\r\nUniversal Studios Florida is home to many rides based on popular movies, such as Despicable Me, Transformers: The Ride-3D and Diagon Alley of the Harry Potter franchise. Scroll down to learn more about the Universal Studios and how our tools will help you do more in this park without getting caught up in crowds and lines.\r\n
\r\n","dining_overview":null,"byline":null,"operator_id":10010,"operator_index":null,"operator_name":null,"traffic_patterns_content":null,"opening_date":"1990-06-07","category_code":"theme_park","fastpass_content":null,"meta_description":null,"address":"6000 Universal Blvd","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":"4073638000","themeparks_obj":"UniversalStudiosFlorida","primary_color":"#801BC3","themeparks_id":"eb3f4560-2383-4a36-9152-6b3e5ed6bc57","basics_arriving":"DRIVING Universal Orlando has two multistory parking garages that hold 20,000 cars each. All resort entrances have signs leading to these parking structures.
To avoid delays, plan on arriving at the parking garages about an hour before the parks open.
The parking garages are divided into sections named after Universal movies and characters, such as Jurassic Park, King Kong, E.T., and Spider-Man.
Each section is color-coded, and each row in the section has and has a number. The first digit of the number tells you which level of the parking deck you're on, and the rest of the numbers tell you the row you're in.
For example, if you park next to a sign that says 'King Kong 409', then you're in the King Kong section of the parking garage, on floor 4, and in row 9.
Take a photo of the name and number of your section, level, and row when you park.
From the parking garage you'll have an 8- to 20-minute walk to the theme park entrances (there are no parking trams).
If you're going to Volcano Bay, follow signs to park on the lowest level of the south garage, where you'll find ticket booths, security screenings, and dedicated shuttle buses that will transport you to and from the water park.
WALKING FROM THE HOTELS The walk from most Universal Orlando hotels takes abotu 15-20 minutes using the resort's dedicated walking paths. The walk from Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Portofino Bay are the farthest, taking about 25 minutes.
WATER TAXI service water taxi service is available between Universal's Preferred and Premier hotels and the two theme parks. The boat service uses a dock in CityWalk near the bridge to Universal Studios Florida as a hub.
Boats depart about every 15-20 minutes, from 1 hour before Early Park Admission begins until 15 minutes before CityWalk shuts down.
Give yourself 20-25 minutes for the boat ride, plus time for the boat to arrive. Bus service is usually faster.
HOTEL BUS SERVICE runs every 20-30 minutes between its hotels and the parking garage, from which you can walk to CityWalk or the theme parks.
Theme park buses run until 15 minutes after CityWalk closes.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA is laid out in a P-shape, with the rounded part of the P bigger than usual. The main entrance plaza is called the Front Lot. Going clockwise around the park, the first area you'll encounter after the Front lot is Production Central, which includes Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Transformers: The Ride 3-D, and other attractions.
At the top of the P is the New York area, including Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and Revenge of the Mummy.
Next is San Francisco, the home of Fast & Furious: Supercharged.
Next is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley with Hogwarts Express-King's Cross Station and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts.
After that is World Expo area, with Men in Black Alien Attack.
Continuing on you'll find Springfield: Home of the Simpsons, featuring, of course, The Simpsons Ride
The last themed area, near the front of the park, is Hollywood, featuring Universal Orlando's Horror Make-Up Show and The Bourne Stuntacular stunt show.
","basics_rope_drop":"Early Park Admission is the most valuable free perk available to Universal on-site guests. It allows you to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and other select attractions, 1 hour before the parks open to the general public.
The park and attractions open for Early Admission on any given day will vary depending on crowd levels.
When Universal Studios Florida has Early Admission will open its turnstiles 60 to 90 minutes before the official opening time.
Both hotel and day guests will be admitted to the park, and everyone in your group (including children) who are eligible for Early Admission will need to show their own room key or annual pass to get beyond the park's entry plaza during Early Admission. Everyone else will be held in an alternate area until official opening.
When USF's turnstiles open for Early Admission, resort guests walk straight toward Revenge of the Mummy and are escorted to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley.
REGULAR PARK OPENING On days when Universal Studios Florida does not have Early Admission, the park may still open up to 15 minutes before opening, with Despicable Me typically running for all guests.
Guests can enter the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts queue before official opening, but the ride may not begin running until park opening (or a few minutes before) on these mornings.
Most of the crowd will head for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's Gringotts ride, which usually sees its longest waits between opening and early afternoon.
Despicable Me, located a short distance past the entrance, also attracts large crowds, as do Transformers: The Ride 3-D and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.
A smaller number of visitors will head for The Simpsons Ride or Revenge of the Mummy, but these attractions usually don't get crowded until an hour or two after the park has opened.
","basics_fastpass":"\n Universal Express is Universal's front-of-the-line system. It's free for some Universal Orlando hotel guests and annual passholders and costs (a lot) of money for everyone else.
Universal Express will significantly reduce the amount of time you spend waiting in queues at Universal Orlando. But whether that time saving is worth it depends on the season you visit, hours of park operation, and crowd levels.
During busy periods, Universal Express users should wait no more than 15-20 minutes for a ride, even when the standby wait is well over an hour. That's a big time savings and may make it easier to see your favorite headliners in a single day.
During slow periods, Express users should experience little to no wait at most attractions and can practically walk on to most rides. However, the standby waits will typically top out between 15 and 30 minutes at these times, making the total minutes saved with Express much less.
Universal Express is not mandatory for enjoying the parks, as long as you show up early with a well-organized touring plan. If you want to sleep in and arrive at a park after opening, Express is an effective but expensive way to avoid long lines at the headliner attractions, especially during holidays and busy times.
If, however, you arrive at least 30 minutes before park opening and you use our touring plans, you should experience the lowest possible waits.
If you aren't eligible for free Express Passes, try the touring plans first. If waits for rides get too long, you can almost always buy Express in the parks, because they rarely run out.
","basics_other":null},{"id":13,"name":"Universal's Islands of Adventure","abbreviation":"ia","created_at":"2009-08-06T22:33:32.000-04:00","updated_at":"2023-07-10T12:30:58.000-04:00","short_name":"Islands of Adventure","property_id":4,"time_zone":"Eastern Time (US & Canada)","permalink":"islands-of-adventure","intro":"\r\n\r\nFor a quick look at IOA's history, click here.\r\n
","dining_overview":null,"byline":null,"operator_id":10000,"operator_index":null,"operator_name":null,"traffic_patterns_content":null,"opening_date":"1999-05-28","category_code":"theme_park","fastpass_content":null,"meta_description":null,"address":"6000 Universal Blvd","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":"4073638000","themeparks_obj":"UniversalIslandsOfAdventure","primary_color":"#BB4F24","themeparks_id":"267615cc-8943-4c2a-ae2c-5da728ca591f","basics_arriving":"DRIVING Universal Orlando has two multistory parking garages that hold 20,000 cars each. All resort entrances have signs leading to these parking structures.
To avoid delays, plan on arriving at the parking garages about an hour before the parks open.
The parking garages are divided into sections named after Universal movies and characters, such as Jurassic Park, King Kong, E.T., and Spider-Man.
Each section is color-coded, and each row in the section has and has a number. The first digit of the number tells you which level of the parking deck you're on, and the rest of the numbers tell you the row you're in.
For example, if you park next to a sign that says 'King Kong 409', then you're in the King Kong section of the parking garage, on floor 4, and in row 9.
Take a photo of the name and number of your section, level, and row when you park.
From the parking garage you'll have an 8- to 20-minute walk to the theme park entrances (there are no parking trams).
If you're going to Volcano Bay, follow signs to park on the lowest level of the south garage, where you'll find ticket booths, security screenings, and dedicated shuttle buses that will transport you to and from the water park.
WALKING FROM THE HOTELS The walk from most Universal Orlando hotels takes abotu 15-20 minutes using the resort's dedicated walking paths. The walk from Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Portofino Bay are the farthest, taking about 25 minutes.
WATER TAXI service water taxi service is available between Universal's Preferred and Premier hotels and the two theme parks. The boat service uses a dock in CityWalk near the bridge to Universal Studios Florida as a hub.
Boats depart about every 15-20 minutes, from 1 hour before Early Park Admission begins until 15 minutes before CityWalk shuts down.
Give yourself 20-25 minutes for the boat ride, plus time for the boat to arrive. Bus service is usually faster.
HOTEL BUS SERVICE runs every 20-30 minutes between its hotels and the parking garage, from which you can walk to CityWalk or the theme parks.
Theme park buses run until 15 minutes after CityWalk closes.
Think of Islands of Adventure as a large circle with a lagoon in the middle. Each \"island” has its own self-contained, visually consistent theme.
You first encounter Port of Entry at the front of the park, a mélange of Middle Eastern and Asian architecture, where you'll find Guest Services, lockers, stroller and wheelchair rentals, ATM banking, Lost and Found, and shopping.
From the Port of Entry, moving clockwise around the lagoon, you'll find Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Skull Island, Jurassic Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—Hogsmeade, and Seuss Landing.
There is no in-park transportation to move you between lands.
","basics_rope_drop":"Early Park Admission is the most valuable free perk available to Universal on-site guests. It allows you to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and other select attractions, 1 hour before the parks open to the general public.
The park and attractions open for Early Admission on any given day will vary depending on crowd levels.
When Islands of Adventure has Early Admission will open its turnstiles 60 to 90 minutes before the official opening time.
Both hotel and day guests will be admitted to the park, and everyone in your group (including children) who are eligible for Early Admission will need to show their own room key or annual pass to get beyond the park's entry plaza during Early Admission. Everyone else will be held in an alternate area until official opening.
