Oh Lord, what's Eddie gonna do? He went to Disney and Universal too! Updated! 1/19/10
- Thread starter disneyfan67
- Start date
we need that last day. You report is great and so are your pictures!
my3princes
<font color=red>Looking for a milestone to claim<b
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2004
I'm enjoying this very much. We have a split vacation coming up this summer so reading about yours has given us a good guide 
Calgary DISHeads
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 28, 2006
love your tr. Our intent is to try RPR next time. We did HRH first, then PBH this time around which we really, really loved but we like trying new things so RPR is up next. You've almost got me motivated to start my TR from Christmas!
We moved over from AKL to PBH and my husband made the same comment about tipping!
Also agree about the service level between WDW and Loews hotels - WDW could learn a lesson or twelve. I think the wife of the person who checked you in at the Poly checked us in last trip (or maybe his sister - they had the same personality) Disney makes you feel like you are being processed as part of the masses and moving along a conveyor belt whereas Loews makes you feel like an individual. Our room had a full balcony overlooking the villa pool - and I said to DH I feel like we're movie stars overlooking the pool in our hollywood mansion! Unfortunately the weather was not so great so we didn't get into the villa pool at all, the main pool twice for a couple of hours.
We moved over from AKL to PBH and my husband made the same comment about tipping!
Also agree about the service level between WDW and Loews hotels - WDW could learn a lesson or twelve. I think the wife of the person who checked you in at the Poly checked us in last trip (or maybe his sister - they had the same personality) Disney makes you feel like you are being processed as part of the masses and moving along a conveyor belt whereas Loews makes you feel like an individual. Our room had a full balcony overlooking the villa pool - and I said to DH I feel like we're movie stars overlooking the pool in our hollywood mansion! Unfortunately the weather was not so great so we didn't get into the villa pool at all, the main pool twice for a couple of hours.
jenseib
Mommy to Claire
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2006
What a fun trip. I do hope you finish it!
I am a big Disney fan. DH doesn't want to go this year, and so I am trying to get him to go to Universal and stay offsite for MUCH cheaper.
MY big fear is that Universal seems to have many more "scarier" rides, and we have a 5 YO DD, who may not like them. I would love to stay onsite. The hotels look beautiful, but if we were going to spend that much, we would just go to Disney then.
I am a big Disney fan. DH doesn't want to go this year, and so I am trying to get him to go to Universal and stay offsite for MUCH cheaper.
MY big fear is that Universal seems to have many more "scarier" rides, and we have a 5 YO DD, who may not like them. I would love to stay onsite. The hotels look beautiful, but if we were going to spend that much, we would just go to Disney then.
jessrose18
ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!!
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2007
Enjoyed reading your report! I was looking at a universal hotel for our first night and really wanted hrh for the pool, I didn't realize you could pool hop, thanks I think then we will stay at royal pacific (cheapest) and not worry about the pools.
disneyfan67
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- Joined
- Aug 8, 2004
I had forgotten about this because I just don't post much on the Dis anymore. I do like that many have enjoyed this and I want to finish this up. I went and got my notes from my trip and have the last of the pictures to post. So here we go.
Friday the 8th was our last day at Universal and we all had a great time, but it was clear we all were ready to get back home. Our original plan was to go to Sea World, but my wife and I decided that it was better to just call it a pool day and relax around the resort. I had called down the front desk and asked for a later check out time and being a You First member, they gave me a 1pm check out time.
We then followed our same routine in the morning as we had all week and enjoyed the great breakfast buffet in the Islands dinning room. On my wife's suggestion, I took the boys to IOA to walk around a bit while she went back to the room to finish up the last minute packing. The bulk of it had been before breakfast by both of us, but she likes to do one final room sweep to make sure we didn't miss anything. She also wanted to do one small load of laundry so we had clean clothes for the ride home. I think the boys and I walked around for an hour or so and rode Spiderman and looked around in the different gift shops. My called on my phone and said she was ready and we headed back. We went back to the room got our swim stuff in one bag, called bell services to get our luggage and waited for them. Our limo was going to pick us up at 7pm, so we had about 5 hours of time to kill.
The bellman came up quick and gave us our claim ticket and we said good bye to the room and headed off to check out. I went up the desk and thanked them for the great stay and told the room was empty. There was no problems with the bill and I asked them about swimming and cleaning up later after. The front desk reassured me I could use the spa free of charge near the pool for cleaning up and changing. So that's what we did, but we first we got a small load of laundry going, which the laundry room is steps away from the pool. I took turns with my wife swimming with the boys and switching off to keep an eye on the dryer times. It worked out great and in no time the load was dry and put away and there was nothing left to do but relax by the pool. Later we had a snack by the pool and decided to get cleaned up and go to US for the last two hours before the limo came.
