Helios Grand details when?

[Minnie1222]

Rooms at Helios for the opening weekend are available right now. 2QB pool view, 2QB park view, 2QB park view club, Dragon Suite non-park view, and Celestial suite.

 

[Lewisc]

Rooms at Helios for the opening weekend are available right now. 2QB pool view, 2QB park view, 2QB park view club, Dragon Suite non-park view, and Celestial suite.

I'm not seeing it.

 

[Minnie1222]

I'm not seeing it.

Try 5/23 - 5/26.

 

[Lewisc]

Try 5/23 - 5/26.

Weird 5/22 isn't avaliable. I thought there was a 2 night minimum.

My stay starts 5,/26. I was going to see what other room categories are available. Sold out

 

[Minnie1222]

I was online during the first hour of Helios reservation and 5/22 wasn't even available back then. We arrive on 5/23, expecting to see a lot of the social media folks.

 

[Lewisc]

I was online during the first hour of Helios reservation and 5/22 wasn't even available back then. We arrive on 5/23, expecting to see a lot of the social media folks.

So 6/23 was only available to special people. I was booking the first hour. I.booked club with a stay more rate, 5/27 arrival.

 

[Minnie1222]

So 6/23 was only available to special people. I was booking the first hour. I.booked club with a stay more rate, 5/27 arrival.

How did you get the Stay More rate? Did you have to go to a specific page? We're only staying 3 nights in May so maybe that's not enough for the special rate? We also have a 5-night reservation in July that I would love to get a discounted rate for.

 

[Lewisc]

How did you get the Stay More rate? Did you have to go to a specific page? We're only staying 3 nights in May so maybe that's not enough for the special rate? We also have a 5-night reservation in July that I would love to get a discounted rate for.

3 nights staring 5/27 451.80 2Q Club
I'm not sure if I used the AP link or the regular one.
I suspect I booked before they pulled the deal. I was also offered seasonal rates.
Probably blacked out on weekends

 

[Minnie1222]

How far in advance can you book the Stay More rate? I will try to find one for our July reservation.

 

[Lewisc]

How far in advance can you book the Stay More rate? I will try to find one for our July reservation.

My confirmation email was time stamped 7:56 a. Most of the stay more rates seem to have sold out OR may have been pulled.

Suggestions Check weedays. Check each night separately. Check for 2 nights then 3 nights etc.

The rate I posted does NOT include tax and is NOT park view.

 

[georgina]

3 nights staring 5/27 451.80 2Q Club
I'm not sure if I used the AP link or the regular one.
I suspect I booked before they pulled the deal. I was also offered seasonal rates.
Probably blacked out on weekends

Out of curiosity, I just checked and find it interesting that the club rate for my 3 weeknights in Dec would have been $449 pre-tax SMSM rate. I did not want to pay club, but your May rates are not any higher.

 

[Minnie1222]

Out of curiosity, I just checked and find it interesting that the club rate for my 3 weeknights in Dec would have been $449 pre-tax SMSM rate. I did not want to pay club, but your May rates are not any higher.

The May rates for club are $600+ and $800+ for regular and park-view, respectively. $449 is an excellent club rate. If I survive Monsters Unchained, maybe we'll consider coming again in December.

 

[Minnie1222]

Oh wow! I just checked next December 2025 and the Stay More Save More rate is already available for Helios. This makes me want to book a 3rd trip just in case.

 

[The Gatekeeper]

I made several reservations at Helios when the reservations opened because it was an unknow when I would be able to get tickets to Epic and for how many days. I got the Stay More rate on the five and four night reservations, but not my two or three night reservations. I have cancelled all but two. I can't decide if I want to do Helios for my full stay or just three nights then move to another hotel. I'm leaning towards a split stay.
The one I'm most likely to hold on to is a Club Level 2Q Park View ($742 seasonal rate) for the beginning of June. Although I wasn't particularly impressed with the hot food offerings in the evening at the Royal Pacific Club, I'm a little concerned about procuring food at Helios. Busing to City Walk just to eat seems like a pain and Helios seems to only have one restaurant and a grab and go. I will assume that the rooftop bar will be jammed and not ideal for dinner for a family. So that leave the park and even if you have tickets, the crowds and wait for food may be an issue. So I booked club level as insurance against all those potential issues. Plus, having access to a club level concierge may come in handy, and the staff in the club are just so pleasant anyway. I'm excited to experience it at the new hotel.
I wonder if the club will have a fireworks view? From the video, it didn't appear to have a park view, so a fireworks view would be a great plus for those in PV rooms.