When IOA opens for Early Admission, offered at IOA, resort guests may head to Hogsmeade and the VelociCoaster as soon as the gates open, walking clockwise through Seuss Landing and Lost Continent.
Guests without Early Admission can still enter the park early but will be held in the Port of Entry and Seuss Landing.
Marvel Super Hero Island's attractions may open to all guests up to 15 minutes before the official park opening time.
If IOA officially opens an hour after USF, only guests eligible for EPA may ride the Hogwarts Express Hogsmeade Station during IOA's early-entry hour.
On days when Early Admission isn't offered, the park will still open its turnstiles 15 minutes before \n opening time. Most entering guests turn counterclockwise through Seuss Landing and make a beeline for Hogsmeade or the VelociCoaster as soon as the park is open.
A smaller number of guests will head clockwise for The Incredible Hulk Coaster and then continue through Toon Lagoon to Skull Island.
","basics_fastpass":"\n Universal Express is Universal's front-of-the-line system. It's free for some Universal Orlando hotel guests and annual passholders and costs (a lot) of money for everyone else.
Universal Express will significantly reduce the amount of time you spend waiting in queues at Universal Orlando. But whether that time saving is worth it depends on the season you visit, hours of park operation, and crowd levels.
During busy periods, Universal Express users should wait no more than 15-20 minutes for a ride, even when the standby wait is well over an hour. That's a big time savings and may make it easier to see your favorite headliners in a single day.
During slow periods, Express users should experience little to no wait at most attractions and can practically walk on to most rides. However, the standby waits will typically top out between 15 and 30 minutes at these times, making the total minutes saved with Express much less.
Universal Express is not mandatory for enjoying the parks, as long as you show up early with a well-organized touring plan. If you want to sleep in and arrive at a park after opening, Express is an effective but expensive way to avoid long lines at the headliner attractions, especially during holidays and busy times.
If, however, you arrive at least 30 minutes before park opening and you use our touring plans, you should experience the lowest possible waits.
If you aren't eligible for free Express Passes, try the touring plans first. If waits for rides get too long, you can almost always buy Express in the parks, because they rarely run out.
","basics_other":null},{"id":65,"name":"Universal Epic Universe","abbreviation":"eu","created_at":"2024-02-16T23:43:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-10-17T10:31:23.000-04:00","short_name":"Epic Universe","property_id":4,"time_zone":"Eastern Time (US & Canada)","permalink":"epic-universe","intro":"Universal Destinations & Experiences expands its Orlando presence by 750 acres in 2025 with the opening of Epic Universe and three nearby hotels. This state-of-the-art park promises fantastic rides, experiences, and dining for guests of all ages. At opening, Epic Universe will offer an elaborate central hub (Celestial Park) and worlds themed to\r\nUniversal monster films,\r\nNINTENDO,\r\nHarry Potter, and\r\nHow to Train Your Dragon.
\r\n\r\nSee our Universal Epic Universe Preview blog post for the latest details.","dining_overview":"Epic Universe promises to offer several unique dining experiences, complementing pizza, coffee, burgers, and other theme park staples. Ever wanted to dine with vikings? Or eat in an aquarium or a toadstool?","byline":"Universal Orlando's Newest Theme Park","operator_id":null,"operator_index":null,"operator_name":null,"traffic_patterns_content":null,"opening_date":"2025-05-22","category_code":"theme_park","fastpass_content":null,"meta_description":null,"address":"4700 West Sand Lake Road","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":null,"themeparks_obj":null,"primary_color":null,"themeparks_id":null,"basics_arriving":null,"basics_getting_around":null,"basics_rope_drop":null,"basics_fastpass":null,"basics_other":null}]],["hotels",[["Deluxe",[{"id":155,"property_id":4,"name":"Hard Rock Hotel","code":"ORL095","address":"5800 Universal Boulevard","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":"4075037625","url":"http://www.hardrockhotelorlando.com/","off_site":false,"permalink":"hard-rock-hotel","created_at":"2010-07-16T15:02:21.000-04:00","updated_at":"2024-12-24T23:46:19.000-05:00","overview":"
\r\nFor younger adults and families with older kids, the Hard Rock\r\nHotel is the hippest place to lay your head. Opened in 2001, it is the closest\r\nresort to Universal’s theme parks. The exterior has a California Mission\r\ntheme, with white stucco walls, arched entryways, and rust-colored roof\r\ntiles. Inside, the lobby is a tribute to rock-and-roll style, all marble,\r\nchrome, and stage lighting. The lobby’s walls are decorated with enough\r\nconcert posters, costumes, and musical instruments to start another wing\r\nof Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Exhibits include outfits from\r\nLady Gaga and Rihanna, and QR codes near each artifact let you take a\r\nself-guided memorabilia tour via your smartphone.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe eight floors hold 650 rooms, including 29 suites, with the rooms\r\ncategorized into standard, deluxe, and Rock Royalty club-level tiers.\r\nStandard rooms are 375 square feet, slightly larger than rooms at Disney’s\r\nModerate resorts and a bit smaller than most Disney Deluxe rooms.\r\nThe rooms feature light-gray walls and linens, pastel furniture, and colorful\r\nretro-inspired accents, such as throw pillows crocheted with phrases\r\nsuch as “Quiet Please” and “Be Nice.” To be frank, the style looks more\r\nbubblegum pop than hard rock, but the brighter look is a bit more soothing\r\nafter you stumble back from a fatiguing day in the parks. \r\n
\r\n\r\nStandard rooms are furnished with two queen beds, with plush, comfortable\r\nlinens and more pillows than you’ll know what to do with. Rooms\r\nalso include a TV, refrigerator, coffee maker, and an alarm clock with an\r\niPhone docking port.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nA six-drawer dresser and separate closet with sliding doors ensure\r\nplenty of storage space. In addition, most rooms have a reading chair and\r\na small desk with two chairs. An optional rollaway bed, available at an\r\nextra charge, allows standard rooms to sleep up to five people.
\r\n\r\nEach room’s dressing area includes a sink and hair dryer. The bathroom\r\nis probably large enough for most adults to get ready in the morning\r\nwhile another person gets ready in the dressing area.\r\n
\r\n\r\nGuests staying in standard rooms can choose from one of three views:\r\nstandard, which can include anything from walkways and parking lots to\r\nlawns and trees; garden view, which includes the lawn, trees, and (in\r\nsome rooms) the waterway around the resort; and pool view, which\r\nincludes the Hard Rock’s expansive pool.\r\n
\r\n\r\nA step up from standard rooms are deluxe rooms. Deluxe rooms with\r\nking beds are around 400 square feet and can accommodate up to four\r\npeople with a pullout sofa and an optional rollaway bed rental. These\r\nrooms feature a U-shaped sitting area in place of the second bed, and the\r\nrest of the amenities are the same as in standard rooms. Deluxe queen\r\nrooms are 500 square feet and can hold up to five people using a pullout\r\nsofa, located in a small cubby just off the room’s entrance. \r\n
\r\n\r\nFor families, each 800-square-foot Future Rock Star suite features an\r\nauthentic piece of music memorabilia, along with a simulated stage\r\ninside the separate kids’ bedroom. Or you can really live like The King in the 2,000-square-foot Graceland Suite, which comes complete with a\r\nbaby grand piano and fireplace.
