Royal Pacific Resort has a more tropical and laid-back vibe, while Hard Rock Hotel has a more energetic and rock ‘n’ roll vibe. Royal Pacific Resort is generally more expensive than Hard Rock Hotel. Both hotels offer excellent guest reviews and good value for the price.
Read more to know about the specific differences between Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando.
Royal Pacific vs. Hard Rock: Quick Comparison
Before going into the detailed discussion about the factors that differentiate Hotel Royal Pacific and Hard Rock, have a sneak peek first.
| Factor | Royal Pacific | Hard Rock |
| Location | -6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, Florida.
-16.4 miles from Orlando Intl Airport. |
-5800 Universal Blvd Orlando, Florida.
-17.8 miles from Orlando Intl Airport. |
| Room types/
Accommodations |
-Standard Rooms
-Suites -Club-Level Rooms |
-Standard Rooms
-Suites -Rock-Star Suites |
| Amenities | -Beach and waterfront access
-Lagoon View -Early access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal Volcano Bay. -Paid private parking on-site -Fitness Center with Gym -Mandara spa -Pet-friendly. |
-Park View
-Unlimited Express Pass at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. -Electric vehicle charging station -Fitness Center and Yoga – Mandara Spa. -Babysitting -Table tennis |
| Dining Options | -Sushi bar,
-Authentic Polynesian food -bars. |
– Themed dining restaurants
-Bars -Cafe. |
| Recreation and Entertainment | -Game room
-Hula and fire dancing -Golf Courses. |
-Live Music
-Swimming pool with underwater speakers |
| Meeting and Event Facilities | – 132,000 square feet of meeting and function space. | – 7220 sqft of Indoor and 9905 sqft of Outdoor meeting space. |
| Cancellation Policies | 6 days or more days prior to arrival: Full Refund
0- 5 days prior to arrival: Charged one night’s room rate plus tax |
6 days or more days prior to arrival: Full Refund
0- 5 days prior to arrival: Charged one night’s room rate plus tax |
| Pricing | $573 – $1,482 per night. | $465 – $2,618 per night. |
Location
Both Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel are located within walking distance to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida parks.
Royal Pacific Resort is 17 miles from Orlando International Airport whereas Hotel Hard Rock is only 16 miles.
From the Royal Pacific Resort, it is a short walk between the two parks (about 5-7 minutes). In contrast, The walk from Hard Rock Hotel to both parks is slightly longer (about 10-15 minutes).
Accommodations
While Royal Pacific offers luxurious and elite-class rooms such as Club Level Rooms, Suites, and Accessible Suites, Hard Rock offers standard and deluxe rooms.
The inclusion of all-cotton linens and complimentary Wi-Fi ensures a relaxed and productive stay, making the Royal Pacific suitable for business-oriented guests.
Royal Pacific rooms and suites are decorated in a Polynesian style, with dark wood furniture, bamboo accents, and tropical artwork. Unlike Hard Rock rooms that are decorated in a rock ‘n’ roll style, with black leather furniture, neon lights, and rock memorabilia on the walls.
Both these hotels lean towards the costlier side. DoubleTree or Embassy Suites are a few affordable stay options in Orlando.
Amenities
Both hotels offer a wide range of amenities. Royal Pacific Resort has a more tropical and laid-back vibe and Hard Rock Hotel is more energetic.
Royal Pacific Resort also provides guests with exclusive theme park benefits like early access. Hard Rock only offers unlimited express passes to both theme parks benefits.
Among the amenities at the Royal Pacific are wheelchair accessibility, closed caption television, combination showers, smoke detectors with lights, handrails for toilets, braille room numbers, and hearing aid kits.
The Royal Pacific has a slightly larger pool area than the Hard Rock Hotel. Hotel Hard Rock, however, has a fun guitar-shaped pool.
You can also compare between Pop Century and Disney’s Caribbean Beach for more similar resorts in Orlando.
Dining Options
Royal Pacific Resort is a good choice for travelers who are looking for a variety of dining options, including both casual and fine dining. In contrast, Hard Rock Hotel is a good choice for travelers who are looking for a more casual dining experience.
For the adventurous eater, Hotel Royal Pacific stands out with its Pan Asian cuisine at Islands Dining Room and inventive sushi at Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar. On the other hand, Hard Rock Hotel Orlando appeals to guests who crave classic American cuisine with a rock ‘n’ roll attitude.
An authentic Polynesian dining and entertainment experience is provided by the Wantilan Luau of Royal Pacific. Hard Rock’s Kitchen and Palm Restaurant offer New American and comfort food. You’ll find a traditional steakhouse atmosphere here.
Recreation and Entertainment
Guests seeking a tropical family retreat will find a South Pacific paradise at Royal Pacific Orlando. In contrast, Hard Rock Orlando offers vibrant clubs, live music events like Velvet Sessions, and Wine Riffs.
Hotel Hard Rock a Bowling alley, Arcade as well as a Rock ‘n’ roll-themed nightclub. So, for families, the Royal Pacific is the ideal choice, while Hard Rock Orlando is perfect for those craving electrifying nightlife and music experiences.
You can also choose Holiday Inn or Hampton Inn in case you want more varied options with more details.
Meeting and Event Facilities
Royal Pacific Orlando excels with its expansive 132,000 sq ft indoor space, while Hard Rock Orlando offers a cozier 7,220 sq ft indoors and an additional 9,905 sq ft of outdoor event space.
While Royal Pacific impresses with its large-scale events, Hard Rock offers a cozy setting for smaller gatherings, catering to diverse event preferences. Also, Hard Rock caters to different meeting and event requirements with both indoor and outdoor options.
Guest reviews
Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel both have excellent guest reviews.
Royal Pacific Resort stands out with its positive guest reviews for Express Passes, Pool Hopping, Boat Taxis, Tropical, and Quiet Atmosphere. Whereas, Hotel Hard Rock got positive reviews for its Proximity, Themed Experience, and Water Slide.
Booking and Cancellation Policies
Deposits of Royal Pacific are refundable, provided sufficient notice of cancellation. In contrast to Hard Rock where reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card.
Additionally, the deposits are forfeited if the guest checks out of the hotel prior to the check-out date. However, both Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel have the same cancellation policy.
- Full Refund: when notified 6 days or more prior to arrival.
- 1 night’s room rate plus tax: when notified 0-5 days prior to arrival.
Price and Value
Royal Pacific Resort is generally a bit more expensive than Hard Rock Hotel.
The average room rate at Royal Pacific Resort is around $300 per night, whereas Hard Rock Hotel is around $250 per night.
Royal Pacific vs Hard Rock: Which Is The Best Orlando Hotel?
For travelers seeking a tropical escape with family-friendly vibes, Royal Pacific Resort’s lush surroundings and early theme park access make it the top choice.
Alternatively, if you’re into rock ‘n’ roll and want an unforgettable stay, Hard Rock Hotel has unique decor, concerts, and unlimited express passes. Choose Royal Pacific for a relaxed paradise or Hard Rock for a rockin’ good time.
The choice ultimately depends on your choice preference. So, choose well.
Conclusion
So, now you know what vibe you’ll get in Orlando’s two gems, Royal Pacific or Hard Rock.
A tropical getaway awaits at Royal Pacific Resort, while a rock-n-roll experience awaits at Hard Rock Hotel. The choice depends on your vacation style.