The spa was a fantastic place to shower and change, which is what we all did and then I packed up our remaining stuff and went to bell services to drop it off. We all then went over to US to see Shrek and walk around a bit. Bob our limo driver later called to confirm our time and then we headed back to our resort to wait for him. Pick up was flawless and on time and we left for the Hyatt inside the Orlando airport. Some of you may be wondering why we were checking into another hotel, especially inside the airport, so here's why.
We had a very early flight the next morning and would have to leave the RPH around 3am, and we got a room in the Hyatt, for the same rate I was paying at the RPH. Plus it I always wanted to stay there just once and what the hell, why not?
Next up our check in at the Hyatt and our flight home.
Friday the 8th was our last day at Universal and we all had a great time, but it was clear we all were ready to get back home. Our original plan was to go to Sea World, but my wife and I decided that it was better to just call it a pool day and relax around the resort. I had called down the front desk and asked for a later check out time and being a You First member, they gave me a 1pm check out time.
We then followed our same routine in the morning as we had all week and enjoyed the great breakfast buffet in the Islands dinning room. On my wife's suggestion, I took the boys to IOA to walk around a bit while she went back to the room to finish up the last minute packing. The bulk of it had been before breakfast by both of us, but she likes to do one final room sweep to make sure we didn't miss anything. She also wanted to do one small load of laundry so we had clean clothes for the ride home. I think the boys and I walked around for an hour or so and rode Spiderman and looked around in the different gift shops. My called on my phone and said she was ready and we headed back. We went back to the room got our swim stuff in one bag, called bell services to get our luggage and waited for them. Our limo was going to pick us up at 7pm, so we had about 5 hours of time to kill.
The bellman came up quick and gave us our claim ticket and we said good bye to the room and headed off to check out. I went up the desk and thanked them for the great stay and told the room was empty. There was no problems with the bill and I asked them about swimming and cleaning up later after. The front desk reassured me I could use the spa free of charge near the pool for cleaning up and changing. So that's what we did, but we first we got a small load of laundry going, which the laundry room is steps away from the pool. I took turns with my wife swimming with the boys and switching off to keep an eye on the dryer times. It worked out great and in no time the load was dry and put away and there was nothing left to do but relax by the pool. Later we had a snack by the pool and decided to get cleaned up and go to US for the last two hours before the limo came.
The spa was a fantastic place to shower and change, which is what we all did and then I packed up our remaining stuff and went to bell services to drop it off. We all then went over to US to see Shrek and walk around a bit. Bob our limo driver later called to confirm our time and then we headed back to our resort to wait for him. Pick up was flawless and on time and we left for the Hyatt inside the Orlando airport. Some of you may be wondering why we were checking into another hotel, especially inside the airport, so here's why.
We had a very early flight the next morning and would have to leave the RPH around 3am, and we got a room in the Hyatt, for the same rate I was paying at the RPH. Plus it I always wanted to stay there just once and what the hell, why not?
Next up our check in at the Hyatt and our flight home.
disneyfan67
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- Joined
- Aug 8, 2004
As we left the RPH and headed toward the airport, the end of vacation sadness stared to settle in and isn't that always part of the process?
As we pulled up to the entrance of the MCO Hyatt, I looked forward to seeing the inside of the hotel for the first time. Our luggage was unloaded and I tipped Bob and we said our good byes. I received great service from him and the company he worked for and would recommend them to anyone. I proceeded to check in and there was a slight glitch. It seems when I booked the standard King bed room with 2 rollaway beds, using my AAA rate, the person who took my ressie didn't tell me that the room had a limit of 3 in that particular room. The other choice was a room with two doubles and that would have sucked for us.
The person at the counter apologized for the mistake and gave us an upgrade to deluxe King size bed room with a pullout sofa and at no extra charge! I was quite happy at the great service so far and the woman at the front desk was very professional and explained how everything worked, including what to do in the morning. We were then escorted by the bellman who took us up to our room on the 5th floor and the elevators are such that you need your room key to get to the floor you're on. Very secure and the hotel was beautiful.
Here's the elevators and they're partially glass so you get a view going up and my kids thought it was beyond cool.
Here's the front of the hotel.
Here's the view from the hallway leading to our room.
Here's the view from the balcony in our room. It has these two patio style doors which are soundproof. When closed you didn't hear any noise from the jets taking off. Very impressive hotel and I really liked it.
More to come.
