Just back from 7 nights at Hard Rock - Some thoughts

[flynnibus]

We did Discovery Cove a number of years ago and keep wanting to go back, but the daily price for a family of five is pretty daunting. The food and the service were outstanding though.

Yes, it's far too expensive to do on its own... But doing it with the 14 day pass and plans to visit the other parks makes it very workable.

The comment was more about people having their eyes opened. The wdw vacation experience is no longer a premium one

 

[21stamps]

You can buy the express pass anytime, but the sooner the better, they do sell out. So pick a day. If you go on Dec. 4th, you can get a Grinch Character Breakfast to start the day and end the evening with a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Concert. With Grinchmas and Macy's Parade in between.

If you want to do that, I'd get EP and Character Breakfast ressies asap.

The crowd calendar is what is holding me back. I really want the breakfast- I also really don't want a "red" crowd day. This wonderful surprise trip has become and absolute nightmare...and it's a self inflicted one.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

The crowd calendar is what is holding me back. I really want the breakfast- I also really don't want a "red" crowd day. This wonderful surprise trip has become and absolute nightmare...and it's a self inflicted one.

If you get Express Pass, you'll be OK. Just wear out the headliners on Black Friday.

 

[21stamps]

If you get Express Pass, you'll be OK. Just wear out the headliners on Black Friday.

I will be. But the question is- will a 6 year old be ok with 2 weeks of nonstop morning til night, without a meltdown?
I thought I learned my lesson after last year, promised myself to scale back on the over scheduling next time we did Disney.. It's now morphed into the same type of trip.

 

[danpam1024]

I will be. But the question is- will a 6 year old be ok with 2 weeks of nonstop morning til night, without a meltdown?
I thought I learned my lesson after last year, promised myself to scale back on the over scheduling next time we did Disney.. It's now morphed into the same type of trip.

I'm 39 and I can't do that much without a meltdown! It's supposed to be FUN- get out of commando mode and have FUN with it

 

[danpam1024]

Honestly, the times my son remembers most from the trips when he was tiny are the little family moments- in the pool, or ordering room service and watching a movie because we were tired, or chilling in the jaccuzi at night. It's never the rides, or shows, or characters, or parades. It's really not. Honest.

 

[rob0519]

Yes, it's far too expensive to do on its own... But doing it with the 14 day pass and plans to visit the other parks makes it very workable.

The comment was more about people having their eyes opened. The wdw vacation experience is no longer a premium one

I know we used to do Disney, Sea World and Uni all in one trip. Then as Disney prices went up we started dropping the other two. Went o Uni on our last trip and it was pretty nice.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I will be. But the question is- will a 6 year old be ok with 2 weeks of nonstop morning til night, without a meltdown?
I thought I learned my lesson after last year, promised myself to scale back on the over scheduling next time we did Disney.. It's now morphed into the same type of trip.

With 2 days with Express Pass you should be able to take things at a more leisurely rate. And on the 4th it would be several shows/parade. Grinchmas, Mannheim Steamroller, Macy's Parade, and The Blues Bros. Christmas Show can bring it down a notch. Walk over to CityWalk for a table service dinner (cough Cowfish cough) to chill a little while before the concert. Just because the parks are busy doesn't mean you have to knock yourselves out. By concert time it will be quite busy. Just hang off to the sides or back and enjoy.

 

[21stamps]

I'm 39 and I can't do that much without a meltdown! It's supposed to be FUN- get out of commando mode and have FUN with it

Oh I had my own meltdown at age 38 last year as well- right after my kid finished with his- on Day 3. He fell asleep, I went in the restroom and cried my eyes out. I called my mother and said "Why is MY KID CRYING???!!! He's 5, spending 9 nights at Disney- at the Polynesian, he's supposed to be HAPPY!! It's the happiest place on earth!!! I never cried at Disney when I was a kid!!!!" No, joke, I had completely unraveled.
Her response to me- "We didn't do 2 character meals per day. We didn't try to fit everything in to each day. Don't try to fit your entire life's experiences into his first trip, in the first few days. It's ok if he fell asleep during the fireworks, they're fireworks, and he's going to see them tomorrow too. He doesn't realize if he missed a parade, and he will still be a functioning happy 5 year if he misses that parade. So just slow down and it will get better."

