Hard Rock Hotel At Universal Orlando

“Loved it!”

Lived everything about our stay the rooms, pool, bar, breakfast- just fabulous- we will be back. It is a bit tired but let’s face it every great rocker is a bit past their best!

“A great place to stay for music and theme park lovers.”

We recently stayed here for our third visit and everything was just as good as we remembered. Check in was quick and efficient. We were able to check in early morning prior to parks opening and were given our express passes. We were then emailed when our rooms were available. Our request for 2 adjo… more

We recently stayed here for our third visit and everything was just as good as we remembered. Check in was quick and efficient. We were able to check in early morning prior to parks opening and were given our express passes. We were then emailed when our rooms were available. Our request for 2 adjoining rooms was met. The rooms had been refurbished since our last stay. They were very clean and contained all the amenities we required. This hotel is in the perfect location for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, being just a few minutes walk through scenic grounds to reach City Walk. Boat transportation is available but we found it quicker to walk. We love the vibe of this hotel, with constant music playing both in the lobby and at the pool. With restaurants indoor and pool bars and a Hard Rock shop, plus a quick serve they have everything you need. All the staff were friendly and helpful and service was efficient, if for example we asked for luggage to be moved and stored. We had breakfast at The Kitchen, choosing the buffet option. Made to order items are available on this option as well as the numerous options already out and it is just one of the best breakfasts in Orlando. One member of the family also ate at The Palm restaurant which is a wonderful fine dining experience. We would definitely hope to return for a 4th time in the future.

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“Location and express great, but some issues.”

Overall, our stay was mixed. The location and included Express Passes are excellent, but several issues meant this wasn’t the experience we expected from a premium Universal hotel. Positives • The location is excellent, with a 5–10 minute walk to Universal Studios or frequent complimentary water … more

Overall, our stay was mixed. The location and included Express Passes are excellent, but several issues meant this wasn’t the experience we expected from a premium Universal hotel. Positives • The location is excellent, with a 5–10 minute walk to Universal Studios or frequent complimentary water taxis to both parks. • The pool area is very good, with plenty of sunbeds available and attentive poolside service. • We used self-parking ($36 plus tax per night), and the bell service was helpful in unloading our luggage before parking, with access to the car park via a set of stairs from reception. • The included Unlimited Express Passes are a fantastic benefit and make visiting Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure much easier. • We also used the laundry room on level 4, which was convenient. It cost approximately $6 per load for both the washer and dryer, with detergent powder also available. Negatives • The fire alarm went off twice during our stay, including once at around 5:00 am, which was very disruptive. • Housekeeping was inconsistent. Some days the room was cleaned in the morning, while on others it wasn’t serviced until late afternoon, making it difficult to return to the room for a break. • An incorrect charge appeared on our bill. Reception removed it straight away, but it shouldn’t have happened. • The most concerning issue occurred at around 10:00 pm, when a shopping delivery that wasn’t ours was placed inside our room while the whole family was asleep. I returned it to reception, but there seemed to be little concern that someone had entered an occupied room late at night, despite the delivery not even being for us. • The shuttle bus to Epic Universe, particularly for Early Park Admission, was poor. Buses were only every 20–30 minutes, stopped at Portofino first, and were often already full by the time they reached Hard Rock. On more than one occasion we had to stand or wait for the next bus. Given that Early Park Admission is a key benefit of staying at a Universal hotel, the transport to Epic simply wasn’t good enough. For the price and reputation of Hard Rock Hotel, we expected a much more consistent experience. The location and Express Passes are outstanding, but the repeated operational issues meant this was an average stay overall rather than the premium experience we had hoped for.

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