The Many Perks of Staying at Hotels on Site Universal Studios Orlando (& why this is so helpful when Epic Universe opens)

Hotels on site Universal Studios Orlando – are they worth it or not?

Whilst staying on-site at Disney World has been a well-established option since 1971, staying on site at Universal isn’t quite as popular. Yet.

Hotels on property at Universal Studios Orlando offer a number of perks (which we will be detailing later in this post).

With Epic Universe opening on May 22nd, 2025, these perks will be more important and valuable than ever if you wanty to make the most of your Universal trip in 2025 and beyond.

Whether you’re looking for luxury or something budget-friendly, there are hotels on site at Universal Studios that will fit these requirements!

This post is all about the perks that come with hotels on site Universal Studios Orlando, and why they will be especially beneficial once Epic Universe opens.

Hotels On Site Universal Studios Orlando

Does Universal Studios Have Their Own Resorts?

Yes, Universal Studios has its own resorts, and they’re pretty fantastic if you’re trying to maximize your time at Universal Studios Orlando.

There are 11 Universal Studios Orlando on site hotels.

Although they are owned by Universal, the Universal Orlando resorts are operated by Loews.

Hotels on Site Universal Orlando

Similarly to Disney World, who have three distinct hotel categories (the self-explanatory value, moderate and deluxe categories), Universal has a similar system.

There are also 3 categories of Universal Studios Orlando hotels:

Universal Signature Collection – The most expensive and luxurious option of these hotels with additional perks (more on this later). They usually range in price from about $325 – $800+ per night (the latter relating prices at peak season) with suites being more expensive than this.
Universal Prime Value – Less expensive than the Signature Collection, often ranging in price from $220 – $450 approx. per night.
Universal Value Inns & Suites – Affordable hotels with both standard hotel rooms and suites. Rooms start at about $99 here, so these will usually be the cheapest hotels on property at Universal Studios Orlando.

Hotels On Site at Universal Studios Orlando List

Signature Collection:

Loews Portofino Bay Resort
Loews Hard Rock Hotel
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Helios Grand Hotel (opening on May 22nd, 2025)
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

Prime Value:

Aventura Hotel
Stella Nova Resort (opened January 21st, 2025)
Terra Luna Resort (opening March 25th, 2o25)

Value Inns & Suites

Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Universal’s Endless Summer Surfside and Dockside

The Exclusive Perks of Hotels On Site Universal Studios Orlando

1) Early Park Admission to All Universal Theme Parks

One of the biggest perks of staying on-site is Early Park Admission – especially if you’re only planning a short stay at Universal.

Each day, at least one Universal theme park (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure – and Epic Universe – from May 23rd, 2025) opens one hour before official opening for hotel guests.

(Premier Annual Passholders have access to early entry every day, and Preferred Annual Passholders on select dates).

Hotel guests also have access to Universal’s Volcano Bay water park usually 30 minutes before other guests (this also depends on the weather).

Please note that valid Universal theme park tickets are required to access this on-site hotel benefit.

It is important to note that although you may be able to enter the park early, it doesn’t mean every ride will be open before the official time of park opening.

In December 2024, I had Early Park Admission to Islands of Adventure, and like many other visitors, I rushed to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

We could get in line during Early Park Admission, but sadly, it didn’t actually open during that hour.

2) Complimentary Transportation Across the Resort

Want an easy way to travel to and from your hotel and the Universal parks?

If you stay at Universal Studios Orlando on site hotels, you get this transportation included in the price of your hotel stay!

The options? They’re pretty great:

Shuttle Buses to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe: They run frequently between all Universal Studios on site hotels and Universal’s parks.
Water Taxis to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure: A scenic way to get around (because why not make your commute part of the fun?). This option is offered to guests of Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort and and Sapphire Falls). They run from 30 minutes prior to Early Park Admission – every 15 minutes until 2.30 AM. It takes about 5-10 minutes to travel on a water taxi.

Walking to the Universal Studios Parks: If you’re staying at any of the Universal Studios hotels (except Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside and Dockside, Helios Grand Hotel, Stella Nova Resort and Terra Luna Resort), you can walk to Universal Studios Florida Islands of Adventure. If you’re staying at the Helios Grand Hotel or the Stella Nova Resort, you will be able to walk to Epic Universe (it currently appears that you will need to take a shuttle bus to Epic Universe if you’re staying at the Terra Luna Resort).

