All 7 Universal Orlando Hotels Ranked from Worst to Best – Where Will You Choose to Stay?
Universal Studios Orlando is known for having some of the most thrilling rides of any theme park, anywhere, but did you know they also have some fantastic accommodations? The magic of the movies doesn’t have to stop at the park gates when you choose to stay at one of Universal’s seven hotels!
But which one is best for you?
Each hotel offers something a little different, from theming to pricing to on-site perks, but in all honesty, there’s no “bad” pick among the bunch! Nevertheless, we’re going to look at all of the Universal Orlando hotels ranked from worst to best based on the overall experience of spending a few nights there.
We’ll also talk a bit about each resort so you can decide for yourself which one is the best fit for you and your family. Your top pick may be different than ours – and that’s totally okay! Because I’ll let you in on a secret: our ultimate goal is to help you have the best time on your Universal vacay. Ranking the hotels is just a super fun way to go about it! 😉
Universal Orlando Hotels Ranked – Worst to Best!
Before we get to ranking them, here’s something all Universal resorts have in common: Starbucks, in-room mini-fridges, and super cool benefits. (Sadly, free breakfast is not one of these benefits.) When you stay at any of Universal’s hotels, you get:
- Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Volcano Bay – up to an hour earlier than other guests!
- Free Transportation to and from the parks and Universal CityWalk. (The resorts are also within walking distance of the parks.)
- Pool Hopping Privileges so you can chill at any of the Universal hotels’ recreational facilities. (Note: guests who stay at the Endless Summer Resort are not eligible for pool hopping.)
- An All Powerful Room Key that you can use to make in-park purchases.
Of course, Universal has divided their hotels into categories – premier, preferred, prime value, and value – and Universal premier hotels are awarded two extra, notable perks:
- Free Universal Express Unlimited Passes so you can skip the lines for the duration of your stay.
- Select Restaurant Seating at participating locations in the parks and CityWalk.
The free express passes are such a fantastic perk. It’s tempting to just toss the Universal premier hotels into our top three slots, no questions asked. However, there are plenty of other factors to consider when choosing a hotel, so we won’t let premier perks bias our rankings. We’ll look purely at hotel quality, experience, and vibes. (So, it’s still completely subjective, LOL!)
One incredibly important factor is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Forget the “best” hotel experience – which one is best for getting to Hogwarts?! Because each hotel offers early access and transportation to the parks, there isn’t a choice that’s particularly “better” for Wizarding World trips. That being said, Hard Rock Hotel is closest to Universal Studios Florida (Diagon Alley), and the Loews Royal Pacific is closest to Islands of Adventure (Hogsmeade). That puts you five to ten minutes closer than the other properties, but it probably doesn’t need to be your deciding factor when picking a room.
Now, with that information tucked away in your back pocket, let’s dive into our list (and also one of the hotel pools, please!).
7. Aventura Hotel
Category: Prime Value
You might be surprised to see our lowest-ranked hotel isn’t one of the “regular, old” value hotels, but there’s a good reason for it. Despite what its name sounds like, Aventura isn’t much of an adventure at all.
It’s a marvel of sleek, modern architecture with equally sleek, neutral rooms. It’s good quality, but it lacks fun. That being said, it might just be the best Universal Orlando hotel for adults. (But who really wants to be an adult??)
While there’s no real “theme” beyond chillaxing – which, okay, I love to do – this Universal hotel does have a rooftop bar with great views, a pretty nice pool, a genuinely good food court, and smart, tablet-based controls for many of the rooms’ amenities. (And, of course, with pool hopping options, you can always scoot on over to a different resort for a more vibrant waterside experience.)
As of writing, the average price per night is around $230.00 for two guests. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense place that’s soothing, stylish, and best utilized for simply sleeping and showering, then Aventura might be right up your alley!
6. Endless Summer Resort
Category: Value
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort is broken into two hotels: Dockside and Surfside. Both are an excellent value for the price (around $100 a night for standard rooms).
The main difference between Surfside and Dockside is that Dockside is bigger and newer. (Dockside is Universal’s newest hotel, in fact!) For some, this might be preferable. However, it’s worth noting Surfside consistently ranks above Dockside on websites like Tripadvisor.
Dockside has two pools as well as a larger lobby and food court. While some guests like Dockside’s amenities better, it can feel busy and almost too expansive. Just across the way, Surfside has one pool and fewer amenities, but in exchange, it’s quieter, easier to navigate, and still has everything you need!
