

PBH has more than one pool and the Villa Pool is very quiet if you just want to sit by it and relax. The RPH has a nice pool bar that we enjoy sitting at in the evening watching the kids swim and just relaxing. All 3 also have a place that the kids can go at night or during the day for a few hours if you want to go over to City Walk for some Adult Time. They will feed them dinner as well for an additional fee.

You can pool hop, so if you want to stay at HRH you can always go over to PBH or RPH and use the facilities there.

All 3 are close to City Walk and sometimes they have shows going on there at night in the main areas. There are also fun things there for the kids as well, including a movie theather. My DD (7) wants to go back to Margarittaville to see the Volcano again and hopefully the pirate on stilts...she loved him

HRH and RPH are the closest to the park, so if you don't want to wait on a boat the walk is not that bad. When you tired it pretty much stinks no matter how far it is but it is shorter than staying at PBH.

Hope that helps confuse you some more Have a good trip.

 

[SmallWorld71]

mjohnson - Thank-you for taking the time to post all the info. Extra space ala PBH would be nice. We all stayed POR a few years back and it was a bit cramped. Of course, being able to walk to the parks would be nice. Then again, walking anywhere in August seems like miles... Decisions, decisions.

 

[bubba's mom]

I would recommend scratching RPR off the list right away. It has the smallest rooms and no pool slide. And yes..while you ARE able to pool hop, the other 2 pools are the other side of the resort. You're on vacation relaxing...who really wants to be bothered going over there?

I think your kids would really enjoy the HRH. It's more teen/young adult oriented than the PBH. PBH is very classy, italian adult themed imo.

The only thing that concerns me is your DH relaxin. While he can do it at HRH pool, the PBH is quieter w/ less going on.

It's a tough call...but if you choose HRH or PBH, you at least are close together w/ the 2 pools that have a slide.

oh...and if you stay at PBH and do NOT walk the garden walk to the parks, but rather go straight and cross the highway, you will be faced at the entrance of HRH. You can cut thru HRH parking lot to shave some time off your walk to the parks. Granted, it's not very scenic, but that's okay by us.

 

[SmallWorld71]

bubba's mom - Thanks for the input. It seems a little bit silly to be choosing a hotel based on a slide, but since it will be August and I don't think we will be hitting any water parks I need to make sure that the kids will be entertained by the pool. It's not like when they were little and a kiddie pool and some empty cups could keep them happy. The lack of a slide combined with the smaller rooms at RPR is definitely pushing me toward HRH or PBH.

 

[SmallWorld71]

So, we've officially narrowed it down to two, HRH and PBH.
DD and I are leaning towards PBH and 2DSs want HRH. DH refuses to be the deciding factor. LOL
So, anymore thoughts or opinions to push us one way or the other?

We're also considering club level. Breakfast for 5 and snacks/drinks for the day can quickly make up the difference. Any thoughts on that?

 

[bubba's mom]

bubba's mom - Thanks for the input. It seems a little bit silly to be choosing a hotel based on a slide, but since it will be August and I don't think we will be hitting any water parks I need to make sure that the kids will be entertained by the pool. It's not like when they were little and a kiddie pool and some empty cups could keep them happy. The lack of a slide combined with the smaller rooms at RPR is definitely pushing me toward HRH or PBH.

You're welcome...and hey...slides are an important thing! My son is 11 and he prefers the slide at PBH..says it's steeper HRH slide is straighter. I *think* (and i could be wrong) there are more kids activites at the HRH vs PBH...but when we stayed at PBH, we've caught a game of Simon Says.

Thinking more about it since your last post (and your DH doesn't want to decide), I'm think HRH might be your better choice. More kids around = more new friends around to keep them entertained. We always hit the HRH for Dive In movie and eat at the Beach Club. There's always a lot of kids around.

That said...can get loud too cuz of the all the kids.

I hope someone else comes along to toss you their 2cents. I would go w/ HRH...but maybe someone will have different opinion to consider.

GOOD FREAKIN LUCK!!!

 

[Purseval]

If your kids want to be wet and entertained I would also suggest them putting on bathing suits and heading over to the Popey/Bluto bilge rat barges. Their hotel keys give them FOTL access so they can ride it as many times in a row as they feel like. It's way more fun than a slide.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Thanks, Bubba's Mom. The kids are definitely pushing for HRH. I told them I would take their opinions into consideration, but the one with the credit card (not them!) gets to make the final decision.

 

[SmallWorld71]

If your kids want to be wet and entertained I would also suggest them putting on bathing suits and heading over to the Popey/Bluto bilge rat barges. Their hotel keys give them FOTL access so they can ride it as many times in a row as they feel like. It's way more fun than a slide.

Good point. Seems like there are a lot of places to get wet at USO!

 

[bubba's mom]

Thanks, Bubba's Mom. The kids are definitely pushing for HRH. I told them I would take their opinions into consideration, but the one with the credit card (not them!) gets to make the final decision.

wow! what an opportunity for you!

who wants to wash my car? who wants to dust? run the vacuum? do the dishes?

just think of ALL the BRIBES you can get them to do!

 

[SmallWorld71]

wow! what an opportunity for you!

who wants to wash my car? who wants to dust? run the vacuum? do the dishes?

just think of ALL the BRIBES you can get them to do!

 

[rpbert1]

Why not just stay at HRH, then when your DH wants some quiet time, a stroll to PBH Villa Pool or even the water taxi, its only minutes away,

 

[bubba's mom]

Why not just stay at HRH, then when your DH wants some quiet time, a stroll to PBH Villa Pool or even the water taxi, its only minutes away,

That would work

 

[nmartin]

We are going for the first time in August. For what is worth, I had the same decision to make. I would have rather stayed at RPH or PBH because I think it would be quieter therefor more relaxing. Our two boys wanted to stay at HRH because of the water slide and the poolside activities. I opted to stay at HRH only because happy kids mean less whining and less fighting. I don't know about you, but I can completely ignore the noise as long as it is not from my children. For me, that is what I consider relaxing.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Why not just stay at HRH, then when your DH wants some quiet time, a stroll to PBH Villa Pool or even the water taxi, its only minutes away,

Good idea!

We are going for the first time in August. For what is worth, I had the same decision to make. I would have rather stayed at RPH or PBH because I think it would be quieter therefor more relaxing. Our two boys wanted to stay at HRH because of the water slide and the poolside activities. I opted to stay at HRH only because happy kids mean less whining and less fighting. I don't know about you, but I can completely ignore the noise as long as it is not from my children. For me, that is what I consider relaxing.

Thanks for the input. The scales seem to be tipping in favor of HRH. I agree if everyone else is happy, then I'll be happy. I've stayed at Disney's value resorts multiple times with no problems and they can get loud so I'm sure Hard Rock will be fine.