Planning a Universal Orlando theme park vacation not only includes determining how much time to spend at each of the theme parks but also finding the perfect home away from home.
If you’re a first time visitor, you can count on spending the majority of your time at the parks, but you’ll also need a comfortable and clean place to unwind and relax because park days can sometimes be very exhausting.
If you’re contemplating whether a stay at a Universal Orlando is worth it, this guide will explain everything you need to know about their resort hotels including amenities and dining options available at each resort, room rates and other benefits of staying on site.
Contents
Why Should You Stay at a Universal Orlando Resort?
There are 8 resorts to choose so it’s likely there is one that fits your budget.
Each resort has a different theme with decor, pool areas, and food courts and restaurants matching the theme. Looking for a hotel with a little Polynesian flair? Then consider a stay at Loews Royal Pacific. If you’re looking for a retro beach resort vibe, then Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort might fit the bill.
Families who have stayed at a Disney World resort hotel will be happy to know that the benefits of staying at a Universal Orlando resort hotel are similar.
All of the following perks are available to Universal Orlando resort hotel guests staying at any of the 8 properties:
Benefit #1: Early Admission
Guests are allowed to enter one The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (either at Universal Studios Florida or Universal’s Islands of Adventure) and Universal’s Volcano Bay one hour prior to general public admission. Select attractions, restaurants and stores in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be open during early park admission as well as some attractions outside of the HP area.
Make sure you check out the Early Park Admission page on Universal’s site to see what attractions and which parks will be open for early admission during your visit.
This is the best time to ride Escape from Gringotts or Forbidden Journey. Once general admission begins, the lines at these rides get very long (we’ve seen up to 2 hours wait time in early December!). The lines do die down closer to dinner time though.
RELATED READING: Reasons Why Your Family MUST VISIT the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Benefit #2: Complimentary Transportation & Parking
Water taxis or shuttle buses will take you to all three parks and CityWalk although most of the resorts are walking distance to CityWalk.
If you’re planning to drive to the parks, you’ll be allowed to park for free at the main CityWalk parking garage. The walk from the garage to the parks though is a fairly long one. It’s about 10-15 minutes depending on how many people are in the parking garage and how fast your little ones can walk.
Universal Resort Hotel guests also get free transportation via scheduled shuttle buses run by Super Star Shuttle to SeaWorld, Aquatica and Wet ‘n Wild. We didn’t take advantage of this during our most recent visit but this is a good to know for next time.
Benefit #3: Resort-Wide Charging Privileges & Package Delivery
Guests can charge all their park and resort purchases to their credit card by showing their resort room key and any things purchased in the parks can be delivered to your resort for free. The resort delivery service is great for families who are planning to do a lot of shopping at the parks and don’t want to be bothered lugging bags of souvenirs all day.
Benefit #4: Use of Any Universal Resort Hotels Pools & Recreational Facilities
Universal hotel guests can enjoy some non-park time at any of the resort pools or recreational facilities. This is great for families who love spending time poolside for part of their vacation. You could visit a new pool every day if you want!
Four Categories of Hotels
There are four different categories:
- Value
- Prime Value
- Preferred
- Premier
and a total of 8 Universal Orlando Resorts to choose from. The highest category of hotels (Premier) has a few additional benefits from what is described above and we’ll get into them in the Premier Category Hotels section.
Value Category Hotels — $
The Value Hotels are the least expensive category of resorts at Universal Orlando and is similar to Disney World’s Value Resorts. It is a great option for budget-conscious families. They are further from the parks than the other Universal resorts and are not walking distance to CityWalk (but you can still take the free shuttle bus from the resort to CW). These hotels are:
- Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites starting at $88.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
- Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites starting at $88.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites is a Value Hotel category resort which opened in June 2019.
It has a casual surf resort vibe and beach-themed rooms as well as spacious suites can accommodate up to six guests.
Standard Room: The Standard Room features two queen-sized beds and separate bath and vanity areas. These rooms start at $85.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Two-Bedroom Suite: These suites come with a kitchenette and separate bath and vanity area. With three queen-sized beds, these suites can comfortably accommodate 6 guests are perfect for families looking for more space. The suites also have an incredible pool view. They start at $131.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Restaurants and Lounges: Food court, pool bar, coffee bar, pizza delivery
Activities & Amenities: Pool and poolside activities, fitness center, arcade, Universal Studios StoreTM
Best For: Families or large groups who are on a budget and still want some Universal Orlando benefits.
