Let me tell you one thing upfront: staying at a Universal hotel might be one of the best choices you make when planning a vacation to Florida to meet Harry Potter, Gru, and maybe hug a huge T-Rex. Nope, I’m not saying this only because we at Famvia are travel agents. I do think, for example, that Disney hotels often don’t offer amazing perks for the price, but the situation is definitely different with Universal Orlando resorts.
We are going to take a look at every hotel category you can find at Universal Orlando, perks offered, prices, and maybe come up with a good choice for you and your whole family. Are you ready? Let’s start.
Perks offered by every single Universal Orlando Resort
Are you like me and want to know upfront what you get when you stay at a Universal Orlando resort? Relax, we at Famvia have got your back. Sometimes it can be really hard to understand which hotels offer which perks, but we're glad to see that there are some perks shared by every single resort, whether it's the most affordable one or a five-story mansion right inside Islands of Adventure.
These are the perks offered by every single Universal Orlando Resort:
Early Park Admission: This is probably the main reason you’d want to stay at a Universal Orlando Resort, and it’s great that every resort on our list offers this perk. Early Park Admission means you can enter either Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios one hour before the park officially opens. Sure, not every attraction is open during this time - usually just Hogsmeade and Jurassic World VelociCoaster are open at Islands of Adventure - but we’re talking about some of the best attractions in the world, making it incredibly valuable to arrive early.
Free shuttle service: There’s a good chance you won’t even need shuttle service to get to Universal Orlando, as most Universal Resort hotels are just a quick 15-minute walk to Universal CityWalk. However, the Value hotels, which are the most affordable ones on our list and not within walking distance to your favorite rides, also offer free shuttles to the theme parks. If you're staying at any other hotels, you can simply walk or take a water taxi to Universal CityWalk without worrying about parking. Another good thing about this one is that there are scheduled shuttles that can even take you to Sea World and Aquatica.
And a few more perks: There are some additional benefits you might not use often. The main one is the option to have everything you buy at Universal CityWalk, Universal Studios, or Islands of Adventure sent directly to your hotel at no additional charge. You can also use your hotel key to purchase food and merchandise inside your resort.
Universal Orlando Resort Categories
Now, let’s take some time to examine the Universal resort categories in detail. These categories determine the hotel amenities, extra perks offered, and how close your resort is to Universal Orlando. We are also going to inform the average starting price for each tier.
These are all the Resort Categories offered at Universal Orlando:
Value ($150): The Endless Summer Resort is the name of the value hotel complex, which includes two properties, the Surfside Inn and Suites and the Dockside Inn and Suites.
Prime Value ($170): This tier includes the Cabana Bay Beach Resort and the Aventura Hotel.
Preferred ($270): There is only one property on this tier, the Sapphire Falls Resort.
Premier ($410): The three most expensive on-site hotels are in the premier bracket. We are talking about the Portofino Bay Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and the Royal Pacific Resort.
Value Resorts at Universal Orlando
Hotels: Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites and Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites.
Good for: Guests who are on a budget and don’t mind taking a shuttle to get to the theme parks.
Price: starting at $150.
Perks: Early park admission, shuttle service (bus), option to have Universal merchandise sent directly to your hotel.
The Value Hotels at Universal Orlando are actually the two most recent properties, which debuted in 2019 and 2020. The Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites and Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites are located over the I-4 from the main resort but they do offer a free shuttle bus that takes you to and from Universal Citywalk.
Surfside Inn and Suites includes a standard pool, a Universal gift shop, a small restaurant, a poolside bar, and a Starbucks. Dockside Inn and Suites offers two pools with a kid's splash pad, a Universal gift shop, an additional small restaurant, poolside bars, and also a Starbucks. For families with young children, Dockside Inn may be the better option due to its splash pad.
Self parking is available at these hotels for about $20 per night.
Prime Value Resorts at Universal Orlando
Hotels: Cabana Bay Beach Resort and the Aventura Hotel
Good for: Guests who want to save money and still be at walking distance to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
Price: starting at $170.
Perks: Early park admission, shuttle service (bus and water taxi), option to have Universal merchandise sent directly to your hotel.
As the name 'Prime Value' suggests, these hotels are among the most budget-friendly options, with rates starting around $180 and rooms beginning at 300 square feet. Cabana Bay, which opened in 2014, offers a more expansive resort feel, while Aventura, which debuted in 2018, is smaller and more compact, giving it a more traditional hotel vibe.