3) Unlimited Express Pass for Guests of Select Premier Hotels

The Unlimited Express Pass allows you to skip the regular lines at most rides and attractions at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

You can buy this pass without being a guest at a qualifying premier hotel, however they cost around $100 + (up to a few hundred dollars at peak times) per person per day (not including a park ticket!).

So, this is a MASSIVE benefit of staying at a qualifying Universal Premier Hotel.

Universal Hotels with Express Pass (Unlimited) Included:

Loews Portofino Bay
Hard Rock Hotel
Loews Royal Pacific Resort

Which Universal Premier hotel is the cheapest?

A lot of the time, the cheapest hotel that included Unlimited Express Pass is Loews Royal Pacific Resort, but make sure to do your research and compare, as there may be exceptions to this.

Which attractions are not included in the Unlimited Express Pass?

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – Hogsmeade, Islands of Adventure
Pteranodon Flyers – Jurassic Park, Islands of Adventure
Ollivanders Wand Shop – Hogsmeade, Islands of Adventure & Diagon Alley, Universal Studios Florida
Horror Make-Up Show – Hollywood, Universal Studios Florida

At the time of writing this post, we don’t know if/when Express Passes will be used at Epic Universe.

Exclusive Perk at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel

So, Universal Helios Grand Hotel currently does not include Unlimited Express Passes for resort guests.

However, it has something amazing that NO other Universal hotel can offer: an exclusive entrance to Epic Universe.

If you want to REALLY maximize Early Park Admission at Epic Universe, a seamless walk into the park – with a quieter entrance – sounds like a great help!

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Hotels On Site Universal Studios Orlando

What is the best hotel to walk to parks at Universal?

If you’re looking for the closest hotels to walk to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, they are:

Hard Rock Hotel – 0.4 mile / 9-minute walk
Loews Royal Pacific Resort – also a 0.4 mile / 9-minute walk.

If you want to walk to Epic Universe, the closest and best option will be the Helios Grand Hotel.

What is the earliest you can get into Universal Studios?

This will vary depending on the day and season that you’re visiting. Predictably, the parks will be open longer during summer than winter.

Early Park Admission will always help by allowing hotel guests to enter an hour early, regardless of the day or season.

How many days do you really need at Universal Studios Orlando?

There is no “one-size fits all” approach to this.

If you want to visit every park, allowing for about one park per day is often a good strategy.

But also consider, do you want to visit more than one park in a day?

Is there enough in each park to fill up multiple days for you? Are you interested in experiencing THAT many attractions?

Are you staying at a hotel that provided Unlimited Express Pass, or are you planning on waiting in Standby (and maybe some Single Rider) lines?

Are you just visiting Universal for Harry Potter?

best on site hotel Universal Studios Orlando — Gringotts Bank at Diagon Alley – Universal Studios Florida

If so, one day is fine, if you’re just planning on visiting Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. But when Epic Universe opens, you’ll probably need more time. (Please note that you currently can’t purchase single one-day tickets to Epic Universe, unless you are an Annual Passholder).

Do you want to go to Disney World during your Universal vacation? Would you rather spend more or less time there?

Consider these questions before planning how long you want to visit Universal Studios Orlando for.

Is there a shuttle from Orlando airport to Universal?

There is no free shuttle from MCO to Universal Studios Orlando (sadly, Universal doesn’t offer a service like the extinct Disney Magical Express).

There are other companies who provide shuttles from MCO to Universal.

You could also travel to Universal via a rideshare (Uber/Lyft) or rent a car.

Ta Ta For Now

Staying on-site at Universal Studios Orlando has always been a good option. But it’s about to become a no-brainer with Epic Universe opening in 2025.

The perks like Early Park Admission, stress-free transportation, and unmatched proximity will give you the best way to experience the newest attractions without wasting a moment.

Do you plan on staying on site at Universal Studios Orlando? Do you think the on site perks are worth it?

Please share your thoughts in the comments 🙂