Staying at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel puts you right in the action! For theme park enthusiasts, this is the perfect room view!
Universal has so many exciting things happening, especially with the opening of Epic Universe and the addition of brand-new resorts! With all of these new additions, Universal has also expanded the way its resorts are categorized, giving us new ways to compare the hotels, both old and new.
BUT is this making choosing your resort more or less clear??
Previously, Universal had Value, Prime Value, Preferred, and Premier resorts. These categories helped highlight the differences in cost and separated the three resorts that included Express Pass into their own category.
With the new ranking system, we’re seeing more of a focus on the level of service and amenities offered at each resort. This means we’re also seeing a slight “re-brand” of some of the existing resorts.
The new tiers are Value Inns & Suites, Prime Value Hotels, and the Signature Collection. Notably, we went from four tiers down to three. Cabana Bay Beach Resort is now part of the Value Inns & Suites category, while Sapphire Falls has moved up into the Signature Collection alongside the former Premier Resorts.
So, has this new system actually made choosing your Universal resort easier—or just given us more to think about?
Three brand-new resorts joined the rankings ahead of the opening of Epic Universe, bringing even more options to the Universal Orlando Resort lineup! Stella Nova Resort and Terra Luna Resort fall into the Prime Value Hotels tier, while the Helios Grand Hotel joins the Signature Collection.
All three resorts are now open, giving guests even more choices when deciding where to stay during their Universal Orlando vacation. And with three new resorts added to the mix, choosing the right one can feel a little more complicated—but also gives us more options than ever!
A huge point of confusion is that although each tier is based on amenities and level of service, some amenities do not apply to every resort within that category.
The biggest example is Universal Express Unlimited. Not every resort in the Signature Collection includes Express Pass as a benefit. In fact, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort remain the ONLY three resorts offering complimentary Universal Express Unlimited with your stay.
It is also important to note that NO changes are being made to pricing or the amenities currently available at any resort simply because of a change in tier. The new categories are more about how Universal is classifying the resorts based on their overall amenities and level of service.
It makes me wonder what may be coming in the future that will make these new categories make more sense than the last one. What do you think?
The Value Inns & Suites
These resorts offer the most affordable selection of rooms and are going to be the place to find the most budget-friendly suites for larger families. Saving money for souvenirs? Spending more time in the parks than at the hotel? This category may be the best option for you!
The most basic Universal hotel amenities, such as Early Park Admission, complimentary park transportation, and Starbucks in the lobby, are available here. You get all the fun of staying at Universal without as many of the “frills,” allowing you to put more of your vacation budget toward your in-park experiences.
Pool hopping remains a feature exclusive to Cabana Bay Beach Resort within this category, though.
My Thoughts: When budget is my primary concern, I actually really enjoy Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites. It is a little quieter and can easily rival off-site price points while still giving you the added benefits of staying onsite.
While Cabana Bay has more activities and amenities, its larger size means I find myself walking longer distances to my room. I’m also not a huge fan of the retro theming or the overall busyness of the resort—but that’s just my personal opinion!
If you want the added activities and the convenience of the walking path to Volcano Bay, I recommend staying in a Preferred Room at Cabana Bay.
The Prime Value Hotels
Looking to be a little closer to the parks while still staying within your budget? These are some of your best options. Park views can be found in parts of these resorts, and comfort-focused accommodations bring your stay up a notch.
Again, you’ll still find many of the basic Universal hotel amenities, but with a little less travel time to dread at the end of a long park day. At Aventura Hotel, you can walk over to Sapphire Falls for an upgraded dining experience or to access the walking path to the parks. Stella Nova Resort also offers a walking path to Epic Universe.
My Thoughts: I LOVE Aventura. It has a perfect setup with simple accommodations, easy access to the parks, and really good food. I highly recommend trying a Poke Bowl!
Since the other two resorts were not open when I originally wrote this, I’ll be updating my thoughts now that they’ve had a chance to join the Universal lineup. There are even more options to consider in this category now!
The Signature Collection
When convenience and amenities are your primary objectives, these are your go-to resorts. Upgraded amenities like larger standard rooms, themed suites, table-service dining, concierge services, valet parking, and some of the closest proximity to the parks are features to look forward to here.
If you want some downtime at your resort, these amenities may make it so you never want to leave! As previously mentioned, three of these resorts include Express Passes with your stay. The Helios Grand Hotel has its own private entrance to Epic Universe, along with incredible views of the park. The four original resorts in this collection also offer water taxis to the two main parks, as well as walking paths.
My Thoughts: ALL of these resorts are beautiful and have a lot to offer! Express Passes are hard to pass up, and we love how close Hard Rock is to the parks, so this is my personal go-to when we have a higher budget.
I love Sapphire Falls, too, and although it doesn’t include Express Passes, it remains one of the lower-cost options in this tier. You can get a really great resort experience here without paying quite as much as some of the other Signature Collection resorts.
While I am disappointed (slightly!) that Helios Grand doesn’t include the Express option, I cannot wait to stay here and experience being right inside Epic Universe. The private entrance and views alone make this one I’m very excited to try!
All in all, you honestly can’t go wrong with any of the onsite resorts, but choosing the best fit for your family will help you to have the desired vacation experience. As a travel agent specializing in Universal, I love helping to curate an amazing vacation.
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