Jenny Sanders
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2007
Loving the Universal reviews...However, I don't think I could ever stay at one of the resorts, as gorgeous as they are. I feel like I would be committing blasphemy. LOL!!!
I wonder if anyone has ever jumped in lol!I want to swim with the elephants!They look like they are having fun!
Believe me, I really wanted to tour it! I did walk around the resort a bit back in 2015 when we were there as a family; just the lobby and the pool area and we thought it was gorgeous. I love the theming and the whole rock n roll vibe. Just wish we'd gotten in to the rooms but I'm sure you'll love it!Darn it - staying at hard rock in May with my brother and his family - so was hoping to get your opinion. It will first time at Universal for all of us. I must say I like the way the other hotels look so hopefully Hard Rock will be as nice ? I am worried about food though. You don’t seem to have had much luck there
I actually thought of you when I saw themI love mini condiments!
You know what, I have no idea I'm going to search through all the pictures everyone took and see if anyone else was in a different type of room; maybe you were upgraded without knowing it? It wasn't a handicapped-accessible room, was it?I know you only toured this one kind of room, but do you know if king bed rooms are completely different? I don't think we booked a king bed room when we stayed but the room we got had a king bed, and it also had a full bathroom (like an entire room with a toilet on one side of the room, a long sink and mirror area, and a big shower/tub on the other). It was really nice, but looking at this bathroom looked nothing like it, so now I'm confused about what kind of room we had But it was really nice so I'm glad!
It's just very quick and easy, especially when you do it at the water taxi. But even if you go through it at CityWalk before getting in the park it goes so much smoother than at Disney.I had heard good things about their security.
I have a feeling if I did tour HRH it would be my favorite just based on theming. Portofino is romantic though and for me, who really only likes being outside when at Disney I could sit out back in the courtyard and just hang and be happy.PBH is gorgeous I want to try HRH in November if we can get a good rate.
I do think it's kid-friendly, I just think my boys would like different resort more; HRH, definitely Cabana Bay even though you don't get EP and even possibly RPR. The rooms are definitely bigger at Portofino for sure!We stayed at Portofino Bay the first time for 3 or 4 nights and while you mentioned you didn't think it would be as kid friendly, I have to disagree. We really loved it, especially the pool area or AREAS as we used both of them. The rooms were so much more spacious also.
We did end up eating at pre-selected CityWalk restaurants so I feel they tried to impress us there, but otherwise I believe they could do so much better..................And sucks (again) about the food.
I really don't see us staying on property unless it's a night or two, if we visit again for the boys, to get EP. I can do all I'd care to do in the parks in one day so I don't need a long stay on-site!Loving the Universal reviews...However, I don't think I could ever stay at one of the resorts, as gorgeous as they are. I feel like I would be committing blasphemy. LOL!!!
It's extremely worth it to stay at one of the resorts with EP even though the price is higher, because it comes out less than staying at say, Cabana Bay and adding the pass. We did go in late Aug. a few years ago and were fine without EP but of course it depends on time of year. No way would I go during a busy time without it.Enjoying your review of the resorts. We stayed 2 nights at RPR in 2016 and really liked it especially for the Express pass!
That's interesting, because at our training quite a few of the agents were saying how much they were loving the mattresses at Sapphire Falls! And then one of the speakers said they get tons of guests asking for the brand. I didn't think it was horrible but I didn't think it was anything special. I can't say if it was the mattress or not but I hope it doesn't keep you from trying again!My back got really sore after the first night, now I have no idea if it was the bed there or something else but I do equate my back going out on me our last morning to the resort. It was awful. I am nervous to stay again even though it was probably a coincidence!
I actually thought of you when I saw them
You know what, I have no idea I'm going to search through all the pictures everyone took and see if anyone else was in a different type of room; maybe you were upgraded without knowing it? It wasn't a handicapped-accessible room, was it?
the Hard Rock Hotel. This sucked because on our training trip last year we also toured them all but HRH so the 3 of us had been hoping to get there.
Didn't really make much sense but whatever, just a difference some of us noticed between Uni and Disney.
But, who relaxes in Disney? (oops, I mean Universal )
How close are these resorts to the park? If you don't take the water taxi then can you walk to the park? I've never been to Universal, and probably never get over there.
Next stop was my favorite from last year, Royal Pacific Resort!
And this is the covered area where they do their security check before you get on the water taxi. I will say, and I said this last year, Universal really does their security quickly and efficiently.
You can't really get it from my pictures but this resort is very pretty with lots of cool foliage outside. Unfortunately lots of it was dead One of the older agents commented on this and asked our guide why so much of the foliage was dead and hadn't been replaced and the guide said it was because of the hurricane (6 months prior). Didn't really make much sense but whatever, just a difference some of us noticed between Uni and Disney.
However our next stop, even though I'd visited here during our training last year, changed my mind this time as far as which resort is my favorite. After we finished up at Royal Pacific, we moved from the South Pacific to Italy and toured
Portofino Resort!
These rooms are so spacious!
-Dinner will be at Nomad Lounge. It's kind of killing me not to eat at Tiffins this trip but the menu at Nomad Lounge works better for the boys, and really I'm fine with eating at the Lounge. Just hope there's a table because the last couple times I've been in there, tables are SCARCE.
Thursday, March 29th
-starting out at MK, bright and early since we're getting towards the end of our trip and they open at 8. Can't waste time now!
-later lunch at LTT, 1:45. Having my salad and then Ooey Gooey Toffee cake. That all balances out, right?
-At some point we'll go over to HS; hopefully we're able to get one or two decent FP's after using our 3 at MK. We're going here not only so I can ride my TOT again but because I booked
-The Fantasmic! Dessert Party! I'm looking forward to this! We haven't seen Fantasmic! in a year or so and since it's spring break I figured what the hell, it'll be good to have reserved seating. And I like the whole snack-in-a-box thing, too.
Friday, March 30th
-Here is where our 3rd FOP FP happens! Ricky has ridden this once, last August, and he absolutely loved it. We couldn't get any more FP's for it that trip which is why we're doing our FP's at AK 3x this trip. Our first one isn't until 9:30 and even though the park opens early I don't think we'll rush; we'll be here for a few hours because we have a lunch reservation
-Yak and Yet lunch at 2:00. I couldn't get it earlier!
-Then we'll go to our last park of the trip, which at Steve's request is Epcot. ELO is playing the F&G Festival that night (well, I think it's like 1 or 2 original members) and he'd like to see them and that was really his only request. At least I get to work my way through more booths! Hopefully the kids can get a decent FP or two to keep them happy and if not, they can head back to the resort. We'll also probably end up grabbing some type of QS.
it's time to go over our plans for March trip which is in exactly 9 days
Dinner at House of Blues. I've always wanted to try it but we've never gotten there. Quite a few things on the menu look interesting and I rarely see reviews, so we'll see how it goes!
We are also going down for a quick, 3 night trip in May
It's a long story and I'm tired so I'll explain it next time, but my younger stepson Eric requested we be his wingdad/wingmom while he goes to see the girl he's been.....dating? Talking to? Spending time on social media with Whatever the case they went to high school together, she's now in Orlando, and he's decided they have enough of a relationship that he can visit her now. After years of me BEGGING him to come with us But I'm not complaining! So here's what's going on for that trip:
MAY 5-8