Our arrival day at Common Orlando with children, together with a keep at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, pool hopping at Common’s premier inns, 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 an extended backstory. A number of years in the past, making an attempt to get Mazen to learn extra, I informed 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 time 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 focuses on serving to households plan Disney, Common, and cruise holidays. She is a lifelong theme park lover who visits Disney a number of instances a 12 months along with her personal children so she’s received battle-tested methods for navigating the parks in a double stroller, discovering the very best snacks, choosing the proper resort, and easy methods to preserve the magic going when plans change. You will discover 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 had been free.
I haven’t flown Southwest in years, however boy do they do issues extra effectively than the opposite airways! From the way in which they go out the drinks (Birch’s received a lid!) to boarding patterns, I used to be critically impressed. I want that they had extra routes from my dwelling 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 had been checking in by 10. Whereas our room wasn’t prepared but, that they had simple baggage storage and health heart locker rooms to vary 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 aspect, Specific Passes are additionally extremely costly when bought individually, so bundling every little thing collectively felt price it.
Location was one other big promoting level for me. Royal Pacific is extraordinarily near each Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey. We had been in a position to get nearly all over the place inside 5–10 minutes by strolling or water taxi, and Common CityWalk was solely a few ten-minute stroll away.
Royal Pacific seems 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 every little thing was good for what we wanted.
Our room was snug and pretty commonplace for a theme park resort. We didn’t have the very best view (simply the car 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 most important perks of staying right here had been the placement and Common Specific Passes. Each had been nonnegotiable for me, they usually 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 aspect salad that had been each nice! Birch liked the mac and cheese.
Royal Pacific Pool
We went within the pool day-after-day! The water was heat, and there have been loads of lifeguards on responsibility who had been extraordinarily attentive. I felt a lot extra snug 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 received a squishy toy that he performed with the entire keep.
Pool Hopping
One of many perks Hillary informed me about is that friends staying at a Common Premier Resort can pool hop between Royal Pacific, Arduous Rock Lodge, and Portofino Bay. We took full benefit of this throughout our keep and tried all of them!
Stroll To Arduous Rock
Later within the afternoon, we walked down the trail, by way of CityWalk, and over to the Arduous Rock Lodge pool.
The stroll was longer than we anticipated, particularly within the warmth and sporting pool garments, so in case you’re making the journey, I’d suggest taking the water taxi as a substitute. You do should get out and change boats at CityWalk, however it was nonetheless a lot simpler.
Exploring CityWalk
We wandered by way of the outlets and began getting excited for the times forward.
Arduous Rock Pool
The Arduous Rock pool had lately been renovated and ended up being one in every of our favourite elements of the journey. It has a enjoyable occasion environment with a DJ, underwater music, and a waterslide that Birch completely liked. He went down it 25 instances! I liked singing A Million Goals underwater.
If we return to Common, I might undoubtedly see us staying there.
Portofino Bay Pool
On our departure morning, we additionally visited the Portofino Bay Lodge 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 slightly on-and-off rain throughout our arrival day however no downpours, so we received actually fortunate that we might 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 received used.
Water Taxi Again To The Royal Pacific
So enjoyable!
Dinner at Antojitos
We ended our first day with showers, a fast water taxi experience 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 really labored completely as a result of we had an early begin the subsequent morning for Islands of Journey.
Subsequent Up
Our full day at Islands of Journey, the place we dive into Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Hagrid’s Bike Journey, and Butterbeer.
