Where Should You Stay at Universal Orlando Resort

Where Should You Stay at Universal Orlando Resort

Where Should You Stay at Universal Orlando Resort

This is your complete guide on where to stay at Universal Orlando for your next family vacation! We will always choose Cabana Bay Beach Resort when it comes to budgeting or Loews Royal Pacific if we want to splurge. Both have their perks, and we’re going to tell you why in this article!

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets and Universal Orlando vacation package deals which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

So if you are ready to learn about where to stay at Universal Orlando, read on!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Universal Orlando for your next vacation be sure to check out our Universal Crowd calendar!

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

Where to Stay When Going To Universal Studios Orlando 2024

For your next family vacation at Universal Orlando, staying on-site offers unbeatable benefits, including proximity to the parks, free transportation, early park admission, and unique hotel perks. Premier hotels like Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific will always be our top picks.

In our opinion, the Premier tier hotels, like Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific, offer the best perks for guests. While we love the free Universal Orlando transportation from all resorts, the Premier hotels offer free Universal Express Pass Unlimited for every guest registered in the room. We find that to be a rather EPIC perk!

Every Universal hotel brings its own set o amenities, ensuring a memorable stay. For budget-conscious travelers, Endless Summer Resort and Cabana Bay Beach Resort offer great value with affordable room rates and family suites.

Not to mention, Universal is almost always running a Universal Orlando vacation package deal or promotion throughout the year and guests can also enjoy some amazing Universal Orlando benefits! There are even Universal Studios Orlando hotels that offer free Universal Express Pass Unlimited to guests who book there!

Related Page: Shop Cheap Universal Orlando Hotels

Proximity to the Universal Orlando Theme Parks

One of our favorite things about Universal Orlando Resort Hotels is how close they are to each other and the three different parks. Nearly all 8 onsite hotels are within walking distance, where both Endless Summer Resorts (Dockside and Surfside) are a very short bus ride across the interstate. No matter what resort you choose, you will be within 20 minutes of a short walk to any park. Below are the most common questions we receive when deciding where to stay at Universal Orlando based on transportation.

Where to stay at Universal Orlando when walking to Universal Florida and Islands of Adventure?

Without a doubt, the two most convenient hotels when trying to walk to the two main parks at Universal Orlando are the Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. These two amazing resorts offer quick boat service to and from the parks. It’s also important to note that the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort are only an extra 10-minute walk.

Where to stay at Universal Orlando when walking to Universal’s Volcano Bay

Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort and Universal’s Aventura Hotel are closest to Volcano Bay, close enough to have a separate entrance to the water park. Hard Rock Hotel is within a reasonable walking distance to Universal Studios Florida and Loews Royal Pacific Resort can get you to Islands of Adventure pretty quickly by foot.

The best part is that even if you aren’t feeling a longer walk, you can hop onto a free bus shuttle or boat which will bring you right to the entrance of CityWalk. The transportation is quick and easy, making it one of the best Universal Studios benefits.

Free Transportation to the Universal Orlando Parks

Taking it one step further we understand that transportation is such an important part of deciding where to stay when visiting Universal Studios Orlando, but luckily even the value hotels offer free transportation too! You will have several options for free transportation throughout the resort, but please note it will be different depending on where you stay.

• Bus shuttles
• water-taxis
• Walking trails

The Premier and Preferred Universal Orlando Resorts have water taxis docked right outside, where the Prime and Prime Value resorts only offer bus shuttles. There are also beautiful garden walking trails that guests can find that will lead straight into CityWalk. This is especially nice if you have to walk up and get into the parks bright and early with Early Park Admission. Get a jump start to your day with this Universal resort benefit starting at around 7am, with revolving transportation until about 2am.

Related Article: Off-site Universal Orlando Hotels with Free Transportation

Where to Stay at Universal Orlando Based On Early Park Admission

If you’ve wondered about where to stay at Universal, Early Park Admission could be a HUGE perk for resort guests. All guests who are staying on property at Universal Studios Orlando have access to this perk no matter which hotel you stay at!

One hour before the park officially opens for guests, those with Early Park Admission are allowed to enter The Wizard World of Harry Potter. Why it is one of the best perks of staying at a Universal Studios hotel is that many of the most popular attractions are located in the Wizarding World. That means you can knock off some of the highest wait times before the park is officially open. Please note – you must check the app to see which park, Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure, is offering Early Park Admission that day.

