| “Wow Mom, look at Slash's guitar!” screamed my 7-year-old, who would never have know who Slash even was until Guitar Hero hit the big time. “Oh my gosh, it’s real stuff from KISS!”
My kids, who are huge fans of the new guitar video game craze – and actually play the real thing – were ready to party like rock stars at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort!
When the front desk handed them a blow-up air guitar, it set the tone for our rock-and-roll weekend. They were so excited about the “cool stuff” at the Hard Rock Hotel that they didn't care if we went to the theme parks at all. We had just checked into our own “Hotel California” in Florida and we decided to stay put and enjoy the resorts’ amenities.
The Hard Rock Hotel was designed as if it were formerly the estate of a flamboyant rock star, who, through decades of touring, amassed a remarkable collection of one-of-a-kind items. His deep pockets and evolving taste greatly influenced his passion for collecting at his Mediterranean-style mansion.
Since guests are supposedly staying in a rock star's mansion when they visit Hard Rock Hotel, the notion of its three-meal restaurant is based on the fact that when anyone hosts a party in their own home, guests inevitably wind up congregating in The Kitchen; thus, the name of the restaurant.
There’s also a “Kid’s Crib” dining area, complete with child-sized furniture and bean bag chairs for lil’ rockers and a plasma TV showing kid-friendly programs. A private dining room, The Pantry, is located just off The Kitchen’s main dining room.
While my kids were totally mesmerized by the rock memorabilia, I was busy making notes about some of the great perks and deals. If you hurry, you can take advantage of a program, allowing Florida residents to get extra value with their latest special offer from Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando:
Florida residents who need a last-minute getaway can get extra value out of their vacation for stays before June 4, 2008 at Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando. Here are the great rates:
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort – from $139 per night
- Hard Rock Hotel – from $159 per night
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel – from $169 per night
Guests staying three nights or longer receive even more value with their stay with two exclusive T-shirts (theme park admission required) to celebrate Universal Orlando’s newest attraction The Simpsons Ride. Plus, guests receive a Universal Orlando Resort Savings Guide with $150 in food and merchandise discounts throughout the resort.
The list of fun goes on and on at the Hard Rock Hotel. We really felt as if we were on vacation in Southern California. We were surprised to find a local Orlando Boy Band, 535 (www.Rock535.com), playing in the lobby.
While my boys enjoyed their first rock concert under daddy’s supervision, I wandered down to order a delicious shrimp Caesar salad from The Kitchen. (By the way, the hotel also offers Starbucks coffee and Emack & Bolio’s ice cream for any late-night cravings.)
The next morning, we hung out poolside. With rock songs blasting underwater in the 12,000 square foot pool, the kids had plenty of entertainment, including a giant water slide, outdoor ping pong and pool tables. The “Rock-reation” staff runs hula-hoop contest and water raft races throughout the day.
A poolside beach with sand is great for little ones to sit and play while mom and dad read a magazine. I was also impressed to see that the resort pool had lifeguards – something that not every resort can boast. While we still had to keep our own eyes on the boys, it sure gave me piece of mind knowing I had an extra set of eyes.
Jack and Brandon decided that ordering a non-alcoholic “Roy Rogers” (Coke and grenadine syrup garnished with cherries) sounded more hip than a “Shirley Temple” (Sprite and grenadine). In between water slides, they sipped kiddie cocktails by the pool, catching on to the lifestyle pretty quickly.
If you really want to feel like a VIP, the hotel offers rental cabanas, which come equipped with a ceiling fan, a plasma TV, wireless internet and, of course, a server to bring you drinks all day long.
Plus, you can upgrade to one of the 95 club-level rooms or suites on the exclusive 7th floor of the resort to receive special perks and privileges. The Hard Rock Club Lounge offers you a free continental breakfast and free evening hors d'oeuvres with beer, wine and desserts. There also an extensive library of music and rock n' roll themed books for your use, a game table for backgammon, chess, checkers and chess, and a large screen TV area to watch your favorite show or sporting event. The Club Level also has a Personal Concierge available from 7:30am - 11:00pm.
An added "perk" to your stay if you want to sneak in some alone time is Camp Lil' Rock, where the kids can have dinner and enjoy supervised activities while mom and dad go out alone.
Guests of the on-site Loews Hotels also receive complimentary Universal Express access, allowing them to bypass the lines to their favorite rides and attractions at both theme parks.
You most certainly won’t hear, “Are we there yet?” because you will be sure you have ARRIVED!
The pillow next to my bed read: “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This”
Lyrics don’t lie.
For reservations, Call 1.800.BE A STAR or log onto www.universalorlando.com/hotels |