As we pulled up to the entrance of the MCO Hyatt, I looked forward to seeing the inside of the hotel for the first time. Our luggage was unloaded and I tipped Bob and we said our good byes. I received great service from him and the company he worked for and would recommend them to anyone. I proceeded to check in and there was a slight glitch. It seems when I booked the standard King bed room with 2 rollaway beds, using my AAA rate, the person who took my ressie didn't tell me that the room had a limit of 3 in that particular room. The other choice was a room with two doubles and that would have sucked for us.
The person at the counter apologized for the mistake and gave us an upgrade to deluxe King size bed room with a pullout sofa and at no extra charge! I was quite happy at the great service so far and the woman at the front desk was very professional and explained how everything worked, including what to do in the morning. We were then escorted by the bellman who took us up to our room on the 5th floor and the elevators are such that you need your room key to get to the floor you're on. Very secure and the hotel was beautiful.
Here's the elevators and they're partially glass so you get a view going up and my kids thought it was beyond cool.
Here's the front of the hotel.
Here's the view from the hallway leading to our room.
Here's the view from the balcony in our room. It has these two patio style doors which are soundproof. When closed you didn't hear any noise from the jets taking off. Very impressive hotel and I really liked it.
More to come.
disneyfan67
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- Joined
- Aug 8, 2004
It was about 7:45 pm when we got up to our room and settled in. My kids could see the rooftop pool and even though they swam for most of the day and were beat, they wanted to try it out.
Here they are by the sound proof doors I told you about.
Here's my wife near the king size bed getting ready to take the boys swimming for the last time.
Here's the boy's sofa bed.
Here's the entertainment center with surround sound system and fridge.
Here's the rooftop pool and it was pretty damn cool.
I let the kids swim for about an hour and had a helluva of time getting them up to the room. I knew that the 4:30 am wake up call was going to come real quick.
Here they are by the sound proof doors I told you about.
Here's my wife near the king size bed getting ready to take the boys swimming for the last time.
Here's the boy's sofa bed.
Here's the entertainment center with surround sound system and fridge.
Here's the rooftop pool and it was pretty damn cool.
I let the kids swim for about an hour and had a helluva of time getting them up to the room. I knew that the 4:30 am wake up call was going to come real quick.
disneyfan67
<br><img src=http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/im
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2004
We had a snack and it was time to go to bed. I have to say that this hotel room was the nicest room I stayed in all trip. The bathroom was huge and everything in the room was of high quality. The bed was great and I slept well, but the wake up call came quick and it was off to the races. FYI, once the door was closed, I didn't hear any outside noise and the room was damn near sound proof. My wife and I took quick showers and then got the boys ready. I didn't have to go to the front desk and did the express check out on the tv. We called bell services and the guy was at our door quick. He was very friendly and escorted us down to the American Airlines check in point and put our luggage on the weigh scale for us. He so nice and professional and I tipped him and he left us to go through security.
What great service and I loved the fact that we were already in the airport and no more running around to do. It took a lot of the pressure off of us doing it this way and I would stay at this hotel again. It's perfect for coming off a late night flight for a cruise the next day, or a early morning flight like we had. I give it an A+ and Disney should take some lessons from the staff at this airport Hyatt
After getting through security we got to our gate and had plenty of time so we got a light breakfast and then went back to wait for boarding. The flight was fine and we got back to Chicago with minimal hassles. It was back to the real world and I have to say it was a good vacation with a few exceptions, but otherwise a good time. Sorry for the long gap in finishing this report, but here it is all done and ready for you to read. Any questions?
What great service and I loved the fact that we were already in the airport and no more running around to do. It took a lot of the pressure off of us doing it this way and I would stay at this hotel again. It's perfect for coming off a late night flight for a cruise the next day, or a early morning flight like we had. I give it an A+ and Disney should take some lessons from the staff at this airport Hyatt
After getting through security we got to our gate and had plenty of time so we got a light breakfast and then went back to wait for boarding. The flight was fine and we got back to Chicago with minimal hassles. It was back to the real world and I have to say it was a good vacation with a few exceptions, but otherwise a good time. Sorry for the long gap in finishing this report, but here it is all done and ready for you to read. Any questions?
disneyfan67
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- Joined
- Aug 8, 2004
You can't go wrong with RPH and the pool hopping does come in handy.
Worfiedoodles
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 19, 2005
Thanks for the wrap-up! I really enjoyed your entire report! 
Maria
Maria
disneyfan67
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- Joined
- Aug 8, 2004
That's exactly how I did it and actually I got a heads up from here and it gave me the jump on it.
disneyfan67
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- Joined
- Aug 8, 2004
Thanks for the wrap-up! I really enjoyed your entire report!
Maria
I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope others did too.
Thanks, to bad they are not offering it this year. Oh well!
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