Loews Royal Pacific Hotel...

[draybook]

Hold up, does it seriously cost extra to have a microwave and fridge in the room? I just noticed that in the red fine print on the package checkout page. I also noticed that it costs $18 a night to have your car parked there. Is this stuff for real?

I don't really mind the parking fee, but extra costs for a fricking fridge and microwave at what I consider to be at LEAST a moderate resort, if not a deluxe.

 

[StageFrenzy]

It's not hard btw. Any non pixie dusters that are willing to actually venture outside that "blessing of size" who want to get a free fridge just call star service and ask for a fridge to keep your meds cold or baby food. Works every time and as someone who knows how many fridges are on property don't feel bad they have plenty!

Parking does suck, many off property locations charge that much.

 

[BigTxEars]

Yep yep and yep. I stayed there (Royal Pacific) on business a couple of year ago. Nice location, close to Margaritaville

Stayed at the Hard Rock last summer for a week, same good location but close to US. This was on a family vacation.

But both charge for parking (I think it was $15 per night at that point) and although we did not rent a fridge or bed I do remember the cost was $25 per night for the bed. We had 5 in the room but the son slept on a homemade bed on the floor. We used the cushions from the room to build it. It was comfy too!

I would rate both as a high end moderate, with really good locations I do have to say I found both kinda blah on theming. I am not into music so the Hard Rock might be paradise for some, just not me. The pool was nice but again did not have the zing factor I had hoped for.

The boat to the parks was nice, the walk from either was not bad though. They had kids on those bike taxis as well you could ride on. I think it was like $5-$10 each way. Not sure we never used them but they were taking people back and forth a lot it seemed. You can cut thru the pool area to the walkway to the parks, it's a little e bit of a short cut.

One thing that kinda sucked, we drove the rental car to St Augustine one day (great place BTW) and when we got back that evening there was a concert at the Hard Rock, all the parking was taken. We could not park at our own hotel, that kinda sucked. We had reservations at that Pirate dinner thing on International Drive that night so we just drove there. When we got back we were able to park. I think they gave us free parking that night as compensation.


The best thing and the reason we stayed there instead of the Hyatt Place (much cheaper and I love the Hyatt Place rooms, they are awesome) was for the Express Pass. Well that and the Harry Potter early entry. The Express Pass is awesome, the HP entry was no big deal really, but still nice.

 

[disney4life2008]

Gotta be negative here, lol. I stayed at the Super 8 across Wet and Wild (which was literally a few minute walk to US) and I paid $35 a night with free parking and breakfast, lol

 

[StageFrenzy]

One thing that kinda sucked, we drove the rental car to St Augustine one day (great place BTW) and when we got back that evening there was a concert at the Hard Rock, all the parking was taken. We could not park at our own hotel, that kinda sucked. We had reservations at that Pirate dinner thing on International Drive that night so we just drove there. When we got back we were able to park. I think they gave us free parking that night as compensation.

There was a concert at the HRH? The Hard Rock Cafe and HR Live concert venue is between IOA and the Studios.

 

[draybook]

Well, the hook for us is being able to walk to the parks, the early entry, and the express pass.

 

[BigTxEars]

There was a concert at the HRH? The Hard Rock Cafe and HR Live concert venue is between IOA and the Studios.

Not sure where the concert itself was, the signs near the parking lot at the Hard Rock said "concert parking" and had arrows pointing to the lot entry points, there were cars parked all along the long drive way that circles to the front of the resort, I assumed that was valet parking. We were there 7 days and I never saw that many cars again.

It was no big deal, just found it odd we could not park at our own hotel. It did not cause us any issue though.

 

[BigTxEars]

Gotta be negative here, lol. I stayed at the Super 8 across Wet and Wild (which was literally a few minute walk to US) and I paid $35 a night with free parking and breakfast, lol

I forgot exactly what we paid, it was a package deal with tickets and all. But I bet it was $250 a night or so. We did go to Wet M Wild, it a pretty cool park. That Bombadier is very fun It's not up to BB to TL but it's fun.

 

[BigTxEars]

Well, the hook for us is being able to walk to the parks, the early entry, and the express pass.

Same with us. On the early Potter entry we found the best use was to hit the Wand Shop show first thing. Then FJ. Not sure if you have been to the Wand Shop show or not but it's pretty cool. Of course our son was selected which was cool but cost me $35 for the wand he was given

We did the 3 Broomsticks breakfast, I think it was $75 for 5 of us. I think it was overpriced myself. The theme is cool but the food not so great

I hear Mythos (I think that is the name) at IOA is a awesome restaurant, I want to eat there one day.

man now I want to ride Ripsaw Falls

 

[disney4life2008]

Same with us. On the early Potter entry we found the best use was to hit the Wand Shop show first thing. Then FJ. Not sure if you have been to the Wand Shop show or not but it's pretty cool. Of course our son was selected which was cool but cost me $35 for the wand he was given

We did the 3 Broomsticks breakfast, I think it was $75 for 5 of us. I think it was overpriced myself. The theme is cool but the food not so great

I hear Mythos (I think that is the name) at IOA is a awesome restaurant, I want to eat there one day.

man now I want to ride Ripsaw Falls

I second Mythos. For some reason I always say I am going to eat here - I lived in Orlando all last summer and still did not go. But I have heard nothing but great things about this place. I need to add it back to my list.