\r\n\r\nSituated in the middle of the resort’s C-shaped main building, the\r\n12,000-square-foot zero-entry pool includes a 250-foot waterslide (the\r\nlongest at any Universal hotel), a sand beach, and underwater speakers\r\nso you can hear the music while you swim. Adjacent to the pool are a\r\nfountain play area for small children, a sand volleyball court, hot tubs, and\r\na poolside bar. The entire pool area is lined with tall palm trees, and private\r\ncabanas are available for rent. The Hard Rock also has a small, functional\r\nfitness center, but for spa services you’ll have to go to the Mandara\r\nSpa at Universal’s nearby Portofino Bay. Like all Universal Orlando Resort\r\nhotels, the Hard Rock has a business center and video arcade.\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe Hard Rock also has a small, functional fitness center. Universal's nearby Portofino Bay hotel has a full-service Mandara spa.\r\n
\r\n\r\nA supervised activity center, Camp Lil Rock, serves kids 4 from 5 pm until 11:30 pm (Sunday through Thursday) or midnight (Friday and Saturday). Cost is $15 per hour per child, plus $15 per meal. Call (407) 503-2200 for reservations.\r\n
\r\n\r\nOn-site dining includes The Kitchen, a casual full-service restaurant open\r\nfor breakfast, lunch, and dinner that serves American food such as burgers,\r\nsteaks, and salads. The Kitchen hosts strolling magicians on Wednesday\r\nand Friday, Kids Can Cook activities on Tuesday and Thursday, and random\r\ncelebrity-chef sightings. The Palm Restaurant is an upscale steakhouse\r\navailable for dinner only. There is also an Emack & Bolio’s ice cream shop\r\nand grab-and-go marketplace on the lower level; the stylish Velvet Bar in\r\nthe lobby for drinks after dark and monthly Velvet Sessions rock-and-roll\r\ncocktail parties; and the BeachClub bar and grill by the pool. And, of course, the\r\nHard Rock Cafe is just a short distance away at CityWalk. Oenophiles will\r\nwant to keep an eye on tinyurl .com/HRH Wine Riffs for announcements\r\nabout periodic Wine Riffs events ($125 plus tax and gratuity), which pair\r\nfive courses of vino and victuals with a carefully curated soundtrack.\r\n
\r\n\r\nGuests can also stream a free personalized playlist at music.hardrock\r\nhotels.com, and swap their room key card for a free souvenir guitar pick\r\nat checkout. If all that musical immersion puts you in the mood to jam,\r\nyou can borrow a Crosley turntable with a stack of vinyl records or 1 of\r\n20 Fender guitars—including Stratocasters, Telecasters, and even bass\r\nguitars—with\r\namp and headphones for free (after a $1,000 credit card\r\ndeposit) through the hotel’s The Sound of Your Stay program; ask the\r\nfront desk for details. Alternatively, investigate the Rock Om in-room\r\nyoga program (hardrock hotelorlando.com/rock-om.htm) if you yearn to\r\nachieve a state of Zen.\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n","good_not_so_good_rooms":null,"strengths_weaknesses":"\r\nStrengths: Shortest walk to Universal Studios; pool; on-site dining options, glitzy lobby\r\n\r\n\r\nWeaknesses: Expensive dining; extra charge for parking\r\n
","recommend_to_friends":null,"recommend_annual_change":null,"stay_again":null,"stay_again_annual_change":null,"fitness_center":true,"water_sports":false,"marina":false,"beach":false,"tennis":false,"biking":false,"suites":true,"concierge_floor":true,"room_service":true,"wired_internet":false,"wireless_internet":true,"num_rooms":650,"theme":"California Mission-style with rock memorabilia displayed throughout","cost_range":"$399-$704","shuttle_to_parks":true,"cost_estimate":"$$$$$$$+","lodging_area_code":"universal_orlando","category_code":"deluxe","check_rates":null,"percent_random_ads":30,"show_map":false,"meta_description":null,"survey_update_hash":"9a87b321a37315855cfd38966d119619","author_user_id":null,"fax_number":null,"hidden":false,"smallest_room_size":null,"blog_slug":"hard-rock","property_owned":true,"extra_hours":true,"early_fastpass":false,"express_queue":true,"airport_transportation":false,"parking_fee":null,"resort_fee":null,"sort_name":"hard rock hotel","club_name":"Rock Royalty Lounge","operator_id":null,"operator_type":null,"operator_url":null,"opened_on":"2000-12-01","extinct_on":null,"opened_on_uncertain":null,"extinct_on_uncertain":null,"abbreviation":null,"refresh_year":null,"renovation_year":null,"pool_slide":false,"pool_play":false,"typical_bed_code":null,"max_guests_std":null,"child_bed_std":false,"parent_hotel_id":null,"travel_request_quote_image":null,"travel_request_quote_overview":null,"travel_request_quote_image_tab":null,"overview_short":"Not only the hippest place to lay your head, Hard Rock Hotel is also the closest resort to Universal's theme parks. The exterior has a California Mission theme, and the lobby's walls are decorated with concert posters and musical instruments.","dining_overview":null,"good_for":"Easy access to both theme parks","recommendation":null,"hotel_category_id":14,"hotel_category_recommended":false,"pet_friendly":null},{"id":82,"property_id":4,"name":"Loews Portofino Bay Hotel","code":"ORL164","address":"5601 Universal Boulevard","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":"4075031000","url":"http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Portofino-Bay-Hotel","off_site":false,"permalink":"loews-portofino-bay-hotel","created_at":"2010-07-16T15:02:19.000-04:00","updated_at":"2024-12-23T23:46:30.000-05:00","overview":"\r\nIf you want the ultimate European-style, spare-no-expense on-site\r\nexperience, look no further than the Portofino Bay Hotel. Universal’s top of the line hotel evokes the Italian seaside city of Portofino, complete\r\nwith a man-made Portofino Bay past the lobby. To Universal’s credit, the\r\nlayout, color, and theming of the guest room buildings are a good\r\napproximation of the architecture around the harbor in the real Portofino\r\n(Universal’s version has fewer yachts, though).\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe front of the Portofino continues the theme, with Vespa-like scooters\r\nparked around a burbling fountain. Deep-green tapestries hang from\r\nthe sand-colored porte cochere, which is flanked by narrower recessed\r\narches. It’s a convincing transition from the nearby parking deck.
\r\n\r\n\r\n Inside, the lobby is decorated with pink marble floors, white wood\r\ncolumns, and arches. The space is both airy and comfortable, with side\r\nrooms featuring seats and couches done in bold reds and deep blues.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMost guest rooms are 450 square feet and have either one king bed or\r\ntwo queen beds. King rooms sleep up to three people with an optional\r\nrollaway bed; the same option allows queen rooms to sleep up to five.\r\nTwo room-view types are available: garden rooms look out over the landscaping\r\nand trees (many of these are the east-facing rooms in the resort’s\r\neast wing; others face one of the three pools); bay-view rooms face either\r\nwest or south and overlook Portofino Bay, with a view of the piazza\r\nbehind the lobby too. Rooms in the west wing are closest to the water\r\ntaxi dock and resort walking paths. A very small number of rooms have\r\nworking balconies; you can’t reserve one in advance but may upgrade at\r\ncheck-in if one is available for $15–$30 extra.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nRooms come furnished with a 42-inch TV, a small refrigerator, a coffee\r\nmaker, and an alarm clock with an iPhone docking port. Other amenities\r\ninclude a small desk with two chairs, a comfortable reading chair\r\nwith lamp, a chest of drawers, and a standing closet. Beds are large and\r\ncomfortable. You’ll have a hard time in the morning convincing yourself\r\nthat getting out of them and going to a theme park is the best option\r\nyou have.\r\n
\r\n\r\nGuest bathrooms at Portofino Bay are the best on Universal property.\r\nWe’ve seen smaller New York apartments! Speakers inside the bathroom\r\ntransmit the audio from whatever is playing on the room’s TV. The best thing is the shower, which has enough water pressure to strip paint\r\nfrom old furniture, not to mention an adjustable spray nozzle that varies\r\nthe water pulses to simulate everything from monsoon season in the\r\ntropics to the rhythmic thumps of wildebeest hooves during migrating\r\nseason. We love it.\r\n
\r\n\r\nWhile we think Portofino Bay has some of Universal’s best rooms,\r\ncertain areas are starting to show their age, and the prices put it on par\r\nwith the Ritz-Carlton, something its good points can’t quite justify. On\r\nthe other hand, the Ritz isn’t a short walk from Harry Potter, and the\r\nPortofino is significantly cheaper than the hotels along Disney’s monorail.
\r\n\r\n\r\nPortofino Bay has three pools, the largest of which is the Beach Pool,\r\non the west side of the resort. The Beach Pool has a zero-entry design\r\nand a waterslide themed after a Roman aqueduct, plus a children’s play\r\narea, hot tubs, and a poolside bar and grill. We like the naturalistic Mediterranean\r\nseaside feel of the Beach Pool.\r\n
\r\n\r\nTwo smaller quiet pools sit at the far end of the east wing and to the\r\nwest of the main lobby. The Villa Pool has private cabana rentals for that\r\nItalian Riviera feeling and a bocce ball court with free equipment for that\r\nJersey shore feeling, while the smaller Hillside Pool, tucked behind the\r\neast wing, is the most secluded. Rounding out the luxuries are the fullservice\r\nMandara Spa; a complete fitness center with weight machines,\r\ntreadmills, and more; a business center; and a video arcade.
