Ah, the south Pacific. Just picture it: waves slowly crashing against the shore, palm trees serenely blowing with a warm breeze under a turquoise sky and sand as white as the clouds. I mean, who wouldn’t want to visit such a serene, tranquil environment?
From Orlando, unfortunately flights to the real south Pacific are like $1,300 with an inevitable stop somewhere on the West Coast and the cheapest trips take three days of travel!
Thankfully, Loews Royal Pacific Resort lends a getaway to these tropical paradises without any of those headaches.
When you’re strolling around the hotel’s grounds it’s easy to believe you’ve escaped Florida and entered another world. Mossy rocks hold gushing waterfalls, tall stalks of bamboo shoot to the sky and there’s pretty much a palm tree everywhere you look.
ABOUT THE HOTEL
Beautifully designed for relaxation and tranquility, you’ll find everything you need for a peaceful vacation at Loews Royal Pacific Resort.
Price Range: $$$$
Perfect For: A calming retreat from reality for solo-travelers and couples alike; fans of the island vibe.
Theming:
You’ll walk into a lobby engulfed in sunlight, thanks in part to the glassed central courtyard. A charming fountain is complete with elephants and statues spewing water. It’s one of my favorite views in the entirety of the resort!
Everything from the bright, yellow walls to tropical accents throughout the hotel evoke a sense of a relaxing south seas escape. Frog statues are a prevalent sight around the resort, a Polynesian symbol for good luck. From the entryway to Islands Dining Room, how many frogs can you find?
Rooms
Luxuriously drawing inspiration from iconic Southeast Asian resorts, Royal Pacific’s rooms are warm and inviting with cool colors and a lot of natural light. Spread among the three towers are a number of rooms to cater to every type of trip.
- Standard King: Let’s start with the incredibly spacious standard king, it’s one of the largest standard hotel rooms I have ever seen! There are basically three rooms within: the bathroom, with a detached sink, a living area and then the bedroom.
- Standard Queen: The Standard Queen loses the living area in favor of another bed, but still has the wonderful detached bathroom. In both, plush beds are against dark walls. Behind each, a large flower decal does wonders to splash color around the room.
- Club: Club-level guests have access to the Club Lounge on the seventh floor. Serving a full meal for dinner and light dishes for the first two meals, it’s such a convenient amenity for snacking.
- Presidential: If the Presidential Suite is more your vibe, you’ll be treated to the largest shower I have ever seen.
- Jurassic World Kid’s Suites: Any Jurassic World fans? Loews Royal Pacific Resort has these incredible themed rooms just for you. The beds are literally inside gyrospheres from the film. Read more about these suites in this article.
Benefits
Every day in the parks (valid theme park admission required) is made easier by the advantages offered with your stay.
- Universal Express Unlimited ride access: One of the best parts about staying at Loews Royal Pacific Resort is Unlimited Express Pass access to all of your favorite attractions at the park. Guests with valid theme park admission and a Royal Pacific key card receive faster access to all qualifying attractions!
- Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Get a jump on the fun! Enter the park up to one hour before it opens and knock out some of the most popular rides and attractions at the top of your day.
- Priority Seating At Restaurants: Visit the concierge desk to reserve priority seating at select restaurants throughout Universal Orlando Resort, subject to availability.
- Water Taxis to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk: My personal favorite way to get around Universal is the water taxi. From CityWalk, it’s a short boat trip to the island paradise, the perfect segue from a packed theme park day to the serenity of the resort.
- Walking Path: For those itching to hit their step goal for the day, there’s a short walking trail along the sparkling water. It takes about 10 minutes to walk between the parks and the resort.
- Shuttle Buses: Royal Pacific also offers bus services to both Universal CityWalk and Universal Volcano Bay with departures about every few minutes.
- Room Key Charging: You can easily charge purchases to your room resort-wide — all you need is your room key!
- Complimentary Purchase Delivery: Select stores throughout the resort will deliver your purchases directly to your hotel, so you can keep your hands free and backpack light.
WHAT TO DO
The Pool
One of my family’s most important criteria when choosing a hotel is the pool, and Royal Pacific Resort’s would definitely exceed expectations. The lagoon-style swimming pool is hidden behind lush foliage. Its zero-entry entrance is reminiscent of a sandy beach — it’s only missing the crashing waves.
A beached Royal Bali Sea steamer ship sits opposite the entrance, spouting water into every direction and acting as a splash pad. It’s huge, nearly half the size of the pool itself! For the more active, volleyball nets hang above the water with large beach balls floating around. There’s also a hot tub for the times Central Florida dips below 70.
Fancy a poolside cocktail? Bula Bar & Grille is your vibe (see below for all the alluring details). Truly, is there anything more tempting than sitting poolside with a tropical cocktail?
If you’d rather spend the day luxuriously soaking up the sun, you can also have food delivered right to your beach chair! Fancy a more elevated beach day? The resort has private cabanas available for rent.
