Let's meet the Portofino Bay Hotel, the Hard Rock Hotel and the Royal Pacific Resort, all Loews-managed hotels within the Universal Orlando themepark complex. They are reviewed below in the order of their opening, with typical rates descending as you read on. Each is unique, yet shares the advantages of an exotic style, top service, proximity to the parks and special theme park benefits. Each uses the services of the bonded, licensed Kids Nite Out Inc (407/828-0920) a long-time local childcare service, to provide supervised evening kids camps or private babysitters  (trained in CPR and First Aid) on request.

Loews Loves Kids of All Ages

These three hotels participate in all of Loews family-friendly programs, including Loews Loves Kids for the under-10s, T. Loews for teens and Loews Loves Pets for you-know-who. New to the chains, the Loews Loves Little Kids presented by Fisher-Price program, aimed at families with tinies from 6- to 36-months-old. Is Baby overwhelmed by the Universal theme parks? Borrow a play yard, a portable swing or some toys for the room and just chill.

Is Mommy ready to let the big sibs tour the parks on their own so she can play with baby? Welcome to Loews new Baby & Toddler play classes. According to a hotel spokesperson, the Star Babies and Rising Stars classes focus on age-appropriate play activities. Movement and music are key components in the Star Babies classes, which feature themed sessions designed for babies from 6 to 18-months. The "Peek-a-Blocks Party" theme, for example, encourages babies to make new discoveries while examining, exploring and building, and the "Laugh & Learn About My World" theme combines early learning with everyday experiences in baby’s daily routine, to introduce A-B-C’s, 1-2-3’s, shapes and colors.

Rising Stars participants will learn and play through storytelling, creativity and music. Themed sessions for toddlers from 18- to 36-months-old include a role-playing experience for would-be princes and princesses, and an imagination-building exercise featuring blocks and toys. Snacks and drinks are provided for children and classes cost $10/ child. At session’s end, parents receive valuable, age-appropriate tips for making the most of play at home or on-the-go, as well as an exclusive Loews Hotels CD of children’s music created by Fisher-Price. The play class schedules vary by resort, but in general are available during peak family travel times including holidays, weekends and summer.

With choices like these, how can one resist taking the kids to shoot up aliens with Will Smith on the Men In Black ride? Read on...

Location, Location, Location & Perks

These properties are more expensive than many area hotels, but they deliver a lot more. Convenience is key for many families. Park the car, check in and you're at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, or CityWalk with no problem. Located along the landscaped lagoon which winds among all three hotels is a free water taxi service, bringing guests to and from CityWalk for dining and shopping, to the theme parks, or to the other resorts. The length of each trip is literally minutes, though you may have to change boats depending on your destination. Don't feel like waiting for the water taxi? Then just walk along the landscaped pathways or take the free air-conditioned shuttle bus service. The beauty of these on-site resorts: location, location, location.

Also worth noting is the free transportation provided to guests who want to visit the Wet-n-Wild Water Park or SeaWorld. Shuttle transportation for a fee is also available throughout the day and evening to all the Walt Disney World parks, with advance reservation.

And the advantages don't stop there, as you can see from the following reviews of each resort. Guests at any of the three Loews Hotels enjoy special Universal Orlando theme park benefits. Along with the free ride to the parks, you can also take advantage of:

• Universal Express ride access. Show the line guards your room keycard, walk right to the front, and you've just cut about 45 minutes off your wait time! That means less time standing in line, and more time riding the Spiderman, my personal favorite. No, they won't guarantee you the first row on The Hulk or the right rear seat on Revenge of the Mummy.
• Use of any of the other resort's facilities. For example, you can play with the water cannons at the Royal Pacific one day and in the sandbox at the Portofino Bay's Beach pool the next.

Portofino Bay - La Vida Dolce

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando
5601 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, Florida 32819
407/503-1000
The 750-room Portofino Bay Hotel is considered the most luxurious hotel of the three already at Universal. As its name suggests, the Portofino is a charming re-creation of the pastel stucco village of Portofino in Italy, built around a large, manmade harbor dotted with old fishing vessels. It is very elegant, somewhat formal and the best choice if the elders are treating. Since its size and demeanor lend themselves to business meetings and local functions (you'll see many suits and ties strolling around), the Portofino is also well designed for reunion groups. You will find many colonnaded nooks 'n' crannies and a large array of attractive hospitality suites conducive to gathering the clan.

Facilities run the gamut from upscale wellness treatments at the posh Mandara Spa to the boisterous childcare for ages 4-14 each night in the Campo Portofino supervised activity center. Friendly staff are everywhere: dispensing oversize pool towels, making the turn-down service rounds with chocolate, serving as lifeguards at the three pools, tending the gardens and reception areas, always attentive to the guest who has lost their way around this deceptively large property.

The layout of the resort's two- to six-story wings makes it feel un-crowded and unhurried; honeymooners can book a private cabana at the Villa pool while new moms take the babies to play in the sand adjoining the zero-entry Beach pool. Additionally, the broad pathways, open-air cafes, lovely landscaping and Euro-feel make it pleasant to stroll around with infants and fun for children of any age.