\r\n\r\n\r\nBesides the pools, the Portofino has a full-service Mandara spa and a complete fitness center with free weights, weight machines, treadmills, ellipticals, bikes and more.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nCampo Portofino offers supervised activities (movies, video games, crafts, and such) for children ages 4-14. The cost is $15 per hour plus $15 per meal, per child; hours vary.\r\n
\r\n\r\nOn-site dining includes three sit-down restaurants serving Italian cuisine,\r\nplus a deli that doubles as a pizzeria, as well as a café serving coffee\r\nand gelato. Two bars round out the food offerings at Portofino. The Portofino\r\nhas 10 separate convention meeting rooms and is a popular destination\r\nfor small to midsize groups. Perhaps because Universal figures\r\nthat most guests have an expense account, some of the food prices go\r\nwell beyond what we’d consider reasonable, even for a theme park hotel. \r\n
\r\nThe Portofino has ten separate convention meeting rooms and is a popular destination for small to midsize groups. Perhaps because they're figuring that most people staying there are on an expense account, some of the restaurants' prices are well beyond what we'd consider reasonable, even for a theme park's hotel. \r\n
\r\n\r\nWhile we think Portofino Bay has Universal’s best rooms, the prices put it on par with the Ritz-Carlton, something its rooms and grounds can't quite maintain. On the other hand, the Ritz isn’t a short walk from Harry Potter, and the Portofino is significantly cheaper than the Grand Floridian at Disney. If you’re going to stay at the Portofino for two nights or more, consider getting an annual pass to the Universal parks, which gives substantial discounts on rooms (often more than $100 per night) and can more than offset the cost of the room.\r\n
\r\n\r\nIf you still can't swing a stay here, at least take a complimentary sunset water taxi ride to the harbor for Musica della Notte, the free mini-concert of romantic popera tunes belted from Portofino's bayside balconies daily at dusk (weather permitting). Several times each year, Harbor Nights are held on the plaza, with wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, and live music. Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 if purchased at the event, and $75 for VIP admission with reserved seating. See Loews' event page for details on the next date. ","good_not_so_good_rooms":null,"strengths_weaknesses":"
\r\nStrengths: Guest room bathrooms; on-site dining variety\r\n\r\n\r\nWeaknesses: Expensive on-site dining\r\n
","recommend_to_friends":null,"recommend_annual_change":null,"stay_again":null,"stay_again_annual_change":null,"fitness_center":true,"water_sports":false,"marina":false,"beach":false,"tennis":false,"biking":false,"suites":true,"concierge_floor":true,"room_service":true,"wired_internet":false,"wireless_internet":true,"num_rooms":750,"theme":"Italian Riviera village","cost_range":"$414–$739","shuttle_to_parks":true,"cost_estimate":"$$$$$$$$+","lodging_area_code":"universal_orlando","category_code":"deluxe","check_rates":null,"percent_random_ads":30,"show_map":false,"meta_description":null,"survey_update_hash":"47fd765d8c545963d3233febdb41e8b2","author_user_id":null,"fax_number":null,"hidden":false,"smallest_room_size":null,"blog_slug":"portofino-bay","property_owned":true,"extra_hours":true,"early_fastpass":false,"express_queue":true,"airport_transportation":false,"parking_fee":null,"resort_fee":null,"sort_name":"loews portofino bay hotel","club_name":"Portofino Club Lounge","operator_id":null,"operator_type":null,"operator_url":null,"opened_on":"2000-09-01","extinct_on":null,"opened_on_uncertain":null,"extinct_on_uncertain":null,"abbreviation":null,"refresh_year":null,"renovation_year":null,"pool_slide":false,"pool_play":false,"typical_bed_code":null,"max_guests_std":null,"child_bed_std":false,"parent_hotel_id":null,"travel_request_quote_image":null,"travel_request_quote_overview":null,"travel_request_quote_image_tab":null,"overview_short":"If you want the ultimate European-style, spare-no-expense on-site experience, look no further than the Portofino Bay Hotel. Universal's top of the line hotel evokes the Italian seaside city of Portofino, complete with a man-made Portofino Bay past the lobby.","dining_overview":null,"good_for":"Great theme and luxurious amenities","recommendation":null,"hotel_category_id":14,"hotel_category_recommended":true,"pet_friendly":null},{"id":48,"property_id":4,"name":"Loews Royal Pacific Resort","code":"ORL200","address":"6300 Hollywood Way","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":"4075033000","url":"http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Royal-Pacific-Resort","off_site":false,"permalink":"loews-royal-pacific-resort-at-universal-orlando","created_at":"2010-07-16T15:02:18.000-04:00","updated_at":"2024-12-18T23:41:53.000-05:00","overview":"\r\nA favorite of young families and solo travelers, the Royal Pacific Resort is the least expensive\r\nand most relaxing of Universal’s top hotels. You may be tempted, as we\r\nwere initially, to write off the Royal Pacific, which opened in 2002, as a\r\nknockoff of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. There are indeed similarities,\r\nbut the Royal Pacific is attractive enough, and has enough\r\nstrengths of its own, for us to recommend that you try a stay there to\r\ncompare for yourself.\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe South Seas–inspired theming is both relaxing and structured.\r\nGuests enter the lobby—which received a thorough refurbishment in\r\n2020—from a walkway two stories above an artificial stream that surrounds\r\nthe resort. Once you’re inside, the lobby’s dark teakwood accents\r\ncontrast nicely with the enormous amount of light coming in from the\r\nwindows and three-story A-frame roof. Palms line the walkway through\r\nthe lobby, which surrounds an enormous outdoor fountain.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Royal Pacific’s 1,000 guest rooms are spread among three\r\nY-shaped wings attached to the resort’s main building. Standard rooms\r\nare 335 square feet and have one king or two queen beds. The beds, fitted\r\nwith 300-thread-count sheets, are very comfortable.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe rooms feature modern monochrome wall treatments and carpets,\r\naccented with boldly colored floral graphics. Rooms include a flat-panel\r\nTV, a refrigerator, a coffee maker, and an alarm clock with an iPhone\r\ndocking port, plus several USB-equipped power outlets. Other amenities\r\ninclude a small desk with two chairs, a comfortable reading chair, a chest\r\nof drawers, and a large closet. \r\n
\r\n\r\n \r\nAs with the Hard Rock, rooms at the Royal Pacific have a dressing area\r\nwith sink, separated from the rest of the room by a wall. Adjacent to the\r\ndressing area is the bathroom, with a tub, shower, and toilet. While\r\nthey’re acceptable, the bathroom and dressing areas at the Royal Pacific\r\nare our least favorite in the upscale Universal resorts.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSome standard-view rooms look out over the Royal Pacific’s green\r\nlandscape, while others see the parking lot or nearby roads. Water-view\r\nrooms facing the pool or lagoon are also available, many of which have\r\na great look at Hogwarts Castle. Guests in north- and west-facing rooms in Tower 1 are closest to the walking path to the park but also closest to\r\nthe attractions at Islands of Adventure (IOA); you can hear the roar from\r\nIOA’s Incredible Hulk Coaster throughout the day and night. East-facing\r\nrooms in Towers 1 and 2 are exposed to traffic noise from Universal\r\nBoulevard and, more distantly, I-4. Quietest are south-facing pool-view\r\nrooms in Tower 1 and south-facing rooms in Tower 3, which are also\r\nnearest to the water taxi dock. Tower 2 is the most remote from amenities\r\nand transportation.\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe Royal Pacific also offers themed rooms for kids with its Jurassic\r\nWorld Kids Suites, which were refurbished in 2018. These 370-squarefoot\r\ntwo-room suites have a door connecting the kids’ room to the main\r\nhotel room, but only the main room has a door out to the hallway. The\r\nkids’ room has two twin beds with headboards that look like Gyrospheres,\r\nas well as a wall-size mural of dinosaurs.
\r\n\r\n\r\nLike the Hard Rock Hotel, the Royal Pacific’s zero-entry pool includes\r\na sand beach, volleyball court, play area for kids, hot tub, and cabanas\r\nfor rent, plus a poolside bar and grill. Designed to look like a cross\r\nbetween a tropical island and cruise ship pool (complete with faux\r\nexhaust tower and observation deck), the swimming complex pool is\r\nhuge; it does not, however, have a waterslide. Lounge chairs line most\r\nof the walkway around the pool, and portable folding umbrellas provide\r\nshade where the palm trees and lush green plants can’t. A free torch lighting\r\nceremony with Polynesian dances, music, and fire juggling is\r\nheld by the pool around sunset on select nights (usually Tuesday, Friday,\r\nand Saturday during the summer). For the full island experience, the\r\nWantilan Luau is held every Saturday night year-round\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Royal Pacific includes a 5,000-square-foot fitness facility, with\r\nfree weights and machines, treadmills, stair-climbers, elliptical machines,\r\nand exercise bikes, plus separate lockers, dressing areas, and sauna rooms\r\nfor men and women. The Royal Pacific’s expansive\r\nconvention facilities\r\ncover more than 132,000 square feet and connect to the Sapphire Falls\r\nResort via an air-conditioned bridge. A business center and video arcade\r\nround out the on-site amenities.\r\n
\r\n\r\nOn-site dining includes a full-service restaurant, three bars, and a luau.\r\nIslands Dining Room is open daily for breakfast; à la carte options range\r\nfrom steel-cut oatmeal and custom omelets to more exotic eye-openers\r\nlike Tahitian French toast l’orange. At dinner, Islands has better-thanaverage\r\ninternational cuisine. Another breakfast option is the grab-andgo\r\nTuk Tuk Market in the lobby, which also serves Starbucks coffee, hot\r\nsandwiches, and gelato. Jake's American Bar serves a casual sit-down\r\nmenu for lunch and dinner, along with late-night bar snacks. On select\r\nSaturday mornings, the Tahitian Room opens for a character breakfast\r\nwith the Minions and their Despicable Me pals.\r\nSeveral casual bar areas—including Jake’s American Bar, the Orchid Court\r\nLounge & Sushi Bar, and the poolside Bula Bar & Grille with neighboring\r\nice cream stand—are located in the resort.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRack rates run from a low of around $210 per night up to about $480 per night, excluding tax, depending on the time of year. Though nice, the rooms alone aren't worth those rates, but adding in unlimited Universal Express, one hour early access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and a short walk to the parks makes makes it the best deal among Universal's deluxe hotels.\r\n
","good_not_so_good_rooms":"\r\nGuests in north- and west-facing rooms in Tower 1 (the Windward wing) are closest to the attractions at Islands of Adventure and can hear the roar from IOA Incredible Hulk Coaster throughout the day and night. East-facing rooms in Towers 1 and 2 are exposed to traffic noise from Universal Boulevard and (more distantly) Interstate 4. Quietest are south-facing pool-view rooms in Tower 1, and south-facing rooms in Tower 3.\r\n
\r\n\r\nThe Royal Pacific was one of the first Orlando hotels to offer themed rooms for kids with their Jurassic Park Kid's Suite. These two room suites have a door connecting the kid's room to the main hotel room, but only the main room has a door out to the hallway. The kid's room has two twin beds with light-up raptor slash marks on the head boards while the rest of the room is fully themed to the Jurassic Park film, including on-set photos.\r\n
","strengths_weaknesses":"\r\nStrengths: Theming; pool; variety of on-site dining; pet friendly, character dining, close to IOA\r\n\r\nWeaknesses: Guest room soundproofing; bathroom size; extra charge for self-parking\r\n
\r\n\r\nBlog Posts About Loews Royal Pacific Resort\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nSapphire Falls Resort brings a sunny Caribbean island vibe to the\r\nmoderate market with its 1,000 rooms (including 77 suites), which opened\r\nin summer 2016. Sandwiched between Royal Pacific and Cabana Bay—\r\nboth physically and price-wise—Sapphire Falls sports most of the amenities\r\nof Universal’s three fanciest hotels, including water taxi transportation\r\nto the parks, with the crucial exception of complimentary Express Passes.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nRather than replicating the stereotypical pastel palette seen at Disney’s\r\nCaribbean-themed hotel, Sapphire Falls’s designers went with a cooler\r\nblue-and-white color scheme for the exterior. The lobby continues the\r\nmodern reinterpretation of island aesthetics with a playful hanging sculpture\r\nof wicker beach balls and a massive floor-to-ceiling window providing\r\na postcard-perfect view of the rear lagoon, with the towers of Doctor\r\nDoom’s Fearfall posing in the background. Public spaces fuse seemingly\r\nancient structures—such as a stunning stone silo, complete with authentic-looking\r\nmill equipment—with starkly minimalist architecture and contemporary\r\nartwork. The mix can prove somewhat jarring; we sometimes\r\nemerged from a richly detailed space into a barren white hallway and\r\nwondered if we’d taken a wrong turn into an employee-only area. But\r\nwe’ve come to appreciate the Sapphire Falls Resort’s casually sophisticated\r\nvibe, which hits a sweet spot between the family-friendly freneticism\r\nof Cabana Bay and the elegance of Universal’s more upscale hotels.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![](\"//cdn0.touringplans.com/static/hotels/orl246/IMG_1152.JPG\")
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nA standard Sapphire Falls room.\r\n
\r\nThe rooms range from 322 square feet in a standard queen or king to\r\n529 square feet in the 36 Kids Suites, and up to 1,353 square feet in the 15 Hospitality Suites, which are appointed with charming rustic light fixtures\r\nand are sizable enough to live in long-term. All rooms include a\r\n49-inch TV, an alarm clock with iPhone dock, in-wall USB charging ports,\r\na minifridge, and a coffee maker. The rooms are aesthetically acceptable\r\nbut a bit antiseptic, aside from a garishly colored mirror frame and metallized\r\nphotos above the beds, and they are barely bigger than the standard\r\nCabana Bay rooms. We like these rooms a bit better than those at\r\nAventura, but they’re more expensive too. The layout is perfectly functional,\r\nbut there are some odd design quirks, such as a sliding door to the\r\ntoilet that doesn’t latch; don’t plan on doing your business in private if\r\nyou have inquisitive kids.
