Is an Universal Orlando Resort Hotel worth it?

Planning a Universal Orlando Resort vacation can be daunting and ensuring every dollar is spent wisely, we've summarized the top insights about Universal Orlando Resort Hotels, their benefits and how to make the most of your trip.

Universal has three categories of hotels and resorts to chose from when making accommodations, each with unique offerings between room types, pools, on-site dining, transportation and park perks. This guide will not only convince you to chose an onsite hotel but help you decide the best hotel for you and your family.

Universal Hotel Categories

Value Inn and Suites $

• Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort

• Universal Endless Summer - Dockside Resort

• Universal Endless Summer - Surfside Resort

Prime Value $$

• Universal Aventura Hotel

• Universal Stella Nova Resort

• Universal Terra Luna Resort

Signature Collection $$$

• Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel

• Lowes Royal Pacific Resort

• Hard Rock Hotel

• Lowes Sapphire Falls Resort

• Universal Helios Grand Hotel

Each category provides more and different amenities for guests to make your Universal stay easy.

Complimentary Transportation

No mater the Universal hotel you stay at, it will 10-20 minutes to travel to any park entrance thanks to the following complimentary transportation.

Water Taxi

To travel to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and City walk four Signature Collection Hotels are on the water taxi route, allowing guests to travel between their room and city walk entrance in less than 10 minutes while enjoying water views and the joy of talented captains. The water taxi is available at 4 hotels: Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel, Lowes Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel and Lowes Sapphire Falls Resort.

Shuttle Buses

Every Universal Hotel has dedicated shuttle buses to transport guests to and from hotels to Universal City Walk (With entrance to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure), Volcano Bay and Universal Epic Universe. According to Universal Orlando Resort you can expect each hotel buses to arrive at the following timing:

• Universal Stella Nova Resort: Shuttle bus arrives every 10 minutes

• Universal Terra Luna Resort: Shuttle bus arrives every 10 minutes

• Universal Helios Grand Hotel: Shuttle bus arrives every 10 minutes (no service to Epic Universe)

• Universal’s Endless Summer Resort: Shuttle bus arrives every 15 minutes

• Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Shuttle bus arrives every 15 minutes

• Universal’s Aventura Hotel: Shuttle bus arrives every 15 minutes

• Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel: Shuttle bus arrives every 10 minutes

• Portofino Bay Hotel: Shuttle bus arrives every 30 minutes

• Hard Rock Hotel: Shuttle bus arrives every 30 minutes

• Royal Pacific Resort: Shuttle bus arrives every 30 minutes

• Sapphire Falls Resort: Shuttle bus arrives every 30 minutes

Hotels on the water taxi and walking path have a longer wait due to other available transportation options.

Walking Paths

Don't want to wait for a bus or boat, or looking to get in even more steps? There's a scenic walking path connecting the studios resorts to Park entrances. A walking path from Cabana Bay -> Aventura and Sapphire Falls -> Lowes Royal Pacific Resort that exits to a nearly private security screening right outside of the entrance to Islands of Adventure. A second path exists between Portofino Bay -> Hard Rock Hotel that exits to another private security screening outside the entrance of Universal Studios.

If you’re staying at Helios Grand Hotel or Stella Nova Resort, you can walk to Epic Universe. Helios Grand Hotel is located in Celestial Park with a dedicated entrance for Helios guests, allowing you to practically stay inside the park. Stella Nova Resort is only a 5–10-minute walk away from the Chronos main gate entrance to Epic Universe.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Aventura Hotel and Sapphire Falls Resort have a dedicated walking path directly to Volcano Bay, giving you a short walk to the relaxing view of Krakatau volcano.

Early Entry

Every guest staying at Universal Orlando Resorts gains dedicated Early Entry 1 hour before park opening hours at each park. Guests need their Universal Hotel Key Card and gain enjoy less crowds, cooler weather and start their day with the perfect attraction experience.

Merchandise Delivery

Universal offers free delivery of merchandise purchased from select merchandise stores inside the parks to your room, removing the need to carry around merchandise bags (or shove them into ride lockers) before riding Velocicoaster. Hotel Delivery concludes at 5pm every day and applies to every day aside from your day of checkout.

Universal Express Pass

3 Signature Collection hotels also include complimentary Universal Express Unlimited passes, allowing guests to skip the lines at Universal studios and Islands of Adventure for the entire duration of their stay (including check in and check out days). Guests staying at Hard Rock Hotel, Lowes Portofino Bay and Lowes Royal Pacific can enjoy this perk with their hotel keycard in the parks.

Dedicated Family Suites

Select hotels offer family suite rooms, beyond a standard 2 bed hotel room, you can reserve themed family suites at the following hotels:

Helios Grand Hotel: How to Train your Dragon Kids Suites, themed 2 queen bed room to make you feel like you're sleeping in the Isle of Berk.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel: Minion Family Suite Sleeps up to 5 (1 king and 2 twin beds) with rollaway^*. Parents can have a private master bedroom while the kids have fun in a Despicable Me-themed connecting room that opens only to the King room.

Hard Rock Hotel: Future Rock Star Suite Sleeps up to 5 (1 king bed and two twin beds, with rollaway^*) "Pack your touring gear and check the whole family into a Future Rock Star Suite." Grownups will love a room to themselves, while the kids have their own space in an attached room.

Lowes Royal Pacific Resort Jurassic World^™ Kids’ Suites Your little ones can sleep among the dinosaurs in their own attached Jurassic World^™ themed room. This 2-bedroom suite sleeps up to 5 (1 king bed and 2 twin beds) with a rollaway^*(Dinosaurs not included)

Cabana Bay Beach resort, Endless Summer Surfside and Dockside all have family suites that can sleep up to six guests in a room with mini kitchenettes on a budget. These resorts are great for bigger families.

Dedicated Theming

Every Universal Orlando Resort hotel is dedicated to theming combining decor, pools, dining and music tastes to match their hotel allowing you to stay fully immersed in your vacation experience. Each hotel has a dedicated vacation planning desk in their lobby to help you handle any last minute changes to tickets and answer questions onsite.

Are you ready to start booking your Universal Vacation? Contact Court to handle every detail and have a stress free, insider look and personalized experience at Universal Orlando Resort.