Universal Fan Stays at 2 Hotels…and You Might Be Surprised By Which One Came Out on Top

Are we sleeping on some of the new Universal Orlando hotels?

We’ve already visited Universal’s Epic Universe theme park, and it’s safe to say we were completely blown away. With that in mind, the new in-park hotel – Universal Helios Grand Hotel – has dominated discourse, but let’s not forget that there are 10 other Universal Orlando Resort Hotels on property, and each has its draws. In fact, one AllEars reader stayed at two of them recently, and their reviews were eye-opening.

This past March, AllEars reader Iluvvacations stayed at Loews Royal Pacific Resort – a Signature/top-tier resort – and Universal Stella Nova Resort – one of Universal’s newest hotels in the moderate Prime Value tier. While they enjoyed both stays, the reviews did indicate a preference.

The reviewer recommended Loews Royal Pacific and gave it 8 stars out of 10. The review noted that staying here gives you a free Unlimited Express Pass at the parks – a major bonus. They also liked the proximity to the parks, the size of the pool area, and felt there are “some good restaurant options and gym is nice.”

However, they did say that the hotel is “slightly dated” and “My least favorite Universal deluxe, but the free express make it worth it.”

As for the new Universal Stella Nova, this hotel was also recommended, but was rated slightly higher with 9 stars out of 10.

The review said:

“Stayed here after it had been open for a couple of weeks. I really liked it. Not a lot of theming, but what they do have is pretty. The pool was very nice and large. Maybe it seemed so nice because it’s brand new, but it was practically empty in the evening. Also the exterior wall of the hotel pool side looks cool at night. There are random lights on the wall to make it look like stars. They showed an outdoor movie which is always fun poolside. I’ve also never seen such a big pool deck. You should always be able to find a pool lounge. Visit the 3rd floor to see the star ceiling. Food was good from the cafe and market. I mobile ordered from cafe and they called my room when it was ready. Ice cream and pastries from the cafe were good and easy to get. TMs were excellent. After we left and were at another hotel my son realized he left a pair of shoes at Stella. Housekeeping had turned them into security and I was easily able to pick them up.”

Pretty high praise for one of Universal’s newest and more affordable resorts.

Pros included proximity to Epic Universe, the friendly staff, the pool area, easy food access, and the cheaper pricing. Cons, on the other hand, were limited to a lack of theming and the pool grill being closed in the evening.

Sometimes, more expensive quality isn’t better quality, as made evident by these reviews!

We love to hear your reviews about your stays at Universal and Disney! Be sure to leave feedback in the review sections on the AllEars website and have your voice heard!

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