Walking to Universal Studios or Epic Universe, hopping on a boat or a shuttle bus from the parks to your resort for some pool time, and having early park admission are some of the reasons we stay onsite at Universal hotels during our Universal Orlando trip. We have stayed at almost all of the Universal Orlando hotels and today are sharing our picks for the best ones.
Where you stay during your Universal Orlando vacation is an important decision for your trip. We have stayed at 7 of the 11 hotels on property at Universal. They range in amenities and price but, there is something I love about all of them, you really can’t go wrong in your pick when staying at an onsite Universal hotel.
As a family of 5, our top hotel picks need to have sleeping space for all of us. That is the biggest priority. We also love the proximity to the park and feeling like you are in the Universal bubble. These hotel picks at Universal are tried and true. We have stayed at most of them more than once, and they are a great choice for your Universal trip.
Planning a full vacation? Start with our step-by-step Universal Orlando Guide for tickets, hotel reviews, and itinerary tips.
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What Makes a Best Universal Hotel- My Experience
Universal hotels are unique and themed to remove you from the everyday and immerse you in your Universal vacation. From island vibes and retro themes, to a hotel inside a theme park, Universal hotels are worth staying at to enhance your theme park vacation. For us the criteria for a great hotel at Universal is the following:
- Spacious rooms or suites
- Amenities: game room, hotel activities, proximity to the parks
- Pool: Water slides, pool activities
My Pick for the Best Hotel at Universal Orlando
My pick for the best Universal hotel for 2026 is the Universal Endless Summer Resorts. This may be a controversial take because the Endless Summer Resorts are value resorts but I have a few reasons.
First is location. Surfside and Dockside, the two endless summer resorts, are located in the middle of the original Universal Orlando parks (Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure) and the new park, Epic Universe.
Second is shuttle bus transportation. If you are visiting all of the Universal Orlando parks multiple days your daily bus rides are going to be shorter staying in the middle of all the theme parks.
The hotels also have 2-bedroom suites that fit six people and have a budget friendly price. The onsite dining has a lot of selections and overall the perks of staying here make it one of the best options for your Universal trip.
We are a family of five so the hotels I am recommending are great for families, but adults will love them too! I will specify if the hotel is best for kids or better for adults.
Why Stay Onsite at Universal Orlando
I always recommend staying on property at a Universal hotel because it is convenient and personally I like staying inside the “theme park bubble”. Hotel guests receive perks that I believe make staying on property the best option. These are:
- Early Park Admission– Guests can enter one of the parks an hour before official park opening. If you want to ride the most popular rides at the park and take advantage of this you will be done with those rides before the park officially opens.
- Transportation– Universal guests can use bus, boat, or walking paths to get to all of the Universal Orlando Resort parks and CityWalk. This saves money on parking, gas, as well as the stress of Orlando traffic. We like to take mid-day breaks during our park days and hopping on a bus is much easier than getting in car driving back to hotel and then driving back later in the day.
- Unlimited Express Pass– There are 3 hotels that include express pass. They are Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay, and Royal Pacific. These include Unlimited Express Pass to Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure with your stay. It does not include Epic Universe.
- All-Inclusive Feel- The hotels are not all inclusive but it is nice to take a little break from the outside world.
Staying Off-Site vs On-Site
Deciding to stay off-site vs. on-site depends on how much time you are planning at the theme parks, if you are visiting other Orlando theme parks, or if you prefer a vacation rental over a hotel.
I prefer to stay on-site because of the convenience and perks for on-site guests. It also may be the less expensive option when you factor in gas, car rental, and parking fees. It is important to compare costs when deciding which option is best for you.
Universal Orlando Hotel Tiers
There are 11 hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort that fall into Signature, Prime Value and Value Inn & Suites. We have stayed at all tiers and have enjoyed each stay.
Signature Collection($$$$): This includes Loews Portofino Bay Resort (includes Universal Express Pass), Hard Rock Hotel (includes Universal Express Pass), Loews Royal Pacific Resort (includes Universal Express Pass), Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, and Universal Helios Grand Hotel.
