Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando

Location Location Location— We stay almost every year at Portofino bay which finally now after some construction is much better and you can actually get a view vs a blacked out window and view of scaffolding. This year though we chose to mix it up and do the Hard Rock simply for its proximity to the park. Now Portofino and Hard Rock are really two massively different experiences. Portofino is transporting and makes you feel like your in Italy or a theme park version at least.. while Hard Rock feels like a fairly standard large hotel/ resort. The rooms were ok, we stayed in a club room which gives you access to food snacks and free drinks..it was very underwhelming. The club room is very small and the options incredibly limited. I wouldnt pay the pretty big upcharge for club level for just these amenities again. The hotel room was fine, dated feeling tub shower, but all the standard things you may need in the room. House keeping was excellent and very accommodating. The Pool was the star of the show in my eyes, my kids loved the pool and water slide and what a fantastic place to decompress after a day at the parks. Overall its a very good hotel, 5 min walk to Studios, 10 to Islands of Adventure, excellent pool, easy to navigate hotel, good food on property. I would happily stay here again.

Our family enjoyed our stay at this property. AJ was so kind and helpful in getting us checked in and made sure that our son’s birthday celebration was memorable. His customer service is what every employee should strive to achieve. We were assigned room 7010 which is by an exit and the view is a rooftop and a lil bit of the Universal Studios theme park. AJ did tell me that he wishes he could select the room for the guests but that the system does not allow them to do that. If I had a choice that room is not in a great viewing area and not an ideal location on their property and you have to walk a long way to get to the lounge and elevators. Also to get some ice for your drinks was extremely far away. They only have 1 ice machine on the 7th floor. The property is conveniently located right beside Universal Studios so it was nice to just walk over to the theme park when we went. It took us less than 10 minutes. The club lounge area was always stocked and clean for the guests. The bartender on this floor was very kind and friendly. The different musicians displays throughout the property was cool to see!

The service at Hard Rock hotel is what makes this place stand out the most! Every single employee we encountered was helpful, friendly and approachable. It smells so amazing in the lobby scent. The rooms are decent, everything was very clean housekeeping was outstanding, and the pets were very comfortable and the air conditioning worked well. We stayed on the 7th floor and had club room benefits which we really enjoyed. Nann in the club lounge was extremely friendly and helpful, we miss her already. The concierge Mark was very helpful. I really really appreciate it that we got early check-in because we were so exhausted after taking an early flight in, and this alone made our trip so much better. It was definitely the most expensive option of all of the Universal hotels that we checked into, but the service and that early check-in made it so that I want to visit again. Sebastian was our pool attendant. My son loved the pool. I wish they would have had better movies playing though like maybe Shrek something that everyone would enjoy. We loved having the express passes and the early entry into the park and being right near the water taxi. The kitchen had great food my son thought the burger was amazing and the acoustic brunch was pricey but was very good. We will definitely come again but just keep in mind this is not a budget friendly hotel this is a splurge but it's extremely close to Universal studios park. Again, we want to thank everyone of the helpful employees, including Shakeisha the housekeeper was very helpful and did a beautiful job in our room. We're going to save up and visit again in the future!

We had an absolutely amazing stay at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Studios, Florida! From the moment we arrived, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, making us feel right at home. Our room was spotless, super comfortable, and the view was breathtaking. The location couldn’t be better—just a five-minute walk to the park on a beautifully clean path. Plus, they offer a fun boat ride to the park, and the driver had us laughing the whole way with hilarious jokes and stories—it was like part of the entertainment experience! Everything about our stay exceeded expectations. We’ll definitely be coming back—this hotel made our Universal trip unforgettable!

Literally they have to work on the staff service., regarding smiles, regarding warm attention, regardy quality costumer service. Could be a lot better. In every single area of the hotel. Great location, nice views, good food. Very very expensive, but beeing near universal has its costs. Portofino properties, are a better option, regarding attention, prices about the same. Rooms quality are also about the same..a little bit bigger than HRock. Has a great pool for the family.

Stayed briefly while visiting universal with the kids. Great stay, room was comfortable and had pool view which was nice. Pool area was great, sunlounger service for drinks which was great, and also sat at the bar which had a lovely vibe. Staff were very helpful and had good attention to detail. So so close to the parks, a 5 min walk, definitely worth it! Finished off our last night in the bar which had a brilliant live musician, and a large balcony overlooking the pool. A great stay, would recommend and would return.

Hard Rock Hotel at Universal is hands-down my favorite place to stay. I truly can’t say enough good things about this resort — it hits the mark in every way. The Express Pass benefit that comes with your stay is unbeatable and adds so much value, especially if you're planning to spend full days in the parks. And you really can’t beat the location — it's the closest hotel to Universal Studios, and being able to walk to the parks in just a few minutes makes a huge difference. The rooms are clean, spacious, and beautifully decorated with that signature Hard Rock style. The whole hotel has a fun, upscale vibe, but it's also welcoming and relaxed. The atmosphere, music, and overall energy of the resort just put you in vacation mode right away. We also appreciated that there was plenty of parking, and everything from check-in to check-out was smooth and efficient. If you’re looking for a Universal hotel that combines convenience, comfort, and a cool vibe, Hard Rock is it. It’s easily our top pick, and we’re already looking forward to staying here again.

