Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida is the place to vacation right now! My family and I stayed at Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel over Spring break and loved every second of it!
As you pull up to the Hard Rock Hotel, you know you will be living the rock star lifestyle for a while. The lobby has huge murals of the most iconic musicians of our time, very modern chairs, couches and tables to lounge around during your stay, and larger than life screens with videos playing all your favorite tunes. The rock touches are apparent everywhere you look. The chandelier leading down to the pool is even made entirely out of saxophones. Outfits of famous musicians are everywhere, so be sure to explore the entire hotel, you never know what you might find! Even the gift shop is decked out with memorabilia and awesome souvenirs to take home.
Room options at Hard Rock Hotel…
There are a few different room categories to choose from, something for everyone! Each category of room is equipped with everything you need to enjoy your stay.
Standard Room: Even though this is considered a standard room, there is nothing standard about it. You can choose between a garden view or a pool view room. We had a garden view and it was amazing to look out and see the plush landscape, very serene and peaceful. You can choose to have two queen beds or a king size bed. All rooms come with a mini fridge, hair dryer, flat screen tv, desk, chairs to relax in, bottles of water and even a bottle of hand sanitizer. The rock influence is every in the rooms too! The mirror in the hall even has the heights of a lot of famous musicians, so you can compare to how you literally stack up to your favorite rock star.
Club Level Room: Score exclusive access to the Rock Royalty lounge plus additional perks and privileges, which includes complimentary breakfast, evening hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, bottled water, soft drinks and dessert. The room comes equipped with cotton bathrobes, duel sinks, and even discounts to rent cabanas by the pool. Definitely a perfect fit for a true rock star.
Suites: There are a variety of suites to choose from: Future rock star suites, king suites, hospitality and the swanky Graceland suite. Spend your stay in true rock ‘n’ roll luxury. You can treat the family to a Future Rock Star Suite, featuring a King bedroom plus an attached rock star room for the little ones, that includes a stage for those live performances. Live like royalty in a King Suite offering a bonus entertainment area with a dining room table and pull-out sofa. Hospitality Suites include a full dining room table, oversized wet bar with service pantry and a sofa. If you’d rather live like a king, the over the top Graceland Suites is as close as you’ll get, with amenities including an oversized tub, walk-in closet, glass-encased double-sided fireplace and even a baby grand piano! Plus, you can always add a connecting room to any suites for even more living space.
Dining at the Hard Rock Hotel…
The Kitchen – Plenty of memorabilia line the walls of this restaurant. Head here for a variety of New American cuisine, and comfort food with a rock ‘n’ roll attitude. Want a good laugh? Check out the names of the kid’s grub! Classic
The Palm – Fine dining at the famous Palm! Here they treat guests like family, serve great food, and always exceed expectations. Known for its USDA Prime Beef, Jumbo Nova Scotia Lobster, and Italian specialty dishes, the Palm is the classic American steakhouse. Reservations and casual dress is required (no beach wear).
The Velvet Bar – This bar located near the lobby serves up fresh cocktails and appetizers. It’s the perfect place to rub elbows, relax, or maybe get discovered. Sit inside or on the verandah with outdoor seating available.
Beachclub – This amazing pool bar offers plenty of food and drinks to satisfy any craving. Made to order cocktails and snacks, you can stop in for a quick treat or hang out by the pool and enjoy the atmosphere.
Emack and Bolios’s Marketplace – This super quick grab and go market place is the perfect stop on the way to or from the parks. They serve legendary ice cream, quick snacks, grab and go items and even Starbucks for that caffeine fix we all need to get the day started
With so many dining options, the time to dine should be simple, relaxed and everyone will be happy!
Entertainment around the Hard Rock Hotel….
Every rock star vacation needs a proper pool. The pool at the Hard Rock Hotel was amazing. It was very large (12,000 square feet) with a 260 ft water slide and two hot tubs, so needless to say, you’re probably gonna get wet! Oh and I should mention the sandy beach and the zero depth entry for wading with the little ones plus interactive fountains. A sand volleyball court is also available. Plenty of lounge chairs around and don’t forget about renting those cabanas! They come equipped with your own tv, couch, chairs, and beverages. And don’t forget about the music (with underwater speakers!) playing the entire day! At night, you can watch a movie while chilling in the pool.
But wait…there’s more!
You can sign up to attend a Wine Riff, which is when a winery comes and tells their stories while you enjoy their wine and pairings along with a musical soundtrack to pull the evening together (advanced reservations required, offered quarterly)
Once a month, you can purchase tickets to attend a Velvet Session, which is a rock n roll cocktail party with finger foods, cocktails and a concert. Past guest include Joan Jett and Foreigner.
Need something to do in your room? Get a fender guitar or record player delivered to your door! Pick your own soundtrack and listen or try to jam it out on the guitar.
If you feel the need for more of a work out than just all the walking at Universal, the Hard Rock Hotel offers yoga classes that you can do in your room or you can venture out to the gym which features the latest in cardio fitness and circuit training equipment with steam and sauna rooms and locker facilities. You can also make an appt at the state of the art spa, if you prefer to relax after a long day at the parks.
(Some activities and entertainment are temporarily suspended due to Covid)
Transportation to the parks…
Probably my favorite part about staying at Hard Rock is how you get to the parks!! It is the shortest walk (like max 5 minutes) and a beautiful stroll along the water. So, You definitely would be one of the first in line for Universal because the walk lets you out right at the gates! There is security and temp check right before you get to the parks, so it is super quick and easy. We never had to wait in line to check our bags. If your legs are super tired after a long day, walk over the bridge to City Walk and catch the boat for a smooth ride back to (or from) the resort. Definitely location is key to Universal, Islands of Adventure and City Walk!
Ready for Universal
Thinking a the Hard Rock Hotel is the place for you on your next Universal vacation? Check out our Universal 4 Day Itinerary for some inspiration and we also have some great Universal Orlando Deals. Let us help you out and make planning your trip easy.
