Why You Should Stay at a Universal Orlando Resort Hotel

Staying onsite at Universal Orlando Resort is the best way to properly experience all that the theme park and hotel complex has to offer, making your holiday more immersive, more relaxed and, best of all, more fun!

The first hotels at Universal Orlando Resort opened 25 years ago to coincide with the opening of Universal Islands of Adventure. Three opened at once, and a better trio of contemporary hotels would be hard to find. The swish Portofino Bay Hotel, tropical Royal Pacific Resort and uber-cool Hard Rock Hotel all hit the mark for winning style and service, adding a significant string to Universal’s bow.

That tasteful trio has since been followed by another five hotels, boasting fully 6,600 additional rooms, from the budget-minded twin Endless Summer Resorts and Cabana Bay Beach Resort to the stately Sapphire Falls Resort and eye-catching Aventura Hotel, almost trebling the initial room inventory. And there’s not long to go before another three hotels are added to the collection, with Stella Nova Resort, Terra Luna Resort, and Helios Grand Hotel all opening their doors in 2025.

The 11 Universal Orlando Resort hotels are grouped into three categories:

When you stay at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel, you’ll not only be staying in quality Loews accommodation, guaranteeing a high level of amenity and service, but you can also enjoy the following hotel guest benefits too!

1. Early park admission*
2. Complimentary transportation
3. Resort-wide charging privileges
4. FREE Universal Express Pass Unlimited^
5. Complimentary merchandise delivery
6. Complimentary CityWalk access
7. Priority seating at select restaurants

1. Early park admission*

Universal Orlando Resort hotel guests can access Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay Water Theme Park, and Universal Epic Universe (from 22nd may 2025) up to an hour before other guests – how amazing is that? In this time, hotel guests are able to explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter or grab the best sun loungers with just a handful of other hotel guests, enjoying the rides and making the most of taking pictures without the crowds!

2. Complimentary transportation

Travelling between resort hotels and the Universal theme parks is a doddle with free hotel transport. Depending on your hotel, you’ll have the choice of free bus transport or water taxis to reach the theme parks each morning. Some of them are even within walking distance, and have a dedicated walking path for you to take a leisurely morning stroll before your day of thrills. That means no need to hire a car and no need to worry about parking charges which run in the region of £20+ per day.

What the experts say:

“The longest bus journey from hotel to CityWalk transportation hub is barely 10 minutes. The boats from Portofino Bay, Hard Rock and Royal Pacific take less than that. And the longest on-site walk is only 20 minutes (while, from the Hard Rock, you can be inside Universal Studios in less than five!). That’s a powerful incentive, as it means you can take max advantage of your 3-Park Explorer Tickets, getting full value for however long you stay. Returning to your hotel room in the same, short timeframe is also invaluable after a long day in the parks when you just need to put your feet up and relax.”

3. Resort-wide charging privileges

You’ll never have to worry about carrying cash around with you when you’re a Universal hotel guest. Your room key becomes your credit card throughout the resort, so you don’t need to worry about carrying all your cards all the time!

4. FREE Universal Express Unlimited^

Guests staying at Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort get the incredible benefit of Universal Express Unlimited being included in the cost of their hotel booking. This gives everyone on your booking the chance to skip the regular line at some of the most popular rides at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure as many times as they like*! This even includes Jurassic World VelociCoaster, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

What the experts say:

“For guests in these hotels, this is THE big plus… This represents a fantastic saving (up to £1,164 for a family of four per day) and really ensures your Universal stay delivers outstanding value. Even better, the Express perk is valid for both your day of arrival AND the day you check out, which means if you check in straight away in the morning, even though your room won’t be ready, you can pick up that Express Unlimited pass and use it to the max.”

5. Complimentary merchandise delivery

Bought too many souvenirs and don’t fancy carrying them around all day or putting them in a locker every time you want to ride VelociCoaster? No problem! When you’re a hotel guest you can have your purchase delivered free of charge to your hotel (if bought before 5pm), ready for you to collect when you return after your day in the parks.

6. Complimentary CityWalk access

It’s completely free for all guests to visit Universal CityWalk, but Universal hotel guests receive complimentary access to select CityWalk venues that non-hotel guests may be charged to enter. If you’re someone who likes to make the most of their evenings, this could be a great perk and a way of saving some money too.

7. Priority seating at select restaurants

Guests staying at Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel can head to the concierge desk where they can make reservations at select restaurants throughout Universal Orlando Resort where they’ll get priority seating. This includes restaurants in the theme parks, hotels, and CityWalk, including Mythos, Hard Rock Cafe, The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.

And if all of this wasn’t enough, there’s also the fact that you’ll be right in the heart of the action, surrounded by incredible theming and entertainment, and just steps away from some of the best dining locations at the resort. One of the hotels even has its own bowling alley!

Browse our Universal Orlando Resort hotels to find the perfect base for your next holiday.

_{*Universal Orlando hotel guests must present hotel key card and valid theme park admission; all other guests must show theme park ticket stating Early Park Admission benefit. Early Park Admission begins up to one (1) hour prior to regular scheduled park opening to: (a) Universal Studios Florida and/or Universal Islands of Adventure as determined by Universal Orlando; (b) Universal Volcano Bay (weather permitting); and/or (c) Universal Epic Universe (opening May 22, 2025). Valid at select attractions at each park. Park-to-Park admission required to board the Hogwarts™ Express. Benefit is non-transferable. Parks, attractions, operational times, and offerings for the Early Park Admission benefit may vary and are subject to substitutions, change, availability, capacity and/or cancellation without notice, and not guaranteed. Additional restrictions may apply.}

_{^Requires theme park admission. Valid only at participating rides and attractions in Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure, during normal theme park operating hours. Not valid at Universal Volcano Bay or at Universal Epic Universe. Excludes separately ticketed events. Benefit is non-transferable and valid only for guests of Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel® and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, for the number of guests staying in the room for the length of hotel stay. Express ride access is a separate line with a shorter wait time at participating rides and attractions. Present valid room key card to the attendant upon entering the queue for a participating ride and attraction. Parks, attractions, operational times, and benefits are subject to substitutions, change, availability, capacity and/or cancellation without notice, and not guaranteed. Additional restrictions may apply.}