My daughter and I have visited a Hard Rock amusement park, we've eaten at several Hard Rock Cafes, but this is the first time we've stayed at a Hard Rock Hotel.

We're in Orlando to check out the Universal Orlando Resort, which includes two amusement parks, Universal and Islands of Adventure, the CityWalk shopping and ntertainment area and three hotels, Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel, Lowes Royal Pacific Resort and the Hard Rock Hotel.

Since I'm traveling with a teen, the Hard Rock Hotel was the obvious choice. She liked it as soon as we walked int he lobby and loved it when the front desk cleark gave her the code to download a playlist to her iPod.

The service here is solicitous and the hotel is nicely appointed. There would be no need to leave the resort. There are restaurants, things to do and free transportation to the amusement parks. And, like most hotels and resorts toughing it out this economy, there are great deals to be had.

Sadly, the weather isn't cooperating. It's warmer than Chicago and the sun is shining, but I was hoping for more than 50 degrees. We tried hanging out by the pool but got too cold. So we're hanging in the room and looking out at the pool with the roller coaster in the background.

Tomorrow morning we'll walk to the park, taking with us our express pass (available to anyone stays in of the three onsite hotels) that will let us skip the lines and jump right on the rides. How cool is that?

Cindy Richards is the mom of two who gets her muse from traveling the world, usually with kids in tow. She also writes for TravelingMom.com, where she also serves as editor.

See more of Cindy's stories here.

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