Loews Royal Pacific Resort: An In-Depth Review of Universal Orlando's South Seas Escape

Loews Royal Pacific Resort, located near Universal CityWalk, immerses guests in a South Seas-themed paradise. This family-friendly hotel offers a range of amenities, including multiple dining options, a lagoon-style pool, and valuable theme park perks. This article provides a comprehensive look at the resort, covering everything from its rooms and restaurants to its pools and proximity to the parks.

Overview

Universal’s Loews Royal Pacific Resort is a family-friendly hotel located near Universal CityWalk. It offers many amenities, including three restaurants, a bar/lounge, an outdoor pool, and more. Guests can unwind by the poolside bar or in the sauna and steam room, then enjoy shopping on site or exploring nearby attractions like Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. With an arcade/game room for kids, dry cleaning/laundry services for convenience, and helpful staff to guide you through your stay, Loews Royal Pacific aims to provide a stress-free Universal Orlando Resort vacation.

Accommodation

Standard Rooms

The standard rooms at Loews Royal Pacific Resort offer a comfortable stay with a touch of South Seas flair. Starting at 335 square feet, these rooms are available with garden or water views. The rooms feature a modern island vibe, incorporating sleek designs with tropical accents.

Layout and Amenities:

Small entrance hall with a closet and bathroom access.
Closet equipped with Loews branded robes, an iron and ironing board, a safe, and extra blankets.
Bedroom area with two queen beds or a king bed.
Dresser with a small mini fridge and coffee maker.
Desk area with multiple outlets for charging devices.
Complimentary low-bandwidth Wi-Fi (streaming speeds available for an additional fee).

Room Review:

While the rooms are generally well-maintained, some guests have noted that the carpet feels outdated. Despite this, the overall aesthetic and functionality of the rooms provide a pleasant experience.

Suites

For guests seeking more space and luxury, Loews Royal Pacific Resort offers a variety of suites. These suites feature separate living areas, enhanced tropical decor, and the option to reserve connecting rooms.

Read also: Sapphire Falls: Is It Worth It?

King Suites:

Starting rates around $400 per night.
670 square feet in size.
Accommodates up to four guests with a king bed and a pull-out sofa bed.
Separate living area and private bathroom.

Jurassic World Kids Suite:

Starting rates around $572 per night.
Features two separate bedrooms, one for kids and one for parents.

Club Level Rooms

Upgrading to a Club Level room grants guests access to the Royal Club Lounge, which offers a range of exclusive amenities.

Perks of Club Level:

Personalized concierge service.
Complimentary continental breakfast.
Afternoon snacks.
Evening hors d'oeuvres.
Sweet treats at night.
Complimentary coffee, tea, and soft drinks throughout the day.
Beer and wine offered in the evenings.

Dining Options

Loews Royal Pacific Resort boasts a diverse selection of dining options, catering to various tastes and preferences. From casual poolside dining to themed restaurants and quick-service markets, guests can find something to satisfy their cravings.

Jake's American Bar

Jake's American Bar is a casual restaurant with a tropical aviation theme, serving American comfort food such as pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and brisket platters. The food quality is surprisingly high, with the kids' pizza and fries receiving rave reviews. The mahi-mahi sandwich and brisket platter are also popular choices. Jake's offers a selection of local beers and themed cocktails.

Islands Dining Room

Islands Dining Room offers Pan-American cuisine with a focus on noodle bar dishes, rice bowls, and wok and hibachi specialties. During breakfast, guests can enjoy traditional favorites alongside Polynesian-influenced morning specialties.

Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar

Located on the lobby level, Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar features a full bar with a wide selection of sushi and sashimi. The lounge offers cozy seating areas and views of the pool.

Read also: Scholarships at RCA

Bula Bar & Grille

Bula Bar & Grille is a casual poolside dining option where guests can enjoy tropical dishes while relaxing by the pool. The menu includes sandwiches, fish tacos, wraps, and the Big Bula Burger. Tropical drinks are also available.

