08-20-2005
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#1 (permalink) |
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Your Friendly Singing Mod
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: RI
Posts: 4,611
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Hard Rock Hotel Review
As 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. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00442.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00444.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00446.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00447.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00443.jpg The lobby was stunning. I had been there once before, but it was at night and a lot of the details escaped me. Too bad it was so large that photos don't capture all the details. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/79c67d49.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...05/HRstore.jpg 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 lined up being served cocktails in the pool along a shelf-like area, under those two white umbrellas: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...05/HRHpool.jpg I tried to get a picture of the big water slide here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00463.jpg Here's DH relaxing in his loungechair: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00465.jpg This is looking back at the hotel from the pool with some water fountains for the kids in the foreground: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00468.jpg 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. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...beachclub1.jpg This is above the bar: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00460.jpg Universal studios were just a quick walk away. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00459.jpg But there were water taxis that took you to City Walk as well, which was closer if you were headed to Islands of Adventure: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00455.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00453.jpg 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. (there's another copy of the picture of E&B'sMom with her DS and me) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00470.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00469.jpg DH got chosen at one point to go up onstage to dance with the hula dancers. What a riot that was! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00487.jpg The rest of the show was lots of fun too. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00489.jpg 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. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00524.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...5/DSC00525.jpg
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 DVC, Disney Co Moderator 3/96 Offsite 9/98 Villa 10/98 Dixie Landings 8/00 Villa 6/01 Disneyland, CA 5/02 Villa 6/03 Villa 11/03 Wilderness Lodge 8/04 PopCentury, Swan and Royal Pacific 12/04 Swan 8/05 Swan and Hard Rock Hotel 11/05 Swan 1/06 Swan 9/06 Disneyland, CA 12/06 Swan & HRH 1/07 Swan 10/07 Hard Rock Hotel 12/07 Hard Rock and Swan 1/08 Boardwalk 10/08 Villa 1/09 Swan |
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08-20-2005
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#2 (permalink) |
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Dreamfinder Society
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 2,388
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Re: Hard Rock Hotel Review
Great review and photos, Ddoll!! The rooms at HRH are gorgeous (how do they keep all those light colors so clean?!?) and I really like the idea of the separate sink/mirror in the bathroom instead of two sinks outside of it (a la Disney Deluxes). I also like the "old Hollywood" look of the resort--I didn't expect it to have such a Spanish influence.
__________________
May 02 offsite * May 03 AKL * Oct 03 CSR * May 04 POR * Oct 04 CSR * May 05 BCV * Oct 05 SSR * Dec 05 BWI * Jan 06 WL * May 06 AKL * Sep 06 PC/BCV * Dec 06 WL * Jan 07 CSR * Apr 07 BCV * Jun 07 BW * Oct 07 BWV * Nov 07 WL * May 08 CSR *
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08-22-2005
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#3 (permalink) |
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MB Cast Member ฎ
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Space Mountain
Posts: 3,911
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Re: Hard Rock Hotel Review
Wow! Great review and pictures.
We are still going back and forth about "maybe" doing a day or so at Universal before Disney next year. Is a day or two enough over there?
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86,92,96 Offsite * 2002 AKL * 2003 BCV * 2004 Contemporary * 2005 WL * 2006 BWV* 2008 CSR * |
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08-22-2005
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#4 (permalink) |
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Mouse Meister
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 1,191
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Re: Hard Rock Hotel Review
We stayed at the HRH in November 2005, and like you really enjoyed the hotel. I agree that the pool is a major asset, along with the easy walk to both Universal parks and City Walk. We really enjoyed their restaurant The Kitchen too.
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Polynesian - July 2006, Hard Rock - November 2004, Polynesian - June 2002, Off Site - April 1997, Caribbean Beach - May 1992, Polynesian - October 1988, Polynesian - June 1987 Honeymoon, Off Site - May 1981 Senior Class Trip Life Is Good!  Hello, my name is Lisa |
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08-22-2005
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#5 (permalink) |
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Cie la vie
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Slurpee Capital of the World
Posts: 6,747
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Re: Hard Rock Hotel Review
Thanks for the report and all the great pictures! I'd love to try a Universal Hotel one day - they look beautiful.
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Moderator - Sa-fari, Sa-goodie A PROUD MEMBER OF THE BAD KITTY CLUB "Meowany Are Called, Mew Are Chosen" Dopey is my Bad Influence - Discuss It's Murdoch with an "H" |
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08-22-2005
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#6 (permalink) | |
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Your Friendly Singing Mod
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: RI
Posts: 4,611
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Re: Hard Rock Hotel Review
Quote:
Personally, I'd miss having that luxurious pool time though....
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DVC, Disney Co Moderator 3/96 Offsite 9/98 Villa 10/98 Dixie Landings 8/00 Villa 6/01 Disneyland, CA 5/02 Villa 6/03 Villa 11/03 Wilderness Lodge 8/04 PopCentury, Swan and Royal Pacific 12/04 Swan 8/05 Swan and Hard Rock Hotel 11/05 Swan 1/06 Swan 9/06 Disneyland, CA 12/06 Swan & HRH 1/07 Swan 10/07 Hard Rock Hotel 12/07 Hard Rock and Swan 1/08 Boardwalk 10/08 Villa 1/09 Swan |
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08-23-2005
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#7 (permalink) |
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Sweeter than hunny
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,880
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Re: Hard Rock Hotel Review
Thanks for the review. I am feeling better about my choice already. Now if December would just hurry up and get here...
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1976 Disney World Offsite as a kid 1995 Disney Land Offsite 2002 Contemporary Resort 2004 All Star Movies Resort and Royal Pacific Resort at Universal 2005 All Star Movies and Hard Rock Hotel 2006 Beach Club and Hard Rock Hotel 2007 Beach Club and Hard Rock Hotel 2008 AKL Savannah View Concierge and Royal Pacific Resort Kid Suite |
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08-23-2005
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#8 (permalink) |
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Drawing a blank here...
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Not close enough to WDW
Posts: 1,562
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Re: Hard Rock Hotel Review
Excellent pics! I was completely spoiled by FOL- I will NEVER go to IoA or US again unless I can use FoL. It is the best perk!!!
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Leslie Avatar: BLT- WDW is building my other home! 1974,1998,1999,2000- offsite 2001- offsite, Caribbean Beach Resort 2002- offsite, POR 2003- offsite, Coronado Springs 2004- Pop Century, Fort Wilderness, POFQ 2005- off-site 2006- Pop Century, offsite, Pop Century again 2007- Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, offsite, Wilderness Lodge  2008- Pop Century, Animal Kingdom, BW, offsite, Poly, FW Cabins, BCV  |
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