I took her advice and the trip did get better.

Honestly, the times my son remembers most from the trips when he was tiny are the little family moments- in the pool, or ordering room service and watching a movie because we were tired, or chilling in the jaccuzi at night. It's never the rides, or shows, or characters, or parades. It's really not. Honest.

You're completely correct. When you ask my son what he loved about Disney- his first response- "The Volcano pool!"

I need to remember that during all of my current craziness.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Oh I had my own meltdown at age 38 last year as well- right after my kid finished with his- on Day 3. He fell asleep, I went in the restroom and cried my eyes out. I called my mother and said "Why is MY KID CRYING???!!! He's 5, spending 9 nights at Disney- at the Polynesian, he's supposed to be HAPPY!! It's the happiest place on earth!!! I never cried at Disney when I was a kid!!!!" No, joke, I had completely unraveled.
Her response to me- "We didn't do 2 character meals per day. We didn't try to fit everything in to each day. Don't try to fit your entire life's experiences into his first trip, in the first few days. It's ok if he fell asleep during the fireworks, they're fireworks, and he's going to see them tomorrow too. He doesn't realize if he missed a parade, and he will still be a functioning happy 5 year if he misses that parade. So just slow down and it will get better."

I took her advice and the trip did get better.

You're completely correct. When you ask my son what he loved about Disney- his first response- "The Volcano pool!"

I need to remember that during all of my current craziness.

Note to self: Pool Time!

 

[danpam1024]

Note to self: Pool Time!

With a fruity adult beverage served in a pineapple with a tiny umbrella in it

 

[21stamps]

Note to self: Pool Time!

Not in the winter!!!!! He can swim on excursions while we're on the cruise..Although I am dreading Castaway Cay's water temps.
I lived in SoFla most of my life, only time I'm swimming in winter is with a wet suit lol. It's the main reason we are staying at the Contemporary this trip- the pool will be easy to avoid, and definitely less inviting than a volcano slide.

With a fruity adult beverage served in a pineapple with a tiny umbrella in it

So the day that I would have to cut out to make holiday's at universal work, is the day he is going on a pirate cruise and I was planning on heading to the closest bar for an adult beverage lol

 

[squidward]

How do you reconcile these two points? Universal has surpassed Disney in terms of shopping but you don't like Disney Springs because it's high-end shopping?

Just because Disney Springs is high end, doesn't mean it's better. I suppose if you're into expensive clothes stores it is. I'm not. I personally find Universal shopping much more interesting and fun than Disney's.

 

[squidward]

How you do like the Hard Rock. I'm trying to convince the family to stay at a Universal Resort for all or part of our next trip. What are the rooms like? Are they closer to Deluxe or Moderate resorts at Disney? How easy is access to the parks from the resorts? Thanks for any information.

Hard Rock is awesome. Comparable to Disney Deluxes. Not as themed, but just as nice. Rooms are 375 square feet, which is just about the size of Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Club rooms. Access to parks is a breeze. 5 minute walk to the Studios.

 

[squidward]

Portofino is nicer than all the Disney Deluxes. Hard Rock and Royal Pacific are comparable to the Deluxes except the rooms are larger except the Poly and Contemporary.

I don't totally agree. I don't find Portofino to be as nice as the Grand Floridian, or as relaxing as the Poly. Plus, the fact that there are no laundry machines is ridiculous.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I don't totally agree. I don't find Portofino to be as nice as the Grand Floridian, or as relaxing as the Poly. Plus, the fact that there are no laundry machines is ridiculous.

