Hard Rock Hotel review

[Fan2CSkr]

We stayed ar HRH for 4 nights over the busy Memorial weekend. There are 5 of us so we booked a deluxe room. We were on the 6th floor overlooking the hotel entrance. Since HRH doesnt have any balconies I really dont care too much about the view.

We checked in at 10:30A on Thursday and couldnt believe the room was ready for us! What a bonus that was. I am Loews platinum and asked if there were an available deluxes on club level and was told the hotel was sold out. One of these days we'll try HRH club. Check in was quick, easy and pleasant. The kids were given air guitars and at each station there were large bowls of apples. Each person in the room was given a room key and we requested the kids keys not have charging privileges. I had a discounted rate and was not asked to see the card and did get our amenities. I will wait to see if the stay was credited. The bellman brought our bags up with us. We had stopped at the store and got a cooler, drinks and snacks and he called star services for ice for us.

The deluxe rooms at HRH are perfect for us. 2 queen beds and a pullout queen sofa bed that the kids get to alternate sleeping on. The room also has a nice size bathroom with a sink and separate sink outside the toilet room as well as a large vanity with toiletries. There is a separate changing area near the closet with a seating area, desk and chair and fridge cabinet. Next to the beds there is a full size table with very large comfortable leather chairs (3) as well as a large overstuffed comfortable chair and ottoman. It is a very spacious room that a family of 5 can spread out in. There is a full size dresser with 6 large drawers. On this dresser there is a TV and stereo. Between the two beds is a night table with a couple of drawers too. There are 3 phones in the room and one is cordless.


Each morning I had coffee from Starbucks at Emack and Bolios. They offered the same drinks the full service Startbusks in my area do as well as the cakes and donuts. If I ordered a mocha latte I was asked how many shots of chocolate and did I want whipped cream, what milk type, etc. I liked that!

Housekeeping was terrific this trip and I have had complaints in the past. Each morning they cleaned between 10A-10:30. The first day I left a note with a tip asking for extra shampoo and towels as well as more pillows and another blanket for the sleeper sofa. I got a note back thanking me for the tip as well as an introduction to Rowlina. I got everything I asked for and then some and this followed suit for the rest of the trip.

One day the keys stopped working and we suspected the culprit was my sons new magnetic rocks bought that day and kept in the same bag as the room keys. The front desk happily replaced all of them and voided out the old ones. Each and every person we encountered greeted us with a smile and some even by name! Every day as we entered the pool area the towel person shouted out a Good Morning, have a great day to us! The employees could not be more pleasant.

One day we rented a cabana and had the best time! Becka was our cabana server and she went above and beyond. She kept an eye on the kids and even encouraged us to make a trip to the parks alone (me and DH). She told the kids when it was time for more sunblock and dumped buckets of ice water over them to cool them down. (that was done in fun and the kids loved it!) She was really wonderful. From now on a cabana day will be a must for us.

Each day at the pool there was some form of entertainment. During our stay we had a dive in movie twice, a DJ, a live band and a comedian. There are also kids activities all day long and contests. The pool atmosphere at HRH is great! We loved to go to the pool at dusk before heading to dinner and have a cocktail as the kids played in the pool. I would suggest bringing some bug repellant. Thankfully I did pack some and we avoided the bites others were complaining about.

One day we were treated to a female all out brawl by the pool over lounge chairs. Security was in full force and it did get ugly. My husband thought it was great though. So between the hot sun and some alcohol and busy crowded pool I guess this happens. The pool was very crowded the entire time we were there and lounge chair savers were everywhere. We did observe security walking through the pool area a few times and removing the towels from saved lounge chairs that looked disowned. I would guess that could cause a problem too. Thankfully was avoided any problems while enjoying the pool.

We had a few great meals at The Kitchen for breakfast and dinner. We had lunch from the Beach Bar that was tastey and some mixed drinks that were very good too. There is a tent that does hairbraiding and tatoos as well as a tent for pool float rentals and towels. They also sell sunblock. One day while laying by the pool they came around with fruit frozen bars, complimentary! They had some yummy flavors and were also selling them at the pool each day, the black cherry was awesome.

Activities included ping pong and other pool side games. There is a game room my kids visited daily that had easy prizes to win (since we accumulated enough of them). We found it very hot a few days while we were there. We took the boat and walked and the pedicabs often. Some days the boat never seemed to come and we would end up walking I never found out why that was. Its a great walk from HRH to Universal so quick and very pretty.

Dont forget anything you purchase in the parks can be sent back to your room and will be there after 9A the next day. We did this lots and it was a great perk!