READ THE REVIEWS: Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites is the second Value Hotel for Universal Orlando Resort.
This coastal themed resort was inspired by Florida’s sunsets and beaches. Similar to Surfside Inn, families can choose to stay in a standard room or two-bedroom suite.
Standard Room: The Standard Room is a pool-facing room inspired by the sand, sun and sunsets of Florida. It has two queen-sized beds and comfortably accommodates four guests. The bath and vanity area are separate so multiple people can get ready at once. The room starts at $89.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Two-Bedroom Suite: The two-bedroom suite also has a pool view. There are two rooms, a kitchenette with a picnic table and a separate bath and vanity area. There are three queen-sized beds, which allows six guests to be accommodated at once, making it an ideal staying situation for families. The suites start at $136.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Restaurants and Lounges: Food court, pool bar, coffee bar, lobby bar, and pizza delivery.
Activities & Amenities: Pool and poolside activities, fitness center, arcade, Universal Studios StoreTM
Best For: Families or large groups who are on a budget and still want some Universal Orlando benefits.
READ THE REVIEWS: Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites
Prime Value Category Hotels — $$
The Prime Value Hotels are a notch higher on the price ladder. These are still budget hotels, closer to the parks (they have direct walking paths to Universal’s Volcano Bay) and have a few more amenities than the Value Hotels. Again, there are are two hotels in this category:
- Universal’s Aventura Hotel starting at $120.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
- Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort starting at $120.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Universal’s Aventura Hotel
Universal’s Aventura Hotel is a stylish and chic value-range hotel and walking path directly to Universal’s Volcano Bay. It offers stunning views of all the three theme parks. Complimentary shuttle buses and walking paths can take to you all three parks. This hotel also boasts a rooftop bar and every room comes equipped with an iPad.
Guests looking to fit in a round of golf can take the complimentary transportation service for groups of 4 (there’s a nominal fee for 1 to 3 players) to several golf courses in the area including Grand Cypress Golf Club.
Standard Rooms: You can pick between the Standard 2 Queen , Standard King (one king-sized bed and pullout couch) or a Skyline View 2 Queen (two queen-sized beds with stunning views) rooms. All three rooms accommodate four guests and offer separate bath and vanity areas. Prices start at $120.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Deluxe Rooms: There are two different bed options for Deluxe rooms – either 2 2 Queens or 1 King plus sofa bed. Both rooms have separate bath and vanity areas and stunning views of the parks. The rooms are larger and offer more living space than Standard rooms. Deluxe Room rates start at $120.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Suites: If you are traveling with kids, you can also opt for the kids suite, which offers a smaller, separate room with two twin beds. The main bedroom has one king-sized bed and a pullout couch. The suite can accommodate up to five guests and offers separate bath and vanity areas. The suites start at $220.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay. You can also upgrade to the Skyline Kids Suite for better views from the highest floor in the tower.
Restaurants and Lounges: The restaurants and lounges you can enjoy include Bar 17 Bistro, Urban Pantry, barVentura, Bar Sol and Starbucks.
Activities & Amenities:
- Pool
- kids’ splash zone
- fire pit
- fitness center
- games room
- supervised kids camp programs (fee applies)
- Universal Studios StoreTM
- and free transportation to golf courses in the area including Grand Cypress Golf Club
Best For: Budget conscious families who want a clean and modern hotel steps away from Volcano Bay theme park. If you’re looking for a hotel with more variety of family-friendly activities, check out Cabana Bay Beach Resort below.
READ THE REVIEWS: Universal’s Aventura Hotel
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is a retro-style retreat with iconic architecture inspired by Florida beach resorts of the 1950s and 60s. The resort has two pools, a lazy river and a bowling alley. There’s a direct walking path to Volcano Bay so if you’re planning on visiting that park, you’re only steps away. Complimentary shuttle buses and walking paths can take to you all three parks.
Guests staying at Cabana Bay should also make sure to stop by the lobby every Friday night as your theme park characters will be around waiting to take photos with you.
