From zipping on coasters to sipping on butterbeer to helping the Transformers save the world, I love spending time at Universal Orlando Resort. But after a full day of adventure, I require a comfortable place to recharge. This guide breaks down all the on-property hotels at Universal Orlando Resort—plus a few standout nearby options worth considering.
My Top Picks at Universal Orlando
- Signature Collection: Hard Rock Hotel
- Prime Value Hotels: Stella Nova
- Value Inns and Suites: Cabana Bay
The Signature Collection at Universal Orlando
These hotels are the priciest, but a room here comes with some serious theme park perks, including:
- Unlimited Express Passes for everyone in the room. Even better, the passes are good for the full day you check in and the full day you check out. So you could book one night at a Signature Collection resort and get two days of Unlimited Express Passes. The price for those passes ranges from $119 to more than $300 per day, on top of the park ticket price. So it makes a hotel room that costs $1000 per night in high season seem not so expensive. And if you travel during low season when the rates can be less than $400 a night, staying at one of these luxury resorts is a no-brainer. Note that stays at Universal Sapphire Falls or the newest Universal Signature Collection property, Helios Grand Hotel, do NOT include this Express Pass perk.
- Early park admission that gets you into one of the four theme parks (Epic Unviersre, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios or the Volcano Bay waterpark) an hour before the park opens to the general public. (Note: You still need to buy a park ticket for the day!)
- Priority seating at some theme park and CityWalk restaurants
- Water taxis, shuttle buses and walking paths that make it easy to get to the theme parks and dedicated security lines into the parks so you don’t have to waste time waiting in the long lines at the general entrance.
- The ability to charge purchases at the theme parks and CityWalk to your room and have those purchases delivered to your room so you don’t have to carry them around the parks.
Hard Rock Hotel
I love the way Hard Rock leans into the rock ‘n’ roll theming; I love the level of service even more. I felt like a rock star from the minute my Uber pulled up to the front doors of this luxury hotel.
The rock star theme is everywhere, from Taylor Swift looking over the shoulder of the front desk clerk who checked me in, to my room key envelope that read “Let my love open the door,” to the rock star height markings on the mirror in my guestroom that topped out at the six-foot-four-inch Snoop Dogg.
What’s So Great About the Hard Rock Hotel
- The rock ‘n’ roll theming throughout includes a Fender guitar and amp you can borrow to play during your stay and guitar lessons that stream on the TV
- Unlimited Express Passes for everyone staying in the room
- Fitness center (although it’s more fun getting your exercise walking around the theme parks!)
- Connecting rooms and a “Future Rock Star” family suite are available for larger groups
- Heated outdoor pool and hot tub that are open late for a last-minute dip after a long day at the theme parks
- It’s easy to get to the parks via a water taxi, shuttle buses and garden walking path. (I highly recommend the water taxi!)
- 2 full-service restaurants, poolside bar and a coffee shop that serves snacks. (The pizza sizes posted on the wall are displayed on 12- and 16-inch vinyl records, in keeping with the hotel theming.)
- Pet friendly
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
If you struggled to choose between a tropical South Seas vacation and Universal Orlando Resort, booking a stay at the South Seas-themed Loews Royal Pacific Resort is a way to merge the two destinations into one. This tropical oasis in Orlando offers the opportunity to dip your toes in the sand while sipping a Mai Tai next to the lagoon-style pool.
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When it’s time to head indoors, the kids can climb into the comfort of their gyrosphere-themed beds in a Jurassic Park-themed suite.
What’s So Great About Loews Royal Pacific Resort
- Unlimited Express Passes for everyone staying in the room
- Choose between standard guest rooms and Jurassic Park-themed suites!
- Lagoon-style heated pool with a sandy beach, hot tubs and poolside cabanas
- Poolside games and activities
- Resort Kids’ Camp
- Dining options range from a Polynesian restaurant to grab-and-go shop to a weekly Hawaiian-themed luau (you’ll want to buy tickets to that ahead of time to be sure you can get a seat)
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Inspired by the seaside town of Portofino, Italy, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is a destination in itself. This resort has deluxe accommodations, 3 Italian-themed pools, fabulous restaurants, enormous bathrooms, the world-class Mandara Spa and charming Despicable Me Kids’ Suites. Who wouldn’t want to sleep in a Minion-themed room?
What’s So Great About Portofino Bay Hotel
- Unlimited Express Passes for everyone staying in the room
- 3 themed swimming pools, including one with a giant Roman aqueduct slide.and one that is adults-only
- Supervised children’s activity center
- Minion-themed rooms in the Despicable Me Kids’ Suites
- World-class Mandara Spa
- 3 full-service Italian restaurants, grab-and-go deli, poolside bar and grill and the not-to-be-missed Gelateria for artisan gelato, milkshakes and smoothies.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Every Universal employee I talked with — literally, every single one — told me that the Caribbean-themed Sapphire Falls is their favorite hotel on property. And I definitely enjoyed my stay there when I visited as a guest of Universal.