Related Page: Discount Harry Potter Tickets with Early Park Admission

Where to Stay at Universal Based on Recreation and Amenities

Every single hotel on Universal property has a set of its own unique amenities and recreation options. Cabana Bay Beach Resort is one of our favorites when deciding where to stay at Universal Florida if you’re looking to utilize onsite amenities. While all of the Universal Orlando Resorts have pools, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is almost a mini water park. With a lazy river, cabana rentals, sparkling pools and more, you can almost spend a whole day just relaxing! Aventura Hotel, which is right across the street, has sleek, modern pool designs with rooftop restaurants and even a Starbucks.

The Hard Rock Hotel lives up to its name with an incredible rockstar pool, the best on-site dining options, fitness center and more. Loews Portofino Bay boasts for a high-class experience with a fitness center and spa, beautiful views right on the waterfront and delicious Italian style food in 8 different restaurants.

Some of the best onsite Universal hotels happen to be the Loews Sapphire Falls and Loews Royal Pacific Resort, where both take you into a tropical paradise. You’ll find garden views, sandy beach pools, tropical drinks and so much more at either Loews Hotel. Loews Royal Pacific Resort has some of the best lounges of all hotels on Universal property. So it is important not to rule it out.

Related Article:  Hotels with Free Transportation Near Disney Springs

Where Should I Stay When Visiting Harry Potter World?

Another very common question we receive is, where should I stay when visiting Harry Potter World?As a general rule of thumb, we recommend to stay at any of the eight Universal Orlando on-site resorts. The main reason is guests can take advantage of early park admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which does tend to have some of the most popular rides.

Which hotels participate in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter vacation package?

• Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn & Suites
• Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn & Suites
• Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
• Universal’s Aventura Hotel
• Loews Sapphire Falls Hotel
• Loews Royal Pacific Hotel
• The Hard Rock Hotel
• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

Related Article:  Universal Orlando Super Nintendo World

Where to Stay at Universal Florida Based on Free Express Passes

All Universal Orlando premier hotels come with the best perk offered at the Universal parks. The Universal Express Pass Unlimited is valued at $109 per person. Meaning that each person who is registered to a premier hotel gets a Universal Express Unlimited pass that is redeemable at participating rides in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

That allows you to ride as many Universal attractions as you want, as many times as you want. That’s why staying at Universal hotels with Express Pass is an amazing idea. They may be pricier, but unlimited attractions? That can’t be beat. Especially with newer attractions coming, lines are bound to be long and take up most of your day.

Which Universal hotels include Express Pass 2024?

• Loews Portofino Bay Resort
• Hard Rock Hotel
• Loews Royal Pacific Resort

What is Priority Seating at Universal?

This is another Universal onsite hotel benefit for those staying at a Premier Universal Hotel. But those who are staying at Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort or Loews Portofino Bay have priority seating at select restaurants throughout the parks. While this can be a great perk of staying at these hotels on Universal property, it is important to note that this perk can be subjective. It is always smart to call the Universal reservation phone line to confirm you can be accommodated beforehand! 407-224-3663 to confirm any details.

Related Article:  Is the Universal Express Pass Worth it? 

Where to Stay at Universal When Vacationing on a Budget

We all know stretching a budget is an important part of any vacation but what about when deciding where to stay when going to Universal Studios Orlando? The two best Universal Orlando hotels for families looking for a value resort is the Universal Endless Summer hotel and the Universal Cabana Bay Beach resort. Both resorts have rooms that start around $120 per night, and of course offer free transportation to and from the Universal Orlando theme parks and Citywalk.

However what we feel really sets these hotels apart is there large selection of family suites. Both hotels have suites which can fit up to 6-8 guests, and you can still book these rooms for around $176-$200 per night which can save you a ton of money on your next Universal Orlando vacation. Be sure to check out our complete guide on the Universal Cabana Bay resort vs Universal Endless Summer to weigh the pros and cons of these two budget hotels when visiting Universal Orlando. 

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When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We breakdown the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you’re ready to plan your trip to Universal Studios, be sure to check out Universal Orlando Tickets! Not only will you save money vs buying direct, but all of our Universal Orlando tickets come with some amazing benefits which can help save you up to three hours in the parks!

And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!