 

[marmentrout85]

I made several reservations at Helios when the reservations opened because it was an unknow when I would be able to get tickets to Epic and for how many days. I got the Stay More rate on the five and four night reservations, but not my two or three night reservations. I have cancelled all but two. I can't decide if I want to do Helios for my full stay or just three nights then move to another hotel. I'm leaning towards a split stay.
The one I'm most likely to hold on to is a Club Level 2Q Park View ($742 seasonal rate) for the beginning of June. Although I wasn't particularly impressed with the hot food offerings in the evening at the Royal Pacific Club, I'm a little concerned about procuring food at Helios. Busing to City Walk just to eat seems like a pain and Helios seems to only have one restaurant and a grab and go. I will assume that the rooftop bar will be jammed and not ideal for dinner for a family. So that leave the park and even if you have tickets, the crowds and wait for food may be an issue. So I booked club level as insurance against all those potential issues. Plus, having access to a club level concierge may come in handy, and the staff in the club are just so pleasant anyway. I'm excited to experience it at the new hotel.
I wonder if the club will have a fireworks view? From the video, it didn't appear to have a park view, so a fireworks view would be a great plus for those in PV rooms.

I hear you on the food and that's a valid concern for sure. We stayed at Dockside back in January and got settled into our room later than expected. Before we knew it all the food offerings were closed and made the trek over to CityWalk to grab a pizza at Red Oven to bring back to the hotel for the family. Would have been nice if the grab n go stayed open later. In hindsight probably would have just been easier and saved more time ordering delivery from somewhere nearby.

 

[georgina]

The May rates for club are $600+ and $800+ for regular and park-view, respectively. $449 is an excellent club rate. If I survive Monsters Unchained, maybe we'll consider coming again in December.

The post I quoted said he had club in May for $452 for 3 nights SMSM. As a solo, I just went for a regular room in December for $314/nt.

 

[namelessoracle]

A few months ago posters thought Helios would be superior to PBH. Some posters now think Helios should be ranked below Aventura.
Interesting how perception, prior to opening, can change so dramatically

They were putting it in their Premier Category. But we now know exactly what is included and what the hotel rooms and amenities will look like. I don't think its below Aventura, TAKEN IN ISOLATION. It seems about comparable, but Aventura is right next to 2 hotels with better amenities that you can walk over and enjoy with no fuss so it hedges it out in my mind. Its a quick walk to the Sapphire boat from Aventura, Sapphire Falls pool area is better than Helios from what I can see with more stuff for kids to do, or you can go do the lazy river plus other amenities of Cabana Bay or leverage its Volcano Bay entrance.

There is also room/mattress quality that is unknown. Cabana Bay has uncomfortable and cheap mattresses, Dock/Surfsides also have uncomfortable mattresses (but less so than Cabana's, Cabana's are so bad my family asks to stay in Surfside suite for the same price). The other hotels have far more comfortable mattresses with Hard Rock being the best. (havent stayed at Aventura yet to be fair). I know my family will be pretty mad if we dont get at least Sapphire Falls tier bedding in the room. Mattress quality makes a difference to us after a long park day.

TLDR

Helios = Aventura at first glance
Stella/Luna Nova = Dock/Surfsides at first glance.

This statement is just about the hotels and what they offer in their lonesome not their relative positions to the parks.

Looks like you are paying +100 dollars for their position relative to Epic. I have Helios booked for 2 nights the first week but we are viewing it as a splurge.

 

[Minnie1222]

We have two trips booked at Helios just to be near Epic. After that we will go back to the other premier hotels for the EP and proximity to CityWalk. We don't see a reason to stay exclusively at Helios beyond 2025.

 

[Lewisc]

We have two trips booked at Helios just to be near Epic. After that we will go back to the other premier hotels for the EP and proximity to CityWalk. We don't see a reason to stay exclusively at Helios beyond 2025.

I'm speculating early entry, through the dedicated entrance, will offer a big advantage.

How many posters want to use the

International Entry for early entry into EPCOT?

HELIOS isn't attractive, to me for long stays.

 

[Minnie1222]

HELIOS isn't attractive, to me for long stays.

I feel the same. Especially since my favorite restaurant is Toothsome.