Both hotels are adorned with warm, cozy beach and surfing decor. Rooms are sunny, light, airy, and accented with touches of bright color. We absolutely love the vibes here – it really puts you in vacation mode!
This resort is furthest from the parks but still within walking distance if you’re okay with a less straightforward route. (If not, there’s a free shuttle!) While this resort doesn’t participate in pool hopping, its own pools and poolside bars won’t disappoint. (For the record, like all Universal hotel pools, these large swimming areas are heated during cooler weather.1 Ahhh, perfect!)
Whether you choose Surfside or Dockside, you’re going to get the best bang for your buck with these guys!
5. Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Category: Premier
This premier hotel will sweep you away to a Polynesian paradise! While some see it as a competitive sister to Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the Loews Royal Pacific is less tiki and more tropical.
Leaning into its theme in the most luxurious way possible, the highlight of this resort is its gorgeous lagoon-style pool. Exotic and romantic, this might be the best Universal Orlando hotel for adults – especially for couples on a getaway! With splashes of bright, tropical flower decor in each room, it definitely has more personality than Aventura but still gives off a more serious, grown-up vibe.
As a premier hotel, the Royal Pacific is more expensive, with standard rooms starting at $312.00 as of writing. However, it is the cheapest of the three Universal premier hotels! Admittedly, that’s because its amenities, food, and pool aren’t quite as cool as the other premiers.
That being said, if you’re wanting to snag that free express pass and save some money, grabbing a room here is a good way to do that. And for some, this hotel’s soothing Southern Pacific surroundings are going to be more appealing than the other premier hotel themes!
Oh, and we can’t forget to mention that Loews Royal Pacific is one of the hotels linked with Universal’s water taxi service! Instead of walking or taking a shuttle to the parks, you can hop aboard an adorable little boat and putt along a winding waterway to a drop-off point at CityWalk. You can also use the water taxi service when leaving the park or even take it to one of the linked hotels if you’re interested in trying one of their restaurants!
4. Hard Rock Hotel
Category: Premier
Unleash your inner rockstar when you book a stay at the hippest of Universal premier hotels – Hard Rock Hotel! It’s all about the music here, man. Even the hotel’s California mission-style design is inspired by classic rock. (And you know if something is referencing the Eagles, it’s gonna be good.)
You can really Take It Easy because the rooms here are wonderfully posh, spacious, and brimming with colorful pop art and musical decor. In fact, Hard Rock Hotel essentially doubles as a music museum thanks to the many pieces of memorabilia tastefully displayed throughout. From The Beatles to Taylor Swift, musicians across the decades are celebrated here, though the main focus is certainly on tunes from “the good old days.” This gives the hotel a similar to feel to the Universal parks themselves, as nostalgia and stardom are intertwined for a great experience.
This hotel is closest to the parks, with a door-to-door walk of about ten minutes. It also has a large pool with a unique feature: underwater music! If you spend One of These Nights here, you’ll get to enjoy a slew of amenities including fun table service dining options (with American cuisine – like steak!), free guitar rentals, and occasional live music.
While rock vibes can tend toward the edgier side, this hotel is still family-friendly. Nevertheless, it’s probably best enjoyed by couples, folks with teenaged children, and anyone who enjoys living Life in the Fast Lane.
Speaking of fast lanes, Hard Rock Hotel is also a water taxi stop, so definitely take advantage of this service if you stay here! While it’s not necessarily that fast, we think it beats walking!
Standard room prices start at $360.00 as of writing, and that’s a good chunk of anyone’s budget Already Gone! But with all of the rockin’ perks, it’s totally worth it for some travelers.
(Did I Take It to the Limit with my Eagles references?? Maybe…)
3. Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Category: Preferred
The only hotel of the preferred category, Sapphire Falls made its way into our top three thanks to one main feature: it has the best pool of any Universal hotel!
At 16,000 square feet, the burbling, blue pool at this resort is the largest on Universal property. But it’s not just the size that’s impressive! As the name suggests, there are actually waterfalls dotted around the resort, which is themed as a tropical getaway. The pool itself is crafted to feel like an oasis, surrounded by palm trees and “natural” rock formations. There’s also a sand beach for lounging, a waterslide for slippery fun, rentable cabanas, and even poolside games like water balloon toss and ping pong!
Now, if the pool isn’t super important to you, then I’d simply swap Sapphire and Hard Rock’s rankings. However, if you’re like me and always check up on the pool situation (even when it’s just a Holiday Inn), then Sapphire Falls needs to be a top contender for your vacay stay.
