wdwrule
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2013
Ahhhh Mardi Gras. Such a blast at Universal! I feel like I just finished up a trip report or two that took place during this special seasonal event, but we just really enjoy it so we visited yet again for a quick weekend trip.
This time it was just hubby and myself. DS is away at college and DD who is also in college, commutes and enjoyed the quiet time at home.
We were really looking forward to the Mardi Gras music, vibe, entertainers, food and hopefully float riding again! But more than that, we couldn’t wait to experience the rides again and to simply take in the amazing atmosphere of Universal.
Our hotel reservation was at Aventura… again. Haha I laugh because I never thought I’d stay here due to the drab decor but it is now one of our favorites especially for the price and we’ve stayed at every Universal hotel except Surfside. Dockside has an awesome family suite with three actual beds (no pull-outs). I really like that room set up which includes a separate closed off bedroom. Cabana Bay has a great vibe but we’re not big fans of their dark, dated rooms and humongous footprint. It’s such a fun place though! Sapphire Falls is gorgeous and their pool is excellent… love Strong Water too. The three premiere resorts are all lovely in their own way and each has its own personality. And of course included unlimited EPs! Portofino is probably my favorite of the three due to its charm and beauty. I feel like it’s a separate vacation from the parks.
We find that Aventura is priced consistently at a very reasonable price (with AP discount). Because we visit frequently this makes our trips more doable. So lately, we find we stay here more often than the others. We enjoy the full service Starbucks, the open and expansive food court area, the great variety of entrees at the food court, the views from the floor to ceiling windows in the rooms, and the list goes on and on. I’m still not a fan of the drab decor but I guess it’s supposed to be sleek and modern which they’ve achieved.
Upon checking in very late Friday night, we were surprised at getting theme park view. Nice! You really can’t go wrong with views at this resort, especially mid to high floors. Here was our view this time:
Here were some close-ups I took later during the trip:
To be continued…
This time it was just hubby and myself. DS is away at college and DD who is also in college, commutes and enjoyed the quiet time at home.
We were really looking forward to the Mardi Gras music, vibe, entertainers, food and hopefully float riding again! But more than that, we couldn’t wait to experience the rides again and to simply take in the amazing atmosphere of Universal.
Our hotel reservation was at Aventura… again. Haha I laugh because I never thought I’d stay here due to the drab decor but it is now one of our favorites especially for the price and we’ve stayed at every Universal hotel except Surfside. Dockside has an awesome family suite with three actual beds (no pull-outs). I really like that room set up which includes a separate closed off bedroom. Cabana Bay has a great vibe but we’re not big fans of their dark, dated rooms and humongous footprint. It’s such a fun place though! Sapphire Falls is gorgeous and their pool is excellent… love Strong Water too. The three premiere resorts are all lovely in their own way and each has its own personality. And of course included unlimited EPs! Portofino is probably my favorite of the three due to its charm and beauty. I feel like it’s a separate vacation from the parks.
We find that Aventura is priced consistently at a very reasonable price (with AP discount). Because we visit frequently this makes our trips more doable. So lately, we find we stay here more often than the others. We enjoy the full service Starbucks, the open and expansive food court area, the great variety of entrees at the food court, the views from the floor to ceiling windows in the rooms, and the list goes on and on. I’m still not a fan of the drab decor but I guess it’s supposed to be sleek and modern which they’ve achieved.
Upon checking in very late Friday night, we were surprised at getting theme park view. Nice! You really can’t go wrong with views at this resort, especially mid to high floors. Here was our view this time:
Here were some close-ups I took later during the trip:
To be continued…