Outside of the aquatic activities, the pool area plays home to a number of recreation activities during the day. There are games such as a scavenger hunt, a paper airplane contest and so much more. Every night features a “dive-in movie.” Be sure to check the schedule for timing and what will be showing.
Other Recreation
Outside of the pool, the resort has some unorganized recreational activities.
I’m the strange type of person who loves to grab a workout on vacation, and I can promise you the resort’s gym will more than quell your exercise bug. If cardio’s more your thing, there’s a running trail that winds around the hotel’s grounds and even spills into the next. There’s also a croquet court by the Luau Cove.
Vacation Planning
In addition to the front desk and concierge, Royal Pacific is home to a vacation planning center representative and an Avis car rental stand. If you’d like some help planning your dream Universal vacation, purchasing theme park tickets or anything else along those lines, this is the place to visit!
WHAT TO EAT & DRINK
Loews Royal Pacific Resort has a ton of options for dining.
Orchid Court Lounge and Sushi Bar
Orchid Court Lounge and Sushi Bar serves some of the best sushi on all of Universal’s property. If you’re visiting with friends, family and/or just a massive sushi fan, I would recommend one of the sushi boats. Arriving in a literal model boat, it’s the ideal way to sample a bunch of different rolls.
As for the drinks, I’d have to recommend the Kemuri. It’s the lounge’s take on an Old Fashioned and is smoked tableside. The process is awesome; the server lights a small fire on top of the drink which leaves a captivating cloud of smoke behind.
Jake’s American Bar
Jake’s American Bar details the story of Jake, a famed missing pilot, and his doomed love affair. Skipping the dramatization: she left him, he disappeared and this restaurant has been created in his memory. The bar is open for lunch, dinner and drinks. For the food, you can’t go wrong with the house-made pretzel rods — they’re incredible — and the Key lime pie that’s almost as tall as a spoon.
Having a full bar, the spot has an extensive cocktail list and they even source local craft beer all the way from Orlando, Florida to the South Pacific islands, crazy right?!?
Islands Dining Room
Islands Dining Room sits next door, adorned with tables quietly sitting under slowly fanning palms. Seated between intricately carved wood sculptures, guests can visit for a classic breakfast service, with tropically-inspired items such as pineapple and coconut pancakes, and a fully Asian-inspired dinner service. The Wok Experience, available on Friday and Saturday evenings, is an all-you-can-eat meal that lets your table create your own stir fry. Islands also shares a bar with Jake’s, so don’t hesitate on ordering that cocktail, you’re on vacation!
Don’t these restaurants sound enticing? You’re in luck if you’re staying at one of the other hotels on property — anyone is welcome to visit the resort to dine at Islands, Jake’s or Orchid Lounge. The resort will even validate your parking!
Bula Bar
Bula Bar serves up beloved delicacies, such as my favorite Bula’s Shipwrecked Loaded Nachos. With black bean salsa, guacamole and so much more, they can’t be missed. In the drink department, which are offered in 15 or 45 oz., there’s a plethora of tropical flavors. The bar has all the classics, such as Mai Tais, while offering new twists on old favorites, such as the Hawaiian Mule with vodka, mint, lemon, lime and ginger beer.
Of course, if you’re feeling more like a night in, the resort offers an extensive Room Service menu.
Tuk Tuk Market
Tuk Tuk Market is the place to grab things if you’re on the go. They have a number of pre-made meals, pastries, bottles of wine and spirits, and so much more.
While you’re there, be sure to try the hotel’s famous Tuk Tarts. With a flaky pastry exterior, they come filled with three different flavors: grandma’s apple pie cinnamon, Florida strawberry jam and cookies and cream.
Tuk Tuk Market is also your hub for caffeine, serving Starbucks coffee.
WHERE TO SHOP
There are two main shopping opportunities inside the resort.
Toko Gifts Which is Indonesian for shop, acts as a Universal Orlando merchandise outpost. After realizing you forgot to grab something in the park, pause a minute before panicking; Toko could have it!
Treasures of Bali is by the pool and is your one-stop shop on the way to swim. They sell everything from sun clothes and swimwear to sun protection. It has some of the hotel’s specific merchandise as well. I had to practice every restraint to not purchase one of the small plants they have for sale.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Luau
Every Saturday evening, the gardens behind the resort transform into a tropical extravaganza. The food, served buffet style, includes Hawaiian-inspired dishes, such as coconut rice and pit-roasted pig.
But the food’s backseat to the performance. Hula dancers, fire twirlers and live music all bring this cultural experience to life.
For more information on the luau, check out this article!
Twice a year, Jake’s Beer Festival brings together about 50 craft beers and specially created food.
More Information
Want to learn even more about Loews Royal Pacific Resort? Check out Five Hidden Gems around the resort, or watch Leyla check in and explore Loews Royal Pacific Resort in this episode of Checked In.
Must be 21 years and older with valid identification to purchase or drink alcoholic beverages.