Compare the 3 onsite resorts at UNI

[jlsHouston]

I'm just kind of thinking maybe this summer instead of 2 weeks at WDW, doing a week there and a week at UNI..I am browsing the UNI site right now...which resort would I pick ? Hard Rock ? We have been staying deluxe for the past year and a half at WDW, love the EPCOT resorts and have stayed at the POLY, WL and AKL. Loved those too. Loved CSR for moderate, hated CBR. I could use some input on the 3 onsite options for UNI.

 

[danpam1024]

We stayed at PBR when it first opened and had a horrible experience. So horrible, in fact, we received a week (with park tickets) for FREE! That stay was nearly as bad. Now that was when it FIRST opened MANY years ago. Haven't tried it since (I tend to hold a grudge). It is the farthest away from the parks.
We ADORE HRH. in the past 4 years probably have stayed there 20 times. Blows Disney deluxes out of the water in upkeep, style, service, amenities, etc. Not to mention it is cheaper than a Disney Deluxe. (I have stayed at BC, YC, BW, WL- I have a very hard time how Disney continues to charge those astronomical rates-IMO EMH aren't worth it! I guess people still pay.) The pool is so relaxing and fun for the kid at the same time. I can't say enough about the place. The only con is we are vegan and there's not much for us to eat there.
Never stayed at RP, but plan to very soon.
CBR looks like it will be nice, but without the perk of EP, we will most likely pass unless it is off peak.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

We have stayed at Portofino Bay for the past 2 years and we love the place. Particularly their deluxe rooms that overlook the harbor. It blows away the Disney Deluxes in every aspect.

Actually all 3 of the current resorts are superior to the Disney Deluxes. Loews does a great job in terms of service and amenities. I personally rarely use in-room coffee makers. But a Keurig with Emeril's Big Easy K-Cups will suffice.

 

[flyerjab]

This to me would be one of the worst places to look for advice on this topic. This site contains some of the most polarized views of WDW and Uni that I have ever come across. I would go to TripAdvisor or some other travel site and see what people have to say. What I have found on some of those sites is that Hard Rock compares equally to Disney Deluxe Hotels in terms of everything but price. Disney prices are waaayyyy steeper. The Loews hotels never seem to rate as high as the Hard Rock or the Disney Deluxes. Oddly enough, one of the things I have noticed is that Disney's Wilderness Lodge always rates extremely high.

 

[tirian]

I'm just kind of thinking maybe this summer instead of 2 weeks at WDW, doing a week there and a week at UNI..I am browsing the UNI site right now...which resort would I pick ? Hard Rock ? We have been staying deluxe for the past year and a half at WDW, love the EPCOT resorts and have stayed at the POLY, WL and AKL. Loved those too. Loved CSR for moderate, hated CBR. I could use some input on the 3 onsite options for UNI.

Are you planning to see other local sights for that second week? Uni will only take 3 days to do everything multiple times.

You'll be happiest with the Hard Rock.

 

[englanddg]

I'm just kind of thinking maybe this summer instead of 2 weeks at WDW, doing a week there and a week at UNI..I am browsing the UNI site right now...which resort would I pick ? Hard Rock ? We have been staying deluxe for the past year and a half at WDW, love the EPCOT resorts and have stayed at the POLY, WL and AKL. Loved those too. Loved CSR for moderate, hated CBR. I could use some input on the 3 onsite options for UNI.

Hard Rock is the closest to the parks.

Portofino Bay is excellently themed, but is the farthest.

They offer water taxi transit to the parks that drops you off across from the big Universal ball.

The hotels are all pretty nice (stayed at one, Royal Pacific, but walked all three), and I would say the roomsare equivalent to a Disney deluxe, if not slightly nicer. The hotels themselves feel more like hotels than the Disney Resorts from the outside, but once you get back into the hallways to the rooms it is not much different than Animal Kingdom Lodge or Wilderness Lodge. Long hallways with ugly carpeting.

I really don't think you can do wrong with any of them. I would look at price and proximity to the park. Royal Pacific had a very nice aura to it, and felt secluded even though we were a five minute walk to the front gates.

We enjoyed our stay.

 

[Scuttle]

Beware of Rpr. I think it's a great hotel, but it hasn't had major overhaul since it opened over a decade ago. There a leaks mildew smelling rooms and tower 2 fourth floor use t be the smoking section and hasn't been refurbed since. Not trying scare you away, but if you want a newer feel go with Portofino as they just put over 2 million into its refurb.

 

[HTF]

I've stayed at the Royal Pacific about a dozen times and I've never had a bad experience. That being said its my favorite, but the Portofino is indeed amazing and probably the nicest hotel at a theme park resort in Orlando.

 

[Hot Lava]

I too have stayed at the RP. It has been awhile, but we liked it very much. The main driver was that it was the cheapest of the Uni resorts, but we thought it was very nice. Dollar value wise, I think you are getting more for your money with the Uni resort hotels over the WDW hotels.

I guess for me, comparing Uni and WDW hotels is apples and oranges. You are not just comparing 10 hotels in Orlando to see which is best, fits your budget, location, etc. But you are comparing apples and oranges. For WDW, you want to stay in the "bubble". You are paying for the WDW experience...which Disney knows and for which is charging an arm and a leg. For me, the main reason to stay at a Uni hotel is the Express Pass. Otherwise, we would stay elsewhere for less money.

But just comparing room quality, I would agree with those who state the Uni rooms are as nice as, and more so, most WDW Deluxe rooms.

