Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a Loews Hotel

park with the early entry allowing us to ride several rides more than once despite being a busy park weekend. We loved drinks and dining at the Atlantic hotel. The scallops and risotto are delicious as are the craft cocktails. The bar in the back of the Dark Universe has fun drinks and their chicken kabab was one of the best things in the park. The Flora Tavern restaurant was a highlight. The dinner options were amazing. My kids dont love chicken fingers but loved theirs. We also loved the ribeye, pizzas, and the salmon dishes but the best thing is the tomato and burrata salad. Chef's kiss! If you ask the front desk they can send you a link to preorder room service. So if you stay in the parks all day and stay late to watch the 10Pm water show then you can still have food ready in your room as you head up for the night. Highly recommend. Our last day we enjoyed the pool and outdoor bar. Great food and service. The beef kabob was delicious. The only thing that can be improved is that to shower off that day before the airport we were allowed to use the fitness center gym showers which provided towels and toiletries but no doors in the changing area of the shower ( a second curtain or door is needed for changing privacy). Also getting to Island of Adventure or Universal is not close and takes 20+ mins via the shuttle or calling and waiting for an uber so to get there for the early entry you need to start the day very early if staying at Helios your whole trip.

re beautiful. Our view was unfortunately of the parking deck. The gym was nice even though the TVs on the machines don't work. The pool and hot tub were very relaxing. We ate at every restaurant and enjoyed them all. We had a hiccup with our airport shuttle, it didn't come to get us so they had to call a car that I had to get reimbursed later. Also, note that the hotel is operated by Loews and doesn't integrate with the Universal app.

stial motifs that reflect the park's themes. As you enter the spacious lobby, you’re greeted with breathtaking views that enhance the overall experience. Located just steps away from Epic Universe, the hotel's dedicated entrance provides unparalleled convenience for park access, making it a fantastic choice for families looking to enjoy full days without long commutes. The hotel features 500 rooms that range in design from serene garden themes to views directly over the park. However, while the views are impressive, the room interiors feel somewhat generic, lacking the wow factor typical of upscale accommodations. Dining options include Bar Helios, a rooftop venue offering a nice ambiance but limited food choices. Service is generally friendly, yet there are reported delays during peak times, especially at the lobby check-in. Overall, Helios Grand Hotel serves as a solid base for exploring Epic Universe, though it may not quite live up to the "crown jewel" moniker many expected. The premium pricing might not be justified unless the park’s proximity is a key factor for your stay.

our Seasons before, which our kids liked, but they couldn’t really connect with the Disney-style themes. At Helios, though, they loved every single moment — especially having a park view right from our room. We’ve also stayed at the Waldorf Astoria, which is luxurious in its own way, but honestly, nothing compares to the magic of having the park literally in your backyard. Being able to take mid-day breaks for their little legs and come back at night to see the park all lit up was incredible. I read the negative reviews beforehand, and now I understand them — the food is just “okay” for adults, especially in the park. But here’s the thing: the kids loved it. They ate everything — pizza, pasta, even the “spicy” wings (which, to me, were bland). Clearly, this place was designed with children’s taste buds and comfort in mind, not adult fine dining. The pool is shallow, the food is simple, but it’s all intentional — this place is for kids to feel safe, comfortable, and happy. And as parents, that peace of mind is worth every penny. The entire property is spotless, secure, and staffed with attentive security at every corner. So yes — if you’re a couple looking for a relaxing, adult-oriented weekend, this probably isn’t your place. But if you’re a parent looking to give your kids a memory they’ll talk about all year, Helios is unbeatable.

l design and the standout feature, but not on the celestial theme. (Our room was 2 queens with a parking garage view) NO Express passes are included in the price which is disappointing. Rooms are not very big for the price I booked the 'deluxe' room to get some extra space; there's a fridge but no microwave, nowhere to hang a wet bathing suit in the bathroom, not enough towel hooks overall. Unbranded generic coffee pods. The water bottles in the room are $8 ea. ?? At this price point it should be complementary with the Florida heat. The closet is tiny and there are no robes which is kind of expected for a "luxury" hotel with a huge pool area. The tablet controller for everything was cool yet sometimes annoying as ours wasn't 100% functional w. Lights and curtains. And there's no way to set closed captions on the TV; needed when someone else is napping in the room. The hot tub is small for the hotel and crowded with unsupervised small children constantly coming in and out. If you're expecting a quiet soak after a long park day, forget about it. The elevators were fast and we never had to wait for one. The hotel restaurants are also very expensive for what you get ( $9 for a bagel, $29 for avocado toast??) , so we ate inside the park, brought our own snacks, and didn't bother. The gelato in the marketplace counter was excellent 👌🏼. I would not return unless the rates are reduced and / or they add express passes w. a multi day Epic package. I could only purchase individual park day tickets for Epic at full price for our 3 park days. I understand it's a new park but with the ungodly wait times and ride & show closures due to technical issues ( and the heat) we didn't really get value for our full price tickets plus the hotel expense. In contrast we spent 1/3 of the rate on our hotel our first 3 nights of our trip at Disney with many more amenities, 2 bigger rooms, and free breakfast.