Recommendation for a Hotel

[TomHendricks]

We're going to the Orlando area for a few days in August and we're considering staying at or near Universal Studios and skipping WDW completely. I've only been to US twice, so I'm a novice in planning for a visit there.

What I'm looking for is a recommendation for a hotel that is at or near US but can accommodate our large family of two adults and three kids. I'm really looking for a two bedroom or large one bedroom, being close to the park is optimal. Of course price is always key, but will consider all options.

 

[GLaDOS]

I'd recommend looking into Cabana Bay's suites. They're usually moderately priced, have a bed room with 2 queen beds and a living room area with a pull out couch. It's on property and is a quick bus ride or walk to the parks. It has a lazy river and two pools.

 

[belledream]

We just got back from a stay in a Cabana Bay Suite basically as a party of 4 adults. It was well equipped with a kitchenette, 2 TVs (one by the beds, one by the living area), a pullout couch and arm chair. Good amount of drawers for storage. The bathroom was split and had one room with the toilet, the other room with the tub/sink, and another sink in between the two rooms. The closet was a little on the small side, but for a short trip, we left most of our things in the suitcase. The only thing I didn't like was that there was no balcony, just a window wall (which was cool - but still).

The walk to Universal wasn't the shortest, but it was definitely manageable. The walk to the bus stops is almost just as long so yeah, we walked most of the time. Note that there is no water taxi service to Cabana Bay as there is to the other Universal hotels.

I have stayed at Pacific Royal once before but we had a standard room there and I don't know anything about suites there. But in terms of theming/location, I liked it more. The walk seems much closer, the water taxi is nice, and you get the Express Pass for free as a guest of the hotel. Cabana Bay you don't. But we spent most of our time at the parks this time focusing on Harry Potter, and the Express Pass is useless for that anyways. So we went with Cabana for the cheapness.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Tom how old are your kids? Cabana Bay is great..obviously Hard Rock or Royal would give you the Express Pass which might be needed in the summer. Age of kids is big factor imo

 

[TomHendricks]

Kids ages are 6, 4 & 2

 

[JediMasterMatt]

While Cabana Bay is a really good value, you really can't beat the value that is the Unlimited Express Pass while a Universal. Time is the most valuable commodity while on vacation and the value you get from the "free" Unlimited Express is unmatched. Royal Pacific Resort is a cheapest of the current roster that offers it.

What you should consider doing to maximize your value is decide how many days you plan on visiting the Universal parks and then use the perk to your advantage. You get early entry and the unlimited pass on BOTH your arrival and departure dates.

So let's say you plan on spending 4 days at the parks, you could do just 2 nights at the resort. Check in early (before the parks open) on day one, spend the night at the resort, check out and go back to the parks that day, spend that night at a different off property location, and then check back in on day 3 and repeat the process.

 

[JillC LI]

I agree that Royal Pacific is the least expensive onsite resort that gives you the Express Pass option (and it is beautiful and far more luxurious than a WDW Value resort). I don't know what they have in terms of availability for a family of five though.

 

[squidward]

I agree that Royal Pacific is the least expensive onsite resort that gives you the Express Pass option (and it is beautiful and far more luxurious than a WDW Value resort). I don't know what they have in terms of availability for a family of five though.

All standard rooms sleep 5.

 

[DVCOwner]

I find it funny that you are on a Walt Disney World fan site, not going to Walt Disney World, wanting to stay near Universal Studios, and are asking fans in this site where to stay. If there not a Universal Studios web site that might get you better information.

 

[GLaDOS]

I find it funny that you are on a Walt Disney World fan site, not going to Walt Disney World, wanting to stay near Universal Studios, and are asking fans in this site where to stay. If there not a Universal Studios web site that might get you better information.

Yes, what a dumb idea to go to the Universal section of a website to ask for advice on Universal.

 

[JediMasterMatt]

I find it funny that you are on a Walt Disney World fan site, not going to Walt Disney World, wanting to stay near Universal Studios, and are asking fans in this site where to stay. If there not a Universal Studios web site that might get you better information.

Sorry, I couldn't hear you over all the Pixie Dust twinkling.

What I find funny is that there is a News and Rumors message board for WDW on this site that over the last several years contains very little positive "news" and very few "rumors" that gain any traction and yet people still go to it every day and read the threads with such optimism. Hasn't the harsh reality of the last decade plus taught us anything?

Many of us look for quality wherever it is being served. Whether it is a few miles down I-4 or across the country in Anaheim. Life is far to short to wait, hope, and pray that WDW can return to some semblance of its former self and deserves the loyalty that many bestow upon it.

 

[surfsupdon]

Get a room or suite at Royal Pacific. Just returned.

Very short walk to both parks, AND the unlimited express pass was AMAZING! It was so refreshing to ride rides when I wanted to, spur of the moment, without planning, and never have to ever wait in long lines.

The Unlimited Express was well worth the stay at Royal Pacific, which was indeed a very nice hotel.

 

[TomHendricks]

I find it funny that you are on a Walt Disney World fan site, not going to Walt Disney World, wanting to stay near Universal Studios, and are asking fans in this site where to stay. If there not a Universal Studios web site that might get you better information.

