FIRST LOOK: We’re Taking You Inside Universal’s Brand New Stella Nova Hotel!

Welcome to Universal Studios Orlando’s newest hotel!

It’s time to go inside!

Universal Orlando is undergoing some major changes in 2025 with brand new hotels, the opening of Epic Universe, and more! We are finally getting to check out one of those brand new changes today so come with us inside the Stella Nova hotel!

We have made our way to the brand-new Stella Nova Hotel and we couldn’t be more excited! This new resort, which is part of the Epic Universe expansion, is designed to take you into another galaxy!

Quincy is checking out the brand new resort

The 750-room resort is inspired by “the infinite vastness of the unexplored universe, where galaxies spiral ever outward and unknown worlds revolve around unnamed stars,” according to Universal.

The new hotel is adjacent to Epic Universe, which opens on May 22nd, 2025, so guests can access the new theme park via a walking path or complimentary shuttle.

Shuttle sign

We got to take a look inside before the hotel opens on January 21st, 2025 so let’s explore the hotel!

Enter right here

But before we go inside, the Universal team let us know that there are 140,000 (!!!) tiles on the outside of the building. On the first day of this project, they only applied nine and began to worry…but soon picked up the pace. Talk about tedious work! We’d say it was 100% worth it though.

The entrance is supposed to represent a black hole. Quincy interpreted it as feeling swallowed like a whale. Either way, it was cool!

That’s impressive!

Quincy’s first impression was that it was a unique and cool space! It feels equal in theming quality to something like Cabana Bay (which we love!).

Lots of natural light thanks to these windows

It’s very open and bright with tons of seating in the lobby. It’s not necessarily a jaw-dropping sight when you walk in, but this is a Prime Value hotel and it has a fun atmosphere.

The space images in the lobby are all actual images from NASA, recreated for the lobby art.

Lobby

This hotel specifically is home to new pools, dining, and more!

Nova Bar is the lobby bar for this hotel

In the lobby area, you’ll find a luggage counter to hold any bags for you.

Luggage

Here’s a look at the check-in desk…

Check-in desk

…and the Vacation Planning Center.

Vacation Planning Center

In the lobby, look for this sign to find any Epic Universe souvenir you could possibly want.

Let’s go inside!

We were especially excited to see the new Dolores Umbridge wand!

New wand alert!

There’s plenty more where that came from — check out the rest of the shop’s souvenirs at the link below.

FIRST LOOK at Souvenirs at Universal Orlando’s New Hotel — Including a NEW Harry Potter Wand!

There is a set of elevators that take you up to the rooms.

Elevators

Now the hallways are neat. On the ceiling, you’ll see these stunning lights!

Are we in space right now?

We felt like the rooms had a decent amount of space, and while you could see some elements of the theme, the room felt modern and clean.

Beds

Half of the rooms have a view of the pool, while the other half can see Epic Universe! This has to be one of our favorite perks, and it’s really unique to see it like this while construction is happening.

Epic Universe view

See our entire room tour below for more details.

FULL TOUR: Go Inside the NEW Rooms at Universal’s Stella Nova Resort

One of the highlights of this hotel is the MASSIVE pool deck area. It’s 10,000 square feet and it’s quite a sight.

Pool area

Epic Universe is exciting, of course, but you may want to plan for a pool day just to take advantage of this area!

You’ll want to plan for a pool day!

You’ll also find a splash area for the little ones…

Splash Pad

…and plenty of seating around.

Pool chairs

Nearby, you’ll find Galaxy Bar & Grill for a quick snack or drink poolside.

Galaxy Bar & Grill

Here’s a look at this dining location’s seating.

There is no lack of seating!

Speaking of dining spots, we also visited the Nova Bar which is located in the lobby. There will be some specialty drinks here when it officially opens!

Nova Bar

The main dining location is called Cosmos Cafe and Market. This quick-service location serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a menu full of American food like burgers, paninis, fried chicken, and pasta.

The Market

Learn all about the dining locations below!

TOUR the New Dining Locations at Universal’s Stella Nova Resort With Us

And finally, we got to check out even more of the amenities. We were impressed with the fitness center here especially considering this is a Prime Value resort.

Fitness Center

If you’re having a resort day or you’re done having fun in the parks, there’s also an arcade.

Arcade

Stella Nova is the first of several new hotels opening at Universal with Terra Luna Resort opening on March 25th, 2025. We are so excited to step into these new galaxies while we explore this new Universal hotel. Don’t forget to keep following AllEars.Net for more Universal updates!

Everything We Know About 2 NEW Epic Universe Hotels

Need a vacation from planning your vacation?

Feeling overwhelmed planning your dream Disney vacation? Our friends at MouseFanTravel.com have got you covered! They’ll wait on hold for HOURS to get discounts you haven't even read about yet. Plus, they'll help you create an itinerary that's absolutely perfect for you, because their agents are Disney pros and know ALL the inside tips. I mean they are friends with us after-all.

The best part? They take all the stress off your shoulders, so you can kick back and truly enjoy your vacation. Their services are 100% free, so what are you waiting for? Get a quote from their amazing team today!

Join the AllEars.net Newsletter to stay on top of ALL the breaking Disney News! You'll also get access to AllEars tips, reviews, trivia, and MORE! Click here to Subscribe!

Tell us in the comments what you think of this new resort! 

Disclosure: We were invited by Universal to attend a media preview for Stella Nova. This did not affect our reporting of the event — our opinions are our own.