OMG Ripsaw Falls is AMAZING! I looooove water rides and Ripsaw is one of the best I been on. I know Splash Mountain gets a lot of love but there is no comparion here. Even Popeye ride trumps that awful thing at AK.

 

[draybook]

We've never done rhe selection show but the kids and the Mrs. All have 3 wands a piece or maybe it's 4.

 

[BigTxEars]

I second Mythos. For some reason I always say I am going to eat here - I lived in Orlando all last summer and still did not go. But I have heard nothing but great things about this place. I need to add it back to my list.

OMG Ripsaw Falls is AMAZING! I looooove water rides and Ripsaw is one of the best I been on. I know Splash Mountain gets a lot of love but there is no comparion here. Even Popeye ride trumps that awful thing at AK.

Oh yeah Ripsaw is better than SM, no doubt.

And that Popeye ride is from the devil! Man that things will get you wet, then soak you and finish you off with a nice bath.....but man that might be the most fun we have every had on a ride as a family. We still talk about it The one at AK is very mild in comparison. Just for the record the one at Fiesta Texas is awesome as well.

 

[BigTxEars]

We've never done rhe selection show but the kids and the Mrs. All have 3 wands a piece or maybe it's 4.

LOL I know the feelings, I think we came home with 5 wands this last trip. Gotta wonder what the margin is on a $35 rubber wand

Since we are talking Uni here are my favorites things

1. Ripsaw Falls ~ Just great. I think I could ride it everyday before going to bed
2. Poseidon Fury ~ Very well done, love the entire thing.
3. The Mummy ~ Yep it's awesome
4. Shrek 4D ~ Very cool, the Minon ride was better "tech" but I love the Shrek characters
5. Bluto & Popeye ~ Brutal but oh so fun.

I liked Forbidden Journey but it did not crack my top 5, but it a very cool ride.

 

[disney4life2008]

Oh yeah Ripsaw is better than SM, no doubt.

And that Popeye ride is from the devil! Man that things will get you wet, then soak you and finish you off with a nice bath.....but man that might be the most fun we have every had on a ride as a family. We still talk about it The one at AK is very mild in comparison. Just for the record the one at Fiesta Texas is awesome as well.

You are making me want to take some money out my savings and drive down to Orlando next week, lol. I always save Popeye for last knowing I will be soaked but with a ride that good - it is welcomed. AK is too mild for my personal taste and while you get wet - its like unnessary wet.

 

[BigTxEars]

You are making me want to take some money out my savings and drive down to Orlando next week, lol. I always save Popeye for last knowing I will be soaked but with a ride that good - it is welcomed. AK is too mild for my personal taste and while you get wet - its like unnessary wet.

Save $5 for that giant people dryer machine

 

[Harryo]

Does that thing actually work?

 

[StageFrenzy]

Does that thing actually work?

Yes, it does get you comparatively dry

 

[Scuttle]

Oh yeah Ripsaw is better than SM, no doubt.

And that Popeye ride is from the devil! Man that things will get you wet, then soak you and finish you off with a nice bath.....but man that might be the most fun we have every had on a ride as a family. We still talk about it The one at AK is very mild in comparison. Just for the record the one at Fiesta Texas is awesome as well.

Let's not get crazy. I love ripsaw as well, but better than Splash? Ehhh that's a bold statement.

 

[englanddg]

Let's not get crazy. I love ripsaw as well, but better than Splash? Ehhh that's a bold statement.

It's more of the thrill flume than Splash, much less of a total ride experience though.

 

[englanddg]

Hold up, does it seriously cost extra to have a microwave and fridge in the room? I just noticed that in the red fine print on the package checkout page. I also noticed that it costs $18 a night to have your car parked there. Is this stuff for real?

I don't really mind the parking fee, but extra costs for a fricking fridge and microwave at what I consider to be at LEAST a moderate resort, if not a deluxe.

Getting to the park is easy, so unless you really want to have a car, you don't need one whilst there. However, you will need to pay for transit to and from MCO.

But, it's annoying if you are driving down.

The hotel was nice. I'd rank it up there with a Deluxe at Disney, but yeah, no fridge, no microwave.