Large guestrooms have plush linens and very comfortable beds, spacious working tables with two chairs, good bedside lighting, functional closets with bathrobes, coffeemakers and safes. The super-size bathrooms include a tub and separate glass shower stall, double sinks and a large vanity area, and a set of louvered doors that allow those in the bedroom to converse with anyone in the bathroom. Rooms with balconies or patios allow the Florida breezes in to complement the efficient climate control system.

Loews Portofino delights its young guests (and parents too) with Dr. Seuss-themed Kids' Suites. An unexpected collage of colors, patterns, and whacky furniture compliment favorite Who-Ville story themes full of inspired fun. The captivating design and style of the two-room suites also offers plenty of space with a king bedroom for the parents and two twin-sized beds in the child's suite. Access to the children's suite is only available from the adult's room, allowing for added safety and peace of mind.

Hard Rock Parties On

Loews Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
5800 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, Florida 32819
407/503-ROCK
You're always "on" at the Hard Rock Hotel, the perfect getaway for those families who know how to rock hard! Display cases of instruments, rhinestone footwear and other memorabilia from the great and not-so-great, plus the larger-the-life portraits of pop celebrities that adorn the lobby, make every guest checking in feel noteworthy.

During our visit to launch the "Revenge of the Mummy" ride at Universal, we had the pleasure of watching Brendan Fraser and an elegant blonde stroll past the hotel's tiger-stripe-upholstered, purple-glitter golf carts and into a huge stretch limo. That's the kind of show-biz glamour the Hard Rock attracts and delivers. The seven-story hotel's layout is also creative because the lobby is up on top, with wrought-iron balconies overlooking the pool and the 650 rooms surrounding it. In 2006, all the rooms had a glam make-over, adding a 32" TV, MP3 docking station, stereo and DVD players.

As bold as the soundtrack is, the 20+ generation will find the eclectic blend of mosaics, silk and velvet fabrics, rockin' features (music is piped-in underwater at the main pool), tile flooring and woven carpets combine for a comfortable and contemporary feel. Rooms open onto a heavily landscaped pool area dotted with squirting mosaic balls, kiddie pool, a sand "beach" and other play features. Family and non-family guests should note that it's almost impossible to avoid the legions of younger rockers, whose boisterous antics will seem like liberation to some and mayhem to others.

There's a rap-star-rich Palm Restaurant, but you'll find young couples and boisterous kids at the very busy Emack & Boglio's buying Starbuck's and muffins, ice cream and other family-friendly snacks to munch in the shade of the poolside palms. Preschoolers can gather at the Camp Lil' Rock supervised activities center each evening to enjoy each other's company while parents dine in any of the restaurants or visit CityWalk. Teens can be seen chatting in the lobby and cruising the rock-abilia shops on the lower level. Although music of all kinds permeates every public space, the comfortable, stylish and spacious guestrooms are said to be surprisingly quiet.

Royal Pacific Overtures

Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando
6330 Hollywood Way
Orlando, Florida 32819
407/503-3000
As you cross the bamboo bridge over a lazy river outside its front doors, you realize that you're in for an exotic treat. Men in native South Pacific costumes -- banging on drums, blowing on conch shells -- and women wearing grass skirts, welcome special visitors. And speaking of welcome, the staff really goes out of its way to greet families. I challenge anyone to walk to the front desk and not get a smile and a "How do you do?" It just can't be done.

Throughout the property, typically the resort with the lowest room rates of the three, you can really sense the attention to detail. Beautiful decorations adorn the woven reed, rattan and rice paddy backdrops, continually reminding you of the resort's particularly Balinese theme. Orchids, stone and wooden statues, and live tropical birds abound. There is even a small plane, reminiscent of the explorers of the 1930s, docked in the resort's free-from lagoon pool! Everything seems unique about this resort, including the palm trees bent in dramatic angles, survivors of the damaging Hurricane Andrew. Universal decided to plant these unusual trees around the resort as well as in Seuss Landing, in their Islands of Adventure theme park.

The heated outdoor pool is large and even comes equipped with a "ship" which is a water cannon station where guests can, well, soak other guests who are in the pool. The kids will love this. As I looked around, I spotted at least two lifeguards on duty, a real plus for parents. You'll also find supervised care at the Mariner's Club, an "after-hours" play area. There are many dining possibilities including a poolside ice cream stand, but chef Emeril's Asian-fusion Tchoup Chop is a standout.

In 2008, the resort debuted the world's first Jurassic Park-themed hotel rooms. The two-room suites feature a king-sized bedroom for adults and kids' room with two twin beds, raptor's cage headboards, custom wall murals, artwork from the making of the movies, Jurassic Park-themed furniture, and 32” flat screen television with DVD player. With both privacy and safety in mind, the two separate rooms are connected with a single exterior entrance to the adult room. This allows the children’s room to open only to their parents room, and not into the hallway. The $10 million room renovation also included island themes resembling bamboo and fresh flowers that are always in bloom.

As great as the resort itself sounds, the Royal Pacific's real advantage is its location near Islands of Adventure by a quiet canal. So, although it's an easy jaunt to CityWalk for dinner and excitement, or a leisurely boat ride to the front gate of the theme park complex, you'll find a tranquility and sense of well-being that may be expected in Bali, but is a total surprise in Orlando.