We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Read my full disclosure here.
A vacation to Universal Orlando is such a great getaway! I highly recommend staying with Universal at one of the eight Universal hotels – but with all these great options, choosing the perfect one can be hard! I sell a lot of Universal Vacation packages and have been to almost all of these resorts, so to help you plan, I put together the ultimate guide to all the Universal Orlando hotels.
The Ultimate Guide to Universal Orlando Hotels
As a Universal Specialist, I was recently invited to visit Universal Orlando. As always, all opinions are my own.
Universal has eight signature hotels, all with different price points, locations, theming and sizes! There is truly a perfect hotel for every travel style and budget.
Planning a Universal Orlando Vacation is not easy! Choosing the perfect resort (and ticket type and other vacation add-ons) is tough so always trust your Universal Travel Planning to a professional. I can help plan the PERFECT Universal itinerary for you and your family – click the banner below to get started. And the best thing? My VIP planning service is completely FREE! That’s right, I get paid by the vendors we book through at no added cost to you-
Here is a quick overview of all eight Universal Orlando Hotels, broken down by category, price and a little bit about their special amenities:
Category: Premier
Cost: $$$$$
Theme: Italian City of Portofino
Transportation to the Parks: Water Taxi or walk to City Walk, bus to Volcano Bay
Signature Amenities: Three pools including one with waterslides, Despicable Me Kids Suite, Multiple suite options for larger families, amazing on-site Italian restaurants, great Italian theming, Mandara Spa on site, nightly musica della notte
Category: Premier
Cost: $$$$$
Theme: Rock n Roll
Transportation to the Parks: Walk to City walk, bus to Volcano Bay
Signature Amenities: 12,000 square foot pool with music underwater, a waterslide and private cabana rentals, Future Rock Star Kids Suite, Live Music on site, Very short walk to City Walk
Category: Premier
Cost: $$$$$
Theme: South Pacific
Transportation to the Parks: Water Taxi or Walk to City walk, bus to Volcano Bay
Signature Amenities: Pool with splash area, Jurassic World Kids Suite, On site Hawaiian Luau, Location of Despicable Me Character breakfast, 24 hour room service, tends to be most affordable of the premier properties
Check out my room and resort tour from my February 2021 stay at Royal Pacific!
Category: Preferred
Cost: $$$$
Theme: Caribbean Theme
Transportation to the Parks: Water Taxi or long Walk to City walk, bus to Volcano Bay
Signature Amenities: 16,000 square foot pool, Kids Suite
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Category: Prime Value
Cost: $$$
Theme: Florida Beach Resorts of the 1950’s and 60’s
Transportation to the Parks: Bus to City walk, walk to Volcano Bay, you can also walk across the street to Sapphire Falls and grab a water taxi to City Walk
Signature Amenities: Cabana Bay has two pools – one with a lazy river and one with a waterslide, there are Larger family suites, bowling alley on site, Very short walk to Volcano bay
Category: Prime Value
Cost: $$$
Theme: High Rise, Boutique Hotel
Transportation to the Parks: Bus to City walk, walk to Volcano Bay, you can also walk across the street to Sapphire and grab a water taxi to City Walk
Signature Amenities: Pool with splash pad for kids, amazing views from upper floors, rooftop bar on floor 17 called Bar 17 Bistro (open to public so come over and check it out)
Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites
Category: Value
Cost: $$
Theme: Endless Summer Coastal Vibe
Transportation to the Parks: Bus to City walk and volcano Bay
Signature Amenities: affordable dining, larger suites at a great price point, resort style pool
Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites
Category: Value
Cost: $$
Theme: Endless Summer Surf Vibe
Transportation to the Parks: Bus to City walk and volcano Bay
Signature Amenities: affordable dining, larger suites at a great price point, resort style pool
Which Universal Hotels come with Express Pass?
This is always the first question I get when planning a Universal vacation and important consideration when choosing a hotel.
ALL PREMIER HOTEL GUESTS receive Unlimited Express Pass for each day of their stay.
This adds a HUGE value to your premier hotel stay, as Unlimited Express pass can cost upwards of $150 per person, per day!
And the reality is if ALL premiere hotel guests have Unlimited Express pass you are waiting in the stand by lines behind A TON of people.
More than 75% of the time, it’s less expensive to stay at a premier hotel than a prime value hotel and adding Express Pass to your ticket. Of course I can help you explore all options.