Great, friendly service! Answered all our questions at check in. Texted to make sure we received everything. Universal express pass and early park admission included. You can walk 5 min or take the water taxi. Great for when you are tired of walking all day and need a break. Food was better than I thought. Go to liquor store or bring your own. They were selling the shooters for $10 that you can buy for $3-$4. Beer is $13-$14. It was cheaper to drink at Universal Studios. Love that all the Universal Studios charges can go to your room card makes it easy to keep track of spending and easy for others to have access to spending if separated. Pool was amazing too! Hot tub felt great after Universal. Would definitely stay again!

When visiting Universal Orlando, my mom and I did quite a bit of researching to determine the best hotel to stay in. We both loved that this hotel included the Express passes for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (prior to Epic Universe opening). Our stay was during December 2024, and we enjoyed the small holiday decor in the lobby. The room was fairly standard, but did have some Hard Rock theming which was a nice touch. It was clean and cozy to make for an almost week long stay to be very comfortable. We all enjoyed the stay, though I feel like the dining on the premises wasn't that exceptional so we would try another location if returning.

Expensive hotel but worth it if you are going to Universal Studios. Pros: Fast Passes: Include fast passes and early park entry as part of our stay. Multiple Onsite Food Options: A couple restaurants, a pool bar, and a small convenient store on site where you can purchase amazing desserts, ice cream, alcohol and more. Location: It is a 10-15 min walk to Universal Studios. Pool: The outdoor pool was fantastic and open late, until 11 PM. They provided complimentary towels, lounge chairs, and even a large communal bottle of SPF 30 sunscreen, which saved me since I'd forgotten mine in the room. Luggage Service: Area to hold your luggage prior to your check-in or after your check out time. Guest Services: Super friendly and provided lots of good tips like downloading the Universal App to see park entry times, ride wait times, etc. Cons: $$$ - Expensive and the extra costs can add up (parking, roll away bed for an extra $35, and breakfast buffet ~$35-60 per person depending on the day of the week)

If you are wanting to experience Universal Studies Orlando, make sure you book through the Hard Rock Hotel. You get fast passes, and that is already reason enough! We arrived for check-in, but the parking lot we were in did NOT have access to an elevator so we had to circle around the entire lot and walk through the front with our luggage, and our stroller. The building needs either an upgrade or a ramp to make things easier and accessible for both parking lots. Aside from that, check-in was easy and the lines weren't too long. The lobby is huge and they have complimentary infused water or pink lemonade. We got to our rooms, and they were decent size. Our window-view was above the outdoor sign so the lights were very bright at night. The amenities: gorgeous pool with giant water slide and splash pad for kids. There were two jacuzzi that I saw, and plenty of beach chairs. The pool wasn't very deep though which was unfortunate for us taller people. But they always had 3 lifeguards on duty. Also available, free water and floaties! We didn't really eat here but I did peruse their marketplace for matcha - it was... not good lol We did use laundry services which was on the 4th floor. I think there is dry cleaning services but you will need to contact front desk. This was just us bringing our items to the laundry room and paying it ourselves. This was great for us Arizonians not used to the humid weather... and needing laundry services Overall, great hotel! I would come back again with my family especially for the fast pass!

Fantastic hotel! One of the best in the area hands-down! Our room was very spacious, they had a desk for my parents to get their tickets for the parks at. The beds were SUPER comfy. They had Starbucks and food on the bottom floor. The pizza there was pretty good. The Front desk and valet people were friendly and did a good job. The decor was amazing (lots of costumes and rock and instruments), including a huge chandelier over the stairs. I would hands down stay at this hotel again.

I went with my brother and his 3 teenagers. We had a great time. I don't do well on roller coasters since having kids but these were fun. Hagrid, Velocitors, Hulk were super fast but smoother rides compared to roller coasters at Six Flags. We stayed at Hard Rock and got Express passes for free. So worth it! Hagrid doesn't have an express lane. We got in a little after 8am with the early access but still had to wait 2hrs. It wasn't too bad as the view and scenery are amazing and the weather in April wasn't scorching hot. Don't go on the Brutus water ride near closing! For some reason we decided to and was drenched!! Freezing cold!! We didn't stay longer after that. Human dryer didn't help much. Some brought ponchos so be prepared and bring those if you want to hit water rides.