At Sapphire Falls, you get an elevated level of service, but at a lower price point. Hotel perks do not include the Unlimited Express Passes or preferred restaurant seating. That’s an important distinction. If you want the Express Passes, definitely compare the full cost of staying at Sapphire Falls and buying those passes daily with the cost of paying slightly more to stay at one of the Signature Collection resorts with the passes included.
What’s So Great About Sapphire Falls Resort
- Attentive service
- Easy access to the theme parks via water taxi or garden path (with a dedicated security line so there’s little or no wait to get into the parks)
- Volcano Bay, Universal’s epic water park, is a 5-minute walk away from the hotel. (Before you go, read our tips for Volcano Bay.)
- Understated theming with touches of beauty, such as the winding stone staircase from the third-floor lobby down to the pool and water taxi
- Enormous pool with a water slide, hot tub and plenty of sun loungers
- A fine dining restaurant that serves excellent Caribbean food, pool bar and grill, small grab-and-go sandwich shop and a lobby bar with excellent bartenders who can tell you everything you want to know about the many varieties of rum they serve.
Universal Helios Grand Hotel
The newest and most luxurious hotel in Universal Orlando’s lineup, Helios Grand has a private entrance that leads directly into Epic Universe, Universal’s newest theme park. This is the hotel for travelers who want a little more luxe and zero hassle.
What’s so Great About Helios Grand Hotel
- Exclusive park entrance lets you walk straight from the lobby into Epic Universe (no shuttles needed)
- Stylish themed kids’ suites that are cool, not cartoonish, with separate sleeping areas
- Zero-entry pool with private cabanas
- Rooftop bar with fireworks views
Prime Value Resorts at Universal Orlando
Prime Value Resorts come at a lower price point but still include these theme park perks:
- Early park admission that gets you into one of the theme parks an hour before the park opens to the general public. (Note: You still need to buy a park ticket for the day!)
- Water taxis, shuttle buses and walking paths that make it easy to get to the theme parks and dedicated security lines into the parks so you don’t have to waste time waiting in the long lines at the general entrance.
- The ability to charge purchases throughout the resort to your room and have those purchases delivered to your room so you don’t have to carry them around the parks.
Universal Aventura Hotel
The sleek, modern triple towers of Aventura offer views of three Universal theme parks — Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and Volcano Bay water park. And the entrance to Volcano Bay is, quite literally, in the backyard of the hotel. That entrance has its own security line; I never waited for more than two minutes to enter the park.
What’s So Great About Aventura Hotel
- Shortest walk to Volcano Bay water park
- Rooms offer views of three Universal theme parks
- Large pool
- Restaurant options include a food hall and rooftop bistro
Universal Stella Nova Resort
Universal’s Stella Nova Resort delivers modern style and practical perks for travelers who want a comfortable, affordable stay without sacrificing location or convenience. Inspired by the vastness of space, Stella Nova decor gives cruise ship vibes and it’s one of the closest resorts to the new Epic Universe theme park.
What’s so Great About the Stella Nova Resort
- Cruise-ship-style layout with a sleek and minimalist (but not cold) design and spacious standard rooms
- All rooms are standard with two queens + mini fridge.
- Lobby café and bar where you can grab coffee at the market, a turkey BLT at the Cafe or a constellation-themed cocktail at Nova before heading to the pool or the parks.
- Resort-style pool with hundreds of loungers
- Steps from Epic Universe
- Avis Car Rental and Universal Studios Store in lobby
Terra Luna Resort
The sister hotel to Stella Nova, the Terra Luna has a fun space-themed vibe and a family-friendly price point.
What’s so Great About the Terra Luna Resort
- All rooms have two queen beds and a small couch
- Zero-entry pool with food service and movie nights
- Quick service restaurant offers reasonbly-priced options or you can have a pizze delivered to your room
- 2 bars offer temed cocktails
- It’s an easy walk to Epic Universe
Value Inns and Suites
The lowest priced hotels on property at Universal, these hotels offer standard rooms and suites that can accommodate larger families.
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
I didn’t stay at this resort on my last visit, although I did manage to get there for lunch. The over-the-top 1950s theming is so much fun, that I plan to stay here on my next visit. I’ll need to reserve that room early, though. This hotel is one of the most popular, especially during Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights celebration, and families return to it year after year.
