The Hard Rock is sold out for our dates and DS is bummed. Which Universal hotel would be your 2nd choice with a 12 year old who likes arcades and a cool pool slide?
well, PB has a slide, RPR doesn't.... PB is closer to HRH and you can pool hop, so if he wants the cool pool w/ slide, stay PB.....altho, RPR is prolly cheaper --sorry....i'm no help!
It a tough call for the second pick. But, my advice would be make a reservation at either hotel (RP or PBH) and keep checking back on Hard Rock. Depending on when you are going, it could be sold out due to an event, but I have had luck finding rooms later on. I don't know if its been cancellations or if they hold rooms for certain time periods, but its worth it to keep checking.
It may not really be sold out, some rooms are held for certain travel companies. This happened to me once and I went to the AAA site and they still had rooms. You could try that. If not, you would probably like either RP or PB, but RP doesnt have a slide.