I do think this is a good place to come and get advice. You are going to find bias everywhere. But I also look everywhere to find opinions and reviews. Every site or review aggregator is imperfect, so the more places you go to look, the better chance you have to suss out the best and most reliable information about a place.

 

[Scuttle]

I too have stayed at the RP. It has been awhile, but we liked it very much. The main driver was that it was the cheapest of the Uni resorts, but we thought it was very nice. Dollar value wise, I think you are getting more for your money with the Uni resort hotels over the WDW hotels.

I guess for me, comparing Uni and WDW hotels is apples and oranges. You are not just comparing 10 hotels in Orlando to see which is best, fits your budget, location, etc. But you are comparing apples and oranges. For WDW, you want to stay in the "bubble". You are paying for the WDW experience...which Disney knows and for which is charging an arm and a leg. For me, the main reason to stay at a Uni hotel is the Express Pass. Otherwise, we would stay elsewhere for less money.

But just comparing room quality, I would agree with those who state the Uni rooms are as nice as, and more so, most WDW Deluxe rooms.

I do think this is a good place to come and get advice. You are going to find bias everywhere. But I also look everywhere to find opinions and reviews. Every site or review aggregator is imperfect, so the more places you go to look, the better chance you have to suss out the best and most reliable information about a place.

It's hard to say. At disney everything is in included in the overpriced hotel rates. RPR is much cheaper, but they do nickle and dime you. Don't forget they charge for parking, refrigerator,microwaves, gym and they even went as low as to start charging for extra coffee.

 

[danpam1024]

It's hard to say. At disney everything is in included in the overpriced hotel rates. RPR is much cheaper, but they do nickle and dime you. Don't forget they charge for parking, refrigerator,microwaves, gym and they even went as low as to start charging for extra coffee.

Coffee???? HRH has NEVER charged us extra for coffee, shampoo, I even needed a sewing kit and razor and it was complimentary as well. Disney is the ONLY place that seems NOT to charge for parking, so I just add that to the "price of the room" when at Uni. I never paid for the gym either. And trust me, I go over my portfolio like a maniac! Even with the extras, I still feel you get more for your $ at the Uni resorts in comparison to Disney Deluxes.

 

[Hot Lava]

It's hard to say. At disney everything is in included in the overpriced hotel rates. RPR is much cheaper, but they do nickle and dime you. Don't forget they charge for parking, refrigerator,microwaves, gym and they even went as low as to start charging for extra coffee.

gyms?!?! These Orlando park resorts have gyms?!
Who uses them? Who has the additional time or energy after schlepping all over the parks all day? Must be Ironman competitor types.

True enough about the parking at Universal. I do dislike that. I don't recall about appliances, although last I was there I probably didn't really care as much about those. We were open to close people, and ate at the restaurants. Now it would be good to keep in mind.
But thanks to the Express Pass, it would be hard to dissuade me from staying at one of the Uni hotels. But I was very impressed with how nice the rooms were. The room rates for comparable rooms at WDW are way more at WDW, regardl

 

[Doctor Cash]

Based on my experience I would avoid all of the Universal/Lowes hotels. When I worked at Hard Rock in 2004, all three resorts had serious cases of bedbugs. I would stay off site myself.

 

[Scuttle]

Based on my experience I would avoid all of the Universal/Lowes hotels. When I worked at Hard Rock in 2004, all three resorts had serious cases of bedbugs. I would stay off site myself.

I can confirm there's been cases of bedbugs at RPR, but every hotel has had bedbugs some time or another.

 

[Scuttle]

Coffee???? HRH has NEVER charged us extra for coffee, shampoo, I even needed a sewing kit and razor and it was complimentary as well. Disney is the ONLY place that seems NOT to charge for parking, so I just add that to the "price of the room" when at Uni. I never paid for the gym either. And trust me, I go over my portfolio like a maniac! Even with the extras, I still feel you get more for your $ at the Uni resorts in comparison to Disney Deluxes.

I agree, but the coffee thing is absurd. They give you one decaf and two regular per room. Just go to the Bellstand they will give you as many as you want. We don't follow that ridiculous new rule.

 

[flynnibus]

How much you are willing to spend would be the biggest factor IMO

Royal Pacific is nice... but it reminded me of a convention hotel and food isn't cheap.
The other two are intended to be upgrades in setting/theme. None are the Ritz... but all exceed a Holiday Inn (something Disney's values can't say).

 

[Doctor Cash]

I can confirm there's been cases of bedbugs at RPR, but every hotel has had bedbugs some time or another.

I know for a fact all 3 had them, and had them badly. Staff turnover was terrible and everyone sported red scratches all over. Unless the hotels have been fumigated, cleaned with bleach and all new everything, I'll never set foot in any of them as long as I live.

 

[Scuttle]

I know for a fact all 3 had them, and had them badly. Staff turnover was terrible and everyone sported red scratches all over. Unless the hotels have been fumigated, cleaned with bleach and all new everything, I'll never set foot in any of them as long as I live.

Ya that's what you get when housekeepers are assigned 16 rooms and they make 8.25 an hour. It's a joke. The housekeepers in Vegas start at 15.00 an hour most places.

 

[Doctor Cash]

Ya that's what you get when housekeepers are assigned 16 rooms and they make 8.25 an hour. It's a joke. The housekeepers in Vegas start at 15.00 an hour most places.

I wish I got 8.25 back then. I think I got 7. Not to say it still happens today, but housekeeping did have its perks.

 

[Scuttle]

I wish I got 8.25 back then. I think I got 7. Not to say it still happens today, but housekeeping did have its perks.

Elaborate please..