\r\n\r\n\r\nWater figures heavily at Sapphire Falls, whose namesake waterfalls form\r\nthe scenic centerpiece of the resort. The 16,000-square-foot main pool\r\nboasts 3,500 square feet of sand on which to set your lounger, as well as\r\na 100-foot waterslide, children’s play areas, fire pits, a hot tub, and cabanas\r\nfor rent. There are two zero-entry points near the middle of the pool on\r\nopposite sides, which allow you to pretend to walk across the water.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nA fitness room holds a sauna. Table tennis (free to use) and a pool table\r\n(nominal fee per game) are available outside near the small arcade.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nSapphire Falls also contains nearly 115,000 square feet of meeting\r\nspace and a business center. Covered walkways connect to a parking\r\nstructure, which in turn connects to the meeting facilities at Royal Pacific,\r\nmaking the sister properties ideal for conventions. That also leads us to\r\nour main critique of Sapphire Falls: outside of the lobby and pool, the\r\npublic areas feel a little like a standard convention hotel.\r\n
\r\n\r\nWater taxi transportation to Sapphire Falls takes only a few minutes\r\nlonger than sailing to Royal Pacific, though boats may be delayed by traffic\r\ncongestion under the bridge between the hotels and CityWalk. A pedestrian\r\npathway to the parks starts near the boat dock, joining up with the\r\nRoyal Pacific garden path near that hotel’s convention center entrance. If\r\nyou want to walk from Sapphire Falls to Cabana Bay, note that there’s no\r\npedestrian crosswalk at the heavily trafficked intersection that separates\r\nthe two hotels; instead, walk to the corner of Hollywood Way and use the\r\ngarden bridge to cross over Adventure Way, or use the path between\r\nAventura and Volcano Bay to walk beneath the busy road.
\r\n\r\nSapphire Falls occupies an interesting spot in Universal’s hotel spectrum,\r\nappealing to people turned off both by the mid-century aesthetics\r\nof Cabana Bay (or Aventura’s ultramodernism) and the higher price tags\r\nof the resort’s other properties. If water taxi transportation is important\r\nto you, but Express Unlimited access is not, Sapphire Falls is your spot.\r\nOtherwise, search for photos online to see if you like the resort’s look, and\r\ncarefully compare the rates to both Cabana Bay and Aventura Hotel for\r\nthe time of your planned visit.
\r\n","good_not_so_good_rooms":null,"strengths_weaknesses":null,"recommend_to_friends":null,"recommend_annual_change":null,"stay_again":null,"stay_again_annual_change":null,"fitness_center":true,"water_sports":true,"marina":false,"beach":false,"tennis":false,"biking":false,"suites":true,"concierge_floor":false,"room_service":true,"wired_internet":false,"wireless_internet":true,"num_rooms":1000,"theme":"Mid-priced Caribbean-themed resort","cost_range":"$226-$350","shuttle_to_parks":true,"cost_estimate":null,"lodging_area_code":"universal_orlando","category_code":"moderate","check_rates":null,"percent_random_ads":30,"show_map":false,"meta_description":null,"survey_update_hash":"5d0bfe809a3c6153b67296e62ee97c1f","author_user_id":2,"fax_number":null,"hidden":false,"smallest_room_size":null,"blog_slug":"sapphire-falls","property_owned":true,"extra_hours":true,"early_fastpass":false,"express_queue":false,"airport_transportation":false,"parking_fee":null,"resort_fee":null,"sort_name":"loews sapphire falls resort","club_name":null,"operator_id":null,"operator_type":null,"operator_url":null,"opened_on":"2016-07-14","extinct_on":null,"opened_on_uncertain":null,"extinct_on_uncertain":null,"abbreviation":null,"refresh_year":null,"renovation_year":null,"pool_slide":false,"pool_play":false,"typical_bed_code":null,"max_guests_std":null,"child_bed_std":false,"parent_hotel_id":null,"travel_request_quote_image":null,"travel_request_quote_overview":null,"travel_request_quote_image_tab":null,"overview_short":"Sapphire Falls Resort brings a sunny Caribbean island vibe to the moderate market with its 1,000 rooms (including 77 suites), and water taxi transportation to the parks.","dining_overview":null,"good_for":"Easy boat transportation to the theme parks","recommendation":null,"hotel_category_id":14,"hotel_category_recommended":false,"pet_friendly":null},{"id":257,"property_id":4,"name":"Universal's Aventura Hotel","code":"ORL250","address":"6725 Adventure Way","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":"8882731311","url":"https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/places-to-stay/universals-aventura-hotel/","off_site":false,"permalink":"aventura-hotel","created_at":"2018-04-06T12:01:59.000-04:00","updated_at":"2024-12-04T23:46:38.000-05:00","overview":"In the summer of 2018, Aventura Hotel opened as the resort’s\r\nsixth property and second Prime Value option. Squeezed next to the lushly\r\ntropical Sapphire Falls and across the street from the colorfully retro\r\nCabana Bay, Universal’s Aventura Hotel may seem a bit under-themed in comparison to its neighbors. But if you’ve ever seen the luxury skyscrapers\r\nlining Miami’s waterfronts, this 16-story Y-shaped tower will make you\r\nfeel right at home with its ultramodern curvilinear glass-covered\r\ndesign\r\n(which looks suspiciously similar to a giant fidget spinner).
\r\n\r\n\r\nFrom the sleek, spacious lobby to the streamlined guest rooms, Aventura\r\nembodies that trendy aesthetic that Universal describes as simplified\r\nstyle, and which cynics might describe as IKEA stark; if you’ve stayed in\r\na European micro-hotel, Aventura’s rooms will feel familiar. Standard\r\nrooms start at a miniscule 238 square feet—about 22 square feet smaller\r\nthan Disney’s All-Star Resorts—for a king room with a pullout couch,\r\nwhile the standard room (with two queen beds), at 314 square feet, is a\r\nsmidgen smaller than those at Sapphire Falls next door. Deluxe rooms,\r\navailable with two queen beds or a single king, have a little more elbowroom\r\nat 395 square feet but still sleep a maximum of four. Because the\r\ndeluxe rooms are located at the ends of the hotel’s wings, you’ll wake up\r\nto a dramatic 180-degree view. If you need more room, 16 Kids Suites are\r\navailable; at 575 square feet, they have space for six, including a separate\r\ninterior room with two twin beds and a play area with a pullout couch but\r\nno special theming.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAll of the hotel’s rooms share the same minimalist design scheme, featuring\r\nfaux-hardwood tile floors and a monochromatic palette with a\r\nnoticeable absence of color or artwork. Floor plans are oddly shaped,\r\nowing to the hotel’s curved footprint, but floor-to-ceiling windows and\r\ntranslucent dividers between the bed and bath help the rooms feel more\r\nspacious. The beds are passable, though not plush, and all of the electronics\r\nwork. However, the shower curtain doesn’t extend far enough\r\ndown, resulting in a wet floor every time.
