Hilary
There's always something new to learn!
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2000
- Messages
- 6,483
There goes Florida, part 9 Hard Rock Hotel and USF
Cast
Me Hilary, 48. Beginning to suffer from trip-planning overload, but looking forward to seeing some new-to-us parts of Florida.
DH Jeremy, 49. Looking forward to fishing opportunities in the Keys and on the coast, but could do without quite as long in Orlando.
DD1 Rhian , 19. Looking forward to forgetting university studies for two weeks anything else will be a bonus.
DD2 Amy, 15. Looking forward to first trip to IOA , Mission Space and the Hard Rock Hotel, but not looking forward to the prospect of being ill on the flights again.
Friday, 9th April, Good Friday
We left Park Shore Resort and headed up the Tamiami Trail to meet the I4 for Orlando and our next stop the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal, Florida. The drive was fine until we neared Orlando and I tried to decide on the best way of finding the Hard Rock Hotel. We got a bit lost, Im ashamed to admit, but we did get a nice view of the Convention Centre, and had a near miss with a sports car driving the wrong way up the carriageway!
It took us some time to convince ourselves that the other driver was in the wrong and not us, but we were in the midst of other traffic travelling the same way as us, and Im sure we werent all wrong.
Eventually we found the hotel, unloaded the bags to be stored until our room was ready, and went to check in. Wow!
Id been really looking forward to this hotel, and I wasnt disappointed with our first impressions. Here we were for check-in number five. The front desk staff checking us in were both British and we had a bit of a chat about how long theyd been there, where they were from, etc., and I chose the white wine and nuts as my Loews First Club freebie. Our room wasnt yet ready (we didnt expect it to be, as we had arrived late morning) and we were given a secret code (very cloak and dagger!) to phone later to find out our room number.
We had a quick look around the memorabilia in the lobby area and then headed for the pool area and some lunch. The pool was very busy, but the poolside bar wasnt too hectic, so we enjoyed a light lunch here. Our server was British we commented on the fact and told him that the two staff whod checked us in were also British. He said he thought there were about seven or eight Brits working in the hotel, and wed already met three of them within ten minutes of checking in!
Fortified by lunch, we set off for Islands of Adventure our first theme park visit of this trip and our first ever visit to this park. It was hot. The short walk to the park was very hot. But what a great walk it was; Universal hotels really are on-site!
We didnt have a particular plan for IOA (I know, I shouldnt really have admitted that, should I?) but had our front of line privilege to help us on our way, and I have nothing but praise for this fantastic perk
. The cost of the hotel room was worthwhile for this alone.
First stop had to be Spiderman and we all came off wondering was that it?
After all the great reviews wed read, we were disappointed with this ride, but decided to do it again later to see whether wed missed something the first time around. We continued round the park and enjoyed the themed lands and the clever transitions from one to the next.
Very soon, we were too hot and uncomfortable to make the most of the park, so decided to return to the HRH for a while to cool down and return to the parks later this evening.
When we ventured out again later we headed for Universal Studios an even shorter walk from HRH. We had a couple of wish list rides and attractions here, but otherwise we were happy to take whatever came our way. Shrek was one must-do, so we did. It was great! Then we managed to ride Back to the Future and Jaws and then went to see whether Revenge of the Mummy was open. It was, so Jeremy and Amy went on and Rhian and I sat, people-watching while they rode it, and then went straight back on. Amy really enjoyed this ride but, despite her enthusiasm, I wasnt tempted to join her!
So, to our room, and I have to admit it wasnt quite as spectacular as Id expected. It was all very nice and comfortable, but lacked the oomph of the rest of the hotel and grounds. The bathroom, on the other hand, was wonderful
!
Saturday, 10th April
Our second front-of-line day, but we had to check out of the HRH this morning before heading for the parks. We stored our bags at the hotel, spent a few hours in the parks and then returned for lunch at HRHs The Kitchen before leaving. Im so glad we stayed here, as the hotel has to be seen (and heard!) to be believed, but Im not sure that Ill be rushing to return well probably try one of the other USF resorts next time.
After lunch we set off for Disneys Old Key West resort, only to be confounded by a road blockage at the junction we needed for the resort (we heard later that there had been a very nasty road traffic accident along there
). The security guard directing traffic gave us an alternative route for accessing the resort and we finally made it to check-in - number six of the trip.
Our two-bedroom vacation home was all we could have hoped for on the top floor with a balcony overlooking the golf course and waterway. Id requested the top floor because we find they are quieter, but then we remembered that there are no lifts in most of the Old Key West buildings! I telephoned the front desk just to make sure (didnt want to carry all the luggage up the stairs unnecessarily, did we?), but they confirmed our building didnt have a lift. Well remember to ask Bell Services to help us out next time!
We rustled up a hasty snack and then went our separate ways Jeremy fishing and the girls and me to Downtown Disney. We got the bus there, shopped for a couple of hours and then rode the boat back to Old Key West at the end of the evening. I just love that journey in the dark with all the coloured lights from Downtown Disney sparkling on the water. Ahhh!
