4 Fantastic Pet-Friendly Hotels at Universal Orlando Resort (You Might Be Surprised At Which Ones Are On The List!)

Charles Schulz, author of The Peanuts comic strip, once said, “Happiness is a warm puppy.”

We couldn’t agree more! Our fur babies bring so much joy to our lives that, honestly, they kind of deserve their own holiday. Thankfully, they have one! That’s right – today, August 26th, is National Dog Day! From rescue pups to purebred prizewinners, every four-legged friend should be spoiled silly all day long!

One way to celebrate your Good Boy (or Good Girl!) is to take them along with you on your next vacation. There are four great pet-friendly hotels found at the Universal Orlando Resort, and each one features a whole host of services and amenities for you and your furry friend to enjoy.

We’ll go over all of the details for each hotel so you can decide which one is best for you and your sweet, sweet pupper!

The Loews Loves Pets Program

Before diving into the different amenities that each pet-friendly hotel offers, it’s important to note that all of them are part of the Loews Loves Pets program. This program enables guests to skip the trouble (and stress!) of leaving pets with a sitter or at a kennel, allowing you to keep your loyal companion where they truly belong – right by your side!

(While today’s focus is all about doggos, we love that the Loews Loves Pets Program does include kitties, too. Meow and how!)

In addition to their pet-friendly admissions policy, this program also provides guests with a wide range of amazing amenities, including pet gear, specially-cooked food, and other pet-related services. Pets receive just as warm of a welcome as people here! In fact, they are given a welcome package that includes treats, bowls, a placemat, and even their own room service menu!

Even better yet? Half of Universal’s hotels are participants in this pawsitively fantastic program!

Pet Policies and Procedures

While your hotel can provide just about anything you might forget (or simply don’t want to lug around), you’ll need to make sure your pets have up-to-date vaccinations and that you have their recent vet records on hand. You’ll also want to bring any medications or special food your pets may need. You’re allowed up to two pets per room for a $100 fee. Only certain rooms are pet-friendly so you won’t get anything Club Level, but if you accidentally book a non-pet room, staff will reassign you to a pet room upon arrival.

All four pet-friendly hotels have connections to local pet walking and pet-sitting services should you need them while you are away for the day. However, well-behaved fur babies are allowed to be left on their own. (Guests receive signs for their doors that let staff know furry friends are inside!) These hotels also loan guests any equipment they might have left behind at home, such as various-sized pet beds, leashes, collars, and even litter boxes for the kitties! Toys and treats are also available to make the pets feel pampered.

In the past, the Loews Loves Pets Program has offered an on-site kennel service. While it’s currently unavailable, it’s expected the kennel will open again in the future. If it operates as it used to, then it will be first-come, first-serve with roughly a $15 per day fee.

While each of the four hotels is incredibly pet-friendly, animals aren’t allowed in the restaurants, pools, or lounge areas, nor are they allowed in the Universal Studios theme park. (They probably wouldn’t meet any of the height requirements for the rides, anyway…)

Although we do our best to provide a good overview of what you need to know, we always recommend checking each hotel’s website for more information on any policies, requirements, and fees that might affect your stay before booking your room. While the pet policies are pretty much the same across all four hotels, we’ll take a quick look at each location’s unique offerings for humans, as well as any differences in regard to pet-friendliness.

Loews Royal Pacific Resort

A tropical paradise situated in the heart of Universal Orlando, Loews Royal Pacific Resort boasts a massive lagoon-style swimming pool, top-notch service, and world-class dining options.

Filled to the brim with lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, towering palm trees, and tranquil fields of fragrant flowers, an overnight stay will make you feel like you’re vacationing in the enchanted islands of the South Seas. We just love those beachy vibes!

This pet-friendly hotel comes equipped with amenities that everyone in the family will be sure to love. For instance, children will enjoy themselves in the game room or at the supervised children’s activity center while mom and dad sip tropical cocktails poolside at the Bula Bar & Grille.

Pet parents looking to spend most of their days at Universal Orlando will be pleased to know that this pet-friendly hotel offers guests FREE Universal Express Unlimited Ride Access. Hotel guests have a huge advantage by skipping long lines at participating attractions in Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, which will definitely come in handy, especially during peak season.

As for the dogs? They’ll love the welcome treats, toys, and designated walking trails!

Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel 

With just over 650 rooms, the Hard Rock Hotel is smaller than other Universal properties, but with its cool rock ‘n’ roll theme, you’ll feel like you’ve made it big time.

The hotel’s edgy design delivers the complete rock-star experience, with hallways and common spaces adorned with classic music memorabilia. Hard Rock Hotel even has a Fender Guitar Lending Library, where guests can pick out a guitar and have it delivered to their room for their playing pleasure. 

Rooms come with a 32-inch flat-screen TV, iPod docks, and Keurig coffee makers, although pet-friendly rooms are limited to non-smoking Garden View rooms only. Hard Rock also specifies a 50-pound weight limit for the doggos. (If you have a 50-pound cat…you may actually be housing a cougar, FYI.) Each pet will receive a complimentary branded welcome amenity bag “to turn their stay up a notch” because we all know they’re the real rockstars here!

There are many (human) perks for those who choose to spend their vacation at the Hard Rock Hotel, too. In addition to express-line privileges at Universal theme parks and priority restaurant seating, guests are also allowed early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort 

One of the most sought-after accommodations in Orlando, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is a sprawling pet-friendly hotel with over a thousand rooms, all of which feature stylish and contemporary decor inspired by the Caribbean Islands.

The hotel’s huge swimming pool is the biggest among all of Universal Orlando’s hotels. Swaying palm trees and thundering waterfalls surround the entire property, giving it a more secluded feel even though it’s in proximity to the theme parks.

A relaxing color scheme combined with rustic wooden furniture and perks such as flat-screen TVs, iHome docks, and Keurig coffee machines will make you feel right at home. More than that, their rooms all have breathtaking views overlooking the resort’s numerous pools or the lagoon. 

This upscale resort is a few minutes away from Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Early admission to theme parks, water taxis, and shuttle services are available for guests, and four-legged friends receive a classic welcome package and have designated walking areas. 

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel 

For those who want to visit Portofino Bay on the Italian Riviera without actually booking an expensive flight to Europe, the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is the next best thing! Modeled after an actual world-renowned seaside town, this 750-room pet-friendly hotel features nightly singers on the piazza as well as a waterslide designed to look like a Roman aqueduct. 

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is more expensive than the other options at Universal Orlando Resort, but with world-class amenities and gorgeous accommodations, it’s not hard to see why. For example, Portofino Bay is the only hotel at Universal Orlando Resort with spa facilities! There are also three pools and a jacuzzi, so you can really vacation in style.

Similar to other resorts at Universal Orlando, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel offers several theme park privileges for its guests, including early access perks and a free water taxi service to the parks. 

When staying with pets, you’ll be limited to the Garden and Bay View rooms only, but there’s convenient access to the dog walking area, which, incidentally, has some great views! It’ll be a Roman holiday both you and your furry friend will love!

Final Thoughts

Any one of these four pet-friendly hotels at Universal Orlando Resort would be perfect for pet parents who can’t bear to leave their best friend behind. All of them feature incredible perks, amenities, and services that everyone in the family – four-legged or two-legged – will be sure to enjoy. 

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Have you stayed in one of these pet-friendly hotels before? What was your experience like? More importantly, how much did your pet enjoy the trip? Let us know in the comments below – we’d love to hear from you! 

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Featured photo: Prystai from Getty Image Pro via Canva