Christy Johnson

I have just returned from an 8-night stay at the Loew's Royal Pacific at Universal Orlando. My husband and I really enjoyed this hotel and its amenities. From check-in to check-out everything ran very smoothly.

Upon arriving at the hotel, we were greeted with welcoming "Aloha"s transitioning our travel-weary minds into the Polynesian experience with that simple word. Of course, the decor spoke very strongly of tropical destinations as well. 

The registration clerk was very helpful and brought out maps and flyers in response to questions we had about the Universal parks, local transportation and dining. We received our room keys along with the information packet. She took our cell phone numbers and texted us a brief message, explaining that if we had any questions or concerns we could text 24 hours. (We didn't use this feature until the night before check-out when we inquired about a luggage scale, which they did have available for our use.)

Our room in Tower 1 was very comfortable. Amenities were available in the bathroom: body wash, body bar, body soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, shower cap, cotton balls and cotton swabs. An ample supply of luxurious bath towels were always folded and at the ready under the sink. A magnifying make-up mirror was available on the vanity, and a full-length mirror was positioned across from the vanity so you could see your reflection in the mirror above the vanity too. 

The bathroom was situated on the opposite side of a wall so as to minimize light spreading to the sleeping area. 

Our room had two queen beds. The decor was Polynesian, in keeping with the overall theme of the resort. We enjoyed the multiple pillows, and when I got chilly at night I found an extra blanket in the closet. Also in the closet was an in-room safe, an iron and the luggage stand.

In the dresser we found a mini-frig and Keurig. 

We found reading lamps on each side of each bed. An alarm clock was on the night stand and had a USB port on it - but for some reason, it never seemed to charge overnight. We think the charging port may turn off when the light switch is turned off. However, there were two more USB ports on the desk, so we had plenty of places to charge our electronic devices.

We never had the opportunity to use the large resort pool, although it looked very inviting. We noticed a volleyball net set up in the pool, a ping pong table and a large Connect4 game in the pool area. 

Don't miss the weekly luau on the premises! The fire dancer was very energetic and of course everyone loves the sensuality of the hula.

Our favorite perk for staying at the Royal Pacific was the use of the Unlimited Express pass, granting us practically front-of-the-line access for all rides (with the exception of the new Hagrid's Motorbike Adventure). Guests at this hotel also get early morning admission. We took advantage of these two benefits and were able to ride nearly every attraction at Universal Studios by noon! Another great benefit is the opportunity to have your in-park purchases sent directly to your room so that you don't have to carry them around the amusement park. I loved this!

We were staying at the Royal Pacific for a business convention and the convention center was great. The table servers at meal times were pleasant and efficient, while staying unobtrusive. The meeting rooms were well-lit, comfortable and I didn't notice noise from the neighboring rooms. Water, notepads and pens were available in all the break-out sessions.

The resort offers complimentary transportation to the Universal Parks and to Universal CityWalk. We chose to use the water taxis every time, although there was also a walking path and bus shuttles available. 

To get to the Disney's Animal Kingdom, we accessed Lyft. With a new customer discount it cost about $15 each way to the park.