This year’s Big Event in Orlando is undoubtedly the opening on May 22nd of Universal Epic Universe at Universal Orlando Resort, their first new park since 1999 and arguably the biggest single development in their history.
Set on a 750-acre site just two miles from their existing resort complex just off International Drive, Universal Epic Universe will add THREE hotels to the resort's existing eight, and significantly up the ante for hotel design and experience.
The first of the new trio will officially open on January 21st, but we were treated to a full media preview this week as Universal Stella Nova Resort allowed visitors inside for the very first time, and we can certainly see this iconic hotel becoming a real hit with Universal guests.
It’s certainly not small, and it won’t be the fanciest in the Universal stable, but for the moderate price point and level of style and amenity, it should tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people. With 750 rooms, Universal Stella Nova comes in about mid-way in the size stakes (Cabana Bay Beach Resort is the biggest, at 1,800 rooms, while the Loews Helios Grand Hotel will be the smallest with 500 rooms when it opens in May), and, despite its size, it’s intended to have something of a boutique vibe.
Stella Nova Resort will have what is virtually a twin sister in March when the neighbouring Universal Terra Luna Resort opens, but, until then, it is likely to rule the roost as the smartest, sharpest and most eye-catching hotel in town.
It all starts with the exterior, which Universal Creative chief Russ Dagon jokingly referred to as “the largest stainless steel building in the world!” He might not be wrong, as it consists of a mind-boggling 140,000 steel tiles in various iridescent shades that look impressive from a distance but quite startling close up.
Walk through the revolving main door of the hotel and there is quickly an even bigger “Wow!” factor at work as the sleek, futuristic interior design and décor announces itself in no uncertain fashion. Bright, light and ever-so-curvy, the main Lobby is a striking collection of check-in desks, a luggage desk, ticket kiosk, gift shop, and lounge bar that has instant eye appeal.
The whole theme of the hotel is space; not as in room, but the interstellar kind between the stars, and Stella Nova Resort is kitted out to impress very firmly along these lines, including a variety of NASA-provided galactic images and murals from the James Webb Telescope to underline the essence of the cosmos.
The individual rooms – all of which come with double queen beds for family-friendliness – also play heavily on this theme, with their own NASA-derived mural along the wall behind the beds and another clean, sleek design ethic that is hugely appealing. The windows are also shaped “spaceship-style” according to Loews Hotels vice-president David Bartek, to complete the overall look. Dagon added: “We thought the curves were real important, and we didn’t think space would have a lot of straight lines, so that’s the inspiration for the windows as well.”
On one side, the rooms have an extensive view over the vast pool deck, while the other side looks towards Universal Epic Universe itself, and the rear of the SUPER NINTENDO WORLD section. There is shuttle bus transport to take you the two miles to the other parks, and a shuttle direct to Epic Universe, but it might be just as quick, if not quicker, to take the 10-minute walk to the new park.
And then there’s the “secret” corridor on one floor of the nine-storey building, which is sure to be a hit with the Instagram crowd. On this level, there is a “dark” section of the corridor that is lit only by fibre-optic ceiling lights, and it is an impressive, star-like effect (Psst! Take the lift to the third floor, and turn right!).
But, as good as the interior is – and it is wonderfully sharp and enticing – the real crowning glory of the hotel might just be the vast Pool Deck on the other side of the lobby. Covering 10,000 square feet, this immense area is covered by a vast assemblage of sun-loungers and umbrellas, plus deck games, children’s splash pad, hot tub, and the huge heated pool itself. This is also where you’ll find the Galaxy Bar, an attractive pool bar that specialises in its own range of cocktails and craft beers, with the adjacent Galaxy Grill servery, where guests will be able to grab essential bar meals, such as burgers, salads and quesadillas.
Back inside, the Nova Bar is the lobby’s lounge bar with a similar range of beers but also its own pair of featured cocktails; the Supernova (a smoked whisky concoction) and the Nebula, which is Mescal-based. We can’t say we got to try either one, but we will definitely be first in line the next time we visit!
Food-wise, the main dining options are fairly simple. There is the grab-and-go-style of the Cosmos Market, which is ideal for a quick breakfast en route to the parks or the cafeteria-style sit-down version of the Cosmos Café, which has its own unique menu. We were able to sample a range of tastes from the breakfast and lunch menus, including the Gooey Monkey Bread (basically a cinnamon bun but with chocolate, walnuts and a sweet glaze), Stuffed Croissant (packed with mixed berries and cream cheese), Banana & Walnut Buttermilk Pancakes and – the big hit for us – the Hot Honey Chicken Pizza. Needless to say, service was impeccable from a keen-as-mustard staff who are clearly looking to impress when the hotel opens to regular guests.
The resort amenities are rounded out with a superb Fitness Centre (offering views over the immaculate pool deck), with a dazzling array of exercise equipment and weights, and the inevitable Games Arcade for kids. The Gift Shop is also packed with merchandise exclusively for Universal Epic Universe, so this is definitely the place to come in the next few months before the park opens for those exclusive souvenirs.
And that’s the full preview story for this immensely appealing hotel. There are some terrific small touches and details throughout (including mobile device charging stations in several sections of the Cosmos Café), and a general sense of clever, sharp design. And, if this is just a tiny look ahead to Universal Epic Universe, well, there’s just no doubt it’s going to really epic!
PS: If you’d like a quick visual tour of the hotel, check out our YouTube video below:
Have you stayed at a Universal Orlando hotel? Tell us about it on the friendly AttractionTickets.com Community Facebook page, on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram.