I find Portofino Bay's service, services, and amenities far superior to The Grand Flo. They don't have laundry machines. They have an express laundry service available 6 days a week including holidays. At the Grand Flo pools they have a giant bin of towels and a giant hamper to drop them in when you leave. At Portofino Bay they have a pool concierge and a valet that escorts you to the chaise lounge of your choice and then wraps it in towels makes a towel pillow and lays a 4th towel at the foot to dry yourself with. 4 towels per person. They have citrus Ice Water everywhere including the pool. And they have no vending machines they have snacks in your room in the "Honor Bar". Keurig coffee makers are a nice touch. And some of my favorite and most relaxing theme park vacation times have been spent harborside at The Thirsty Fish with friends.

 

[Tom Morrow]

Manta is a great coaster. I just wish SeaWorld would always run both stations so you don't have to hang there for several minutes after your ride. It was designed with two stations because the loading process is too long to be completed by the time a train returns.

Why should Fun Spot be condemned?

Only the newest edition of Disney Springs feels like a high end mall, everything else that was already there just looks more upscale and classy now.

 

[squidward]

I find Portofino Bay's service, services, and amenities far superior to The Grand Flo. They don't have laundry machines. They have an express laundry service available 6 days a week including holidays. At the Grand Flo pools they have a giant bin of towels and a giant hamper to drop them in when you leave. At Portofino Bay they have a pool concierge and a valet that escorts you to the chaise lounge of your choice and then wraps it in towels makes a towel pillow and lays a 4th towel at the foot to dry yourself with. 4 towels per person. They have citrus Ice Water everywhere including the pool. And they have no vending machines they have snacks in your room in the "Honor Bar". Keurig coffee makers are a nice touch. And some of my favorite and most relaxing theme park vacation times have been spent harborside at The Thirsty Fish with friends.

Those are some good points. The service at the 3 Deluxe Universal Resorts are definitely a cut above Disney's. I just find the atmosphere, restaurants and rooms at the GF to be a cut above Portofino. The laundry service is also ridiculously expensive, as most hotels service is. You can do an entire load of laundry in machines for the cost of having 1 pair of socks and underwear done by the hotel.

 

[squidward]

Manta is a great coaster. I just wish SeaWorld would always run both stations so you don't have to hang there for several minutes after your ride. It was designed with two stations because the loading process is too long to be completed by the time a train returns.

Why should Fun Spot be condemned?

Only the newest edition of Disney Springs feels like a high end mall, everything else that was already there just looks more upscale and classy now.

The staff at Fun Spot were awful. So rude, we left because we felt uncomfortable.

That's the issue. The newest parts of Disney Springs (Landing, Town Center, Garages) are the largest part. It just lacks the Disney feel.

 

[danpam1024]

I don't know what it is with GF except it is really expensive. I have traveled many places in the world in high end hotels and I would never pay the price they ask for GF.

I just think people who have never been in a high end hotel think the place is great but they have no way to compare it to anything.

Just an example I have been here several times and I think it smokes just about anything Disney has.Service is great and it is a nice looking hotel.
http://aruba.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

This time of year a Regency Club room is like $400 a night.

Interesting just checked GF and it's about $420 a night for a standard room. All rooms are discounted in August for some reason.
Club level is $677 about a $300 a night discount.

Still high numbers but last time I checked the room rates were much higher.
If you want to check my numbers I looked up Aug. 7-Aug 13 2016.

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The good thing about having previously paid such ghastly prices for mediocre WDW hotels is when you do go somewhere else, you feel like you're getting a deal for better hotels The places we've stayed in SF were 1/2 the cost of WDW deluxes and leaps and bounds nicer. We have even staycationed and a Hyatt Regency where we live, concierge level, for MUCH less than a standard GF room. Granted, there's no castle or monorail, but it's right on the beach and the pool is AMAZING! I still don't understand why people pay the WDW hotel prices- it's robery.