Cabana Bay is all about nostalgia. I thought of my Grandma and Grandpa as I ate lunch — a burger and the best milkshake I have ever had — while watching the black-and-white cartoons and commercials from the 1950s and 60s. The retro vibe runs through the hotel, from the 1960s patterns on the bedspreads to the bowling alley off the lobby. But the best part is the milkshake I got from the Shakes Malt Shoppe. Even if you aren’t staying at Cabana Bay, do what I did: visit for lunch or dinner so you can taste a milkshake — they come in adult flavors too!
What’s So Great About Cabana Bay Resort
- Fun retro theming and iconic architecture inspired by classic Florida beach resorts of the 1950s and 60s
- Family suites that include a kitchenette and room for 6. (If you want one of those, book early. They sell out fast.)
- It’s an easy walk to Volcano Bay water park and quick water taxi ride to Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and CityWalk.
- A casual food court off the lobby, Galaxy Bowl restaurant at the bowling alley, poolside bar and grill, Starbucks and the not-to-be-missed Shakes Malt Shoppe
- Two huge pools with a waterslide and lazy river
- Bowling alley
Endless Summer Resort: Surfside Inn and Suites & Dockside Inn and Suites
There are two ways to stay at Loews Endless Summer Resort: Dockside and Surfside. Both offer large standard rooms or huge two-bedroom suites that sleep up to 6. It’s a budget-friendly hotel, but, because they’re official Universal properties, you get all the goodies: complimentary transportation between the parks and early entry to one of the parks each day as well as resortwide charging privileges and free delivery of your purchases to your room.
The themed pool is appropriately surfboard-shaped and there’s an onsite pizza parlor that will deliver freshly made pizza to your room.
What’s So Great About Endless Summer Resort
- Standard guest rooms and huge two-bedroom suites that sleep up to 6 and have a small kitchenette, mini-fridge, sink, coffee maker and a turquoise picnic table
- 3 pools
- Food court, pool bars and a pizza shop that will make a pizza for delivery to your room
- Fun, beachy vibe with bright and cheery rooms in teals, turquoise and corals
Closest Off Property Hotels to Universal Studios Orlando
If you’re looking to stay off-property at Universal Studios Orlando, but still want to be close to the action, these hotels are all within walking distance to the parks.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The hotels all operate under a major hotel chain brand — Hyatt, IHG,
Hyatt Place Across From Universal Orlando Resort
The Hyatt Place is a Universal Partner Hotel. That means guests staying at this hotel near Universal get special park perks such as discounts at select theme park locations and access to the Universal Partner Hotel shuttle to and from the parks, although the hotel is close enough to walk to the parks.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando
A room at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nearest Universal Orlando includes free breakfast, free wifi and free shuttle service to the park. Choose between a standard guest room or a suite with living and kitchen areas. Take the free shuttle or walk to the parks.
Hampton Inn Closest to Universal Orlando
At the Hampton Inn Closest to Universal Orlando, you can eat breakfast for free, park for free and surf the web for free And it’s located around the corner from Universal Studios, so it’s a quick walk to the theme parks.
Looking for Luxury? Try One of These Orlando Hotels
Ritz Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes
Have any energy left after a day at the park? Check out any of the three lighted tennis courts or three available pools at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. Or simply relax on your private balcony with a view. Parents can sneak away to the 18-hole golf course or spa after dropping kids off at the supervised Ritz Kids program. Accommodations include luxurious marble baths and private balconies
JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
Home to an Instagram-worthy pool, the JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes was named a Trip Advisor “Travelers Choice Hotel,” this destination includes a 24,000-square-foot lazy river pool and an adults-only pool, among other luxury amenities and services. The daily resort fee covers lots of perks, including high-speed internet, mountain bike rental, two pool floats at the lazy river and shuttle service to and from Universal Orlando and other local theme parks.
Hilton Orlando
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Should You Stay On Property or Off Property?
If you’re all about the theme parks, then I vote for staying on property. It comes with exclusive perks, such as Early Park Admission (with a valid theme park admission ticket); free water taxis, shuttle buses and walking trails between your hotel and the theme parks; and the ability to charge in-park purchases to your room and have your purchases delivered so you don’t have to carry them around with you.
Plus, if you stay at one of the high-end Universal Orlando hotels, it also comes with Unlimited Express Passes for everyone staying in the room. Those passes, which allow you faster access to rides for as many times as you want, start at $119 per person per day and can cost more than $300 per person per day, depending on the day and theme park you visit.
On the other hand, choosing an off-property hotel near Universal Studios has its own perks:
- It’s possible to stay at a luxury resort with a dreamy poolside waterfall or to find more budget-friendly options.
- You can use your hotel reward points to book (saving more money for fun in the parks).
- You can get more space to accommodate a larger family.
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