Cast
Me Hilary, 48. Beginning to suffer from trip-planning overload, but looking forward to seeing some new-to-us parts of Florida.
DH Jeremy, 49. Looking forward to fishing opportunities in the Keys and on the coast, but could do without quite as long in Orlando.
DD1 Rhian , 19. Looking forward to forgetting university studies for two weeks anything else will be a bonus.
DD2 Amy, 15. Looking forward to first trip to IOA , Mission Space and the Hard Rock Hotel, but not looking forward to the prospect of being ill on the flights again.
Friday, 9th April, Good Friday
We left Park Shore Resort and headed up the Tamiami Trail to meet the I4 for Orlando and our next stop the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal, Florida. The drive was fine until we neared Orlando and I tried to decide on the best way of finding the Hard Rock Hotel. We got a bit lost, Im ashamed to admit, but we did get a nice view of the Convention Centre, and had a near miss with a sports car driving the wrong way up the carriageway!
It took us some time to convince ourselves that the other driver was in the wrong and not us, but we were in the midst of other traffic travelling the same way as us, and Im sure we werent all wrong.Eventually we found the hotel, unloaded the bags to be stored until our room was ready, and went to check in. Wow!
Id been really looking forward to this hotel, and I wasnt disappointed with our first impressions. Here we were for check-in number five. The front desk staff checking us in were both British and we had a bit of a chat about how long theyd been there, where they were from, etc., and I chose the white wine and nuts as my Loews First Club freebie. Our room wasnt yet ready (we didnt expect it to be, as we had arrived late morning) and we were given a secret code (very cloak and dagger!) to phone later to find out our room number. We had a quick look around the memorabilia in the lobby area and then headed for the pool area and some lunch. The pool was very busy, but the poolside bar wasnt too hectic, so we enjoyed a light lunch here. Our server was British we commented on the fact and told him that the two staff whod checked us in were also British. He said he thought there were about seven or eight Brits working in the hotel, and wed already met three of them within ten minutes of checking in!
Fortified by lunch, we set off for Islands of Adventure our first theme park visit of this trip and our first ever visit to this park. It was hot. The short walk to the park was very hot. But what a great walk it was; Universal hotels really are on-site!
We didnt have a particular plan for IOA (I know, I shouldnt really have admitted that, should I?) but had our front of line privilege to help us on our way, and I have nothing but praise for this fantastic perk
. The cost of the hotel room was worthwhile for this alone. First stop had to be Spiderman and we all came off wondering was that it?
After all the great reviews wed read, we were disappointed with this ride, but decided to do it again later to see whether wed missed something the first time around. We continued round the park and enjoyed the themed lands and the clever transitions from one to the next.Very soon, we were too hot and uncomfortable to make the most of the park, so decided to return to the HRH for a while to cool down and return to the parks later this evening.
When we ventured out again later we headed for Universal Studios an even shorter walk from HRH. We had a couple of wish list rides and attractions here, but otherwise we were happy to take whatever came our way. Shrek was one must-do, so we did. It was great! Then we managed to ride Back to the Future and Jaws and then went to see whether Revenge of the Mummy was open. It was, so Jeremy and Amy went on and Rhian and I sat, people-watching while they rode it, and then went straight back on. Amy really enjoyed this ride but, despite her enthusiasm, I wasnt tempted to join her!
So, to our room, and I have to admit it wasnt quite as spectacular as Id expected. It was all very nice and comfortable, but lacked the oomph of the rest of the hotel and grounds. The bathroom, on the other hand, was wonderful
! Saturday, 10th April
Our second front-of-line day, but we had to check out of the HRH this morning before heading for the parks. We stored our bags at the hotel, spent a few hours in the parks and then returned for lunch at HRHs The Kitchen before leaving. Im so glad we stayed here, as the hotel has to be seen (and heard!) to be believed, but Im not sure that Ill be rushing to return well probably try one of the other USF resorts next time.
After lunch we set off for Disneys Old Key West resort, only to be confounded by a road blockage at the junction we needed for the resort (we heard later that there had been a very nasty road traffic accident along there
). The security guard directing traffic gave us an alternative route for accessing the resort and we finally made it to check-in - number six of the trip. Our two-bedroom vacation home was all we could have hoped for on the top floor with a balcony overlooking the golf course and waterway. Id requested the top floor because we find they are quieter, but then we remembered that there are no lifts in most of the Old Key West buildings! I telephoned the front desk just to make sure (didnt want to carry all the luggage up the stairs unnecessarily, did we?), but they confirmed our building didnt have a lift. Well remember to ask Bell Services to help us out next time!
We rustled up a hasty snack and then went our separate ways Jeremy fishing and the girls and me to Downtown Disney. We got the bus there, shopped for a couple of hours and then rode the boat back to Old Key West at the end of the evening. I just love that journey in the dark with all the coloured lights from Downtown Disney sparkling on the water. Ahhh!
