Hard Rock Hotel Pool Closed Sept 7 - 14

[kevin harrison]

Just had an email, the Hard Rock Pool is going to be closed from September 7th until 14th. I am furious.......

They are offering a shuttle to the Portofino and RPR every 20 mins, but if I wanted to use their pool, I would have stayed there instead....

Thank you for choosing to stay at Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando during your visit to the Central Florida area.

We will begin renovating our pool and pool area on September 7. This renovation is necessary to ensure that Hard Rock Hotel continues to provide an awesome hotel pool experience for our guests. From September 7-14, our pool and pool area will be closed for this renovation. During that time, we encourage you to visit one of our sister properties at Universal Orlando Resort - Loews Portofino Bay Hotel or Loews Royal Pacific Resort - for a supremely comfortable Loews pool experience that includes daily planned activities.

At Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, you will find three beautifully themed pools to choose from. The Beach Pool is the ideal place for the family to spend the day together. This lively pool area features a Roman aqueduct themed water slide, a sandy beach and adjacent children's pool, two hot tubs and three colorful beach cabanas. The Splendido Pizzeria offers poolside service of pizza, sandwiches, and beverages, and guests can enjoy a weekly "dive-in" movie poolside. For a bit more exclusivity, the serene Villa Pool offers additional amenities including private cabana rentals and upgraded lounge chairs. The cabanas include fan, bar/refrigerator and phones, and can be upgraded to include TV and VCR. The third swimming pool, the Hillside Pool on the hotel's east wing, offers a bit more privacy and a quiet place for relaxing by the water.

Sink your toes into the white sand beach of Loews Royal Pacific Resort's huge lagoon-style swimming pool and feel your cares fade away. The palm tree-lined pool area features two hot tubs, a beach volleyball court, and the impressive Royal Bali Sea interactive water play area for children. For a nice shady retreat, rent a private cabana complete with such amenities as a ceiling fan, phone, TV, a refrigerator with water, soda and a fruit bowl. You'll find a variety of organized poolside activities including ping pong tournaments, pool basketball, hula hoop contests, arts and crafts, weekly "dive-in" movies, and more.

Transportation to Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort is available via our hotel shuttle approximately every 20 minutes throughout the day. Additionally, as a guest staying at Hard Rock Hotel, transportation is also available through the hotel's valet parking vendor, Towne Park (from your guest room, dial ext. 3-2195).

We look forward to welcoming you to Hard Rock Hotel. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your stay more memorable.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

OH Kevin I am gutted for you - you were only saying the other day about relaxing in their pool!

I really hope it doesn't spoil things too much for you - thats out of order that you have been told so late! - but I guess you will have it for the end of your stay - right??

 

[disneyholic family]

i would be royally ticked off!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zeebs]

I understand these things need doing, but the notice is a bit late, surely they knew more than a week that they were planning some work on it.

Hope it doesn't impact your trip too much.

Kirsten

 

[kevin harrison]

I went up the wall, I rang a contact at the hotel and was offered a lesser room at Portofino (they didn't have comparable accomodation) but have secured a kids suite upgrade.

Not terribly happy but there isn't a lot I can do now.

 

[disneyholic family]

I went up the wall, I rang a contact at the hotel and was offered a lesser room at Portofino (they didn't have comparable accomodation) but have secured a kids suite upgrade.

Not terribly happy but there isn't a lot I can do now.

so you're at the portofino? at least you'll be close to the pool..
i cannot believe they gave you such late notice....
that is totally outrageous...

the same thing happened to my sister at a really top notch hotel on maui (the grand wallea i think it's called)...
she was only informed right before her trip...
she was livid.....their defense was they have multiple pools....but that doesn't make up for the main one being closed (during the high season strangely enough)...
and it doesn't make up for them telling them at the last minute when it was something they had scheduled long ago...
and she's a member of this hotel....she was sooooooooooooooooooooo angry...
they made it up to her by upgrading their rooms, but still it wasn't right....
we're talking about a hotel where a standard room is $800/night....
they should be licking your feet not sending you last minute notifications of pool closures...

 

[Lizzybear]

I understand these things need doing, but the notice is a bit late, surely they knew more than a week that they were planning some work on it.

Hope it doesn't impact your trip too much.

Kirsten

Agreed, they must have known before now Hope the suite at the Portofino is at least equivalent to the one at Hard Rock, IMO they should have offered that without you even having to ask.

 

[wicket2005]

I am well cheesed off for you but remember you will have a fantastic time. The Portofino Bay looked quiet from what I saw which just may be what you need.

You can buy waterproof bags from Aquapac for MP3 (Ipods) players if you have one so perhaps you could load one up with all your rock music and chill out this way.

The Royal Pacific pool is lovely and has a beach area. The area where the volleyball court is has seats facing out of the river, we sat there last year (I sipped cocktails - followed by 2 goes on Dr Doom which I had avoided till then) and watched the ferry going backwards and forwards. It was very relaxing, I am going to do that next year.

They should indicate if the pool is going to be closed at some point as they do with ride refurbishments. It is annoying but please do not let it spoil your holiday.

 

[Zeebs]

I read this as Kevin has taken an upgrade to a suite at Hard Rock. If so would be interested to know how it was and see pics.

Kirsten

 

[Wedgeh]

Bah, this is really dissappointing I didn't get any email, but then I did book through expedia.

 

[kevin harrison]

I read this as Kevin has taken an upgrade to a suite at Hard Rock. If so would be interested to know how it was and see pics.

Kirsten

You are correct, I have taken a kids suite upgrade at the HRH.

 

[sandshal]

Returned home on the 26th - stayed at HRH 23rd-25th Aug and to be honest really can't understand why they are closing it just out of high season Looked absolutely fine to me, paint on the pool slide was a little worn but nothing that couldn't be fixed over the quieter months.

If you're worried might be worth changing to the Portofino, we did both this trip and the pool looked equally as good at the Portofino, beds were far more comfy too!

 

[kevin harrison]

I have been offered a queen suite on club level or a kids suite at the HRH or a comparable room at the Portofino.

My point is if I wanted a room at the Portofino I would have booked there originally.

 

[luke]

Thats pretty bad only telling you now, like some have said, they must have known for a while!

Similarly we were just told that the hotel where we're staying for our wedding (Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress) will be undergoing rennovations a wing at a time - which while it shouldn't inconvenience us, is slightly annoying and has me worried in case it DOES inconvenience us - especially with this being more than just a holiday!!

We will see