As many of you that have stayed at HRH know they have plumbing issues at times on certain floors. We had a problem one evening around 11P and they sent someone up right away. He told my DH that by the end of this month they will have the plumbing problems fixed permanently.

For those that care, we had the green Coverlets and the room had been updated and was in perfect shape. The hallway carpets were replaced too.
It was a great stay! I look forward to our next.

Any HRH questions just let me know.

 

[damo]

What a wonderfully thorough review.

 

[JawsCPA]

Thanks for the great review. We are staying there at the end of June for five nights. Sometimes all you hear is negative - and I was getting a little worried. Thanks for relieving my fears. WOOHOO - less than 22 days until our check in at the HARD ROCK HOTEL!!!

 

[E&B's Mom]

That was a great review, and is making me look forward to our stay even more.

I do have a question. How old are your kids? We have been debating when ours will be old enough to leave alone for short periods on a trip like this.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Thanks for the replies!

The kids are 13, 12, and 9. All boys and responsible. There was a thread here somewhere about leaving the kids to do the parks alone and what we each are comfortable with was different since all kids are so different. My kids have been going to USO for years a few times a year and know every nook and crannie of the parks and each resort. This is the first time they were given these freedoms and they shined to the task knowing if they didnt it would be their last. I let my 9 year old stay at the pool with the other two kids also knowing Becka had her eye out. We did let the two older kids go or stay at the parks alone with a cell phone.

 

[subtchr]

What a great review -- I'm so excited about our stay in a few weeks! We also have a family of 5, although our kids are older than yours (20, 17, & 14). We also have a deluxe room, which sounds perfect from your description. We'll actually have an aerobed with us (the two oldest, boys, hate to sleep in the same bed, so they'll all trade off between the bed, sleeper sofa, and aerobed), so I'm glad there is plenty of room. The pool sounds wonderful. Since we are only staying two nights, I decided not to try to reserve a cabana, since we will be spending so much time in the parks. But with FOTL, I know we'll definitely have some pool time! Did you pool hop to either RPR or PBH? It's good to hear how much you liked the Kitchen, since we planned to eat there for at least one meal. One kind of silly question; how big are the room keys? I got some pocket type holders for our passes and room keys to put on lanyards to show for FOTL, and I'd like to make sure the room keys are small enough to fit in those. Thanks in advance, and I'm sure I'll have more questions!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

What a great review -- I'm so excited about our stay in a few weeks! We also have a family of 5, although our kids are older than yours (20, 17, & 14). We also have a deluxe room, which sounds perfect from your description. We'll actually have an aerobed with us (the two oldest, boys, hate to sleep in the same bed, so they'll all trade off between the bed, sleeper sofa, and aerobed), so I'm glad there is plenty of room. The pool sounds wonderful. Since we are only staying two nights, I decided not to try to reserve a cabana, since we will be spending so much time in the parks. But with FOTL, I know we'll definitely have some pool time! Did you pool hop to either RPR or PBH? It's good to hear how much you liked the Kitchen, since we planned to eat there for at least one meal. One kind of silly question; how big are the room keys? I got some pocket type holders for our passes and room keys to put on lanyards to show for FOTL, and I'd like to make sure the room keys are small enough to fit in those. Thanks in advance, and I'm sure I'll have more questions!

The aero bed is a great idea so they dont have to share. We did pool hop 2 different days for a little while. My kids love to do that each trip so we try and combine a meal with some swimming.

The room keys are the same size as a credit card so they will fit easily in the holder. If you like the front desk will punch a hole to fit through a lanyard.

I hope you like the Kitchen as much as we do and ask for Mike if you eat there he is great. Any other questions, let me know.

 

[dblumy]

Wow. Sounds like a totally different hotel than the one we stayed at last year. I'm trying to decide if we are going to stay at the PBH or the HRH next year. We love the pool at the HRH but had so many issues during our last stay. After reading your review I might be willing to give it another try.

Thanks!

 

[MFFL]

Great review! We will be there this Tuesday, the 13th! Less than a week. I appreciate your comment about your sons privilege to be alone at the park. I asked the question earlier. I will see how the first few days go and if they earn that privilege as well. Any comment on the NBA Cafe at CityWalk? As die-hard Dallas Mavericks fans, we are anxious to watch some basketball and thought this would be a fun place. Thanks again for your review!