I was doing some resort hopping and visited Hard Rock Hotel. I was really hoping for more. While there is a lot of theming, it is way more subdued that the more budget friendly resorts. It was also a lot emptier than the cheaper resorts. That is probably not a bad thing if you are staying here, but I was wondering where are the crowds? They had an ice cream shop that had snacks, but was nothing special. Their gift shop was fair compared to some other hotels. I do not know if they have a food court with refillable mug, but if they don't, that is a no-go for me. They do have on property restaurants, but they did not seem like a lot of people were eating there. The pool was nice with a nice bar and good meal options. The pool had a cool slide. If I stayed here, you would find me here the most, but I am not sure what the crowd looks like on a typical day. They had some musician costumes displayed around the lobby, but this place was fair. I was more impressed in the past with their Vegas and Hollywood Florida locations. I feel like Hard Rock needs to keep up with the times are revamp their image, menus, and theming. It seems very dated and uninspiring. It also needs more of a Universal vibe to go with the rock theming.

this hotel is awesome. We had such a great time here. I love the vibes and it is such a beautiful hotel. I usually stay at budget hotels but we wanted to splurge and try a more luxurious hotel for once. This place was really fun. We had a great time and they have an awesome pool. Our room was really nice too. They have a store and a place in the hotel where you can order hot meals sandwhiches , pizzas, etc without having to leave the hotel. We went to Universal, Islands and Volcanoe bay and seaworld while staying here. Overall , great time and would highly recommend.

ORLANDO, FL: we popped into the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando and our jaws dropped with how stunningly beautiful the property is! Gorgeous landscaping, rock and roll memorabilia, a swimming pool that is a dream come true, so close to Universal Studios, and your dog can come along and stay over with you! You can find the specific "Unleashed Pet Program" rules on their website: https://hotel.hardrock.com/orlando/info-policies.aspx. We did not stay over, but this seems like a nice hotel to choose to bring your pup, so wanted to give them a shout out.

This location had one of the best Cobb salads that I've ever had. Got it with the grilled salmon and that was a perfect choice, it was actually seasoned perfectly. The dressing was perfect, not too overpowering or salty. Service was awesome as well, our server Sassy was great. Our family of got stuck outside Universal during a fast moving downpour and were drenched even with our ponchos on, this staff didn't hesitate to seat us and welcomed us warmly. It was very refreshing to see good service right from the start, especially when we were soaking wet. Most large chain establishments were like factories and not personal but this staff went above and beyond with their service. Thank you HR universal Orlando! We will definitely be back whenever we're in Orlando

Paid $1000/night for this premier hotel, with a fast pass for Universal included. I checked in with my little, and we were given a moldy room. There was visible water damage on the bathroom ceiling, an earthy smell in the room, and a soiled sink complete with human hair and other grossness. I called the manager to let her know. She advised that all other King rooms were booked as it was a holiday weekend, and she would see what she could do. She offered to send up a technician who acknowledged that there had been visible water damage to the bathroom ceiling but insisted I shouldn't worry because "we apply kill to it." I patiently shared that as a public health nurse, I know it is not possible to kill mold spores. Water damage must be properly remediated (wall should be opened to dry, fans aimed at water damage, damaged areas removed, and closed after all issues are addressed) and clearly the water damage had not been addressed properly in this room. He actually agreed, and left promptly. I called the manager again and informed her of our discussion. She agreed to move us to another room, and gave us tickets for breakfast at the hotel restaurant the next morning. At this point, she comped half of the cost of the room for the first night. I'll keep it real: the location is key (jump in a water taxi and you are at the park in 5 minutes), as is the fast pass. However, the rest of the hotel and our stay there was BASIC. This, coupled with the moldy room, the lying, the dirty bathroom sink, and the manager's delay in agreeing to move us (including A CHILD) is poor and inexcusable. I wouldn't stay here again. I'll stick to Universal Hollywood, thank you.

magine checking into a hotel and them casually saying as they slide your keys across the counter "Oh, by the way, no water in your room all day." Huh? Wait...Aren't I paying $800/night?? *smile* That's correct sir! Don't book here. And with this kind of underhanded lack of communication, don't ever book here. I can't even flush my toilet. And when the water is on....wont even get warm enough for a shower. They helpfully offered we could use the gym shower if we wanted. $800/night Save yourselves. Stay away. Cancel if you still can. Tell your friends.

Great hotel with great artwork throughout! The rooms are huge and so clean. If you can get a discount then it is even better! The pool is really fun to hang out at, and there are so many great restaurants and bars included.

I was very impressed with the Hard Rock Hotel at the Universal Orlando resort. We went over a crowded spring break timeframe, but didn't have a single issue. I loved how close the hotel was to the theme parks (a 4 minute walk or boat ride), and really enjoyed the overall theme. It felt very "Hotel California." The pool is large with a DJ pumping tunes from 9am - 10pm. The pool was basically a big party zone for all ages; it is definitely not a quiet adult pool where you can relax, nap or read. It's a fun atmosphere, with a nearby hot tub and also a slide. There are a few restaurants and lounges. We loved The Kitchen for their breakfast buffet, and picked up snacks and drinks at the quick service store daily. The rooms were spacious, with very comfy soft beds. And though it was a really crowded time, we barely heard a peep through the walls from our neighbors. It's an expensive hotel, but having the Universal Express pass built into your theme park tickets makes it SO worth it. Your wait times are supposed to be cut in half, but we found we got on every ride even faster than that. Waiting 20 minutes for a roller coaster vs. the posted 60 minutes is a significant bonus for your whole day. I'd like to go back for Halloween Horror Nights in a few months, and would definitely stay at the Hard Rock Hotel again.