I really love the Prime Value hotels. They are relatively new, well-priced, and offer excellent perks, plus they’re very close to Universal Orlando. You get to Universal Citywalk after walking for just 10-15 minutes. Aventura Hotel is one of my favorites! It feels fresh, features an amazing terrace with a great view, and is conveniently located next to Sapphire Falls Resort, allowing you to easily walk over and enjoy one of their restaurants if you wish.
Aventura Hotel features one pool, a kids' splash area, two simple restaurants, two bars, a Starbucks, a Universal gift shop, a games room, and a fitness center. The hotel is housed in a single large tower, making it easy to navigate with everything within close proximity.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort is larger, featuring two big pool areas, one with a slide and another with a lazy river. It also offers a games room, a bowling alley, a rec center, a Universal gift shop, and a fitness center.
I prefer Aventura Hotel between the two. Its more compact layout makes everything easily accessible, and you can use the water taxi system from Sapphire Falls Resort. Cabana Bay might be better suited for families with kids due to its laid-back atmosphere and lazy river, but it’s more spread out, which means you’ll need to walk more to get around.
Self parking is available at these hotels for about $25 per night.
Preferred Resorts at Universal Orlando
Hotels: Sapphire Falls Resort
Good for: Guests who want to be at walking distance to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, if you want to stay close to excellent restaurants and pools, if you want a hotel that allows pets.
Price: starting at $270.
Perks: Early park admission, shuttle service (bus and water taxi), option to have Universal merchandise sent directly to your hotel, valet parking, 24-hour room service, pets are allowed.
Sapphire Falls is a mid-sized hotel located right next to Aventura. I love staying at Aventura and walking over to Sapphire Falls to enjoy its pools and excellent restaurant. This resort features a pool surrounded by two sandy beaches, a slide, a hot tub, and a small children’s waterpark. It also offers amenities commonly found at other hotels, such as a fitness center, a games room, a Universal gift shop, and a poolside bar. Additionally, Sapphire Falls has several meeting rooms, so you might see guests dressed up in the evenings. Interestingly, this hotel doesn’t have a Starbucks, but you can easily walk to Aventura if you need your daily caffeine fix.
This hotel also welcomes pets and features a dedicated pet walk, so you can bring your Chihuahuas if you want them to be close to Hogwarts too.
Self parking is available at these hotels for about $31 per night. Valet costs $45.
Premier Resorts at Universal Orlando
Hotels: Portofino Bay Resort, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific Resort.
Good for: Guests who appreciate luxury and spacious rooms, those who want to be within walking distance of Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, travelers with a limited amount of time in Florida who want to maximize their theme park visits.
Price: starting at $410 (Royal Pacific), $460 (Hard Rock) and $490 (Portofino Bay).
Perks: Early park admission, free Universal Express Unlimited, priority seating at selective restaurants, shuttle service (bus and water taxi), option to have Universal merchandise sent directly to your hotel, valet parking, 24-hour room service, pets are allowed.
These premier hotels offer the highest level of luxury with the most spacious rooms, typically featuring three pools and multiple restaurants.
The standout benefit of staying at a premier hotel is the inclusion of Universal Express Unlimited, Universal’s top Fast Pass that lets you use the express line for popular attractions such as Jurassic World VelociCoaster, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, and Revenge of the Mummy. While it doesn’t apply to Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, it remains an incredible perk that saves a significant amount of time, especially during peak seasons.
What is the right Universal Orlando Resort for me?
Good question, young padawan. Personally, I would choose between the Prime Value Resorts and the Premier Resorts. The Prime Value Resorts are only about $20 more per night than the Value hotels, and I’d opt for them to enjoy the convenience of being within walking distance of Universal CityWalk. I’d particularly recommend Aventura for its proximity to Sapphire Falls, allowing you to access their pools and top-tier restaurants.
If I have only a short time to enjoy Universal - such as a weekend or a few days - I’d opt for the Premier Hotels. While they are more expensive, often costing more than twice as much as the Prime Value Resorts, they include a free Universal Express Unlimited. With limited time, I’d likely spend just one day at Islands of Adventure and one day at Universal Studios. Although it’s challenging to experience everything in just one day, the Universal Express Unlimited makes it much more feasible. So, if your time is limited, the premier experience is definitely worth considering.
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