 

[paigevz]

Thanks. We stayed at the Royal Pacific in 2003, and dh wanted to try Hard Rock next time. I wasn't too thrilled about it, worrying that it would be too "hard" for me, but from your description, it sounds just great, and something both my boys would really enjoy. We are thinking of next Spring Break for a trip (since my school district and my son's actually chose the SAME spring break dates for next year), and combining it with a bday trip for older son (since younger got a Disney trip last week). Your review made me really look forward to beginning to plan this trip!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Thanks for the great review!

Which Cabana did you have, and would you choose it again?

 

[clm3]

Thanks for the great review! We're also a family of 5 and appreciate the details on the Deluxe room. We're not planning until next year, first week of June. I know we'll have FOTL, but curious what the parks were like?

Also, if your a seasoned USO guest can you tell me ..... is there a short cut walkway to Curious George or do you have to go through the whole park? By the online map it kinda looks like theres a sidewalk to the right after you enter ?? Just wondering as I know my DD 7 will be spending most of the day there !!

Thanks Again,
Cheryl

 

[love the sun]

Your review made my day! We are leaving in ten days for HRH and now I'm really looking forward to it.

I do have a few (OK, alot) of questions: Do you think its too late to reserve a cabana now if I'm due there in ten days? How do you find out about the entertainment schedule at the pool? Is reserving chairs permitted - can we kind of leave a shirt or bag (with no valuables) on the chairs or do people just toss your stuff and take them? I know you mentioned security went through and cleaned off a couple of chairs, but wasn't sure if we could get away with trying to save a couple.

We aren't in a deluxe room, but do you know if there is a usable fridge in the regular rooms? and FINALLY is there an ice machine on every floor?

THANKS in advance!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Great review! We will be there this Tuesday, the 13th! Less than a week. I appreciate your comment about your sons privilege to be alone at the park. I asked the question earlier. I will see how the first few days go and if they earn that privilege as well. Any comment on the NBA Cafe at CityWalk? As die-hard Dallas Mavericks fans, we are anxious to watch some basketball and thought this would be a fun place. Thanks again for your review!

We usually eat at NBA City and did this time too. Its a fun atmosphere and the food is decent, enjoy! Have a great vacation.

WDW LifeLong Fan Thanks for the great review! Which Cabana did you have, and would you choose it again?

We had #9 and loved it. It was smack dab in the center of the pool and I could watch the kids come down the slide.

clm3 Thanks for the great review! We're also a family of 5 and appreciate the details on the Deluxe room. We're not planning until next year, first week of June. I know we'll have FOTL, but curious what the parks were like?Also, if your a seasoned USO guest can you tell me ..... is there a short cut walkway to Curious George or do you have to go through the whole park? By the online map it kinda looks like theres a sidewalk to the right after you enter ?? Just wondering as I know my DD 7 will be spending most of the day there !!

Thanks Again,
Cheryl

We were there over Memorial weekend so the parks were busy but since we stayed onsite it was just fine for us. There isnt an exit at Curious George you have to backtrack and exit out to the left. This area is great and the kids never want to leave!

love the sun Your review made my day! We are leaving in ten days for HRH and now I'm really looking forward to it. I do have a few (OK, alot) of questions: Do you think its too late to reserve a cabana now if I'm due there in ten days? How do you find out about the entertainment schedule at the pool? Is reserving chairs permitted - can we kind of leave a shirt or bag (with no valuables) on the chairs or do people just toss your stuff and take them? I know you mentioned security went through and cleaned off a couple of chairs, but wasn't sure if we could get away with trying to save a couple.

We aren't in a deluxe room, but do you know if there is a usable fridge in the regular rooms? and FINALLY is there an ice machine on every floor?

THANKS in advance!

It might be too late to reserve a cabana but I sure would try! They have 10 of them. RPR has 3 and PBH's beach pool has 3 and their villa pool has 10? You can pool hop and reserve a cabana at any of the onsites. The entertainment schedule is posted on a large board sitting right in front of the pools entrance each morning. Its very informative and helped us decide what we wanted to do each day.

I saw many people reserve chairs early in the day. If the pool area is packed with no available chairs security and pool workers will walk around and remove towels from the chair to open them up to newcommers. I didnt see anyone toss anyones stuff. There is an ice machine on each floor and the mini fridges need a key to open them at check in one must ask for it. You cant empty them to put your things inside they will charge you. We stop at a store on the way to HRH and pick up our drinks, snacks and a styrofoam cooler that we just fill with ice each day. Easy and a great convenience. When we check out we give the bellman luggage guys our leftover (unopened) snacks and drinks and just leave the empty cooler by the ice machine for the next guest to enjoy.

Have a terrific vacation!!