A Quick Guide to the Hotels at Universal Orlando Resort

Staying at a Universal Orlando hotel is becoming a much more popular addition to a Florida holiday. As we've already covered in reasons why you should stay at a Universal Resort, there are a lot of perks with a hotel reservation. But not all perks are available at all resorts. And that is why you need to weigh up which resort is best for you and your travel party.

Did you know that you can also book your Universal Orlando Resort holiday with Fairytale Holidays? We don't just book trips to Disney, but to any other magical destination on the planet, be it Universal, or the Maldives, we've got you covered. Just fill in our request a quote form and we'll get back to you.

And while you wait, here a quick guide to the hotels at Universal Orlando Resort! Hopefully, we'll be able to help you make the big decision and then The Fairytale Holidays team will be able to help you get booked in.

Universal Orlando Resort Classification

The resort "types" are broken down into four categories, each with its own pros, cons, and price per night. It's a high chance your decision on where to stay will probably come down to you and your budget. But in my opinion, all resorts sound pretty fantastic and are worth checking out!

So we have;

• Premier: The three most expensive on-site hotels are in the premier bracket. These are the new Helios Grand Hotel, Portofino Bay Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific Resort.

• Preferred: There is one resort in the preferred bracket. This is Sapphire Falls Resort.

• Prime Value: Next up are Terra Nova and Terra Luna, along with the Aventura Hotel, which fall under Prime Value resorts.

• Value: And finally, the two Endless Summer Resort hotels and Cabana Bay Beach Resort are Value hotels.
  

Let's start with the newest and most purse-friendly, the Value Resorts.

Value Resorts at Universal Orlando

The two newest hotels at Universal Orlando also happen to be their very first Value Resorts—Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites and Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites. These two hotels are situated across I-4 from the main resort, but they do offer a free shuttle bus. These sister resorts are budget-friendly and perfect for families. The "sister" part comes from the fact that they boast very similar amenities, with just a different look and vibe. Both offer standard rooms as well as suites, making them an affordable option for larger families.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort, also considered a Value Resort, offers a retro 1950s-60s beach theme and a more immersive, on-property experience. It's a short walk to Universal’s Volcano Bay and even offers rooms with views of the water park. Cabana Bay has two large pool areas—one with a lazy river and another with a waterslide—as well as a bowling alley, fitness centre, game room, multiple dining options, and a Starbucks. It’s ideal for families who want a bit more flair and convenience while still staying within a value-friendly price range.

Surfside Inn and Suites features a pool with daily activities, a Universal shop, one counter service restaurant, one poolside bar, and a Starbucks. Dockside Inn and Suites has two pools with a kid splash pad, a Universal shop, one counter service restaurant, poolside bars, and a Starbucks. Both resorts also include a games room, and you have access to all Endless Summer pools and amenities, regardless of which hotel you stay at.

The perks you receive when staying at one of Universal Orlando’s Value Resorts include:

• Early Park Admission

• Complimentary package delivery to your room

• Resort-wide charging privileges with your room key

• Complimentary scheduled transportation around Universal Orlando Resort, as well as to SeaWorld and Aquatica
  

The biggest perk you miss out on by staying at a Value Resort is the ability to pool hop to other Universal hotels. But with multiple pools, a splash pad, and Volcano Bay right next door (especially if you're staying at Cabana Bay), you'll hardly notice!

Prime Value at Universal Orlando

Before the completion of the Endless Summer Resort, Prime Value was the lowest level of resort at Universal Orlando. Now, with the introduction of the Value category, the Prime Value resorts—Aventura Hotel, Stella Nova Resort, and Terra Luna Resort—offer even better value for money. All three are affordably priced while providing upgraded amenities and a closer proximity to the theme parks compared to the Value hotels.

Aventura Hotel feels more like a modern hotel than a resort, with a compact, vertical layout in a sleek high-rise tower. It features both standard rooms and suites, one pool with a kid's splash area, two restaurants, two bars, a Starbucks, a Universal shop, a fitness center, and a games room—all conveniently located under one roof, making it easy to navigate.

Stella Nova Resort and Terra Luna Resort, Universal's newest Prime Value additions, bring a fresh and futuristic vibe to the resort lineup. Both offer standard rooms, a spacious pool area, quick-service dining options, a lobby bar, fitness centers, and game rooms. These sister properties are located near Epic Universe, making them ideal for guests planning to visit the new park while still enjoying Prime Value pricing.

