Our arrival day at Common Orlando with youngsters, together with a keep at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, pool hopping at Common’s premier resorts, exploring CityWalk, and dinner at Antojitos.
After months of planning, we lastly made it to Common Orlando for a three-night journey with my boys!
This journey has a little bit of a protracted backstory. A number of years in the past, attempting to get Mazen to learn extra, I advised him that if he learn all the Harry Potter books, I might take them to Common. Final summer season, he completed all of them (and watched all of them), and this journey was lastly the reward—though it took me a short while to get my act collectively and truly plan it.
That is the primary of three posts and covers our arrival day, first impressions of Loews Royal Pacific, pool hopping, CityWalk, and our first-night dinner.
Reserving with Hillary
My pal Hillary (Survivor Hillary!) helped me e-book our resort and park tickets. Hillary is a journey specialist with Cherry Tree Lane Holidays, and makes a speciality of serving to households plan Disney, Common, and cruise holidays. She is a lifelong theme park lover who visits Disney a number of occasions a yr along with her personal youngsters so she’s acquired battle-tested methods for navigating the parks in a double stroller, discovering the very best snacks, selecting the best resort, and tips on how to maintain the magic going when plans change. You could find her at @allmagicnomeltdowns on Instagram and TikTok or e-mail her at [email protected].
Flying to Orlando
One thrilling element that made the journey really feel even sweeter: I lastly used Southwest factors I’d been saving for years, so our flights have been free.
I haven’t flown Southwest in years, however boy do they do issues extra effectively than the opposite airways! From the best way they cross out the drinks (Birch’s acquired a lid!) to boarding patterns, I used to be severely impressed. I want they’d extra routes from my residence airports.
We flew from Richmond, leaving Charlottesville at 4 a.m., and arrived in Orlando by 9:30 within the morning. So we had a full first day!
We took a Lyft on to Royal Pacific and have been checking in by 10. Whereas our room wasn’t prepared but, they’d simple baggage storage and health middle locker rooms to alter into pool apparel.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
We stayed at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, which incorporates Common Specific Passes for all resort friends as an enormous perk. Whereas the resort worth is on the costly facet, Specific Passes are additionally extremely costly when bought individually, so bundling the whole lot collectively felt price it.
Location was one other large promoting level for me. Royal Pacific is extraordinarily near each Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey. We have been capable of get nearly in all places inside 5–10 minutes by strolling or water taxi, and Common CityWalk was solely a couple of ten-minute stroll away.
Royal Pacific looks like a tropical escape tucked proper inside a theme park vacation spot. It has lush landscaping, palm timber, and a Pacific island theme that I liked. In comparison with the opposite resorts we visited whereas pool hopping, it did really feel a bit older. However the whole lot was excellent for what we wanted.
Our room was comfy and pretty commonplace for a theme park resort. We didn’t have the very best view (simply the parking zone), however we additionally didn’t spend a lot time within the room. The bathe was good, and the mini fridge was handy.
The largest perks of staying right here have been the placement and Common Specific Passes. Each have been nonnegotiable for me, and so they actually paid off. Plus pool hopping!
Lunch by the Pool
We had lunch at Bula Bar & Grille, the poolside restaurant.
I had a black bean burger and facet salad that have been each nice! Birch liked the mac and cheese.
Royal Pacific Pool
We went within the pool every single day! The water was heat, and there have been loads of lifeguards on obligation who have been extraordinarily attentive. I felt a lot extra comfy having Birch swim round with the variety of lifeguards in each nook and cranny. We additionally liked the new tubs, the zero-entry design, and the sandy seashore space.
Somebody delivered plantain chips to my chair!
Birch participated in a scavenger hunt organized by the resort actions crew, which he liked as a result of he gained a squishy toy that he performed with the entire keep.
Pool Hopping
One of many perks Hillary advised me about is that friends staying at a Common Premier Resort can pool hop between Royal Pacific, Laborious Rock Resort, and Portofino Bay. We took full benefit of this throughout our keep and tried all of them!
Stroll To Laborious Rock
Later within the afternoon, we walked down the trail, by CityWalk, and over to the Laborious Rock Resort pool.
The stroll was longer than we anticipated, particularly within the warmth and sporting pool garments, so in the event you’re making the journey, I’d advocate taking the water taxi as an alternative. You do must get out and change boats at CityWalk, but it surely was nonetheless a lot simpler.
Exploring CityWalk
We wandered by the retailers and began getting excited for the times forward.
Laborious Rock Pool
The Laborious Rock pool had not too long ago been renovated and ended up being one in every of our favourite elements of the journey. It has a enjoyable get together ambiance with a DJ, underwater music, and a waterslide that Birch completely liked. He went down it 25 occasions! I liked singing A Million Goals underwater.
If we return to Common, I may undoubtedly see us staying there.
Portofino Bay Pool
On our departure morning, we additionally visited the Portofino Bay Resort pool. It was quieter and cooler in tone, with a European really feel. The waterslide there was one other hit.
A Little bit of Climate Luck
We had just a little on-and-off rain throughout our arrival day however no downpours, so we acquired actually fortunate that we may nonetheless swim. The opposite two days didn’t rain in any respect regardless of rain within the forecast. Not one of the ponchos I packed ever acquired used.
Water Taxi Again To The Royal Pacific
So enjoyable!
Dinner at Antojitos
We ended our first day with showers, a fast water taxi journey again to CityWalk, and dinner at Antojitos, which is Mexico Metropolis-themed.
The tableside guacamole was the hit! I had shrimp tacos with grilled pineapple. We liked the dwell music too.
Early to Rise, Early to Mattress
On arrival day, we had been up since round 4 a.m., so we naturally went to mattress early. That truly labored completely as a result of we had an early begin the following morning for Islands of Journey.
Subsequent Up
Our full day at Islands of Journey, the place we dive into Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Hagrid’s Motorcycle Journey, and Butterbeer.