Prime Value Hotels ($$): This includes Universal Aventura Hotel, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort.
Value Inns & Suites ($): This includes Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal Surfside Inn and Suites (Endless Summer Resort) and Universal Dockside Inn and Suites (Endless Summer Resort).
Top Hotels at Universal Orlando
If the Endless Summer resorts aren’t for you below are my picks for the top hotels at Universal Orlando that are our favorite spots to stay during our Universal trips.
Quick Booking Guide
✅Cabana Bay Beach Resort-Retro theme, lazy river, family suites, Check rates & availability.
✅Universal Endless Resorts- Centrally located to all Universal Parks. Check rates & availability
✅Stella Nova Resort- Walking distance to Epic Universe. Check rates & availability.
✅Aventura Hotel- Amazing rooftop views, best for adults trip Check rates & availability.
✅Helios Grand Resort- Inside Epic Universe, Check rates & availability.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Cabana Bay Beach Resort has the best overall theme and amenities. With a pool, lazy river, arcade, and bowling on property there is so much to do without ever leaving the resort. It also has on property dining options and the family suites at Cabana Bay are a great option for those looking for more space too. Guests of all ages will appreciate this hotel.
I do recommend Cabana Bay for families that don’t mind sleeping on a pull out sofa. If that is an issue for you I suggest checking out my next pick.
Universal Endless Summer Resorts
The Universal Endless Summer Resorts are our favorite choice for staying at Universal because they have 2-bedroom suites. These suites have 3 queen size beds. It gives us more comfortable sleeping options when we are staying at the parks.
Surfside and Dockside are two different resorts but they offer basically the same accommodations with subtle different decor. We have stayed at both more than once and it is always a great stay. I usually compare prices and go with the better deal for our visit dates.
Stella Nova Resort
On our most recent visit we stayed at Stella Nova Resort. This hotel is considered a prime value resort and is a Epic Universe hotel. Stella Nova is within walking distance to Epic Universe and is a great location if you are spending time at Epic.
During our stay we booked connecting rooms and were overall happy. There are not suites at this hotel so larger families will have to book connecting rooms. Also keep in mind this resort is further away from the other Universal parks and CityWalk.
Aventura Hotel
We stayed at Aventura Hotel and it was the first time we had booked connecting rooms for a trip. It was kind of a game changer! Having 2 rooms when traveling with 5 people, including 3 teenagers, gave us all the space we needed.
It is also a great hotel for adults because although it is family friendly it does not have the same amenities the other resorts have. The pool is a bit on the smaller side and there is not a water slide.
It does have incredible roof top views and a rooftop bar. Kids are welcome but if you are an adult looking for a quiet resort Aventura might be a good choice.
Helios Grand Hotel
Helios Grand is the first hotel I have ever stayed at that is inside a theme park. This hotel is perfect if you plan to spend a few days at Epic Universe. It has it’s own designated Epic Universe entrance and is closer to inside the park than the parking lot. We took full advantage of our stay with a 6 minute walk from our room to Super Nintendo World.
The con of this hotel is the higher prices of a luxury resort but does not include Express Pass for any of the theme parks. This can be a bit of a let down but if being close to the park is a priority you won’t be disappointed.
Universal Orlando Hotels for a Family of 5
My recommendation when traveling as a family of 5 at Universal is to either do connecting rooms or book a suite at one of the Endless Summer resorts. When my kids were small booking the family suite was the way to go. Now that we are traveling with teens connecting rooms offers two bathrooms and more space for our family.
Best Universal Orlando Hotels- Final Thoughts
Universal hotels offer something for every travelers needs. If you are traveling as a small group or a big family there are on property accommodations that will fit your budget and taste. The hotels I mentioned in this post are the ones my family keeps going back to. We prioritize sleeping space and budget when planning our trip, and all of these deliver. It is important to determine what is most important to you when choosing a hotel for your trip.
I hope this list gives you a good starting point to finding the perfect hotel for your Universal vacation. Want more information on planning your trip? Read this: Universal Orlando Guide 2026: Everything You Need to Plan Your Visit
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.