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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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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
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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.
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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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We want to stay at one of the above for 2 nights next year as I really want to ride the simpsons ride over and again, and like the thought of jumping the majority of the queues.
Is one of the hotels better than the other, or are they both the same.
We go 1st April, and I am wondering with spring break if the Hard Rock is going to be a party hotel, and I won't be able to sleep.
Welcome to the boardsYou can't go wroong at either place. Hard Rock will tend to have more of a partying crowd, but you'll be fine. Enjoy US / IOA, 2 fabulous parks
We've stayed at both, and both hotels were equally nice as to rooms and amenities. We prefer the Hard Rock because it is a little closer to the parks. I've stayed at the Hard Rock during Spring Break, and I didn't notice a party crowd any more than the other resorts. You can't go wrong either way!
We just stayed at the Royal Pacific this past April and absolutely loved it!!! I can't comment on the Hard Rock as we didn't go over there, sorry. Just thought I'd let you know how we liked the Royal Pacific The resort itself was gorgeous, with lots of "tropical vegetation". Oh, and our room there was huge! I liked the interior design, too. The only downside was that there were no balconies but then again, with all the noise from the highways and the rides at IoA (we had a room facing that way and could hear them through the closed window - wasn't too bad, though) it's probably better not to have a balcony
So, while we didn't care for IoA and US as parks all that much, we very much enjoyed our stay at the Royal Pacific!
While we did see tons of teenagers at the parks, there were very few at our resort.
We are staying a night at The Hard Rock. I can't see either resort being filled with spring breakers due to the cost of stay! BTW you can get a AAA rate at the Universal Hotels. Be sure to sign up for a Lowes First membership, you get some nice perks, such as a free room upgrade if avail & a welcome room basket.
We stayed at HR last year, and the girls loved it. The last week of May and first week of June, and the place ROCKED the whole time. I had no trouble sleeping though. The HR is very close to the parks, less than a five minute walk. We are Lowes First members, and got our welcome basket about three hours before we left. The hotel is Gorgeous, the rooms are Super, but the staff left me wanting. Service was very lacking in my opinion.
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We stayed at HR this year for spring break and really really really enjoyed it. We did go over and dine at RP and I wasn't as impressed with it. If the Simpson ride is your goal, HR is much closer to US than RP not even a 5-7 minute walk. We didn't do the walk from RP to IOA so I don't know how that compares. We walked to the parks during our trip but did do the boat for or trip from HR to RP. Unless you really don't like to walk I never found it a better use of time.
we have stayed at the HRH twice and enjoyed it both times. This year we are trying Royal Pacific for a different change of pace. The first time we stayed at HRH my daughter was 7 and loved the slide, this time she was 14 and really didnt spend much time in the pool. When we get back i will let you know my opinion of RPH and hopefully we will eventually stay at portofino and then we will be able to make the ultimate judgement call.
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I've stayed at HRH and peeked in the rooms at RPR when looking around.
The HRH has larger rooms with light colors, while the RPR has smaller darker shaded rooms.
They both have great pool areas and nice places to eat.
It's very easy to get from either of them to the parks, but HRH has the shortest walk to Universal through a side gate.
(I do have to say that I thought the walls at HRH were a bit too thin. We were disturbed by the people in the room next to us each night).
The HRH has larger rooms with light colors, while the RPR has smaller darker shaded rooms.
Not sure if all the rooms at RPR are alike but our room was very spacious (definitely larger than our room at the WL, for example) and had light colors (except for the large drawer that the TV was on). It wasn't shaded at all. We had a room on one of the upper floors facing IoA and loved it. Just thought I'd share this also.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Disneybine
Not sure if all the rooms at RPR are alike but our room was very spacious (definitely larger than our room at the WL, for example) and had light colors (except for the large drawer that the TV was on). It wasn't shaded at all. We had a room on one of the upper floors facing IoA and loved it. Just thought I'd share this also.
I suppose they could have remodeled them since I was peeking in them a few years ago. I recall the rooms being done in maroon, green, and tan hues, so they seemed dark. The rooms are bigger than WL, but smaller than HRH.
Oh, and what I didn't say before, was that I had decided that if my family went with me and stayed in Universal/IOA (my stay at HRH was with my sister), we'd probably stay at RPR as I think it suits our tastes better.
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To me, it depends on what your personal preferences are. I've stayed at both, and I far prefer the RP, but I know people who adore HRH.
HR is a sleek, svelte hotel that makes you feel as if you're a high-rolling celebrity in Vegas. It's got sharp corners, shiny finishes, and angular modern-art decor. You won't have any more problems sleeping there than in any other hotel (I think poorly-parented six year olds running up and down the halls screaming at 1 am is more likely than a genuine party). The amenities are lovely, but it wasn't my kind of place. I never really felt at home there; I am un-hip, and the smooth lines and bright colors didn't make me feel comfortable.
The RP is a throwback to the movie world of Casablanca and Donovan's reef. It's full of dark, polished wood, rattan furniture and orchids. The rooms are done in earthy tones, with carved wood and burgundy walls. I loved Royal Pacific, particularly their Junior King suites (worth the extra $$ if you've got it); the entire "story" behind the place, with its castaway WWII era feel just suited me well.
I'll scan in pictures of the lobby & our rooms from both places on Monday and post links so you can see them both and decide for yourself which fits you better.
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I'll scan in pictures of the lobby & our rooms from both places on Monday and post links so you can see them both and decide for yourself which fits you better.
Better yet - you can add your photos to the Universal resorts section of the Passporter photo archive! We really need more Universal photos there, and they would be so helpful to those wanting to see more of the resorts.
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better than the other, or are they both the same.
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Pixie Dust
You can't go wroong at either place. Hard Rock will tend to have more of a partying crowd, but you'll be fine. Enjoy US / IOA, 2 fabulous parks
Michelle - with my step sisters!
The resort itself was gorgeous, with lots of "tropical vegetation". Oh, and our room there was huge! I liked the interior design, too. The only downside was that there were no balconies but then again, with all the noise from the highways and the rides at IoA (we had a room facing that way and could hear them through the closed window - wasn't too bad, though) it's probably better not to have a balcony 
We'll be looking forward to your review of the RP when you return!
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