Universal Helios Grand Hotel Adventure

Our Stay at Universal Orlando’s New Helios Grand Hotel

We recently stayed at Universal Orlando’s brand-new Helios Grand

Hotel, and it truly feels like a luxury resort—with the unbeatable bonus of being just steps from Epic Universe. Honestly, you can’t get any closer to the park, and that alone makes this hotel a standout.

From the moment you check in, the views grab your attention. The lobby looks straight out over Epic Universe, and whether it’s daytime or nighttime, the park is beautiful to see. Watching the park come alive in the morning and glow at night was one of our favorite parts of staying here.

The Room

The rooms are spacious, beautifully designed, and very upscale, with a modern style that still feels warm and comfortable. Our room wasn’t a theme park view, but we really enjoyed overlooking the pool area, which felt peaceful and relaxing—especially after long park days.

Helios also offers How to Train Your Dragon–themed family suites, which are perfect for families traveling with kids. The theming is fun without being overwhelming, and the suites still keep that luxury feel the resort is known for.

Pool & Poolside Dining

The pool area was wonderful and had a true resort vibe. There isn’t a slide at the pool, which is something to note for families, but the space is still great for relaxing. The poolside bar was a highlight for us—the food options were surprisingly good and made it easy to grab a meal without leaving the pool.

Easy, Fast Park Access

Being this close to Epic Universe is a huge perk. On our park day, we were able to walk over and get through security quickly, which made the whole morning feel easy and stress-free.

Before heading into the park, we stopped by the hotel’s quick-service location for coffee and a quick breakfast, which was super convenient and saved us time. When visiting Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, it is a quick 15 minute bus ride away. You get dropped off at the Universal City Walk entrance when visiting the older parks.

Breakfast & Rooftop Bar

The breakfast buffet was excellent, with plenty of options and a great way to fuel up before a full park day.

The rooftop bar is a must-do. The views of Epic Universe from up there are absolutely stunning, both during the day and at night. Just a heads-up: reservations can be tricky, so be sure to ask your travel agent for help with booking so you don’t miss out.

Final Thoughts

Helios Hotel blends luxury, convenience, and incredible park access better than any hotel we’ve stayed at near Universal. With beautiful rooms, themed family suites, amazing views day and night, great food, and being literally steps from Epic Universe, it’s hard to imagine a better place to stay for a Universal Orlando trip.