Tuk Tuk Market

Tuk Tuk Market is a grab-and-go market offering fast and convenient food options. Guests can find coffee, breakfast items, pastries, hot and cold sandwiches, wok bowls, sushi to go, ice cream, and gelato.

Wantilan Luau

Every Saturday night, Loews Royal Pacific hosts the Wantilan Luau, a festive Polynesian-style party featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet, live music, hula dancers, and fire-breathing tricks.

Pool and Recreation

The lagoon-style pool at Loews Royal Pacific is a major attraction, offering a sandy beach area, two hot tubs, and cabanas for rent. The pool area also features a water slide, a pool volleyball net, a splash area with dump buckets and sprayers, and outdoor games like table tennis and bean bag toss. The pool is heated, making it suitable for year-round enjoyment.

Additional Amenities

Fitness center with complimentary fruit and bottled water.
Video game room.
Gift and sundry shops.
Conference facilities.

Theme Park Perks

One of the main reasons guests choose to stay at Loews Royal Pacific Resort is the valuable theme park perks that come with a stay. These perks can significantly enhance the Universal Orlando Resort experience.

Read also: World-Class Music & Drama College

Express Pass Unlimited

Guests receive complimentary Universal Express Unlimited passes, which allow them to skip the regular lines at most rides and attractions in both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. This perk is valid for the duration of the stay, including the day of check-in and check-out.

Early Park Admission

Guests can enjoy early park admission to one of the Universal theme parks (either Universal Studios Florida or Universal Islands of Adventure) one hour before the scheduled park opening. This allows them to experience popular attractions with shorter wait times.

Complimentary Transportation

Loews Royal Pacific offers complimentary transportation to the theme parks and CityWalk via water taxi, shuttle bus, and walking paths. The water taxi is a scenic and convenient way to reach CityWalk, while the walking path provides a direct route to Islands of Adventure.

Additional Perks

Priority seating at select restaurants in the parks and CityWalk.
Room key can be used to charge purchases at Universal Orlando Resort to the hotel folio.
Purchases can be delivered to the hotel.

Transportation

To and From the Parks

Getting to the Universal theme parks from Loews Royal Pacific is convenient with multiple transportation options:

Walking Path: A 15-minute walk to the entrance of Islands of Adventure and a slightly longer walk to Universal Studios Florida.
Water Taxi: A scenic boat ride that drops you off at CityWalk, near the Universal Studios Florida entrance.
Shuttle Bus: Complimentary shuttle service to both theme parks and Volcano Bay water park.

To and From the Airport

Universal Orlando is approximately a 20-30 minute drive from Orlando International Airport (MCO). Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber are readily available.

Car Rental

An Avis car rental service is located in the lobby of Loews Royal Pacific for guests who wish to explore the surrounding area.

Pet-Friendly

Loews Royal Pacific Resort is a pet-friendly hotel, with non-smoking standard rooms available for guests with pets. A fee of $50 per day (maximum $150 per stay) is charged per room.

Accessibility

Loews Royal Pacific Resort offers accessible rooms with various layouts, bed configurations, and views. Mobility accessible rooms include grab bars by the toilet, roll-in showers or showers with grab bars, and 32-inch-wide door openings. Accessible guest transportation is available, including the water taxi, and the pool and hot tub have lifts.

Alternatives

While Loews Royal Pacific Resort offers a fantastic experience, there are alternative hotels near Universal Orlando Resort to consider:

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel: Another premier hotel with similar amenities and included Universal Express Unlimited passes.
Hard Rock Hotel: A premier hotel with a rock 'n' roll theme and included Universal Express Unlimited passes.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort: Closest to Volcano Bay water park.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel: A new property scheduled to open in May 2025.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando Nearest Universal: A more affordable option with suite accommodations, complimentary breakfast, and a pool and hot tub.

tags: #loews #royal #pacific #hotel #universal #review