As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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I cannot even come close to making a decision over these two resorts. I have two kids a 16 year old girl and a 6 year old boy. I think the 16 year old would love HRH and although the 6 year old probably wouldn't care either way, I'm wondering about the splash pad play area at RP, although I'm sure he would love the slide at HR. Do the resorts have playgrounds? Myself, I would love either one.......although I may prefer the theme of PR a little more. What about restaurants - does either hotel have a more kid friendly eatery? We will be spending a day or two at the hotel during the trip. AHHH, help....opinions please!!!!!
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PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 36,592
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I've only stayed in HRH, but did do a walk through RPR and took a look inside a room being cleaned.
My take is this, HRH's rooms are bigger and brighter (whites/light green as compared to red/browns in room decor). (However, the walls at HRH are really thin and I could hear too much from a room next door!.....have no idea about RPR.)
The pools probably compare in size, but I think the HRH pool wins as a better pool. The walk to the parks from HRH is a bit closer and very convenient...but they both have walking paths and boat service.
The lobby and restaurants at RPR win in my eyes. It's a very inviting resort. I am more of a tropical kind of person and definitely not much of a rocker.
I don't actually remember seeing a real playground, although there might have been one by the RPR pool area. But if it's there....it didn't have much to offer.
I did decide at the time (several years ago) that I thought my family would really like the RPR theme, but now that my kids are older (and bigger), I think if we stay there that HRH might get our business because of the larger room space. But since RPR is actually cheaper, they might win out financial-wise. See, I can't decide either!
Thanks for your thoughts on the two, HiddenMickey. After calling Universal and checking the rates on the website I decided to go with RPR after finding that the rate was $58 less per night than HRH! I got a supersaver rate at RPR of $171/night (on the website - when I asked about this rate on the phone they knew nothing about it, or so she said!) and the cheapest room at HRH was an obstructed view room at $229. Quickest decision I've ever made when it comes to vacations - just decided this morning that I was gonna do it and wow! 4 hours later I've got my room booked! I'm sssooooo excited - first trip to Universal!!!
PassPorter Guide Community Rank: Legend Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Chapel Hill, NC USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 36,592
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That $171 sounds really good! Good deal. I'm sure you guys will have a great time!
It's really hard to pay the prices that are quoted now, knowing that just a few years ago, people were able to stay at RPR for $95 night! If you can find anything under $200 these days....take it!
I didn't feel there was a signficant difference in the sizes of the rooms at HR over RP. The bathroom is a bit larger. HR gets my vote just for its location, but the resort and amenities at both are pretty similar.
There is a beach area behind RP where the kiddos can enjoy themselves if they get tired of the pool. They also have supervised children's activities at the pool. There is a volleyball net set up at the beach, and you can check out a ball for playing. The great thing about Universal resort - pool hopping is allowed! So you can take the boat over to HR and check out their pool if you wish. Have fun!
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I cannot even come close to making a decision over these two resorts. I have two kids a 16 year old girl and a 6 year old boy. I think the 16 year old would love HRH and although the 6 year old probably wouldn't care either way, I'm wondering about the splash pad play area at RP, although I'm sure he would love the slide at HR. Do the resorts have playgrounds? Myself, I would love either one.......although I may prefer the theme of PR a little more. What about restaurants - does either hotel have a more kid friendly eatery? We will be spending a day or two at the hotel during the trip. AHHH, help....opinions please!!!!!
I haven't stayed at either but I would choose HRH - it sounds like it would be a great atmosphere and your daughter would love it.
My 14 yr old daughter LOVED HArd Rock. It is very fast paced, and something is always going on. She was a bit upset to hear that our return trip is going to be at Royal Pacific, but she will still be in US and IOA so she is happy.
One thing to note: unlike hotels at a certain place with a mouse, you can pool hop at the Universal onsite resorts. Just make sure you have your resort key available in case an employee asks. So if you're at HRH and want to try out the pool at RPR, just hop on over. Please don't walk through the lobby wearing only your Speedo, though.
Have you checked the websites for the hotels? Universal Orlando Resort accommodations You might find some of the answers to your questions about the restaurants and playgrounds there. I wouldn't let the pool be the deciding factor because you are allowed to and encouraged to pool hop at Universal. I have stayed at both hotels with a 16 year old (but not a 6 year old) and HRH was the favourite choice for them (and myself as well).
Hi glad you got a good rate. Just be careful & stay on top of Everything they do at RP. We were there in early August and they got Everything wrong. I don't know if they were training several people but it became every frustrating. They are the nicest, most polite staff but incompetent (at least for us). Check in was a mess, wrong rate, room type, when corrected room key didn't work, charging privileges on key...didn't work, connecting room to family (requested 5 months earlier & checked by phone before trip) not in system...I spent half of our first day at the front desk. The housekeeping was unbelievable...maid service & carts were in the hallways up until 4-5 pm everyday we were there. That I've never seen before! I refused to let this ruin our trip & just kept on moving.. but it was rough. This is where I almost lost it & they did comp my credit card $100. Our second morning there we were awaken by remodeling on the floor above us at 7am! Banging, dragging of tools and more banging. It was awful. That's when I requested a move & asked why you'd put us on a floor KNOWING workers would be on the floor above US! Never did get a logical answer. Yes, the resort is very attractive, the restaurants were wonderful. I've stayed at PorF & HR also and had no problems at all. HR really does Rock...lots of fun. But I do believe we hit RP on a training week, and all the REAL Staff were on Their Vacations..... I can't imagine they are like that regularly & remain open.
** Now that I relived this whole experience for you, I realize I have more patience than I thought!
Ok, I thought I had my mind made up and now I checked the Universal Site again and HRH does have the supersaver rate now. It would end up costing $135 more to stay at the HRH. Is it worth $138????
Ok, I thought I had my mind made up and now I checked the Universal Site again and HRH does have the supersaver rate now. It would end up costing $135 more to stay at the HRH. Is it worth $138????
Depends on how many days your there...3 or more days I would say yes...I assume you mean 135 for the whole trip not per day...
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Just be careful & stay on top of Everything they do at RP. We were there in early August and they got Everything wrong. 
I don't know if they were training several people but it became every frustrating. They are the nicest, most polite staff but incompetent (at least for us). Check in was a mess, wrong rate, room type, when corrected room key didn't work, charging privileges on key...didn't work, connecting room to family (requested 5 months earlier & checked by phone before trip) not in system...I spent half of our first day at the front desk. The housekeeping was unbelievable...maid service & carts were in the hallways up until 4-5 pm everyday we were there. 
That I've never seen before! I refused to let this ruin our trip & just kept on moving.. but it was rough. This is where I almost lost it & they did comp my credit card $100. Our second morning there we were awaken by remodeling on the floor above us at 7am! 
Banging, dragging of tools and more banging. It was awful. 
That's when I requested a move & asked why you'd put us on a floor KNOWING workers would be on the floor above US! Never did get a logical answer. Yes, the resort is very attractive, the restaurants were wonderful.
I've stayed at PorF & HR also and had no problems at all. HR really does Rock...lots of fun. 
But I do believe we hit RP on a training week, and all the REAL Staff were on Their Vacations..... I can't imagine they are like that regularly & remain open. 
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