UNIVERSAL Studios Florida - ORLANDO'S ON-SITE HOTELS
Universal Orlando's On-Site Hotels Offer Guests A World Of Experience:
Universal and Loews Hotels Ensure That the Fun and Excitement Doesn’t Stop at the Theme Parks
Orlando, Fla. – Universal Orlando’s award-winning resorts immerse guests in an experience entirely different from their everyday lives. Whether it’s the tropical escape of the Royal Pacific Resort, the life of a rock star at the Hard Rock Hotel or the pampered, Mediterranean luxury of the Portofino Bay Hotel, Universal Orland’s resorts have something for everyone.
“Universal Orlando’s hotels are the perfect complement for a theme park resort vacation,” said Bob Gault, president and chief operating officer of Universal Orlando. “They take our guest’s vacation experience to an entirely new level.”
Since the first resort opened in 1999, the three hotels have consistently won AAA’s “Four Diamond Award,” as well as accolades from publications including Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure Magazine. Whether it’s for a family vacation, a honeymoon spot, or a business conference, Universal Orlando’s hotels have the amenities and facilities to make anyone’s stay a memorable experience.
Royal Pacific Resort
At the Royal Pacific Resort, guests are transported to the isles of the South Pacific. When approaching the resort, guests pass through a towering bamboo forest and authentic Kul-Kul tower -- a Balinese structure used to celebrate special occasions. Once visitors cross a bamboo bridge they enter the lobby, which surrounds an open-air Orchid Court – a space filled with hundreds of brilliantly colored orchids, exotically shaped palm trees, hand-carved stone statues and hand-painted panels, all from remote island villages
Royal Pacific Resort, which opened in June 2002, offers 1,000 luxury rooms and suites, with Club Floor rooms and Club Lounge and Executive, Hospitality, Governors and Presidential Suites. Guests can dine at several areas on the property, including: Emeril’s Tchoup Chop, a fine-dining South Pacific culinary experience from celebrity Chef Emeril Lagasse, The Islands Dining Room, Jake’s American Bar, Bula Bar & Grille and Orchid Court Lounge.
The resort has a massive lagoon pool, complete with its own island. The pool area covers 12,000 square feet and the recreation area has a 4,000 square-foot interactive play area. Additionally, the resort has nearly 85,000 square-feet of meeting space and 25,000 square-feet of outdoor space that is ideal for theme events.
Hard Rock Hotel
The heart of rock n’ roll beats throughout the entire 650-room Hard Rock. From the moment guests enter Hard Rock Hotel, they are surrounded by the spirit of music. Video screens and speakers play the hottest videos and music, and throughout the hotel, an eclectic assortment of rock memorabilia that includes Elvis’s rhinestone jumpsuit, footwear from Elton John’s closet, and some of Madonna’s famous ensembles let guests get up close and personal to their favorite rock stars. Dining at Hard Rock is a far cry from the craft services table, with restaurants including the Palm Restaurant, a steakhouse straight from New York, known for its prime beef cuts and lobster, and The Kitchen, where you can dine on the favorite dishes of rock icons. To top off the day, the chic, urban setting of Velvet Bar in the main lobby can smooth out the evening. Hard Rock Hotel also has more than 15,000 square-feet of meeting space.
Hard Rock Hotel opened in January 2001 at Universal Orlando. Guests have a variety of rooms and suites to choose from, including the King, Club and Graceland Suites, the Hospitality Parlor and Kid’s suites. Rooms feature three black and white pieces of art from the Hard Rock Café private archives and a selection of rock star wake-up calls from celebrities like N’Sync and Dee Snider. The hotel was designed as if it was formerly the estate of a rock star who might have acquired a collection of rock memorabilia on his decades of “road trips.”
The rock ‘n roll excitement of this “Hotel California” mission style property continues at the trendy outdoor pool area. Surrounded by lush palm trees, visitors can sun bathe on the white sand beach, sip cocktails around the sparkling blue pool, and slide down the 260-foot water slide-all while listening to the hottest music playing on outdoor speakers. And to make sure swimmers don’t miss their favorite songs, there are 12 underwater speakers, as well.
Portofino Bay Hotel
Replicating a picturesque European seaside village, the Portofino Bay Hotel opened at Universal Orlando in September 1999. Guests are immersed in the elegant Italian ambiance as they enter the hotel, with dramatic trompe l’oeil paintings enhancing the ceiling. The enchantment continues throughout the property with Italian cypress and olive trees, cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafes, a harbor and Italian sports cars and Vespas parked in the harbor piazza. The hotel’s grounds are also full of ornate fountains, a staple of Italian artistry.
The 750-room Portofino Bay Hotel was the first property at Universal Orlando Resort and has received recognition from Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler as one of the country’s top 100 hotels and the highest-rated property in Central Florida. The luxurious guest rooms, including Governatore and Presidente Suites, as well as Portofino, Villa and Hospitality Parlors and 18 kid’s suites, are patterned after the village’s waterfront homes. Restaurants share space along the harbor-side piazza just as it is in the original village.
Visitors can savor the flavor and environment of Portofino with a myriad of on-site dining options like the internationally known Bice Ristorante, as well as Trattoria del Porto, Mama Della’s Ristorante, Sal’s Market Deli, Splendido Pizzeria and an authentic Italian Gelateria. Guests can relax and unwind at the Mandara Spa; three swimming pools (including a beach pool with Roman aqueduct-styled water slides), Villa pool and Hillside pool and bocce ball courts.
On-Site Hotel Benefits
Universal Orlando hotel guests enjoy several privileges on property, including: