Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites Information: Rooms, Pools, Dining, and More

For anyone who fondly remembers the eponymous seminal 1966 surfing documentary, the phrase Endless Summer conjures images of pristine oceans, epic waves, and limitless freedom. Universal’s Endless Summer Resort, a 2,800-room complex of value-priced rooms completed in 2020, is built along an inland lake that was previously home to the Wet ’n Wild water park, so the only waves it has ever known were man-made. But the resort does offer liberation of a sort, both from the traditional boundaries of Universal’s property and from the limitation that park-owned hotels must always cost more than their off-site competition.

Despite being the first to sport Universal’s Value label, the 313-squarefoot standard room with two queen beds is slightly larger than those at the Prime Value locations. They’re also about the size of a Disney Moderate hotel room, but at Disney Value prices: about $100–$145 per night cheaper than a Moderate. That’s quite a savings. And they aren’t cheap from an aesthetic perspective either, as long as you appreciate the shabby chic look popular at vintage beachside hotels. In this modernized reinterpretation of a hippie hangout, the floors and furniture resemble reclaimed driftwood, and the tie-dyed curtains and vibrant wall art recall the summer of love. Thankfully, unlike the bohemian beach shacks of yore, at Endless Summer all the modern amenities are included: separate vanity and toilet areas, minifridge, convenient soda can holder, 43-inch TV, smart home controls for the temperature, and built-in high-amperage USB-C charging outlets. Room soundproofing is excellent, which is a surprise at this price, and there are plenty of under-shelf hooks on which to hang things, though only a handful of drawers for stowing your clothes. Our biggest nitpick is the poor quality of the soft goods; foam pillows and polyblend bath towels should be outlawed.

Rooms

A little more than half the rooms at each Endless Summer complex are 440-square-foot suites with three queen beds, one bathroom, and a kitchenette complete with sink, microwave, low-end coffee maker, and kitschy picnic table for dining alfresco indoors. That’s about 65–80 square feet smaller—and one less bathroom than—Disney’s Family Suites, but a little roomier than the pricier Family Suites at Cabana Bay. We also like that Endless Summer’s suites have a separate private bedroom with a second 49-inch TV for the third bed (as opposed to a pullout sofa), though we prefer Cabana Bay’s split toilet/shower setup.

Endless Summer Pools

The pools feature small splash pads for the kids and hold organized family activities like bingo and hoop contests, but they are unusually shallow (maximum depth 4 feet) and lack waterslides. Unfortunately, Endless Summer guests are forbidden from crashing the pool at the non-Value resorts. Each hotel also includes a surprisingly well-stocked free fitness room with internetenabled treadmills that have interactive touch screens, plus a Universal Studios Store and a video arcade. Full-service dining isn’t offered, but cafeteria-style food courts, lobby and pool bars, Starbucks cafés, and pizza delivery are all available.

Endless Summer Transportation

Because it’s on the opposite side of International Drive and I-4 from the rest of Universal Orlando, walking to the parks from Endless Summer isn’t practical, especially with preschoolers in tow, so a fleet of free buses is provided, servicing both the parking hub (from which you walk to City- Walk and the theme parks) and direct to Volcano Bay. The ride to the parking hub from here is actually slightly shorter than the one from Cabana Bay; travel time is barely 5 minutes each way, and the entire trip (including walking and waiting to depart) takes about 15 minutes. At Surfside Inn, tower 1 is closest to the bus stop; the hotel’s hallways are seemingly endless, and it can be quite a hike to the rooms most distant from the lobby.

Hotel Photos

Strengths and Weaknesses

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites Dining

• Dockside Starbucks (Quick Service)
• Pier 8 Market (Quick Service)
• Sunset Lounge (Bar or Lounge)
• The Oasis Beach Bar (Bar or Lounge)