Standard Rooms: Guests can choose between Standard Rooms (two queen-sized beds), Poolside Standard Rooms and Volcano Bay View Standard Rooms. All three rooms have two queen-sized beds and can accommodate four guests. The bath and vanity area are separate. These rooms start at $120.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Family Suites: You can pick between Family Suite — Interior Entry, Poolside Family Suite — Interior Entry, Family Suite — Exterior Entry and Poolside Family Suite — Exterior Entry. All these suites have three queen-sized beds and can accommodate six guests. The main difference is the access to courtyard and pool areas — interior or exterior.
Volcano Bay View 2-Bedroom Suites: The two-bedroom suites can accommodate eight guests. There is one queen-sized bed, two full-sized beds and one convertible couch. The suite offers stunning views of Universal’s Volcano Bay™ theme park. The suites start at $160.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Restaurants and Lounges: You can enjoy a meal or drinks at Bayliner Diner™, The Hideaway Bar & Grill™, Atomic Tonic™, Galaxy Bowl Restaurant™, Swizzle Lounge™, Starbucks® and Delizioso Pizza.
Activities & Amenities:
- Two pools
- lazy river
- fire pits
- sand beach
- cabana rentals
- poolside activities
- bowling alley
- fitness studio
- arcade
- Universal Studios StoreTM
- Character meets in the lobby on Friday nights.
Best For: Families and large groups who want a retro-themed and well-priced resort with plenty of activities to keep you busy on non-park days.
READ THE REVIEWS: Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Preferred Category Hotel — $$$
The Preferred Hotel category of resorts is for those that are comfortable with spending a bit more. This category is similar to Disney’s Moderate Resorts and there is only one resort under this category.
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort starts at $168.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is designed to be like a Caribbean island with palm trees, stunning beaches and sunsets. There’s a direct walking path to Volcano Bay and complimentary shuttle buses and water taxis for Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk.
This hotel boasts several Caribbean-themed eateries including a dinner show, 24-Hour room service, complimentary transportation to golf courses, and a 16,000-square-foot pool.
Standard Rooms: There are 3 types of rooms – Standard Rooms, Pool View Rooms and Lagoon View Rooms. Each of these rooms accommodate five guests (two queen-sized beds/one king-sized bed and a convertible couch). The rooms start at $168.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Luxury Suites: The Luxury Suites include Kids Suites, King Suites, Sapphire Suites, Hospitality Suites and Presidential Suites. These suites accommodate 5-7 people, with two baths, separate vanity areas, bedrooms, entertainment area and dining area. They start at $252.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Restaurants and Lounges: You can dine and relax at the Caribbean Carnaval Dinner Show, Amatista Cookhouse™, Strong Water Tavern, New Dutch Trading Co., Drhum Club Kantine, as well as 24-hour room service.
Activities & Amenities:
- Caribbean Carnaval Dinner Show
- ALL-NEW Rum Dinner
- walking / jogging paths
- arcade
- fitness center
- supervised kids programs (nominal fee)
- Universal Studios StoreTM
- New Dutch Trading Co.™ store
- free transportation to golf courses (for groups of four players) in the area including Grand Cypress Golf Club
- and an amazing 16,000-square-foot pool that features a sand beach, water slides, fire pits, cabana rentals, children’s play area and poolside activities
Best For: Pool-loving families and large groups looking for a mid-range hotel walking distance to Volcano Bay and multiple dining options.
READ THE REVIEWS: Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Premier Category Hotels — $$$$
The Premier category hotels are luxury resorts that offer a variety of dining options, the most amenities and exclusive and unique experiences for hotel guests. If you’ve stayed on a Disney property in Orlando before, these are similar to Disney’s Deluxe Resort Hotels.
In addition to the benefits we listed earlier, guests staying in a Premier category resort get two additional perks:
- FREE Universal Express Unlimited Passes for Universal Florida and Islands of Adventure
- Priority seating at select restaurants at the parks and CityWalk.
Guests can take advantage of these two perks from the moment they check in (even if your room isn’t ready until the afternoon) up until midnight on the day you check out.
There are three resorts under this category:
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort starting at $228.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
- Hard Rock Hotel® starting at $252.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel starting at $272.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
If you’re not staying in this category of hotels, Unlimited Universal Express Passes will set you back anywhere from $89.99 to $169.99 per day per person. For a family of four, this could be more than your nightly rate at a Premier category resort based on the prices listed above!
