It’s HERE! Universal is FINALLY ready to spill some tea with an update on one of its upcoming hotels!

There’s been a LOT of talk about Universal’s upcoming theme park, premiere Halloween event, and ongoing construction. While Universal had already confirmed several details about a few of the newest hotels to open just outside the gates of its newest theme park, we still had outstanding questions about it’s largest remaining hotel that will feature a first-of-its-kind in-park entrance for Universal Orlando.

That’s right! Universal’s Epic Universe will feature one hotel that will offer an in-park entrance towards the backside of the park making this one highly anticipated grand opening. The Universal Helios Grand Hotel has been under construction for a while and featured in the model you can visit at Universal’s Epic Universe preview center in CityWalk but beyond a few scant details of its influence we’ve mostly been in the dark about it so far.

However, it seems Universal is finally ready to share more details about the upcoming hotel and all of the amenities it will be set to offer its guests when it opens. Universal has confirmed this hotel is set to open in 2025 and will aim to provide a seamless hotel-to-park experience for visitors. They’ve also confirmed we can expect this hotel to be heavily influenced by the Mediterranean culture and decor offering similar to what we’ll find in the lush gardens and scenic waters of Celestial Park at Epic Universe.

Universal’s creative team has worked alongside Loews Hotels to create a unique atmosphere for this hotel to blend “immersion and relaxation” boasting notable features such as tranquil sleeping accommodations in 500 rooms and 35 suites, family-friendly entertainment, divine dining options at diverse restaurants, a rooftop bar with stunning views, and as we’d already mentioned, the inclusion of the hotel’s own dedicated entrance to the new theme park.

Enough talking about this new hotel, let’s take a look at what we’ll find inside! As soon as you step through the doors of this hotel, Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel aims to transport its guests to a fantastical world within the palace of Helios, the Greek god of the sun. As you look around you, you’ll find its cascading walls and ceilings lined with details of celestial patterns, dazzling constellations, and elegant yet casual Mediterranean design elements. The lobby will feature magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows and offer its visitors a breathtaking view of the park’s most central land, Celestial Park.

Inside the hotel, you can expect to find amenities such as:

• Serene Guest Rooms and Spacious Suites – Bright, inviting and warm, the guest rooms and suites of Universal Helios Grand Hotel evoke the tranquility of a blissful garden – with many of the rooms offering fantastic views of Epic Universe.

• Unique to Universal Helios Grand Hotel are the imaginative How to Train Your Dragon Kids’ Suites, where little ones can take to the skies and rest amongst dragons in a colorful room inspired by the Viking village of Berk.

• Dedicated Entrance to Universal Epic Universe – Located off the lobby is the hotel’s dedicated entrance into Epic Universe – an unparalleled amenity for guests of Universal Helios Grand Hotel that provides direct, convenient access to and from the theme park (valid theme park admission required).

• Bar Helios – A sparkling and stylish rooftop lounge, Bar Helios at Universal Helios Grand Hotel offers a delectable menu of creative tapas and familiar favorites, thoughtfully handcrafted specialty cocktails, and unmatched 360-degree views of Epic Universe and beyond – making this the perfect spot for guests to kick back in the evening after a busy day in the parks.

• Resort-style Pool – The oasis of the zero-entry pool is the ultimate spot for rest and relaxation – complete with underwater speakers, poolside cabanas available for rent, a hot tub, poolside movies, recreational activities, and more.

Additionally, hotel guests will also expect to enjoy:

• a complimentary state-of-the-art fitness center featuring a variety of strength and cardio equipment;
• a game room for guests to blast, zap, and race their way through a collection of arcade games with the purchase of a game card;
• a Universal Orlando Resort Store for guests to purchase everything from sundries and necessities to Universal Orlando merchandise; and so much more.

We briefly mentioned earlier that the hotel is expected to offer several dining options for its guests and visitors and Universal is offering up a few details about each restaurant!

• Flora Taverna – a full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner and a lobby bar with a light and airy atmosphere – featuring an open-style kitchen with live cooking, Mediterranean comfort foods, pizza ovens, and al fresco seating overlooking the beautiful scenery of Celestial Park; 
• Aurora Market – a contemporary coffee shop and market offering freshly roasted coffees, delightful grab-and-go food items, and enticing snack and dessert options from morning to night;
• Lotus Lagoon – a poolside bar and grill where guests can cool off with refreshing cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks and enjoy casual fare options like burgers, salads, sandwiches, and more.

As always with staying at a Universal Orlando hotel, folks who stay here will get exclusive park benefits as on-site guests. Stays booked at Universal Helios Grand Hotel will receive Early Park Admission to enjoy select attractions at the theme parks. This already exists to current Universal Orlando hotel guests at both Universal Studios AND Islands of Adventure however, this offering will include Universal’s Epic Universe when the park opens in 2025.

This benefit offers hotel guests (with valid theme park admission) the opportunity to visit a select theme park each day up to one hour before the park opens giving you a chance to beat the regular day crowds to some of the park’s most popular rides and attractions. This perk joins others that are already offered to Universal hotel guests such as complimentary shuttle bus transportation to the theme parks and Universal CityWalk, resort-wide charging to hotel rooms using your room key, and complimentary merchandise delivery.

The addition of Universal Helios Grand Hotel also brings MORE change to Universal’s hotel categories. The new tiers will now be known as the Signature Collection which will include Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, the Prime Value hotels which includes Universal Aventura Hotel, Universal Stella Nova Resort (opening January 21, 2025) and Universal Terra Luna Resort (opening February 25, 2025), and the Value Inns and Suites – including Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Universal Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites & Dockside Inn and Suites. Each category will offer its own unique amenities, levels of comfort, and pricing to its hotel guests, so you’ll want to be certain to compare your options as you decide which may be right for you and your family.

We recommend you speak to our friends at Small World Vacations if you’re not already working with a travel agent to help navigate these new changes! Their travel agents are happy to assist and their booking and advice is free to you when you book your vacations with them!

We’re bringing you all the latest news, details, and updates coming from Universal’s Epic Universe as they happen! Be sure to stay tuned with us for more!

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Which of Universal’s Epic Universe hotels are you  most excited to stay in? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!