Will a week on the Darkside win me over?*maybe next year

[pas130]

Greetings DISers Since November....I've made many changes to our upcoming summer vacation (for those who know me from other threads...this is NOT shocking news)

After many bookings at WDW, and several family discussions, votes, arguments...price quotes...I have been outnumbered by..

We want to go to Universal Mommy!!!!!!!!

So there you have it......

Our family of 7 will be staying at Hard Rock Hotel from August 18th-25th We have two connecting Club level 2 Queen rooms, and I will admit I am pretty excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How about some intros?

My name is Jeanette, and I am a perpetual resort changer. I am constantly planning and tweaking our vacations It's what keeps me going...to work that is. By Day...I am Mommy, and nights and weekends I work. I have 2 jobs, one is working as an ER nurse the other a Critical Care transport nurse.

Here is a pic of me, and my wonderful DH of over 20 years, we stayed in a Honeymoon room at Wilderness Lodge last August

Okay time for the kids...(this pic is from last May)

Left to right, DS12, DD8, DS4, DD6...the cutie pie in front is DD5

 

[pas130]

The Pas family's Universal trips~

This will not be our first onsite trip...BUT it will be our first trip without a WDW split included

In August 2011 we did a PBH/GF split~I saved GF for last as it was my DD8 and my "dream resort" We stayed in the Sugarloaf building and it was AMAZING. But I will say Portofino Bay was a tough act to follow (minus some billing issues)

*Here lies my warning..do not pay Loews in full prior to arrival, I did this because I figured it would be easier...it let to a lot of confusion, double debits, etc....

We stayed 5 days at PBH, and my family did not want to leave...but we
did enjoy GF

Last May we did Pop Century/Royal Pacific

We didn't do any parks at Pop, me kids wanted to swim...and ahem go to Universal At RPR we had two connecting GV rooms in Tower 3, it was perfect. Great location, near the elevator, pool was great. When it rained they opened the Kid's club and showed movies...since we had APs it was inexpensive IMO

Last November I took my girls to Orlando for a Christmas trip. We stayed at Poly...but they wanted to go to Universal(seeing a pattern) So I rented a car and booked RPR CL and Poly CL. Since I only needed one room I let the girls have their "snack room" Comparing the 2 concierge lounges...aside from an amazing Cinderella castle view The staff and offerings are FAR superior at RPR

Now, after two fabulous onsite stays...why Hard Rock???

Well, I mentioned I change a lot??? Last year I changed mid stay to HRH CL. I wanted RPR CL but it was booked solid, so we moved...the pool was by far my kids' favorite. We did pool hop, but it's much easier to stay put The Butterfly Garden, the music...it was very cool. And my DD8 has sensory issues, but she LOVED it!

I was concerned about what to do for a whole week. However, my DH doesn't want to change rooms, etc...and we are trying to budget a little..so one set of tickets and the Stay more save more 30% off made this an easy sell. Plus I still get the "snack room"

 

[pas130]

We are definitely not Park Commando types

We love to hang at the resort and swim!

And since it's so darn hot in Summer, we do rides in the morning, come back to the resort and after dinner...back for more rides!

Staying onsite makes it SO easy to close the park down, and I felt this contrast when we stayed at Poly and attempted to get back from MK after MVMCP And those Express passes this is the best perk EVER

Since these are our touring plans...I think we can make a week out of it. Plus we are driving there from NJ, and we may squeeze in Legoland or Seaworld. But DH says that is not a budget-wise plan

I may buy APs this year, if I do that..it WILL be a strictly US/IoA trip. My sneaky plan is to return in May 2014 and head over to WDW for Flower and Garden...I can sell that trip if I mention they can go to Universal

So a big to all the DISers stopping by my PTR!!!!!

 

[Janet B]

Jeannette!

Hey I'm first!! All sounds good my friend All Universal?? (your ticker?) BUT will the dark forces prevent you from sneaking over to pay Mickey a visit?? Will you have a clandestine meet with Mickey?? Its hard to resist.... hmmm guess we will all have to stay tuned....

Love the pix!!

 

[pas130]

Jeannette!

