Loews Royal Pacific Resort Family Activities

Pools
The Royal Pacific has a huge lagoon-style swimming pool that's hopping with families from morning until close. There is an awesome interactive play area, Royal Bali Sea, which looks like part of an old ocean liner, attached to the main pool. Our kids had a blast shooting the water guns and cannons. It seemed like there was always some type of impromptu activity going on at the pool. When we arrived there were a group of kids playing a game of water volleyball, and our kids were welcomed right in. Scheduled activities take place throughout the day, and into the evening too, including like arts and crafts, water games and dive-in movies. We saw more kids in the pool here than we saw at Hard Rock or Portofino, so it was louder and a little more chaotic. Not a problem for us!

If you tire of the pool, there are two hot tubs, a volleyball court, a croquet lawn, shuffleboard, Ping Pong and cabana rentals. There's also a game room located next to the pool that's open until midnight, though while we were there it didn't seem to draw many kids. One of the perks of staying at one of the Loews at Universal is that you get access to the facilities at all three. So, you can use the pools at both
Hard Rock and Portofino Bay.

Torch Lighting
Every night at the pool there is a torch-lighting ceremony. What a spectacle! Our kids were totally impressed by this unexpected Hawaiian ritual, which included a very authentic-sounding chant and a fire dancer. These are the special touches that make staying on property worth the extra money.

Mariners Club
Loews Royal Pacific has a supervised kids' club open in the evenings, Mariners Club, for kids ages 4 to 14. There are arts and crafts, story time, computers, as well as video and board games. It's small, designed as a place for parents to drop off the kids and have an evening out, not an entire day. The kids can eat dinner there for $15 a meal. It's open from 5 to 11:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and from 5 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The hotel concierge can arrange for area babysitting services.

The Groove
We saw lots of teens at the Royal Pacific, and while there isn't a separate kids' club for them here, you'll find plenty to keep them entertained. There are booze-free teen nights held a couple nights a week at The Groove, a nightclub in the CityWalk complex. Admission is $10 to $15 and a photo ID is required.

Theme Parks
The two Universal theme parks, Universal Studios and Island of Adventure are both within 10 minutes' walking distance from the hotel, but our family preferred taking the water taxis. Families will love attractions like Shrek 4-D, and Simpsons ride, and the Revenge of the Mummy coaster. We were a little concerned there might not be enough to do for our 4-year-old, but between Feivel's Playground, Barney and the E.T. Adventure, we had no reason to worry. Universal's other park, Island of Adventure, is home to the much-anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter, with the towering Hogwart 's Castle, Dragon Challenge, and buildings draped in the realest fake snow and icicles we've ever seen. But be warned, if you are planning to visit Wizarding World, be prepared for shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and long lines everywhere. Our 8-year-old loved Marvel Super Hero Island, Spider-man in particular, while our youngest could have stayed in Seuss Landing all day.