\r\n\r\n\r\nIn addition to the standard amenities, such as separate vanity and toilet\r\nareas, a minifridge, a coffee maker, and a 43-inch TV, Aventura’s rooms\r\nintegrate smart home technology. Not only are USB plugs preinstalled in\r\nthe power outlets for recharging your digital devices, but every room also\r\nincludes a tablet that you can use to adjust the air-conditioning,\r\ntune the\r\nTV, or even order a pizza and clean towels. If you have a Chromecast compatible\r\ndevice or subscribe to Netflix or Amazon Prime, you can\r\nstream your own videos on the TV set. The iPad integration is innovative\r\nbut also annoying if you need to use the sink in the middle of the night;\r\nthankfully, there are still physical switches for illuminating the toilet.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe pool at Aventura Hotel is also in the chic South Floridian style, with\r\na compact crescent-shaped main pool surrounded by white decks and\r\nstrategically placed palm trees. There’s a splash pad and underwater speakers (all the better to hear the dive-in movies) for the kids, and a fire\r\npit and hot tub for the grown-ups; anyone with a couple of bucks can enjoy\r\nthe Foosball and pool tables. Rainy day recreation includes a free fitness\r\nroom, a Universal Studios Store, and an arcade with HTC Vive virtual reality\r\nheadsets ($10 for 5 minutes of game play; 50% discount for annual pass\r\nholders). Aventura is also home to Universal Orlando’s first V-Hub lounge,\r\nwhere Virgin Holidays travelers staying at any on-site hotel can stash their\r\nluggage, grab some snacks, and relax on their departure day.\r\n
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\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAventura Hotel doesn’t have a full-service restaurant, but that doesn’t\r\nmean you’ll starve. Along with the de rigueur Starbucks in the lobby,\r\nyou’ll also find a href=\"/universal-orlando/dining/urban-pantry\">Urban Pantry, a fast-casual food hall serving international\r\nentrées like ramen, artisanal pizza, and rotisserie chicken, plus a rooftop\r\nbar that serves craft cocktails and small plates. There are two additional\r\nbars, in the lobby and at the pool, but you’ll want to take the dedicated\r\nelevator up to Bar 17 Bistro on the rooftop for its million-dollar views of\r\nVolcano Bay’s namesake peak and the surrounding city.\r\n\r\n
\r\nThere is a Starbucks in the Aventura hotel lobby. Be aware there will be long lines there in the morning.
\r\n\r\nThe Bar 17 Bistro rooftop bar is a big selling point of the Aventura. There is nothing like it at any other Universal Orlando hotel. Bar 17 is a large open-air bar with sweeping 360 degree views of Universal Orlando Resort.
\r\n\r\nThere are two other bars at Aventura. The Bar Sol is the pool bar. It is large and shaded with plenty of seating. The barVentura is the lobby bar. It has limited seating and depending on how busy the lobby is, you may find the area overtaken with families checking in or out of the hotel. When we stayed, the barVentura had a Happy Hour from 4 PM to 6 PM daily.
\r\n\r\nRoom service at Aventura is ordered through the room tablet.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThere are two main options and one slightly out-of-the-way one when getting to the parks. The main two are the bus and your feet. The bus picks you up at regular intervals right outside of the hotel and deposits guests near the security checkpoint for CityWalk. The walking path winds along Sapphire Falls and Royal Pacific before popping out near Margaritaville in CityWalk. The bus is only few minutes ride but you still have a several-minute walk through CityWalk to get to the park entrance. The walking path will take 15-20 minutes to Islands of Adventure with Universal Studios being 5-8 minutes further.
\r\n\r\nThe alternate way is to walk into Sapphire Falls, which shares an entrance driveway with Aventura, and take the boat from there. It is likely slower than either way listed above, but will have the least amount of walking to get to the park entrance, especially Universal Studios Florida.
\r\n\r\nGuests at Aventura have a very short walk to Volcano Bay. A path behind the pool takes you directly to the the security screening. From there, the walk to the entrance of Volcano Bay from Aventura is less than five minutes. Guests may also use the free bus service to Volcano Bay, but this will take longer than walking.
\r\n\r\n\r\nGuests at Aventura do get Early Park Admission to Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, and Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme park. Early park admission includes the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
\r\n\r\n\r\nGuests at Aventura do not get complimentary Universal Express with their stays.
\r\n\r\nThe parking garage for the hotel is directly adjacent to it and has an elevator that goes straight to the lobby. Aventura shares a drive with Loew’s Sapphire Falls and is directly across the street from Cabana Bay Beach Resort. The lobby itself is modern, but a little on the bland side with a large, open space full of nothing. The check-in area, lobby bar, Starbucks, and Urban Pantry food court are all located in the large open space separated by tinted glass dividers. The look of some of the furniture and the glass dividers are very good, but the larger areas are reminiscent of a decent airport: clean and functional but not particularly memorable.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTickets to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay can be purchased at the Vacation Planning desk in the Aventura lobby. It is next to the check-in desk.
\r\n\r\n\r\nThere is an Avis rental car desk in the Aventura hotel lobby.
\r\n\r\n\r\nGuests who booked through Virgin Holidays and are staying at any Universal hotel may rest in the v-hub on the 2nd floor of the resort. It is a lounge with snacks, wi-fi, and device charging exclusively for Virgin Holidays guests.
\r\n","good_not_so_good_rooms":"Unusually, room upgrades are priced not based on\r\ndirection of view but altitude: “skyline” rooms on the topmost floors\r\ncharge an extra $25 per night for panoramic views of the City Beautiful\r\nfrom one side of the tower or of Universal Orlando from the others. Oddnumbered\r\nrooms XX01–XX15 and even-numbered rooms XX30–XX44\r\nface I-4 and International Drive; odd-numbered rooms XX31–XX45 and\r\neven-numbered\r\nrooms XX50–XX64 face Cabana Bay and Volcano Bay;\r\nand even-numbered\r\nrooms XX00–XX14 and odd-numbered rooms XX51–\r\nXX65 face toward Sapphire Falls and IOA.","strengths_weaknesses":null,"recommend_to_friends":null,"recommend_annual_change":null,"stay_again":null,"stay_again_annual_change":null,"fitness_center":true,"water_sports":false,"marina":false,"beach":false,"tennis":false,"biking":false,"suites":true,"concierge_floor":false,"room_service":true,"wired_internet":false,"wireless_internet":true,"num_rooms":600,"theme":"Modern, Stylish, Boutique-style Hotel","cost_range":"$289-$503","shuttle_to_parks":true,"cost_estimate":null,"lodging_area_code":"universal_orlando","category_code":"moderate","check_rates":null,"percent_random_ads":30,"show_map":false,"meta_description":null,"survey_update_hash":"38bdd1ca811d6312ecd2f9317052691c","author_user_id":null,"fax_number":null,"hidden":false,"smallest_room_size":314,"blog_slug":"aventura-hotel","property_owned":true,"extra_hours":true,"early_fastpass":false,"express_queue":false,"airport_transportation":false,"parking_fee":"14.0","resort_fee":null,"sort_name":"universals aventura hotel","club_name":null,"operator_id":null,"operator_type":null,"operator_url":null,"opened_on":"2018-08-18","extinct_on":null,"opened_on_uncertain":null,"extinct_on_uncertain":null,"abbreviation":null,"refresh_year":null,"renovation_year":null,"pool_slide":false,"pool_play":false,"typical_bed_code":null,"max_guests_std":null,"child_bed_std":false,"parent_hotel_id":null,"travel_request_quote_image":null,"travel_request_quote_overview":null,"travel_request_quote_image_tab":null,"overview_short":"Aventura Hotel's ultramodern curvilinear glass-covered design looks similar to the luxury skyscrapers lining Miami's waterfronts. Standard rooms start at a miniscule 238 square feet, but the deluxe rooms have more space with 395 square feet.","dining_overview":null,"good_for":"Slick modern theme","recommendation":null,"hotel_category_id":7,"hotel_category_recommended":true,"pet_friendly":null}]],["Value",[{"id":247,"property_id":4,"name":"Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort","code":"ORL243","address":"6550 Adventure Way","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":"4075034000","url":"http://universalorlando.com/Hotels/Cabana-Bay-Beach-Resort.aspx","off_site":false,"permalink":"cabana-bay-beach-resort","created_at":"2014-01-13T14:53:32.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-12-24T23:46:19.000-05:00","overview":"\r\nIf you're obsessed with vintage 1950s and 1960s designs, and\r\nwith finding a good value (we’re guilty on both accounts), you may just fall\r\nin love with Cabana Bay Beach Resort, one of Universal’s Prime Value\r\nhotels. The mid-century modern aesthetic starts with the neon signage\r\nthat welcomes you outside and continues inside with lots of windows,\r\nbright colors, and period-appropriate lighting and furniture. The designers\r\nwere inspired by classic seaside hotels such as the doo-wop Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, and the original Americana Hotel in\r\nBal Harbour, Florida. We think the resort would be right at home in the deserts\r\nof Palm Springs or Las Vegas, while our British friends say the decor\r\nreminds them of Butlin’s Bognor Regis resort circa 1985. \r\n
\r\n\r\nWhatever Cabana Bay reminds you of, we think you’ll like it. Kids will\r\nlove the two large and well-themed pools (one with a lazy river), the\r\namount of space they have to run around in, the vintage cars parked\r\noutside the hotel lobby, and the video arcade. Adults will appreciate the\r\nsophisticated kitsch of the decor, the multiple lounges, and the on-site\r\nStarbucks. We think Cabana Bay is an excellent choice for price- and/or\r\nspace-conscious families visiting Universal. \r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe hotel’s closest competitor in the Orlando area is Disney's Art of Animation Resort, and the two share many similarities. Both have standard\r\nrooms and Family Suites. At 430 square feet per suite, Cabana Bay\r\nsuites are about 135 square feet smaller than comparable suites at Art of\r\nAnimation and have only one bathroom. We found them well appointed\r\nfor two to four people per room (though not for the six Loews claims as\r\nits capacity). Rates for the suites are about $150–$230 per night less than\r\nArt of Animation’s. Standard rooms are only 300 square feet but can\r\nfrequently be had for around $120 a night after discounts, undercutting\r\nDisney’s cheapest rooms.