Hey I'm first!! All sounds good my friend All Universal?? (your ticker?) BUT will the dark forces prevent you from sneaking over to pay Mickey a visit?? Will you have a clandestine meet with Mickey?? Its hard to resist.... hmmm guess we will all have to stay tuned....

Love the pix!!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will be very hard to stay away...being SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO close

Time to go borrow a prize ribbon for my BFF making 1st place

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

And Mama Linda is second!! Tiara and coffee in hand!

 

[pas130]

And Mama Linda is second!! Tiara and coffee in hand!

Let's go get you a ribbon Mama!!

(Again ribbon credit to Kookster...don't know how she does it )

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

Oh I love my princess ribbon! It matches my tiara!!!

 

[pas130]

Oh I love my princess ribbon! It matches my tiara!!!

Exactly what I was thinking

 

[babyberger]

I am here too I have to agree with you, the express passes are the best perk at the Universal resorts! I don't think we would go to US/IoA again without staying on property. We too love PBH

Melissa

 

[pas130]

I am here too I have to agree with you, the express passes are the best perk at the Universal resorts! I don't think we would go to US/IoA again without staying on property. We too love PBH

Melissa

Third place

Yay Melissa Thank you for stopping in!!!

 

[Missoutandabout]

Oooo... Ooooo!

​

You are going to coerce me, I just know it...

 

[pas130]

Oooo... Ooooo!

​

You are going to coerce me, I just know it...

Miss E!! Coerce...noooooooooooooooo. Just keeping my trip on track....DH is sick of my WDW talk

Not a ribbon...but here's the crew at Early Entry (this was in 2011~before I figured out to change date on camera )

 

[wiigirl]

 

[pas130]

to my PTR! My biggest challenge will be leaving the reservation intact Especially since when I booked Hard Rock I was so worried about getting connecting rooms. Very impressed with the gentleman who took the time to call the Manager at the resort directly to see what he could do. So they already blocked off 2 connecting 7th floor rooms. Excellent customer service....fingers crossed we get our request.

 

[Janet B]

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will be very hard to stay away...being SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO close

Time to go borrow a prize ribbon for my BFF making 1st place

I am NEVER first!! bff love my ribbon!!

And Mama Linda is second!! Tiara and coffee in hand!

Perfect ribbon for you Mama Linda!

 

[Janet B]

I am here too I have to agree with you, the express passes are the best perk at the Universal resorts! I don't think we would go to US/IoA again without staying on property. We too love PBH

Melissa

Melissa, hopefully when we go to Universal we will be staying on site. After our summer trip (when Sam and her bff came along) we drove from AKL for the 3 days... it was blazing, scorching hot, and humid (that goes without saying ) in mid-August... those express passes would of been soooo nice!

Oooo... Ooooo!

​

You are going to coerce me, I just know it...

Miss, you WILL get drawn over to the dark side ... it is only a matter of time my friend... go willingly and it will be MUCH easier...

Miss E!! Coerce...noooooooooooooooo. Just keeping my trip on track....DH is sick of my WDW talk

Not a ribbon...but here's the crew at Early Entry (this was in 2011~before I figured out to change date on camera )

Oh, the Hogwarts Express!! Please take me there....okay so can anyone direct me to Platform 9 3/4???

Pas, Love the pix!

 

[pas130]

I am NEVER first!! bff love my ribbon!!

Your luck is ch-ch-changing BFF . I didn't even get a chance to text ya yesterday and you already posted The pix remind me how much they love it there!!

to my PTR readers who don't know me Janet is my real life BFF I met here on the boards...grumpygrandma AKA Mama Linda I adopted as my Mom 'cuz she rocks

 

[sjs314]

I am finally here, bringing up the rear as usual

I am half afraid to read as it may make me change plans and head to US since I am still dying to stay at PB.

Jeanette I think your plans sound great!

 

[pas130]

I am finally here, bringing up the rear as usual

I am half afraid to read as it may make me change plans and head to US since I am still dying to stay at PB.

Jeanette I think your plans sound great!

Hi Sheila It's not easy to justify staying at WDW and paying double for tickets when we are staying club level at Universal..AND Bree's favorite rides ever are Spiderman, Simpsons and Hippogriff. I almost got DH to say yes to 1900PF Dinner...we can see Cinderella and wishes....maybe I'll make an ADR

Portifino pic you'd like to see