During busier seasons (major holidays or school breaks), the Express Passes will pay for themselves as you’ll have little or no wait time on most rides. On our most recent visit, we waited less than 10 minutes for all of the rides except those in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – wait time was never more than 25 minutes. We expect the Express Pass will also reduce wait times for the new Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure ride this coming June.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Loews Royal Pacific Resort is the perfect place to lose yourself and enjoy all the sights and pleasures of a peaceful South Seas retreat. Luaus, a white sand beach and a lagoon-style pool are some of the things guests can enjoy at the Royal Pacific.
Water taxis and walking paths will take you to Universal Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk. Resort guests can take the complimentary shuttle buses to Volcano Bay.
Standard Rooms: Choose between Garden View rooms and Water View rooms. The rooms can accommodate 3-5 guests (one king-sized bed/two queen-sized beds with a rollaway). The bath and vanity areas are separate. The rooms start at $228.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Club Level Rooms: The Club Guest Rooms accommodate 3-5 guests and offer a host of exclusive privileges. These rooms start at $312.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Suites: Pick between Kids Suites, King Suites, Hospitality Parlor Suites and Presidential Suites. The one/two-bedroom Royal Parlor Suites accommodate 5-7/10, with separate entertainment and dining areas, while the Presidential Suites accommodate up to 11 guests with additional connecting rooms. They start at $336.00 + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Restaurants and Lounges: Enjoy Despicable Me Character Breakfast every Saturday morning, Wantilan Luau, Islands Dining Room, Jake’s American Bar, Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar, Bula Bar & Grill, in addition to 24-hour room service.
Activities & Amenities:
- Lagoon-style pool
- 2 hot tubs
- kids water play area
- beach volleyball court
- cabana rental
- poolside activities
- 5000-square-foot fitness gym
- torch lighting ceremony (weather permitting on select nights)
- walking / jogging paths
- game and arcade room
- Wantilan Luau
- Craft Brew Festival at Jake’s American Bar
- supervised kids’ camp programs (nominal fee)
- Toko Gifts and Treasures of Bali shops
- free transportation to golf courses (for groups of four players) in the area including Grand Cypress Golf Club
Best For: Families with kids who are looking for a quiet and luxurious resort stay. The Royal Pacific is the most wallet-friendly hotel in this category.
READ THE REVIEWS: Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando
Hard Rock Hotel is a place for those who want to live like a rockstar. Guests will find rock n’ roll and pop music memorabilia and decor in their rooms and around the resort. This California mission-style inspired resort features a palm lined pool with underwater music, monthly rock concerts and childrens’ activity centers.
Like the Royal Pacific, water taxis and walking paths take you to CityWalk, Universal Florida and Islands of Adventure. Complimentary shuttle buses are available for guests heading to Volcano Bay.
Standard Room: Pick between Garden View Rooms, Pool View Rooms and Deluxe Rooms. These rooms can accommodate up to five guests (two queen-sized beds/one king-sized bed and a convertible couch). They start at $252.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Club Level Room: These rooms accommodate 3-5 guests, offer access to the Rock Royalty Lounge and have a personal concierge. These rooms start at $352.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Suites: Pick between the Future Rock Star Suites, King Suites, Hospitality Suites and Graceland Suites for larger groups and greater luxuries. The suites have separate entertainment areas, dining areas and walk-in closets. They start at $416.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Restaurants & Lounges: Grab a bite or drink at The Kitchen, The Palm, Emack & Bolio’s Marketplace, Velvet Bar or beachclub. Guests can also take advantage of 24-Hour room service.
Activities & Amenities:
- monthly concerts & cocktails events
- 12,000-square-foot pool featuring underwater music and 260-foot waterslide
- 2 hot tubs
- real sand beach with volleyball court
- poolside games
- arcade room
- fitness center with free Rock Om yoga kit including a mat
- walking / jogging paths
- Rock Shop
- Children’s Activity Centers (nominal fee)
- free transportation to golf courses (for groups of four players) in the area including Grand Cypress Golf Club
- The Sound of Your Stay™ program that lets guests stream celebrity-curated playlists, practice on your choice of Fender guitar (down payment and loan agreement required) and listen to tunes on a Crosley turntable in your room
Best For: Families with teens or older kids. This is not a quiet hotel so if you have younger children, we recommended booking either the Royal Pacific or Portofino Bay.
