Space out at Universal’s new hotels
Stella Nova and Terra Luna resorts to open near Epic Universe in Orlando
Universal Orlando continues to parse out details about its massive expansion now under construction. The latest announcement focuses on the two hotels rapidly nearing completion adjacent to Universal Epic Universe, the theme park that has fans (like you?) going gaga. The sister properties, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort, will feature an intergalactic look and feel coupled with reasonably down-to-Earth prices.
With rates as low as $134 per night, the resorts would appear to offer decent value. It’s budget hotel pricing, but the amenities are impressive, and guests will get all the benefits of staying on property at Universal Orlando. The theme park resort has four hotel categories ranging from the luxe Premier to Preferred, Prime Value, and Value. Stella Nova and Terra Luna join Universal’s existing Prime Value-level Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Aventura Hotel. Judging by those properties, the rooms at the new hotels should be comfortable and good-sized, if a bit spartan. They will each have large pools with hot tubs, fitness centers, and game rooms.
For dining, the Stella Nova will offer Cosmos Cafe and Market, while guests at Terra Luna will be able to grab a bite at the Omega Cafe and Market. Here’s hoping that the two eateries use the Aventura Hotel’s Urban Pantry food hall as a model and not Cabana Bay’s Bayliner Diner. The former features a variety of tasty options including an Asian station with made-to-order soups and bowls and a pizza station with wood-fired pies, while the latter is more like a mall food court with nondescript, mostly bland dishes. At the Cabana Bay, the mediocre restaurant isn’t a huge deal, because guests could take the resort’s lovely garden path and walk across the street to dine at the better options available in the Aventura or the Sapphire Falls hotels. Since the Stella Nova and the Terra Luna will be located at Universal’s new, non-contiguous property a few miles away, guests will have less flexibility in their dining choices. (Although free shuttles will be available between the two properties.)
The Stella Nova and the Terra Luna will both have lobby bars outfitted, like the decor throughout the hotels, with a sleek, space-age aesthetic. The facades of the long, curved, mid-rise buildings will sport splashes of bright colors. Instead of traditional windows, the guest rooms will have oval-shaped frames, which Universal describes as “spaceship-styled.” All of the rooms will have two queen beds and sleep up to four guests. From the outside, the windows, combined with the unusual color scheme, will give the hotels a distinctive look. Already, they are creating quite a sight along Universal Boulevard, near the Orange County Convention Center.
As with Universal’s other hotels, guests at the new resorts will be able to enter The Wizarding World of Harry Potter lands at both theme parks as well as the Volcano bay water park an hour before they open to off-property visitors. All of Universal’s onsite accommodations are operated by Loews Hotels. The Stella Nova and the Terra Luna will add another 1,500 rooms to the theme park resort’s current inventory of eight hotels. For the lowest rates, Universal’s Value-tier hotels at the Endless Summer Resort aren’t appreciably different from its Prime Value hotels in terms of amenities and presentation, although they are located off property (at the former Wet ‘n’ Wild site) a couple of miles from the existing theme park resort.
The Stella Nova resort is scheduled to open January 21, 2025, and the Terra Luna is on tap to welcome its first guests on February 25, 2025. Universal is taking reservations now for both hotels. No specific opening date has been announced for Epic Universe, other than the year, 2025. Although, with the hotels now slated to open early in the first quarter, the park could debut around the same time.
As part of the resort’s vast expansion, Universal will be introducing a third property, the Helios Grand Hotel, which will be located inside the Epic Universe theme park. While scant details have been revealed, the concept art for the hotel looks positively stunning. It appears likely that the Mediterranean-inspired Helios Grand would join Universal’s lineup as a Premier-level resort along with the existing Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, and Royal Pacific Resort.
Universal previously revealed information about two of the five lands coming to Epic Universe, Celestial Park and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. I’ll keep you posted as more details are released.
Have you stayed at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort or Aventura Hotel, its existing Prime Value hotels? Would you want to stay at the Stella Nova or the Terra Luna? What do you think about the theme of the new hotels?
This is what I love about Arthur's columns...They not only cover theme park rides, but everything related, including hotels and restaurants, written as only Arthur can! Always enjoyable and informative!
The construction pictures of those outside tiles make the hotels look striking; far prettier than you'd expect from a hotel with room rates like it does. I suspect they'll be hits.