But there’s more to this resort than just its pool! There’s a game room here with arcade favorites as well as several dining options, each offering fresh, Caribbean fare. Between the stellar pool and game room, Sapphire Falls is most certainly in the running for being the best Universal resort for families.
While the rooms might not be as big as those of the Universal premier hotels, they still feel plenty fancy, and the affordable price tag is also a huge draw. Starting at around $200.00 a night for standard rooms, Sapphire Falls hits the sweet spot of being ritzy without being outrageous.
Like its counterparts, this resort is within walking distance of the Universal parks, but it’s also linked to the water taxi service – and it’s the only value-level hotel to have this privilege. So, be sure to catch a ride on the waterway! (Frankly, we just think it’s really fun!)
2. Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Category: Prime Value
While Sapphire Falls hit a home run in the pool department, Cabana Bay Beach Resort might just one up them with their lazy river. In fact, Cabana Bay is the only Universal hotel with a lazy river! On top of that, it also has two pools, a waterslide, a poolside bar, rentable cabanas (well, we’d hope so, with the name and all!), and even a firepit. All of this to say, Cabana’s recreational area is kind of awesome.
But it gets even better! No, seriously, are you ready for this? Cabana Bay has a bowling alley. (In other words, it’s my dad’s dream hotel.) There’s also an arcade with both modern and classic games as well as several American dining options with pizza, burgers, and wings. With so much to do that appeals to kiddos and adults alike, Cabana Bay has our vote as the number one best Universal resort for families!
The theme of this resort is mid-century modern. If you like The Flintstones or The Jetsons, then you’ll love the vivid, retro vibes of this place! Cabana Bay is a romanticized hub of 1950s nostalgia, harkening back to the days when Leave It To Beaver was prime-time television and Studebakers roamed the streets. (For the record, my ’63 Lark still runs beautifully!)
While the retro vibes might feel too outdated or over-the-top for some, we think Cabana Bay is really fun! And for $140.00 a night for standard rooms (as of writing), it’s also one of the most affordable options on this list. This hotel is one of Universal’s larger ones, so at peak times like spring break, the crowds can make you feel a little, well, crowded… however, despite its size, most guests find Cabana Bay relatively easy to navigate.
With its outstandingly executed theme, fun and unique features, vibrant atmosphere, and reasonable price, putting Cabana Bay toward the top of our rankings was a no-brainer.
1. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Category: Premier
Coming in at our number one slot for the best Universal Orlando hotel is the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel!
Simply put, Portofino Bay is gorgeous. The theming here – which is old-world Italy – is remarkably achieved. With its own harbor, cobblestone walkways, and quaint courtyards, you might just find yourself looking around for Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck zipping by on a Vesta scooter! Elegance and charm are the foundation of this resort, and we find that ambiance irresistible. But even if you’re looking for some kiddo-themed pizzazz, Portofino has you covered with their special Despicable Me minion suites.
While there’s no lazy river, Portofino Bay does have THREE entire pools for you to choose from: the Beach Pool, Villa Pool, and Hillside Pool. The Beach Pool comes with a side of sand, a waterslide, two jacuzzis, and a plethora of poolside activities from ping pong to crafting. Both the Villa and Hillside pools are pretty lowkey and perfect for a more secluded waterside experience.
Portofino Bay also excels in the food department – but how could you not when your theme is Italian?? You can keep it casual with quick service handmade pizza, sandwiches, and gelato, or opt for a relaxed (but ever-elegant) sit-down dining experience at one of the ristorantes.
Now, here comes the one downside of this hotel: the price. It is the most expensive property, with standard rooms starting at around $372.00 a night. However, most guests will tell you this is a case of getting what you pay for and that Portofino’s immersive styling and amenities make it worth it. Portofino’s smaller guest capacity combined with its sprawling layout also means you never have to worry about “sardine syndrome” during your stay. And while it’s not a deciding factor by any means, it’s worth noting this hotel is also a water taxi stop! It’s almost like being on a gondola in Venice…
Portofino Bay retains that awesome, easy access to the parks while magically feeling a world away. It’s the most transportive Universal resort by far; rather than functioning as a liminal space, Portofino Bay is equal parts journey and destination in and of itself.
Which Universal hotel is your personal favorite? Tell us all about your stay in the comments below!
Cover photo: Unsplash
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