Hard Rock Hotel Review

[ddoll]

I've been meaning to do this anyway, but now that Amy mentioned it, it's spurred me into going ahead and starting.

As you all probably have guessed, we're big Universal fans as well as Disneyphiles. We like to split our trips to Florida between Disney and Universal.

Last year we stayed at the Royal Pacific Resort and got instantly addicted to the Front of the Line priveleges. We vowed never to do Universal again without them Not to mention that the hotels are just super!! Since we already did RPR, I decided to give Hard Rock a try this time.

First off, the room was lovely. No Heavenly beds like at the Swan, but very comfortable nonetheless, and decorated beautifully.

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The lobby was stunning. I had been there once before, but it was at night and a ot of the details escaped me. Too bad it was so large that photos don't capture all the details.

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Everywhere you look there are bits and pieces of Rock N Roll memorabilia. It's all fascinating. There's constant classic rock music playing. Even underwater at the pool!

Speaking of the pool, it was definitely one of the highlights of the hotel. We enjoyed it so much, we couldn't wait to get back there every day. They had organized activities daily with games and dancing and the waitresses came around and served food and drinks to you at your loungechairs or in the pool (which I found particularly decadent :D ).

Here you can see people being served cocktails in the pool, under those two white umbrellas:
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I tried to get a picture of the big water slide here:
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Here's DH relaxing in his loungechair:
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This is looking back at the hotel from the pool with some water fountains for the kids in the foreground:
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We really liked the restaurant at the pool. So much so that we had lunch there two times out of the four days we were there.
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This is above the bar:
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Universal studios were just a quick walk away.
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But there were water taxis that took you to City Walk as well, which was closer if you were headed to Islands of Adventure:
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On DH's birthday, I booked the Wantilan Luau at the Royal Pacific. I had been told that it was pretty much the same luau as the one at the Poly, but seeing as we had never been to that, I wouldn't know the difference.

We enjoyed it very much. The food was served buffet style and it was delicious. So too were the bottomless Mai Tai's.
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DH got chosen at one point to go up onstage to dance with the hula dancers. What a riot that was!

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The rest of the show was lots of fun too.

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We had a great time at the HRH and I'd love to stay there again. I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

We were sad to leave.
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[Moley]

Wow!! :clap: What a fantastic review, plus pictures that are superb! :notworthy:

We have stayed at Portofino and Royal Pacific, too. We have yet to try the Hard Rock. I had a totally different idea of what it was like until now. Next time, we may just try to stay there!

Thanks, ddoll! You rock! :youRock:

[MargaretJ]

ddoll we stayed at the Hard Rock in May & loved it. Your pictures brought back good memories & we plan on staying there again next year before the start of our Disney trip. That front of the line access can't be beat & the Hard Rock is a wonderful resort. Your pictures are wonderful.

[Robin]

I too absolutely loved the HRH too.

Such a bright, clean modern look, without being 'cold'. The rock memorabilia and theming will make any Baby Boomer feel right at home. :peri:

[MargaretJ]

Here are a few more pictures of the Hard Rock to go along with ddoll's great pictures.

Slide

http://tagrel.com/albums/Site-Linked-Images/IMG_0921.jpg

Zero entry

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Yellow Submarine Cabana

http://tagrel.com/albums/Site-Linked-Images/IMG_0930.jpg

Who Let The Dogs Out Trash Cans

http://tagrel.com/albums/Site-Linked-Images/IMG_0882.jpg

[LimeGreenCheri]

What great pictures! We stayed at the HRH in 2001 and I just loved it! So much so, that I've decorated my bathroom based on the the bathroom at the HRH. Green walls, and slate flooring with silver and black accents.

[LeiasMom]

Wowie. Thanks so much! I don't know much about this hotel and wasn't very excited about it. Universal hotels are rather expensive (given what I normally pay for AKL); however, I will pay quite a bit for front of the line. The hotel looks perfect for our couples weekend. I can't wait!

Thanks again!

Amy

[ddoll]

Oh cool, Margaret! Those are great!!