Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando

Submitted by Doug Kindseth:

Last week we took our 10 year old granddaughter to the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios theme park in Orlando Fl. Aside from the incongruity of a pacific theme on the east coast our granddaughter enjoyed the pool immensly. The rest of the shebang, hotel, park(s) etc were pretty much a bore, a very expensive bore at that.
The hotel was $275 per night for a Days Inn size room that was slightly shabby and marginally dirty. Not hugely shabby or dirty, just slightly so. The food was a joke, very expensive and tastless to the point that we were angry about it. The Hamburgers at the poolside "shack" were actually quite good, and ironically were the only reasonably priced pieces of food available. The "gourmet" restaurants were uniformally bad, but with poor service to make up for it.
The parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure were ok but were about as standard as can be with the usual rides abundant at any park. The Dualing Dragons ride was worth the price, however, and it alone made the trip. It is a absolutely great ride and you should bring along clean underwear for this one because it will make you gasp. My daughter and I were the only two with the cajones to ride this one and we were weakneed when we finished. Terrific fun!!!
Overall the 4 days there were ok. Very overpriced, VERY overpriced but if you have budgeted for it it can be fun, especially the parks. I would stay in a nearby hotel at a much reduced overnight rate but in central Florida touristrap land they will get you coming or going, so be prepared to spend money any way you go.