Loew
We took our big Christmas trip this past year to Orlando, Florida. We spent the first couple of days at the Loews Royal Pacific and then went on to Port Orleans Riverside at Disney World to finish off the trip. Since we were traveling with a large group (13 total) we knew we wanted an on-site hotel at Universal Studios for the convenience to the theme parks. Since we were going at the busiest time of year, I knew we were going to need Express Passes to be able to do the rides we wanted to do in the few short days we were there. I had been looking at the Cabana Bay Resort, it is Universal's lower priced option, and then tickets with Express Passes. I am glad I didn't stop there and assume we couldn't afford a nicer on-site resort. After factoring in that staying at their median or better resorts gets you FREE Express Passes, we were actually saving just a little bit of money, and staying at a nicer, closer resort! Stay with me as I highlight some of my favorite things about this resort below.
Early Admission to
Harry Potter
A big benefit to staying at an on-site hotel is the early admission to Harry Potter. These are the most popular areas in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I highly recommend utilizing this time to enjoy Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade without the massive crowding that takes place later in the day! Thankfully with our Express Passes we didn't have to wait long for any of the rides, so really take in the little shops and alley ways, and snap some awesome photos without a billion heads in the background!
Transportation
Getting to the parks and back to the hotel was so simple! Each day we took the boat to City Walk, this is the area directly in front of the park entrances. We never waited in line for more than 10 minutes, and they do bag checks before getting on the boat, so you get to skip that when you get to the parks! The ride is about 10 minutes or so, and if you are lucky like us you might get an awesome captain! We had a precious young lady the first night over who kept us laughing the whole way, it really set an enjoyable tone for the rest of our evening! You also have the option of walking back to the hotel, there is a beautiful pathway that leaves from City Walk and takes you back to the hotel, it follows the canal and has lots of greenery. The path is great if you want to hurry to the park or take a leisurely stroll. We have stayed off site on a past trip, and I can't say enough how much the convenience of being on-site is worth every penny!
The Pool
I don't know about your kids, but mine literally only care about swimming! It chaps my husbands hide, but it is what it is. The pool area at Loews Royal Pacific is awesome! The pool itself is huge, and heated so the kids were able to swim comfortably in December. There are cabanas and lounge chairs aplenty. I particularly enjoyed an area where there are lounge chairs nestled in white sand, I dug my toes in and enjoyed the free cucumber water that they were handing out! It just had a luxurious feeling to it all, I'm used to your run of the mill hotel pools, and this was leaps and bounds above that. There is a zero entry area that is great for little kids, there is also a fun splash area with water cannons and spouts. My girls enjoyed the volleyball net and playing keep away with the beach balls. I also have to brag on the lifeguards, they are very attentive. One noticed my son being upset because his sisters didn't want to play with him and she ordered him a smoothie, it was the sweetest thing. A real wow moment for this momma!
On-Site Dining
Loews Royal Pacific has a plethora of dining options, from sushi to hamburgers to buffets. I really wanted to eat at the Orchid Lounge, which serves sushi, but most of our party gagged at the idea. So we ended up at Jake's American Bar. Don't let the name fool you, it was very family friendly. Considering we were there during busy season, the wait was very reasonable, I think 30 minutes for all 13 of us. We did have to sit at separate tables, they were all right next to each other, so it still felt co-cohesive, but my husband and I got a little break from everyone. The menu was typical American food, my husband and I split the cheese fries, which were awesome, the fish and chips, also good, and I had the Key Lime dessert, just alright. The service was great, and fast. If you are looking for a simple meal, with foods that your kid will like, come here.
Comfy Rooms, Cookies, and Characters
The beds were so, so comfy, the rooms were spacious, and the bathrooms were pretty good too! I have no complaints about this hotel. It is a little spaced out, but I kind of enjoyed that, it feels much less crowded because of it. They had Minions roaming around the day we were checking out, my kids found that pretty cool! And, every day they passed out these yummy sugar cookies in the lobby. One thing I always remembered, as a kid, about the Doubletree Hotel is the cookies, so Loews Royal Pacific can now be added to that list! The staff, from check-in, to housekeeping, to the restaurant folks was suburb our entire stay. They always went above and beyond to make us comfortable!
Have you stayed at Loews Royal Pacific, what did you like or dislike about it?
