As someone who frequents the theme parks often, I know them like the back of my hand. I’ve stayed at plenty of hotels in Orlando but never Universal’s Terra Luna Resort. When I was given the opportunity to stay on site, I knew I had to jump on it. Not only is it super close (within walking distance) to the newly opened Epic Universe, but it’s also budget-friendly as a ‘prime value’ resort. If you’re looking for a place to stay on your upcoming vacation to Universal Studios, then it may very well be your new favorite hotel.
This trip was partially hosted. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Pros:
- Within walking distance to Epic Universe (10 to 15 minutes)
- Early park admission and complimentary bus shuttles
- Spacious rooms and a kid-friendly pool
Cons:
- No body wash
- No on-site sit-down restaurant
- Stained fridge and musty smell
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you plan on parking your car, you’ll have to pay an extra $30 per night so it’s important to plan that into your budget.
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Rooms at Universal’s Terra Luna Resort
All of the rooms at Universal’s Terra Luna Resort Orlando have two queen beds; however, there’s the option to choose a pool view if you’d like. The rooms are spacious, clean and modern and ideal for those families who are looking for a comfortable place to get some shut-eye.
My room had a pool view and I could see the sunset which was spectacular. I found the bed to be pretty comfortable and there was no lack of outlets in the room.
Other in-room amenities:
- Coffee maker
- Complimentary WiFi
- Mini fridge
- Hairdryer
- Full-size mirror
- Sofa and mini table
- Air conditioning
- Flat screen television with HD channels
It’s worth noting there’s only housekeeping every other day so if you’re looking for new towels, toiletries or other necessities, you’ll have to request those from the front desk. Also, if you’re looking for body wash, they only have bar soap in the rooms so you’ll need to bring that with you.
Amenities at Universal’s Terra Luna Resort
I spent two days at Universal and one of those days was spent solely at the hotel. For starters, there’s a zero-entry pool with a hot tub. This is great for families who want to cool off after a long day at the parks. There’s a little sand area with games and shovels for the kiddos who want to build sand castles and get their hands a bit dirty.
If you didn’t already walk enough in the theme parks, then you can go over to the fitness center. It can be accessed with a room key and has both cardio and strength machines to use with a beautiful pool view.
Next, there are plenty of outdoor and indoor seating areas at the hotel. There is a fire pit where you can get cozy with a drink and relax alongside fellow hotel guests or head inside and sit in the lobby on the chairs.
Other amenities include an arcade, a vacation planning center, luggage storage, a Universal Studios store, laundry facilities on the second and ninth floor and a bus depot for complimentary rides to the parks.
SheBuysTravel Tip: There are movies that take place by the pool during the week, so you’ll want to check in with the front desk for the schedule to see what is showing during your visit.
Dining at Universal’s Terra Luna Resort
There are two fast casual on-site dining areas for guests to dine at for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Omega Cafe and Market is right in the back of the lobby and serves all three meals — think pizza, waffles, burgers, etc. The market section also has a selection of pastries and coffees if you’re looking for more of a grab-and-go option as you’re headed to the theme parks. These aren’t your traditional restaurants as you order at the cash register and then collect your food when the buzzer goes off.
I ordered the hot honey chicken pizza and it was delicious with cheese, onions, corn, chicken and hot honey. It’s definitely big enough to split between two people so if you’re looking to save money, then this could be a good option.
There’s also Moonrise Grill, which is located outside and features a menu filled with poolside staples such as fish tacos, quesadillas, chicken nuggets, etc.
If you are looking to get a drink, there’s Luna Bar in the lobby and Moonrise Bar, which is located by the pool. I don’t drink so I can’t speak to the drinks, but they looked to have a pretty robust menu with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
Things to Do Near Universal’s Terra Luna Resort
If you’re staying on-site at Universal, then you’ll want to get tickets to the theme parks. There are four parks to choose from, including Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and Epic Universe.
I utilized the complimentary shuttle to get to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and had a blast. I spent the majority of the day checking out the Christmas festivities, including the Universal Orlando Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s and Grinchmas at Universal Islands of Adventure.
The park looks beautiful, decorated for the holidays with Christmas trees and decorations set sporadically throughout, including CityWalk. Plus, if you’re a Wicked fan, you can currently step inside Oz and meet Elphaba and Glinda at Universal Studios.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The Universal Orlando Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s is a crowd favorite so you want to claim a spot 15 to 30 minutes ahead of start time, otherwise you risk being far back.
Getting to Universal’s Terra Luna Orlando
It’s quite easy to get to Universal’s Terra Luna Orlando Resort, as it’s about 30 minutes away from the airport. You can either get an Uber or purchase a rental car to get to the hotel as there’s both on-site parking and a rideshare drop off. If you’re already at Universal Studios and need to get back to the hotel, you can go on the complimentary shuttles that run to and from.
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