2012 - OLYMPIC FREE TOUR - Day 5 - IHOP - Premium Outlets - Hard Rock Cafe

[DISWolves]

Day 5 – IHOP – Premium Outlets – Hard Rock Cafe

Every morning waiting to greet us outside of our room door was a carefully positioned copy of USA Today. I was saving the Olympic sections, but today had a nice extra special supplement commemorating 50 years of Kennedy Space Center. We also noticed each morning, that the pool attendants, when preparing the pool for the day, would create a message on the distant loungers, using towels.





Another first for us today, as we decided to try IHOP for breakfast. I had read plenty of good reviews on DIS and so decided to pay a visit to the one located across the junction from Wet n Wild on International Drive. We arrived around 9:00 and as we entered, there were quite a few people waiting to be seated, however we were shown to our table in a matter of minutes. Our server today was a lovely lady named Sandy.



She explained the menu thoroughly and then left us to make our choices. Lots of items on the menu took our fancy and after chopping and changing, we were ready to order.

Nigel – Steak and Cheese Omelette with Hash Browns – Summer Berry Blast
Sue – Strawberry and Banana Pancakes – Grapefruit Juice
Emma – Scrambled Eggs/Sausages/Hash Browns with a side of Pancakes – Orange Juice











My Summer Berry Blast drink was very refreshing and a spectacle to watch as the colours gradually mingled. Our server was very attentive but not too overbearing despite managing many other tables. The hash browns were also delicious and of no comparison to others that I have had previously. The total bill was $34.23 plus tip.

Suitably fuelled up, we made the short journey further along I-Drive to Premium Outlets. We strolled around the outlets making various purchases in Converse, Banana Republic, Timberland, Oakley, Aeropostale and Tillys. After a good few hours of walking and spending, we returned back to Hilton BC around 2:00 and headed, yet again, to the pool for a few more hours before getting ready for tonight’s meal.

Washed and changed we headed along a rain soaked I4 to Universal City Walk. Parking for the evening was $5.00 and we were directed to Jaws parking lot. We had not visited Universal for two years and were all surprised to see a crazy golf course had appeared on the right, just before entering City Walk. The rain had now eased off as we made our way around towards Hard Rock.





We had a quick browse around the gift shop before checking in for the restaurant. We were soon directed upstairs and posed for the pointless obligatory photograph.







After being shown to our table we studied the menu and then ordered our food. Service was not brilliant and the food was not much better. We were all rather disappointed about this since we have had some enjoyable meals here on many of our previous visits.

Nigel – Legendary Burger with fries – Bud Light
Sue – California Club Sandwich – Tropical Storm Cocktail
Emma – Fish and chips – Diet Coke







We had a second look around the gift shop where we purchased two t-shirts, a fridge magnet and a necklace.

Outside it was raining quite heavily so we sheltered beneath the canopy of Hard Rock Live and watched a spectacular lightening storm.



As the rain eased we made our way back to the parking lot. Once on the I4 we soon came to a standstill, due to an accident further along the highway and slowly inched our way towards the Crossroads exit. We finally reached Hilton BC around 11:00 and headed straight to bed.

Coming up next – Old Key West – Hoop Dee Doo (1)

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[stephensmum]

Breakfast looked great, shame about Hard Rock Cafe. You seem to be putting in plenty of shopping & only day 5.

[DISWolves]

Originally Posted by stephensmum

Breakfast looked great, shame about Hard Rock Cafe. You seem to be putting in plenty of shopping & only day 5.

I don't eat pancakes but this one looked tempting
The shopping calms down when we get our park tickets!

[dixonsontour]

Glad you enjoyed Ihop

[wigeboo]

great day

[PJB71]

Originally Posted by DISWolves

I don't eat pancakes but this one looked tempting
The shopping calms down when we get our park tickets!

Typical man moaning about shopping

My DH is just the same

[Linda67]

We haven't been to an iHOP for years but boy do I want some of those strawberry pancakes right now

[MichelinMan]

Did you make reservations for Hard Rock Cafe? I've been to the London one, and know you can't make reservations there.

We want to go next year - we are staying at the Hard Rock Hotel as well.

[Chilly]

I couldn't eat that much at breakfast, i wish i could, breakfast food is so yummy.

[DISWolves]

Originally Posted by MichelinMan

Did you make reservations for Hard Rock Cafe? I've been to the London one, and know you can't make reservations there.

We want to go next year - we are staying at the Hard Rock Hotel as well.

A reservation should not be necessary. We have been a number of times during our stays each August and usually get seated within 10 mins max.
This is the largest HRC in the world and dwarfs the London one many times, although London was the first HRC. You can easily spend an hour just browsing the memorabilia on the walls and there is also a "secret" John Lennon room which is decorated in all white, containing his piano, various outfits and manuscripts etc.. I think you need to pre book this tour, but the Hotel will be able to advise you better. Enjoy!

[MichelinMan]

Originally Posted by DISWolves

A reservation should not be necessary. We have been a number of times during our stays each August and usually get seated within 10 mins max.
This is the largest HRC in the world and dwarfs the London one many times, although London was the first HRC. You can easily spend an hour just browsing the memorabilia on the walls and there is also a "secret" John Lennon room which is decorated in all white, containing his piano, various outfits and manuscripts etc.. I think you need to pre book this tour, but the Hotel will be able to advise you better. Enjoy!

Good to know. We had to wait hour and a half last time we went to HRC London. I'm a big rock fan, so the Hard Rock's memorabilia is always interesting to me.

We went to the old HRC in Orlando back in '94, but it was a bit rushed as we tried to do all of US and HRC in one day, and also screwed up the plan (it was the only day of the holiday we ditched my 'unofficial guide' touring plan - big mistake).

Do all the staff still do Thriller every night? I know they used to do it a couple of years ago (seen the video on YouTube). Its one of DS's favourite tunes, and he's always looking for spoof videos on YouTube (hence why we came across it).

[DISWolves]

Originally Posted by MichelinMan

Good to know. We had to wait hour and a half last time we went to HRC London. I'm a big rock fan, so the Hard Rock's memorabilia is always interesting to me.

We went to the old HRC in Orlando back in '94, but it was a bit rushed as we tried to do all of US and HRC in one day, and also screwed up the plan (it was the only day of the holiday we ditched my 'unofficial guide' touring plan - big mistake).

Do all the staff still do Thriller every night? I know they used to do it a couple of years ago (seen the video on YouTube). Its one of DS's favourite tunes, and he's always looking for spoof videos on YouTube (hence why we came across it).

I remember the old Hard Rock inside of Universal. You had to walk under the guitar neck to the entrance.
Here is a photo that I took around 1993



I don't think the staff do Thriller any more. A lot of the 'regular' staff that I recognised over the years seemed to be missing

[irongirlof12]

Fab meal there. Hate to tell you this but you wee lass is growing up to be a stunning young woman

[DISWolves]

Originally Posted by irongirlof12

Fab meal there. Hate to tell you this but you wee lass is growing up to be a stunning young woman

Thank you
She will always be my little girl even though she is now taller than me
It"s her 14th birthday tomorrow (26th) so.........
Happy Birthday Emma!!!!!

[jockey]

I love I hop pancakes