The best part about the Hard Rock is that it's reliable. You know what you're getting and the food is usually pretty great. They were very flexible when our party size reservation changed last minute. The decor is always fun to look at and while you could probably get lost in here, it's fun to look around. I do feel like it can be a little over priced, but not so much as I wouldn't return.

We had a fabulous stay in late February so made a last minute decision to return about six weeks later. Unfortunately it was a totally different and disappointing room experience. We've stayed here a number of times because the proximity to the parks and more upscale property are big draws. Weirdly, nothing has changed in 10 years with the exception of a qr code added to the pool menus. Every time we stayed in the past we opted for a regular or club garden room. Pool rooms are more expensive and we prefer not to have the added outdoor noise. Club rooms are really not worth the price increase to us- higher floor, amenities room where you can pick up free drinks and snacks, exact same room layouts and sizes as the rest of the hotel. This was the first time we booked a double room - king suite and attached 2 queen room. And it was the first time I realized they have rooms that don't face the garden. Why they would put their limited suites over the ugly front parking lot is beyond me. But worse than the unexpected view was the condition of the room. We complained at arrival and had a very dirty fabric-covered table removed and a comforter with a large stain replaced. But every piece of furniture was torn and run down. Mattresses were past their last legs. Every wall was scuffed up or poorly patched. And again, suite locations are terrible across from the elevators which ding all night long and where people hold conversations easily heard through the paper thin walls. This hotel seems to be hit or miss in its upkeep. The team is lovely if not great at overseeing room cleanliness and standards but if you care about having a comfortable place to sleep or relax outside the parks, you might want to go to the almost-completely renovated Portofino.

What an amazing weekend! We loved all the amenities provided during our stay. The easy access of walking to the parks was the best part with the express pass. The decor and detail in the hotel is fun to walk around and look at. The staff is very nice and helpful. I definitely recommend staying here when going to Universal theme parks!

Our family staycations at Hard Rock at minimum three times a year. We stay at club level access and enjoy our experience every time we are here. The rooms feel clean except the floors (but let's face it no resort has accomplished the carpet stigma battle). The service is top notch! The valet remembers us, the restaurant manager touches every table and remembers us every time, the front desk remembers that we love having a record player and guitar in our room, and the bell hop always beats us to our room! Club level saves you time and include snacks throughout the day, soft drinks, and a cocktail hour with (beer and wine options). The Hard Rock Hotel's offerings are also equally delicious with The Kitchen and The Palms Steakhouse. We have never been to their quick service but it is available for those that are park goers and don't want to miss a minute of fun. Our most favorite part of staying here is their Pool! They do have a pool side restaurant and the cabana crew is happy to serve you and your family pool side. The pool also has an underwater sound system so if your doing flips or holding your breath you can rock out. The pool also has fun events especially on holidays to keep the kids occupied and in the in between the kids can enjoy their water slide. Don't forget The Hard Rocks walk path spits you out at the entrance of Universal Studios or you can ride the boat to get closer to Islands of Adventure or Citywalk. Out of all of our stays at all of the Universal Resorts Hard Rock has a special place in our hearts and why we continue to return and build family memories with them.

We are season pass holders and visit Universal at least 2-3 times per year from New England. We've never had an issue until now. During check-in at the Hard Rock Hotel, due to a mistake by the staff member assisting us, my bank card was charged nearly six times the correct amount. Instead of the expected $600, it was nearly $3,000. We work hard and save carefully for these trips, and this error completely wiped out our available funds -- leaving us with zero spending money for 1-3 business days while the issue is resolved. Now, I have to explain to my kids that despite planning ahead and saving, we won't be able to enjoy parts of our vacation due to a mistake made by the Hard Rock staff. If any overdraft fees occur, I'm expected to cover them myself. When I asked for a simple courtesy, like comping a dinner to help ease the hardship they caused, I was told there were "no notes on the account" -- not surprising, considering if proper attention had been given in the first place, the error likely wouldn't have happened. We have stayed at every Universal hotel over the years, but we will not be returning to the Hard Rock Hotel. Shame on them for making a massive financial mistake and refusing to help in any meaningful way afterward.

