Thomas & Friends, Barney, Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina will check in this summer at Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.  Newly designed kids’ clubs and interactive play areas featuring these cast of characters will debut at the soon-to-be Hard Rock Hotel Cancun (the former Cancun Palace) in June and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic in July. Although reflagging of the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya from the Aventura Cove Palace will be completed by early 2013, the redesigned play areas will debut in June as conversion is underway at the resort.  The three properties are owned by the All-Inclusive Collection, which partnered with HIT Entertainment, a children’s entertainment producer, to feature the popular kids’ brands at the resorts.  The children’s areas at the three resorts will offer the Little Big Club with themed activities, dress-up and craft areas, use of musical instruments, a sandy construction site, child-safe tools and a mini-theater for movie nights and talent shows.  The resorts also are offering the Kids Stay Free summer promotion, valid for bookings made by August 27 for travel June 1 through August 31. Two children age 12 and under sharing a room with at least one adult will stay and eat for free on a booking of three nights or more.  This promotion can be combined with the $1,500 Resort Credit offer on bookings of five or more nights, valid for travel through December 23.