Universal Orlando Hotels

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Hard Rock Hotel

Fodor's Hotel Awards 2010 Best Hotel Pools  |  Winning Attributes

At a Glance

    Pros

  • shuttle, water taxi, or short walk to Universal and CityWalk
  • preferential treatment at Universal rides
  • charge privileges extend to the other on-property Universal hotels

    Cons

  • rooms and meals are pricey
  • steep fees for parking, gym, and in-room Wi-Fi
  • loud rock music in public areas, even the pool, but that's why you're here, right?
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Hard Rock Hotel Review

Music rules in this California Mission-style building, where guests can pretend they are rock stars as their hotel key card lets them skip the lines at Universal and grants early admission to Islands of Adventure's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Walls are rich with rock memorabilia, from an Elvis jump suit to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" costume to Elton John's boots. Rooms have black-and-white photos of pop icons and 32-inch flat-panel TVs.

2010 Fodor's 100 Hotel Award Winner

Electricity and water are a dangerous combination, but this is a fact the Hard Rock chooses to ignore (and we're glad they do!). Their sprawling 12,000-square-foot pool features an underwater sound system, weekly poolside movie screenings under the stars, and private cabanas with HD plasma-screen TVs and Wi-Fi. The Hard Rock is perfect for large multigeneration family trips and for smaller families looking to keep children entertained with water slides, sand beaches, and interactive fountains.

    Hotel Details

  • 621 rooms, 29 suites.
  • Rate includes no meals.
  • Credit cards accepted.
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Fodorite Reviews

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    You can't do better

    Spent 08/06/08 to 08/11/08 at this property and dare anyone to do better than staying here if going to Universal. It is the closest thing to being in the middle of everything and at the same time can find your own spot away from everything when need be. Service and personnel are top notch, had not problems with service or facilities. Would be nice if they would put a microwave in the rooms but then you would spend less money on what they sell. It is not the most economical place to stay, but if you are going to Universal/Islands of Adventure then the Express Pass option more than makes up for what you spend on the room, PERIOD!!! My wife and I and two kids 13 years old, did not wait more than 20 minutes for any ride and this was in August! Most of the wait times were 75 to 90 minutes long! The pool is the best, large, not crowded and a great bar/cafe at the pool. We will be back again soon!

    by rlhill, 8/12/08

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