As Prime Value hotel guests, you'll receive all the standard perks of staying at a Universal Orlando hotel:

• Early Park Admission

• Complimentary package delivery to your room

• Resort-wide charging privileges with your room key

• Complimentary scheduled transportation around Universal Orlando Resort, as well as to SeaWorld and Aquatica
  

And unlike the Value resorts, Prime Value guests can also pool hop and explore other Universal Orlando hotels (excluding Endless Summer), adding even more flexibility and enjoyment to your stay.

Preferred at Universal Orlando

There is only one place to stay at Universal Orlando Resort that falls into the Preferred category and that is Sapphire Falls Resort. Sapphire Falls Resort offers a mixture of perks and amenities from the lower categories of Prime Value and Value as well as some that are available at the Premier level. This hotel is close to both Volcano Bay and the Universal Parks and you can travel to both using the boat service or shuttle bus. Sapphire Falls Resort is designed to appeal to both families and tourists with its Caribbean feel, as well as the business and conference sector due to its extensive meeting space.

When it comes to size Sapphire Falls is a mid-size hotel and still offers both standard rooms and suites. The resort boasts one pool surrounded by two sandy beaches, a slide, a hot tub, and a children's water play area. There is also a health and fitness centre, a games room and a Universal shop. There is one table service restaurant, a counter service restaurant, a lounge, and a poolside bar, but no Starbucks.

The perks of staying here at Sapphire Falls Resort are;

• Early Park Admission

• Complimentary package delivery to your room

• Resort-wide charging privileges with your room key

• Complimentary scheduled transportation around Universal Orlando Resort, as well as to SeaWorld and Aquatica

• You can pool and resort hop to the other Universal Orlando resorts, excluding Endless Summer.

• Valet Parking at Sapphire Falls

• 24-hour room service

• Pets are allowed and have a designated pet walk
  

Premier at Universal Orlando

Finally, those three top-tier hotels—Portofino Bay Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific Resort—deliver the most upscale Universal Orlando experiences. While they come with higher room rates, they also include top-tier perks and amenities that, when you weigh the cost versus what you receive, offer excellent value for your money.

All three of these resorts include both standard and suite-size rooms, and the standard rooms are some of the largest on Universal property—perfect for families or groups of four who want space to stretch out. Portofino Bay Resort features three pools, a full-service Mandara Spa, a fitness center, a games room, a Universal shop, and a Starbucks. Dining is abundant with three table service restaurants, two quick-service options, three bars, and even an authentic Italian-style gelato shop.

The most iconic Universal hotel is, of course, the Hard Rock Hotel. Just steps from the Universal Globe and the entrance to the parks, this resort is all about rock-star luxury. It features a single, massive pool area with two hot tubs, a 260-foot waterslide, a volleyball court, and daily poolside live music. Kids and teens will love the games room and activity centre, and music lovers can take advantage of the resort’s exclusive Fender guitar loan program, where one of 20 guitars and an amp can be delivered to your room. Dining includes two table service restaurants, a counter service spot, a lounge, a pool bar, and a Starbucks. There's even an outdoor butterfly garden.

Royal Pacific Resort rounds out the trio with a tropical South Pacific vibe. It includes a lagoon-style pool with a sandy beach, a children's play area, multiple restaurants, including the fan-favourite Jake’s American Bar, and convenient walking paths to the theme parks.

Now joining these legendary properties is the Helios Grand Hotel, Universal Orlando’s newest premier hotel and the flagship accommodation for guests visiting the upcoming Epic Universe theme park. Helios offers sleek, luxurious rooms with cutting-edge amenities and exclusive access to a dedicated entrance into Epic Universe.

All Premier Hotel guests receive:

• Early Park Admission

• Complimentary package delivery to your room

• Resort-wide charging privileges with your room key

• Complimentary transportation to all Universal parks and CityWalk
  

And at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific, you also receive complimentary Unlimited Express Passes, allowing you to skip the regular lines at most attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, a perk that can save hours in line during busy days.

However, it’s important to note that Helios does not include complimentary Universal Express Passes, unlike the other three Premier Hotels. Still, with its direct connection to Universal’s newest park, stunning design, and elevated service, Helios offers a distinct luxury experience that’s worth considering.

And that's all the hotels currently at Universal Orlando! We think there is a great selection for three theme parks and a water park. There is something for everyone and every price range. Which one would you like to experience?