READ THE REVIEWS: Hard Rock Hotel
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is inspired by the picturesque Italian Riviera village of Portofino. There are quaint cafes, incredible restaurants and authentic Italian piazzas around the harbor.
The rooms are the largest out of all 3 Premier category hotels so if you want the extra space, consider booking a room here.
This resort boasts a spa, 3 pools, 5 shops and 9 places to grab a bite or drink.
Families with Despicable Me fans might be excited to know that Despicable Me Kids’ Suites offer kids their very own Minion themed bedroom with decor and furniture to match!
Standard Rooms: Enjoy Garden View Rooms, Bay View Rooms and Deluxe Rooms. These rooms accommodate 3-5 guests (one king-sized/two queen-sized bed and a rollover) and offer stunning views. They start at $272.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Suites: Pick between the Governatore Suite, Presidente Suite, Kids Suites, Portofino Parlor Suites, Villa Parlor Suites and Hospitality Parlor Suites to host guests, enjoy verandah space, walk-in closets, personal pantries, etc. The suites start at $256.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Club Level Room: These rooms accommodate 3-5 guests, offer access to the Portofino Club Lounge and have a personal concierge. These rooms start at $435.00 per night + taxes based on a 4-night stay.
Restaurants and Lounges: Enjoy restaurants like Mama Della’s Ristorante℠, Bice Ristorante, Trattoria del Porto™, Sal’s Market Deli™, Bar American, The Thirsty Fish™, Splendido Bar & Grill™, Gelateria, Starbucks®, and 24-hour room service.
Activities & Amenities:
- 3 pools – Beach Pool, Villa Pool, Hillside Pool
- Poolside activities
- Cabana rental
- Arcade and games room
- Mandara Spa
- walking / jogging paths
- supervised kids’ activities (nominal fee)
- Harbor Piazza with lined with sidewalk cafes, restaurants, Vespas, sports cars and shops
- complimentary nightly opera / pop opera show in the piazza
- 5 stores including Universal Studios StoreTM
- free transportation to golf courses (for groups of four players) in the area including Grand Cypress Golf Club
Best For: Families with young kids looking for a luxurious and quiet resort stay. If you’d prefer to eat at the hotel instead of at the parks or CityWalk, Portfino Bay is the resort that has the most on-site choices.
READ THE REVIEWS: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Final Thoughts
Even though we wish there were more hotels to choose from in the Preferred Hotel category, Universal Orlando Resorts does a good job at offer something for every type of traveler and every budget.
While similar off-site hotels in the same category can be found for less, the themeing, unique experiences and guest benefits make up for the difference.
Our family has visited Universal Orlando twice – in 2014 when both kids were very young (toddler and kindergarten) and just last year (December 2018 – both kids are now in grade school).
The first time we visited, we rented a car and stayed at Floridays. It was the best choice at that time as our Universal Orlando visit was only for the weekend and we only spent one day at the parks. And if I remember correctly, the more budget-friendly Universal Orlando hotels were just being built at that time.
However, our most recent trip was 5 days and 4 nights and we opted not to rent a vehicle this time. We knew we’d be spending the majority of the time at the parks so we wanted to be as close as possible. If we ventured outside of the Universal Orlando area, we would use Uber or Lyft.
We scored a great deal from Costco and had a fantastic stay at Portofino Bay. Initially we considered, Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort were all in the running.
But because we got a Costco cash card as well as a few nights extra for free at Portofino Bay from Costco, it was a no brainer. Hotel review post coming soon!
We loved our stay at that Premier category hotel and wouldn’t hesitate to try out the other resort options for future trips. We are just waiting for a good deal!
RELATED READING
-
- Things to Do at Universal Orlando with Small Kids – 9 Years Old and Under
- Best Ways to Celebrate the Holiday Season at Universal Orlando
- Floridays Resort Orlando Review – Affordable Offsite Hotel for Disney World and Universal Orlando Visitors
- How to Save Money on Theme Park Tickets
- 8 Best Tips for Universal Florida & Islands of Adventures First Time Visitors