\r\n\r\n\r\nEach Family Suite has a small bedroom with two queen beds and a\r\n40-inch TV, divided from the living area and kitchenette by a sliding\r\nscreen; a pullout sofa in the living area offers additional sleeping space\r\nand a second 40-inch TV. The bath is divided into three sections: toilet,\r\nsink area, and shower room with additional sink; all are separated by\r\ndoors, so three people can theoretically get ready at once. Retro theming\r\neven extends to the toiletries, which include the fondly remembered Zest\r\nand VO5 brands. The kitchenette has a microwave, coffee maker, and\r\nminifridge. A bar area allows extra seating for quick meals, and a large\r\ncloset has enough space to store everyone’s luggage. Built-in USB charging\r\noutlets for your devices are a thoughtful touch. Standard rooms have\r\nthe same two queen beds but without the living area, kitchenette, or\r\nthree-way bathroom. Instead, they get a minifridge with coffee maker\r\nand an average-size single bathroom.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nCabana Bay’s two large pools both have artificial beaches and zeroentry\r\nsloping bottoms. The Cabana Courtyard Pool is more active, with a\r\nsplash-pad playground and 100-foot waterslide wrapped around a central\r\ndiving tower (which you can’t actually dive off of, for safety reasons).\r\nThe Lazy River Courtyard is a little more laid-back, with classic rock\r\nmusic (as opposed to the Top 40 usually played around the Cabana\r\nCourtyard) and a lushly landscaped circular stream in which to relax;\r\nflotation toys are sold for $4–$15 plus tax, inflation and deflation included\r\n(depending on staff availability, so don’t wait until the last second before\r\ndeparting to deflate). Cabana Bay even sells watertight cups at the pool\r\nbar, so you can sip your cocktail while circulating in the lazy river.
\r\n\r\nIndoor recreational options include the Game-O-Rama arcade (well\r\nstocked with late-model machines and classic carnival-style redemption\r\ngames) and the 10-lane Galaxy Bowl, modeled after the Hollywood Star\r\nLanes featured in The Big Lebowski. Bowling costs $16.99 per adult,\r\n$10.99 per kid age 9 and under, for 45–75 minutes of play with shoe\r\nrental. Everyone bowls for $9 with the 20-minute Speed Bowling special.\r\nWaits for a lane can get long, especially on rainy days. Other diversions\r\ninclude poolside table tennis and billiards, as well as a large Jack LaLanne\r\nfitness center for free. An activity room with board games and beanbag\r\nchairs opens on rainy days. Finally, outdoor movies are shown nightly\r\nnear both pools, and the food court sells $8 s’mores kits to roast over the\r\ngas-fueled fire pits.\r\n \r\n
\r\n\r\nIn addition to the lobby’s full-service Starbucks, the cavernous\r\ncafeteria-style\r\nBayliner Diner food court serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner,\r\nwith Coke Freestyle dispensers and giant screens in the seating area\r\nshowing 1960s TV clips. Swizzle Lounge in the lobby, two pool bars (both\r\nwith attached counter-service grills), in-room pizza delivery, and table service\r\nsnacks and sandwiches at the Galaxy Bowl round out the on-site\r\ndining options. The Universal Studios Store is the largest hotel store in\r\nthe resort and stocks candy and clothes exclusive to Cabana Bay.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nUnlike the other Universal resorts, Cabana Bay offers no watercraft service to the parks—it’s either take the bus or walk. Colorful buses (with faux wood paneling at surfboards painted on the roof) depart to the parks' main parking hub from outside Cabana Bay's food court. The bus service is amazingly efficient; we've never waited more than 5 minutes for one to arrive, and the total transit time to the attractions is usually under 15 minutes. It takes about the same amount of time to walk to CityWalk along the attractively landscaped garden walkway, which passes the Sapphire Falls construction site before joining up with the walking path to Royal Pacific. \r\n
\r\n\r\nSelf-parking is available in an on-site garage for overnight guests, but there is a fee and no valet service. Hourly parking is available for visitors but it is prohibitively expensive ($8 for 5 to 30 minutes, $45 for 30 minutes to 24 hours). Day guests who want to check out Cabana Bay should take the bus there from the parking hub, since the garden walk's gate requires a key card for hotel access. Take care when driving into and out of the hotel's driveway on Adventure Way. If you miss the entrance, or make a right when exiting, you'll find yourself on a one-way road to I-4 westbound towards Disney, and you won't be able to make a U-turn until the 528 expressway.\r\n
\r\n\r\nRemember, Cabana Bay guests are eligible for Early Park Admission at Universal, but do not receive complimentary Express Passes.\r\n
","good_not_so_good_rooms":"Cabana Bay’s rooms are divided among five long structures and two\r\ntowers, arranged around two pool courtyards and connected in the center\r\nby the lobby facilities. The Castaway, Thunderbird, and Starlight (designated\r\nbuildings 1, 2, and 3, respectively, each proudly identified in glowing\r\nneon script) are motel-style structures with exterior entrances surrounding\r\nthe Cabana Courtyard. The Continental (building 4) and Americana\r\n(buildings 5 and 6) frame the Lazy River Courtyard and have hotel-style\r\ninterior hallways. At the far end of the Continental and Americana buildings,\r\nUniversal built the Bayside (building 7) and Beachside (building 8)\r\nexpansion towers with 400 additional guest rooms, 20 of which are\r\nexpansive 772-square-foot two-bedroom suites with stunning views of\r\nthe Volcano Bay water park; be warned that guests in these rooms may\r\nstruggle to sleep in once the park’s conch horn begins blowing at park opening. Buildings 4 (rooms XX00-XX21) and 5 (rooms XX00-XX24) are\r\nclosest to the bus loop and cafeteria, while some north-facing rooms in\r\nbuilding 2 have a view of Hogwarts Castle.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHogwarts Castle as seen from Cabana Bay.
\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversal’s newest hotel complex contains two Value resorts: the Surfside Inn and Suites, which opened first in June 2019; and the Dockside Inn and Suites. Surfside Inn has 360 standard guest rooms and 390 2-bedroom suites. Standard rooms sleep four, while 2-bedroom suites sleep 6. \r\n
\r\n\r\nSurfside Inn's color scheme is very sea-based include pale blues and greens, with lots of white. Bright ocean and surf art hangs on the walls. The rooms’ wood-tone furniture is modular, and has plenty of storage. There's additional storage under each bed, and under-shelf hooks for handbags and backpacks.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nStandard guest rooms are around 313 square feet and include vinyl “hardwood” floors, two queen beds, a chair, mini-fridge, coffeemaker, iron, and ironing board. The important thing to know is that about the size of a Disney Moderate resort, at Disney Value resort prices (about $100 to $145 per night cheaper than a Disney Moderate.) That’s a lot of money to save.\r\n
\r\n\r\nTwo-bedroom suites are 440 square feet and include a kitchenette with picnic-style table and microwave, and one bathroom. “Two bedroom” is a misnomer, though: it’s one main room with two beds, and a separate bedroom with another. That’s about 65 to 80 square feet smaller – and one less bathroom – than Disney’s family suites. However, Universal’s suites are roughly $150 to $240 cheaper per night, which pays for a lot of park admission.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\nOur stay at a Surfside Inn two-bedroom suite had a lot of positives: the room design makes the space feel bigger than it is. The beds are comfortable, there's lots of light, and plenty of USB outlets. The shower is basic and functional, with good water pressure. Room soundproofing is excellent, which is a surprise at this price. Our two complaints about the room are with the soft goods: the bed pillows are firm foam, which is like sleeping on a log; and the bath towels are an 86/14 cotton/poly blend best used to strip paint from stubborn woodwork. But these can be fixed relatively easily. \r\n
\r\n\r\nOne potential, major downside to Endless Summer is its location across I-4 from the rest of the Universal resort, on the corner of Universal Boulevard and International Drive. Similar to how Disney serves its more distant hotels, Universal runs private shuttle buses between the resort and theme parks (and CityWalk). We’re only half-joking when we say Universal should explore a gondola system across I-4 to connect its properties.\r\n
\r\n\r\nLike Universal’s Cabana Bay resort, guests at the Endless Summer Resort get complimentary early admission to Universal’s theme parks, but not complimentary Universal Express line access. Each hotel has its own food court, coffee bar, pools, and fitness center.\r\n