3 stars because the hotel is amazing in itself, but we had lots of customer service issues that no one seemed to care about.... We came to the hard rock hotel for our honeymoon and a 10 year reunion returning here where my now-husband and I had our first trip together and said 'I love you' for the first time. We were so excited to go here because with it being so pricey, this was really a splurge for us for a special event. We felt very under-played and not really cared about. I always see on the universal community page of people being treated with extra care, even if it's by being given the IM CELEBRATING pins or a little dessert surprise in the room for you! We got nothing... none of that or barely even a nod for saying how excited we were after having just gotten married and returning here after 10 years. Checking in, we were also told they suddenly don't take cash for paying your room balance at check in. I have NEVER been told this and I paid extra for an Uber to stop at the bank to get cash out after flying in because we have had issues with universal hotels double charging credit cards for stays and I avoid that at all costs. We were told "well nothing we can do but instead of the $600 SECURITY DEPOSIT (that was a surprise too!!), we can put the over $600 hold on a card and then you pay in cash when checking out." Well, we did this..... and wouldn't you have guessed it, when we were checking out they just charged the card!!!! Without asking! So I had a charge AND, at this point, paid in cash after being told the charge would be returned to my card in a few days. Luckily it did, but the customer service with it all was just so not helpful and really continued putting bad tastes in our mouths.. and honestly no one seemed very apologetic or concerned of all the nonsense we had been dealing with! To add to that whole debacle... when booking, there was NO notification of work being done on the hotel. We were told checking in that where we were being put we would hear nothing...... first morning.... We were woken up to drilling and hammering RIGHT ABOVE US. We went to the front desk and while they were going to move us, they didn't quite care what we wanted to do for our day... we wanted to spend the day at the pool and later to the parks. This was the only day we could do that. Well we couldn't do that because the new room we'd be moved to wasn't ready until 4 PM. We went to the front desk at like 9:30/10 AM. They said we were being upgraded to a nice view room.... We had "garden view" but just really trees in the window. So that sucked. THEN when I was ordering breakfast room service the next day, I was told I couldn't because I didn't have a card on file (when I did)... I had to call back and forth 3 times between food service, front desk, and back to food service to get that handled. So didn't get our food for quite some time. It really was a shame because it's such a beautiful hotel, I truly have loved it so much and if I had the money, I would stay there all the time. But the customer service was just sad and disconnected. I rave about universal as we do go often to the value hotels, but this was just not an experience we hoped to have and it stinks having to share this.

We had a very quick trip to Orlando/Universal and decided to stay at The Hard Rock Hotel for the early entry access and proximity to the park. I would definitely stay here again for those reasons alone! The park is a 5 minute walk or you can also take the ferry (the attendants won't accept tips). Also, having early entry to Islands of Adventure and the fast passes were so key to our trip. Besides the two rides that don't accept fast pass (Velocicoaster & Hagrids), we never had to wait in line more than 10 minutes for any ride. The room itself felt extremely clean and while the bathroom needed updating (one of our tiles was loose and our tub was sort of clogged), the beds were comfy and spacious. We also went to the pool one day and it was a chilly day so ended up using the hot tub for most of the time. They have tons of events happening throughout the resort so you'll never be bored. The staff are beyond helpful and kind...we had an odd experience during turndown but the concierges were understanding/apologetic and went above & beyond to make sure we were happy. Prices are high for food, waters and other necessities so my advice would be to bring your own water/snacks.

Pretty nice resort. Be prepared to spend a lot of money if you want to enjoy yourself. They won't accommodate your request but instead will profusely apologize. Don't expect to get into your before 4 but you can hang out by the pool and get food and drinks until your room is ready. Also, walking distance to universal and you'll get the fast pass which helps.

Fantastic location! Great ambiance! Clean rooms! Amazing staff and the pool area is just breathtaking!

I have to give this a 2, because for $500 a night I'd expect FAR superior. We booked in August to surprise our son for his 10th birthday, for one night, and got placed in a room that looks nothing like what the Hard Rock champions online. Also, my son was terrified of a mirror that STILL makes zero sense to the decor. I also ordered balloons from the concierge and they're the wrong colors. It's just so disappointing because I fully prepared myself to love this hotel and dream of returning, but we will return to the Royal Pacific that treated us like celebrities and didn't feel like a Days Inn. Someone needs to explain the thoughts behind this mirror though because this is absurd.

Visited the Hard Rock Hotel in December. We found the place to be clean, and had a very cool vibe. We loved sitting in the lobby area in front of the Christmas tree while sipping a cocktail and watching the classic videos on a GIANT screen. We found the grab and go place, Emack and Bolio's to be outstanding. Best selection of any of the Premier Resorts. Breakfast at The Kitchen was delicious as well. It's a beautiful hotel, but we did find it a bit noisy at times. We prefer Royal Pacific or Portofino for a more relaxing vaca

I have stayed at this hotel many times in the past and have noticed it deteriorating significantly in both accommodations and service over the last 6-8 years. Both are pretty pathetic now. The entire hotel needs to be gutted and remodeled and the staff needs a lot of strict training. I returned with family this year strictly due to its proximity to the parks but I will never return again. It needs a serious upgrade!