Looks at what section of Disney Magic this is, confirms it's the Universal Studios section. Re-reads your post, to make sure it is as insipid as it really is, yup the statement is barely above functional brain activity.

I'm a DVC member, so we usually stay at DVD locations. In fact I'll be at Bay Lake Tower in three days, I see you'll be staying somewhere in 6 days. Hopefully not at Bay Lake Tower, hate to get behind you when you try to order food at Contempo Cafe. Probably be there for hours as you try to understand the menu, don't worry they have pictures.

So if you are only about things Disney, why are you even in this section? What compelled you to come in here? What compelled you to comment on my request for help finding a good hotel to stay at? Do you have actual help to provide? Doubt it.

Just to let you know, the reason we are considering stay at a Universal Studios hotel is because we're going on a Disney Cruise. When we come down, we almost never go to US. Not because we don't like US, but we like staying at WDW more. However we decided to fly in two nights early and just stay at US, just to shake things up a little.

There are people who can enjoy both WDW and US, without it being anything more then that. So run back to your narrow minded little piece of Disney Magic.

 

[squidward]

I find it funny that you are on a Walt Disney World fan site, not going to Walt Disney World, wanting to stay near Universal Studios, and are asking fans in this site where to stay. If there not a Universal Studios web site that might get you better information.

Is this a joke?

 

[danpam1024]

HRH Kid Suite!!!!

 

[Disneydreamer23]

Simply can't press like bc I love this comment lol!! Yes, what a dumb idea to go to the Universal section of a website to ask for advice on Universal.

[/QUOTE]

 

[TomHendricks]

So to get a little more help, I'm thinking between the Despicable Me Kids Suite at Portofino Bay Hotel & the Jurassic Park Kids Suite at Royal Pacific Resort. We're flying in on Saturday August 15th early in the morning and leaving for Disney Cruise on Monday, August 17th. We want to spend one day just at the Hotel to relax before our cruise. (This is our very first cruise and we're nervous.) So we are thinking hitting the park right after checking in on Saturday. I guess what I really want to ask is for Sunday, which Hotel offers the better stuff like relaxing stuff for mom & dad and pool for the kids?

 

[danpam1024]

The pool at HRH is the best! Tons of entertainment for the kiddos and a great slide. No slide at RPR, which is important to the kids. The party continues into the night with glowing floating stuff. We sometimes just sit there all day. I find PBR to be too far away and the resort to be too large and the pool too small. The rooms are very nice though. Never stayed at RPR, can't convince my peeps to leave the HRH. Kid suites are the only way to go

 

[danpam1024]

So to get a little more help, I'm thinking between the Despicable Me Kids Suite at Portofino Bay Hotel & the Jurassic Park Kids Suite at Royal Pacific Resort. We're flying in on Saturday August 15th early in the morning and leaving for Disney Cruise on Monday, August 17th. We want to spend one day just at the Hotel to relax before our cruise. (This is our very first cruise and we're nervous.) So we are thinking hitting the park right after checking in on Saturday. I guess what I really want to ask is for Sunday, which Hotel offers the better stuff like relaxing stuff for mom & dad and pool for the kids?

The pool at PBR isn't great, if you are taking HRH out of the equation, I'd go with RPR. It's also closer to the parks/ City Walk. The mini golf is fun at night as well

 

[DVCOwner]

Looks at what section of Disney Magic this is, confirms it's the Universal Studios section. Re-reads your post, to make sure it is as insipid as it really is, yup the statement is barely above functional brain activity.

I'm a DVC member, so we usually stay at DVD locations. In fact I'll be at Bay Lake Tower in three days, I see you'll be staying somewhere in 6 days. Hopefully not at Bay Lake Tower, hate to get behind you when you try to order food at Contempo Cafe. Probably be there for hours as you try to understand the menu, don't worry they have pictures.

So if you are only about things Disney, why are you even in this section? What compelled you to come in here? What compelled you to comment on my request for help finding a good hotel to stay at? Do you have actual help to provide? Doubt it.

Just to let you know, the reason we are considering stay at a Universal Studios hotel is because we're going on a Disney Cruise. When we come down, we almost never go to US. Not because we don't like US, but we like staying at WDW more. However we decided to fly in two nights early and just stay at US, just to shake things up a little.

There are people who can enjoy both WDW and US, without it being anything more then that. So run back to your narrow minded little piece of Disney Magic.

As you are, I am also a Disney Vacation Club member. I come to this web site for general information on planning my next trip to Walt Disney World. When I saw a general tile on a posting "Recommendation for a Hotel" under the tab New Post, I was thinking Walt Disney World Hotels. I guess I should have looked at the fine print to see in was posted under Universal Studios and I would have skipped the post.

Many of the people on this site seem to have a good knowledge of Walt Disney World, what many consider inside information. I would think that a sight that is about Universal Studios would have the same. Also people on that site would most likely go to Universal more often than people on a site about Walt Disney World. Not saying what anyone is doing something wrong, but I just find it interesting without calling anyone a Pixie Duster or implying that they cannot read.

I guess I am just asking the question why would one feel they get better information about Universal Studios Hotels from a Walt Disney World site then they would from a Universal Studio site? I think that is a fare question.