","good_not_so_good_rooms":null,"strengths_weaknesses":"Strengths: Good room design; soundproofing; low price\r\nWeaknesses: Foam pillows should be outlawed; food court is small with limited selection; no walkway to theme parks, water park, or City Walk","recommend_to_friends":null,"recommend_annual_change":null,"stay_again":null,"stay_again_annual_change":null,"fitness_center":true,"water_sports":false,"marina":false,"beach":false,"tennis":false,"biking":false,"suites":true,"concierge_floor":false,"room_service":false,"wired_internet":false,"wireless_internet":true,"num_rooms":null,"theme":"California Beach","cost_range":"$113-$278","shuttle_to_parks":true,"cost_estimate":"$$$-$$$$$","lodging_area_code":"universal_orlando","category_code":"value","check_rates":null,"percent_random_ads":30,"show_map":false,"meta_description":null,"survey_update_hash":"36e3ee5a32693798a21522c5a86685a6","author_user_id":null,"fax_number":null,"hidden":false,"smallest_room_size":313,"blog_slug":"endless-summer-surfside","property_owned":true,"extra_hours":true,"early_fastpass":false,"express_queue":false,"airport_transportation":false,"parking_fee":"15.0","resort_fee":null,"sort_name":"universals endless summer resort surfside inn and suites","club_name":null,"operator_id":null,"operator_type":null,"operator_url":null,"opened_on":"2020-03-17","extinct_on":null,"opened_on_uncertain":null,"extinct_on_uncertain":null,"abbreviation":null,"refresh_year":null,"renovation_year":null,"pool_slide":false,"pool_play":false,"typical_bed_code":null,"max_guests_std":null,"child_bed_std":false,"parent_hotel_id":null,"travel_request_quote_image":null,"travel_request_quote_overview":null,"travel_request_quote_image_tab":null,"overview_short":"Surfside Inn's color scheme is very sea-based include pale blues and greens, with lots of white. Bright ocean and surf art hangs on the walls.","dining_overview":null,"good_for":"Good value","recommendation":null,"hotel_category_id":6,"hotel_category_recommended":true,"pet_friendly":null},{"id":432,"property_id":4,"name":"Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites","code":"ORL327","address":"Dockside: 7125 Universal Blvd.","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":null,"url":"https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/places-to-stay/universals-endless-summer-resort-dockside-inn-and-suites","off_site":false,"permalink":"endless-summer-resort-dockside","created_at":"2020-03-12T10:37:47.000-04:00","updated_at":"2024-12-24T23:46:19.000-05:00","overview":"\r\nFor anyone who fondly remembers the eponymous\r\nseminal 1966 surfing documentary, the phrase Endless\r\nSummer conjures images of pristine oceans, epic\r\nwaves, and limitless freedom. Universal’s Endless Summer\r\nResort, a 2,800-room complex of value-priced\r\nrooms completed in 2020, is built along an inland lake that was previously home to the Wet ’n Wild water park, so the only\r\nwaves it has ever known were man-made. But the resort does offer liberation\r\nof a sort, both from the traditional boundaries of Universal’s property\r\nand from the limitation that park-owned hotels must always cost\r\nmore than their off-site competition.\r\n
\r\n\r\nDespite being the first to sport Universal’s Value label, the 313-squarefoot\r\nstandard room with two queen beds is slightly larger than those at\r\nthe Prime Value locations. They’re also about the size of a Disney Moderate\r\nhotel room, but at Disney Value prices: about $100–$145 per night\r\ncheaper than a Moderate. That’s quite a savings. And they aren’t cheap\r\nfrom an aesthetic perspective either, as long as you appreciate the\r\nshabby chic look popular at vintage beachside hotels. In this modernized\r\nreinterpretation of a hippie hangout, the floors and furniture resemble\r\nreclaimed driftwood, and the tie-dyed curtains and vibrant wall art recall\r\nthe summer of love. Thankfully, unlike the bohemian beach shacks of\r\nyore, at Endless Summer all the modern amenities are included: separate\r\nvanity and toilet areas, minifridge, convenient soda can holder, 43-inch\r\nTV, smart home controls for the temperature, and built-in high-amperage\r\nUSB-C charging outlets. Room soundproofing is excellent, which is a\r\nsurprise at this price, and there are plenty of under-shelf hooks on which\r\nto hang things, though only a handful of drawers for stowing your\r\nclothes. Our biggest nitpick is the poor quality of the soft goods; foam\r\npillows and polyblend bath towels should be outlawed.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nA little more than half the rooms at each Endless Summer complex are\r\n440-square-foot suites with three queen beds, one bathroom, and a\r\nkitchenette complete with sink, microwave, low-end coffee maker, and\r\nkitschy picnic table for dining alfresco indoors. That’s about 65–80\r\nsquare feet smaller—and one less bathroom than—Disney’s Family Suites,\r\nbut a little roomier than the pricier Family Suites at Cabana Bay. We also\r\nlike that Endless Summer’s suites have a separate private bedroom with\r\na second 49-inch TV for the third bed (as opposed to a pullout sofa),\r\nthough we prefer Cabana Bay’s split toilet/shower setup.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe pools feature small splash pads for the kids and hold organized family activities like\r\nbingo and hoop contests, but they are unusually shallow (maximum depth\r\n4 feet) and lack waterslides. Unfortunately, Endless Summer guests are\r\nforbidden from crashing the pool at the non-Value resorts. Each hotel also\r\nincludes a surprisingly well-stocked free fitness room with internetenabled\r\ntreadmills that have interactive touch screens, plus a Universal\r\nStudios Store and a video arcade. Full-service dining isn’t offered, but\r\ncafeteria-style food courts, lobby and pool bars, Starbucks cafés, and\r\npizza delivery are all available.
\r\n\r\n\r\nBecause it’s on the opposite side of International Drive and I-4 from the\r\nrest of Universal Orlando, walking to the parks from Endless Summer isn’t\r\npractical, especially with preschoolers in tow, so a fleet of free buses is\r\nprovided, servicing both the parking hub (from which you walk to City-\r\nWalk and the theme parks) and direct to Volcano Bay. The ride to the\r\nparking hub from here is actually slightly shorter than the one from Cabana\r\nBay; travel time is barely 5 minutes each way, and the entire trip (including\r\nwalking and waiting to depart) takes about 15 minutes. At Surfside Inn,\r\ntower 1 is closest to the bus stop; the hotel’s hallways are seemingly endless,\r\nand it can be quite a hike to the rooms most distant from the lobby.\r\n
\r\n\r\n","good_not_so_good_rooms":null,"strengths_weaknesses":null,"recommend_to_friends":null,"recommend_annual_change":null,"stay_again":null,"stay_again_annual_change":null,"fitness_center":true,"water_sports":false,"marina":false,"beach":false,"tennis":false,"biking":false,"suites":true,"concierge_floor":false,"room_service":true,"wired_internet":false,"wireless_internet":true,"num_rooms":937,"theme":"Sand, Sea, and Sunsets","cost_range":"$113-$278","shuttle_to_parks":true,"cost_estimate":null,"lodging_area_code":"universal_orlando","category_code":"value","check_rates":null,"percent_random_ads":30,"show_map":false,"meta_description":null,"survey_update_hash":"f27dd63002fa21325d22ff4650f66225","author_user_id":null,"fax_number":null,"hidden":false,"smallest_room_size":313,"blog_slug":"endless-summer-dockside","property_owned":true,"extra_hours":true,"early_fastpass":false,"express_queue":false,"airport_transportation":false,"parking_fee":"15.0","resort_fee":null,"sort_name":"universals endless summer resort dockside inn and suites","club_name":null,"operator_id":null,"operator_type":null,"operator_url":null,"opened_on":"2020-12-15","extinct_on":null,"opened_on_uncertain":null,"extinct_on_uncertain":null,"abbreviation":null,"refresh_year":null,"renovation_year":null,"pool_slide":false,"pool_play":false,"typical_bed_code":null,"max_guests_std":null,"child_bed_std":false,"parent_hotel_id":null,"travel_request_quote_image":null,"travel_request_quote_overview":null,"travel_request_quote_image_tab":null,"overview_short":"Dockside Inn and Suites is a value resort with a sand, sea, and sunsets theme. 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.","dining_overview":null,"good_for":"Good value. Lots of suites","recommendation":null,"hotel_category_id":6,"hotel_category_recommended":true,"pet_friendly":null}]],[null,[{"id":443,"property_id":4,"name":"Universal Helios Grand Hotel","code":"ORL335","address":null,"city":null,"state_code":null,"zip_code":null,"phone_number":null,"url":null,"off_site":false,"permalink":"helios-grand-hotel","created_at":"2024-01-30T10:21:24.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-10-17T09:13:47.000-04:00","overview":"Mediterranean-themed hotel integrated into the new Universal Epic Universe theme park.","good_not_so_good_rooms":null,"strengths_weaknesses":null,"recommend_to_friends":null,"recommend_annual_change":null,"stay_again":null,"stay_again_annual_change":null,"fitness_center":true,"water_sports":false,"marina":false,"beach":false,"tennis":false,"biking":false,"suites":false,"concierge_floor":false,"room_service":false,"wired_internet":false,"wireless_internet":true,"num_rooms":500,"theme":null,"cost_range":null,"shuttle_to_parks":false,"cost_estimate":null,"lodging_area_code":"universal_orlando","category_code":null,"check_rates":null,"percent_random_ads":30,"show_map":false,"meta_description":null,"survey_update_hash":null,"author_user_id":null,"fax_number":null,"hidden":false,"smallest_room_size":null,"blog_slug":"helios-grand-hotel","property_owned":true,"extra_hours":true,"early_fastpass":false,"express_queue":false,"airport_transportation":false,"parking_fee":null,"resort_fee":null,"sort_name":"universal helios grand hotel","club_name":null,"operator_id":null,"operator_type":null,"operator_url":null,"opened_on":"2025-05-22","extinct_on":null,"opened_on_uncertain":null,"extinct_on_uncertain":null,"abbreviation":"hgh","refresh_year":null,"renovation_year":2025,"pool_slide":false,"pool_play":false,"typical_bed_code":null,"max_guests_std":null,"child_bed_std":false,"parent_hotel_id":null,"travel_request_quote_image":null,"travel_request_quote_overview":null,"travel_request_quote_image_tab":null,"overview_short":"Mediterranean-themed hotel integrated into the new Universal Epic Universe theme park.","dining_overview":null,"good_for":null,"recommendation":null,"hotel_category_id":14,"hotel_category_recommended":null,"pet_friendly":null},{"id":441,"property_id":4,"name":"Universal Stella Nova Resort","code":"ORL333","address":"4500 Epic Blvd","city":"Orlando","state_code":"FL","zip_code":"32819","phone_number":null,"url":"https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/places-to-stay/universal-stella-nova-resort","off_site":false,"permalink":"stella-nova-resort","created_at":"2023-12-05T16:32:37.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-01-17T09:58:11.000-05:00","overview":"Space-themed 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