Hey there and welcome to my number one fav resort at Universal Orlando. Every year we do a little Halloween Horror Nights Spooky Staycation with friends and have tried all of the Premiere Resorts and can without a doubt say that Hard Rock Hotel is easily our favorite and will be our go-to moving forward. Checking in for a Thurs-Mon visit was a breeze and being locals we got there early. Bell services were incredible friendly and personable when collecting, holding, and delivering our luggage. Every single team member we interacted with was a joy. We opted for a club level room, which they refer to as Rock Royalty and damn if it didn't deliver on every level. From the location of our room, to the food, snack, and beverage options, to every team member we saw during our stay, every bit was firing on all cylinders. From the breakfast spread, to lunch and light snacks, evening sweets, and the free happy hour we never wanted for anything and it was a blessing for all of the long days, late nights, and early mornings that took place doing four nights in a row of HHN. Shout-Out to the Hard Rock Crew! The room was super spacious, the beds incredibly comfortable, and everything well appointed. There were four of us in the room and never once did it feel over crowded or like we were on top of one another. The mirror offered a fun size chart to see how you measured up to some of your fav music celebs. Towels and robes were fluffy, room was clean, and housekeeping and turn down services were top of the line. We also had many a chill rest n recover afternoon poolside and the resort was perfection on this as well. Sandy beach, plenty of lounge chairs, amazing pool side music, both on a loop as well as live DJ's, the vibes were spot on for what we were needing. We also really loved The Kitchen's Sunday Acoustic Brunch Buffet. Lastly let us talk location, because Hard Rock Hotel is the closest you can stay to the action that is the Universal Orlando Resort. We opted to take the garden path over to City Walk and the parks but they also offer a water taxi if that is more your vibe. Whichever you pick you are minutes away from the fun, thrills, and screams that the Universal Orlando Resort has to offer. Start to finish the Hard Rock Hotel delivered for us. We are already counting down the days to our HHN 2024 Spooky Weekend and without a doubt, the Hard Rock Hotel will be where we stay from here on when it comes to our Spooky Staycations. Rock On!

Great hotel. Right on property. Rooms come with fast passes. We'll worth the money! Will be back

We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel on the grounds at Universal a number of years ago when there were only 3 hotels located there. We had a couple of meals in their restaurants and we thought the food was very good. The hotel room was larger than expected and had very nice finishes as well. The convenience to the Parks and City Walk were major advantages, that were greatly appreciated.

They start renovation construction at 8:50am directly above your room. Guest services says it's prescheduled and affects the while hotel. Great wakeup call. Schedule this at 2 when everyone is at the parks!

If your vacation is at the parks then the Hard Rock location is hard to beat. Our second visit in two years, we found the staff friendly, helpful and upbeat which was appreciated. Had dinner at the poolside bar and food while expensive was quick and hit the spot. The hotel part of the Hard Rock is where it falls short. We had two rooms on the club floor that were just beat. From torn furniture to stained walls and carpets, it was dirty enough we requested the carpets be shampooed and the room re-cleaned, which was done timely (again hotel associates were great). The club area is convenient for sodas/water however the space is small and amenities are minimal, I also found the area tables and chairs were infrequently wiped down but there were always 2-3 staff members in the lounge. So bottomline the hotel has slid beyond needing a refresh, rooms, hallways, lounge no longer even appear clean let alone "new". Overall I'm giving it 3 stars which feels generous; location and staff 5 stars, rooms, common areas, lounge are a 2 at best.

Came here for a reservation at The Kitchen, the employees inside the hotel were welcoming and friendly as we entered. As for the lobby experience, highly recommend!

This was my second trip staying here and not much has changed. Water taxis are a bonus, as is the express pass room keys. The walkway is nice too, but could be better lit at night. But the bathrooms are still ridiculously tiny, like the door almost grazes the toilet when you shut it. And there's no vent fan in the bathroom or a light above the shower, so it can be a little dark. Also, the pillows are all flat. And when did they stop putting clocks in the rooms? Not that I need an alarm clock, but being able to see the time while I'm getting ready would be nice.

Despite the fact that our room wasn't ready until long after our arrival, the hotel and staff were really on their game. The room was clean and up to date. The grounds were well maintained and the staff couldn't be more friendly. Everyone made us feel so welcome. We had lunch upon our arrival and breakfast the next day, at their restaurant "The Kitchen." Wonderful food and terrific staff. We also used their pool and my wife and I had a drink at the bar while our son swam. The bartender could not have been more friendly and their beer selection was INCREDIBLE. I was actually worried that the hotel was going to be like their restaurants. Loud, obnoxious and well over the top with memorabilia and blaring music. I was so wrong. This hotel is very classy and I even think it's nicer than the other premium hotels. We really enjoyed our stay here and we'll be back! BTW, you can rent a Fender electric guitar and take lessons on the TV in your room. NOW THAT'S COOL!

