Review of my Universal/Seaworld trip staying at the Royal Pacific Resort...
A very nice hotel!! We received absolutely EXCEPTIONAL service at every turn, really quite exceeding Disney. (this has been somewhat marred by a billing mistake that caused me some stress and may not be quite sorted out yet). The room I think felt a little smaller than our room at POR, and less storage space, but much newer. Lots of usb ports and plug ins, and very nice shower area (although a curtain would be appreciated - and only one sink. included a mini fridge and they kept giving us bottles of water (for free! lol). We stayed club level, so maybe that is why, but we must have gotten a really good rate, because the price we paid was LESS than the price for an equivalent Non-Club room at the time we actually travelled. The lounge made it really, really worthwhile- breakfast there every morning, and their "evening snacks" served as supper every night. Free wine doesn't hurt my feelings either.
Service - I had ordered a package (mostly with an air mattress for daughter) to be sent ahead of time. We arrived on Saturday and the business center was not going to be open again until Monday, but "Lindsey" went with a security guard to look anyway. For some reason my NAME was also not on the package (my mistake or Amazons) but she called me for the tracking number and got it right to me! So appreciated. We took a cab a couple of days to go off site, and they pop you right into one with complimentary bottles of ice cold water for the trip. (I did calculate that their town cars were about $5.00 per trip more than a taxi, but for the 2 trips we took in one we didn't mind and the service was great). The folks in the concierge lounge were also wonderful, coming around to refill my wine glass more times that I should have said yes ;-) AND when you have packages sent back to the resort, they actually deliver them right to your room, instead of you having to pick them up at the store like in Disney.
Pool is very nice but we did NOT like the automatic gratuity added to the bill at the poolside restaurant. we tip, but don't like being forced to! But they'll actually serve you right at poolside - any time we went down there they'd come ask if we wanted anything.
But we didn't go there for the hotel, did we? So here is about the actual parks - with our unlimited express passes both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure were a breeze - we did absolutely everything, and all between the hours of about 9-3 each day. We got to go on attractions that we hadn't been willing to wait in line for in the past, so I felt very, very satisfied. I'm also sick to death of motion simulators, which feels like mostly what Studios has. The new Diagon Alley area is superb, and Escape from Gringotts is a good ride although a little short. Hands down the best ride in both parks, in my opinion, is still the Mummy. We ate at the Leaky Cauldron in Studios and found the food very, very good (much moreso than you expect to find in a Quick Service in a theme park). I love the system where they find you a table and bring you your food. We skipped Three Broomsticks after learning it wasn't as well run, and had lunch at Mythos instead when we went to Islands. It was good, although FREEZING cold since we were soaked to the bone. Oh yeah, both days were spent sloshing around up to our ankles.
Day 3 we did Discovery Cove and thank goodness it was actually a lovely day right up until a gigantic thunderstorm drove everyone out of the park at 4:00. (by the way HOW THE HECK can they sell me ONE single photo for $50, and then tell me they can't find me a plastic bag to put it in? I got the "we are an eco park" line and said "Really? Because you have ROLLS of plastic bags in all the bathrooms, and nothing but plastic dishes and cups all around the resort...". But aside from that it was an absolutely AMAZING day!! Considering it gets you admission to Sea World, and food and drinks all day, it really isn't as bad a price as it sounds at first glance. And we found there is so much too do! Even if you don't do the dolphin swim (daughter did, since she can't really remember doing it when she was 10. Hubby and I skipped it, and thus saved $100 each). That said, we have heard some people say it is "boring" because there are no rides and "nothing to do but look at animals". I suppose that is true of snorkelling among gorgeous rays and tropical fish, and swimming through paradise - right through an aviary with birds that will land in your hand- and watching marmosets and river otters from a lounger right in the water with a drink in your hand - is "doing nothing". :-)
Day 4 Seaworld and it was HOT and MUGGY and did I say I minded the rain? I would have welcomed some. It was really much more crowded than I would have expected - good thing I don't really go there for the rides , as the lines were super long. I'd spring for the "Quick Queue" (express pass) if that was important to me. I love the shows - and I think my favourite was actually the dolphin show. It's kind of not the same with the Orcas now that the trainers aren't allowed in the water (don't get started on Blackfish - I have a daughter than works at the Vancouver Aquarium, and I think that movie was mighty misleading, but I know that a lot of people do have strong feelings about animal acts). Clyde and Seamore still cute, although I liked the old story line (Pirates) better than the new one (Pinniped High). If you do Seaworld but skip the small animal show because they are ordinary - don't! We really, really enjoyed that one. Amazing what they can get a cat to do ! It was a very full day and we honestly didn't get to do and see everything we wanted to. We did the Quick Service "eat all day" meal plan, and I'm not sure I can recommend it - it was convenient BUT doesn't include all the eateries - so you spend some time looking for one that is on plan, and MOST of the food was really NOT very good at all.
And I guess that's it - but I'd be happy to answer any questions if anyone wants to know more about the parks or the resort.