What Perks do Universal Orlando Hotel Guests have?
I love staying at a Universal Orlando Hotel for the extra fun of being in the Universal bubble – plus with hotel options in every price point, there really is no good reason to stay off site. Additionally, Universal Orlando Hotel guests can take advantage of the following perks:
- Early park admission – get into the theme parks and Volcano Bay an hour earlier than the general public. This is a huge advantage!
- Complimentary transportation to and from the theme parks to your hotel
- Resort wide charging privileges with your room key
- Complimentary delivery of merchandise purchased throughout the resort to your hotel (must make purchases at least two hours prior to park closing so its actually better to shop EARLIER in the day)
Are Universal Orlando Hotels Worth It?
Absolutely!
Personally, for my family, and what I advise my clients, staying at an on-site hotel is so worth it. With early morning hours, quick access to the parks, and incredible theming, staying onsite will really enhance your vacation experience.
Again, with hotels that fit every family’s budget – there is really no advantage to staying off-site when taking a Universal Orlando vacation.
Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions about Universal Orlando Hotels –
As a Universal Specialist (which means I have ALL the training on Universal Orlando) these are the resort questions I most often get –
Can you resort hop at Universal Orlando hotels?
Yes! Restaurants are open to the public – so go ahead and make that Mamma Della’s restaurant reservation or head to Bar 17 on the Aventura Rooftop.
But a great perk is you can pool hop at Universal Orlando resorts. With one exception – Endless Summer guests cannot use the pools at other Universal resorts.
Also as the only spa at Universal is at Portofino Bay, so feel free to make an appointment there!
Which Universal hotels can you Walk to Universal From?
I love being able to walk back and forth from the theme park to your hotel! At Universal Orlando – all three premier hotels are in quick walking distance to the parks. Royal Pacific is closest to Islands of Adventure and Hard Rock and Portofino are on the Universal Studios side.
Guests staying at Cabana Bay or Aventura have the convenience of walking to Volcano Bay.
What is the Best Pool at the Universal Orlando Hotels?
All the Universal Orlando hotels have great pools – but historically the two fan favorites are the pools at Loews Portofino Bay and Universal’s Cabana Bay.
What is the best Universal Orlando Hotel for Adults?
The Aventura, although totally family friendly, has a few elements that make it the best choice for an adults only Universal Orlando trip. With a rooftop bar, an urban style, and a boutique hotel feel, this is my favorite Universal Orlando Hotel for an adults only getaway!
What is the best Universal Orlando Hotel for a Family of Five?
Loews Portofino Bay has some great large suite options for a family of five. For a budget friendly option, consider the two bedroom suites at Cabana Bay or Endless Summer Dockside (there are over 1000 two-bedroom suite available at Dockside).
How to Book Your Universal Orlando Resort Vacation
The best way to book a theme park vacation is always through a Universal Orlando specialist. You will get the best pricing as we have access to a ton of Universal Orlando promotions, and amazing, VIP service. With low deposits, now is a great time to book your Universal Orlando trip and secure you spot!
Have you stayed on property at Universal Orlando? What is your favorite Universal Orlando Resort?
Follow Momma To Go on social media! Twitter, Facebook , Pinterest, and Instagram
Please share:
It’s the minion bed for me ahhhaha I know my bestie would love it so we have to make a trip 🙂
I know minions are so cute! There is a great Minion ride there too!
I’ve stayed at a lot of Disney resorts but only Cabana Bay at Universal. Would love to stay at the Portofino. And those minions beds look so fun. My nephew would love that!!
This is such a helpful guide! When I travel I never know where to stay, especially in Orlando. You want the best hotel.
My kids would love those beds!!! This looks like a great vacation and something I need to do with my kiddos!
We’re travelling there next summer! This is so helpful.
This is the best breakdown of Universal hotels that I have seen! I love it! AND….totally agree that paying a little more to say onsite is worth it 100%! I will be saving this article to refer back to 🙂
For sure – and honestly with hotels in every budget there is something for everyone. I can imagine a benefit to staying off property
This is such a great guide! I am a total rookie with Disney and Universal so this is perfect. I really don’t even know where to start, so I will keep this handy for when we do finally make the trek over to Universal in Orlando. Such a great guide; thank you for putting this together! – Linzey @thefamilyfuntour
Thanks! Yeah they are all good options – depends on what your transportation needs are and budget