We have stayed here 4 years in a row. I think this is the our last time here. I am here with my husband and 12 year old for 9 days. We are staying on the 7th floor Rock Royalty level. We always choose this level because of the snack room and open bar in the evening. This time around we had an ant issue. Not sure if it Was from the pizza box that we got from the Emack & Bolio Market place or the actual room. We landed on Saturday and order pizza from the marketplace. The next morning when opened the box to dispose of there were ants all over the inside of the box. Luckily for us we were not even unpacked. We advised all necessary parties and they wanted to fumigate but we requested a new room. They moved us about 45 mins later to a smaller room compare to the original room but we decided not to bring it up. We spent 9 days there and the staff is always great but after that incident it left me super uncomfortable. The rooms need to be upgraded. They are pretty dated. The hotel is still pretty fun for kids. The restaurants are great. There is 18% tip included on all your meal purchases but the service is great. Do to the ant issue this time I'm giving it a 3 but it's a 4 with out this issue

What set this park hotel from the others are the fast passes included in your stay, text message service to handle all request. (Reservations, room service and any needs you may have) and the close walk to city walk. They also offer club rooms which include a 2 hour happy hour with apps and drinks at the velvet lounge. Magic shows on Wednesday &Friday at the kitchen and a wonderful pool area with slide and food and drink service poolside. I loved the steam sauna in the gym and the wonderful resort amenities and service. Anything we ever requested was handled quickly and accommodated to. Kids loved enjoying the fast passes throughout the park and we were able to get on rides with ease. Hotel was clean, service was on point. Definitely worth the extra dollars to stay here if your planning universal or island of adventure visit

You go for the ambience in this restaurant vs food quality. Decorated with tons of memorabilia, it is an experience to eat here. My salad was so-so but passable. Service was good and seating was relatively quick in this City Walk area with thousands looking to sit down and eat after a physically draining day. Fun place.

It pains me to leave a bad review for this hotel, because we stay here several times a year, and it is usually a pleasure. However, my family has an unfortunately timed, long-awaited trip that happened to fall the day a hurricane is arriving in Florida, with some outer bands in Orlando. In order to get everyone there safe, those of us coming from the south are leaving later than those of us coming from the north (the northern part of the family wanted to get to Orlando before the hurricane), and the ones arriving first do not have a credit card. The room is paid for since April, and after spending over an hour on the phone across 3 different people, I was assured by each one of them that my family (whose names are on the reservation) would be allowed to check in without me to be inside during the storm. Lo and behold, they have denied them, despite me being on the phone when they arrived and even providing a front and back picture of the same credit card used to secure the room. They insisted "anyone could have given this random credit card." The random credit card with my name on it that had also paid for the room 5 months earlier and has paid for every trip to that hotel? Sure. Then they insisted my cousin let them charge $2400 on his debit card just to let them in from the storm. $2400 for a room that was already secured and paid for months earlier. What kind of incidental charge is that for a 2 night stay? And why was I assured every step of the way this would not be an issue at all and my family would be taken care of in this emergency? This will be my last trip to Hard Rock. If they are unable to make completely reasonable accommodations in a state of emergency, they should not be allowed to stay open during such a time.

Our family was threatened on our last night after a family of 13 people who were intoxicated stole our $400 pool cabana then became aggressive towards me, my wife and our 15 year old son. The "leadership" staff lead by Matt menses not only were not able to help keep us from feeling threatened, were not apologetic and they in fact became rude to us (Matt specifically) stating WE were on a "final". Not being told by Matt wtf that meant we had to ask and were told if WE did anything else we would be removed. So now we were left with 13 drunk family members staring and gesturing towards our family while their staff left. This was wholly unacceptable. I would think twice before spending your money here, it's not Disney and they do not care.

We spent five nights at Hard Rock over Christmas. We stayed on the seventh floor, paying the extra amount for the all you want morning, afternoon and evening food/snacks. Hard Rock looks great as you approach from the outside and the public areas are quite impressive. A large pool area and the afternoon DJ was pretty cool for the younger kids. There's one water slide that's a little larger than the typical slide you'd expect out of a hotel pool. The beds were quite comfortable. The room itself was a pretty standard hotel room. No frills or extravagance there. I would take a pass next time on paying the extra for the snacks offered on the 7th floor. You basically get pastries, a few fruit offerings, cereal, chips, soda, water bottles and a lukewarm appetizer. I didn't think this was worth the extra $$ for something we just could have brought with us. Location, Location, Location This hotel is a 2-3 minute walk from Downtown Universal and both theme parks. If you don't want to walk then you just wait a few minutes and catch the free water taxi. This bad boy is available until 2 a.m. A definite perk is having the theme park express pass available for every ride but Hagrid's and Velociraptor. This was the first time our family ever had a fast pass at an amusement park and I think we created monsters with our kids for any park we visit in the future. It's so awesome to get on any ride with just a minimal time spent waiting in line. Hard Rock was a wonderful family experience for us and worth the vacation dollars we spent.

