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Which On-site Hotel??
- Thread starter Kevlin
- Start date
crazydaveh
Active Member
They're all really nice. Portifino is the nicest and has three pools (I think). It has a "shopping area" and several restaurants. Great theming all around.
As for the pool area, I'd go with Hard Rock. It's a basic hotel with a Hard Rock theme, but the pool area is the best among the three hotels and it's the closest to the two parks. You can walk to the Studios side in about three minutes.
Royal Pacific is the best in value, but it's still as nice as Disney's high end resorts. The pool is nice and they have several great restaurants and bars at the hotel. It's nicely themed.
So, I'd say try the Hard Rock. With the age of your kids, you'd probably get most out of that resort than the others.
Good luck and have fun.
As for the pool area, I'd go with Hard Rock. It's a basic hotel with a Hard Rock theme, but the pool area is the best among the three hotels and it's the closest to the two parks. You can walk to the Studios side in about three minutes.
Royal Pacific is the best in value, but it's still as nice as Disney's high end resorts. The pool is nice and they have several great restaurants and bars at the hotel. It's nicely themed.
So, I'd say try the Hard Rock. With the age of your kids, you'd probably get most out of that resort than the others.
Good luck and have fun.
kcnole
Well-Known Member
It depends on what you're looking for. The Portofino is by far the nicest (and the most expensive). It has a much quieter type atmosphere than the others however and seems to be based as being more of a romantic type place than the others.
The Hard Rock is a lot of fun, especially if you like rock music and the pool is a lot of fun since it still has a slide on the pool and you can hear the music pumping even under the water. But if the rock and roll design or the constant rock music gets annoying to you it may not be for you.
I personally love the Royal Pacific. Its the cheapest of the three but is still absolutely beautiful. I love how you can see the Hulk and dr doom right from the pool area. It doesn't have a slide at this pool however like the other two do so if your kids want that then I don't recommend it. All three hotels are wonderfully designed, have great staff, good restaurants, and amazing rooms. And all of them give you express pass to the parks.
I'd recommend the Hard Rock since you're going with children, but you can't go wrong with any of them.
The Hard Rock is a lot of fun, especially if you like rock music and the pool is a lot of fun since it still has a slide on the pool and you can hear the music pumping even under the water. But if the rock and roll design or the constant rock music gets annoying to you it may not be for you.
I personally love the Royal Pacific. Its the cheapest of the three but is still absolutely beautiful. I love how you can see the Hulk and dr doom right from the pool area. It doesn't have a slide at this pool however like the other two do so if your kids want that then I don't recommend it. All three hotels are wonderfully designed, have great staff, good restaurants, and amazing rooms. And all of them give you express pass to the parks.
I'd recommend the Hard Rock since you're going with children, but you can't go wrong with any of them.
crazydaveh
Active Member
I believe a few of the rooms at the Portifino have them, but they are the super expensive suites. I seem to remember a few on the top level of the Hard Rock having them as well. The Hard Rock ones might be for show, but they look real.
Duchesse
New Member
Well, as stated, the Portofino is the most luxurious and most expensive and also the furthest away from the parks.
The Hard Rock is very nice and your kids will like the theming. However, the constant music does annoy some people and when we were there in 2006, the rooms were in definite need of some refurbishment. This resort has the shortest walk... Universal Studios is about 7 minutes I think.
During our 2006 stay, we did have dinner at the Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific and really loved it... so serene and beautiful. That is where we decided to stay for our upcoming trip in May. I should mention my kids are 10 and 12 and although they did really like the pool at Hard Rock, they too wanted to try the Royal Pacific. This resort is closer to IOA.
Hope that helps...
The Hard Rock is very nice and your kids will like the theming. However, the constant music does annoy some people and when we were there in 2006, the rooms were in definite need of some refurbishment. This resort has the shortest walk... Universal Studios is about 7 minutes I think.
During our 2006 stay, we did have dinner at the Tchoup Chop at the Royal Pacific and really loved it... so serene and beautiful. That is where we decided to stay for our upcoming trip in May. I should mention my kids are 10 and 12 and although they did really like the pool at Hard Rock, they too wanted to try the Royal Pacific. This resort is closer to IOA.
Hope that helps...
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
We stay a few nights at the hard Rock on every trip. Love the atmosphere, two good restaurants and usually something happening in the hotel entertainment wise.
Thanks everyone for your input. I have a few more questions.
Some have mentioned that the Hard Rock is noisy due to the music always playing. Does that noise carry into the rooms?
If we did stay at the Royal Pacific, could we try out the pool at Hard Rock?
Thanks,
Some have mentioned that the Hard Rock is noisy due to the music always playing. Does that noise carry into the rooms?
If we did stay at the Royal Pacific, could we try out the pool at Hard Rock?
Thanks,
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
No we have had rooms throughout the hotel and the only noise you may hear is the occasional excited kid running down a hall.
kcnole
Well-Known Member
All the rooms at Hard Rock went under a grand refurbishment last year.
As for a balcony, as mentioned the Portofino does have some, but they're in the very expensive suites.
As for pool hopping, I don't know if anyone would stop you or not. Its easy enough to get from resort to resort. Just hop a boat from your resort to citywalk, and then take the boat from there to the next resort.
I've always stayed at Royal Pacific and had a great time. The only downside I have is that I always wind up with a room with a view of I-4 which kind of destroys the theme of being out in the pacific somewhere.
If staying at any of the hotels , you can use any of the pools.
I have stayed at RPR and PBH, all the hotels are nice and would not hesitate booking any of them, but our favourite is the RPR, while it does not have a slide my DD who will be 12 when we go , tends to get bored with the slide after a while and would rather be in the pool with other kids. She even preferred the pool at RPR as opposed to the beach pool at PBH.
I have stayed at RPR and PBH, all the hotels are nice and would not hesitate booking any of them, but our favourite is the RPR, while it does not have a slide my DD who will be 12 when we go , tends to get bored with the slide after a while and would rather be in the pool with other kids. She even preferred the pool at RPR as opposed to the beach pool at PBH.