This review is for visiting Jan. 2025 and it was a mixed bag experience. This is a nice looking hotel as it has a beautiful pool, terrace, and big undercover pool bar eating area. However, beware there is construction going on the 6th floor!  I have no Idea how long it will last. We were placed on the 5th floor, so I think we got the brunt of the noise. The first day we stayed it was tolerable, it sounded like they were working removing bathroom tiles by hand. However, the next two days were much much worse. Loud Jack hammering  and drilling. One person in our group had to work on their computer and be on calls through all that banging (it was nearly impossible to hear).  Also, at various times the water was shut off. My son couldn't take a shower. This morning an alarm woke everyone up around 8:00 am with a repeat recording saying "Warning, we are investigating a potential emergency and to stay by the intercom for further notice." That message ran for about ten to fifteen minutes and all I wanted to to do was put a pillow over my head to drown out the noise. They did offer everyone in our party a free breakfast buffet at the Kitchen and they took off our parking fee. But, gee there was no mention of this "construction" on their website when booking. We only were told about it when we arrived. So, be forwarded!! As a side note: the food was good at the Velvet Lounge and the Kitchen (a bit pricey though, we ate breakfast and supper there). We are all looking forward to going home and being able to get some rest (it has definitely been a "vacation" that turned out differently than we expected). As a side note for anyone that has to work on vacation. The noise at times can even be heard in the lobby.  I wish they had sockets to plug into on the terrace (for computer use) (but they don't). On the day we checked out she still needed to work all that day. So, on her break we traveled over to Royal Pacific, thinking it would be quieter. However, all the hotel lobby's internet is really lousy!  We did not know that you would receive a better internet quality with a room number. So, that day we should have stayed at the Hard Rock and tried working in the area entering the gym as it would have been quieter there. The internet at the Royal kept cutting out on her and it ended up being a very stressful workday.

We stayed at hard rock during our visit to universal and what a great place to stay!! The kitchen offered great breakfast buffet or selections! And dinner also The palm was amazing restaurant.... Pool / cabana club. Awesome. My daughter and myself love the slide!! Exceptional service and Katherine went above and beyond wishing me and my wife a Happy 10 Year anniversary. Thank you Katherine!! Cant wait to be back

Visa hacked during a short transaction buying candy on way to pool 5/30/24 Used card while purchasing

We stay in a lot of hard rocks and this was a disappointing experience. We stayed club level. The walls are paper thin, club level food/beverages were awful and they never put out enough so it's always picked over. There are perks but for what we paid here we could have had so much more at a Disney property for the same price. The pool and slide are really nice but one of the bartenders at the pool bar was really rude

Cold burgers!!!! No way!!! Not a fan of cold food. Slow service. Long wait times not worth the long wait

If you have teenagers, DO NOT stay at this hotel. My children were harassed by adults at this hotel for being silly teenagers. Were they laughing and being silly...yes. Because they are teenagers! When an adult threatened to cause physical harm to them for laughing because a child cut the line for the water slide, they reported it to hotel security. Instead of dealing with the adult that threatened to harm a child, they blamed the teenagers for being silly and laughing! Really!!! Shame on you. Then after paying $4000 to stay at this property, either hotel security or house keeping stole 2 phone chargers that were left in the room. When we asked to return to our room to retrieve them, within minutes, they claimed they were not there! I know they were there because I had just unplugged my phone and left the room. Such a disappointment!

I love this place so much. It's my second stay here. Immediately greeted by Phyllis with a smile and ton of positive energy. That gal deserves a raise! She set the tone for the whole trip. Conserve services were super nice and helped me get our passes straightened out so we would have access to both parks (came during Mardi Gras concert weekend). What a wonderful start to my bday week! Had a pool queen room and the beds were super comfortable. I was worried about excessive noise from the pool but Hard Rock does a great job to keep the rooms quiet. Great AC! Hot water heated quickly. Very pleased with our stay. Sad it's our last night but very much looking forward to returning in Sept. for Halloween horror nights!

Such a great stay with friendly staff across the board, good food and a fun atmosphere. I really like staying here when we we do universal - totally worth it!

Pros: Club-level is a must! Breakfast, daytime snacks, dinner appetizers, and desserts - all were amazing. Totally worth the splurge. The Express pass and early park access are the only way to go! It's the closest hotel, and just a 5-minute walk, to Universal/Islands of Adventure/City Walk. Or there's a free water taxi, which came in handy a few times and was a nice change of pace. Cool rock memorabilia everywhere. Lots of guests walking around dressed like they're rock stars - good people-watching. Great staff. Great restaurant, The Kitchen: Gina was our lovely server. We were celebrating, so she let us choose between two desserts...only we couldn't, so she brought both. So fun! Cons: Could use a little updating, but I'd choose it again still.

Walls are paper thin. Heard my neighbors having a conversation. Beach Club food is automatically surcharged an 18% gratuity. $16 for a mixed drink and $4.98 for a refill on a cup Of soda!!!! Rediculous. I would research other locations before coming here again. Lack luster