New to Universal

[tguz]

We have never been to Universal Orlando before, always Disney. We are thinking about changing our Nov Disney vaca to Universal. Are the Dockside and Surfside Inn's similar to Disney's All Star Resorts? It looks like if we buy 5 day tickets with a package, we can only go to Epic on 1 day. Is that correct? Any other comments or suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I like Dockside & Surfside, and for the price they really can't be beat. The bus transportation is very smooth and frequent. Hotels are pretty new, finished within the last few years, and clean.

Yes, only one day at Epic with any 2025 tickets.

 

[Orsino]

I'm also trying to plan a trip to Universal and don't know what I'm doing. I looked at a package and if you buy the tickets with the room, it appears that you can go into Epic more than one day, but I'm not 100% sure. Seems silly to buy a 5 day ticket and only be able to go into epic one day. (We are going for fewer days so the restriction isn't as bad for us).

Edit to add: I went to the website and checked. With a package you can get tickets that are good all days for Epic. For a 5 Day trip that seems like the way to go, especially if you are already planning to stay on Universal property. We only want 2 days, so we might get the restricted ticket anyway.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

With a package you can get tickets that are good all days for Epic.

Is this 2026?

 

[tguz]

I'm also trying to plan a trip to Universal and don't know what I'm doing. I looked at a package and if you buy the tickets with the room, it appears that you can go into Epic more than one day, but I'm not 100% sure. Seems silly to buy a 5 day ticket and only be able to go into epic one day. (We are going for fewer days so the restriction isn't as bad for us).

Edit to add: I went to the website and checked. With a package you can get tickets that are good all days for Epic. For a 5 Day trip that seems like the way to go, especially if you are already planning to stay on Universal property. We only want 2 days, so we might get the restricted ticket anyway.

Thanks. I don't know what I am doing either. We have never researched Universal at all. I'm trying to figure things out.

 

[Orsino]

Is this 2026?

Yes

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Yes

Multi-day tickets for 2026 aren't restricted to one Epic day. Only 2025. Packaging makes no difference.

 

[Orsino]

Multi-day tickets for 2026 aren't restricted to one Epic day. Only 2025. Packaging makes no difference.

Oh! Interesting. I could have sworn that I was reading verbiage that said only one entry to Epic on the 2026 tickets I was considering.

 

[titojackson84]

I’m a big fan of surf side (haven’t stayed at dock side). The price is good, the food court area was good, you can walk across the street to Walgreens (milk is much more expensive at the hotel). The bus ride to and from the parks is short), they have suites that have an extra bedroom if you need it.

I haven’t stayed at the all stars but have stayed at pop and would say it’s somewhat similar to that. Surf side doors are internal though.

I liked it so much more than Aventura. I’m staying at stella nova in August to try it out since it’s close to epic, otherwise I would stay at surf side again.

 

[Disney Ron]

We have never been to Universal Orlando before, always Disney. We are thinking about changing our Nov Disney vaca to Universal. Are the Dockside and Surfside Inn's similar to Disney's All Star Resorts? It looks like if we buy 5 day tickets with a package, we can only go to Epic on 1 day. Is that correct? Any other comments or suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

Disney's hotels can't compare with UO's. When you see Dockside and Surfside you'll see how much better they are compared to the All Star Motel 6 resorts. You're doing the correct thing changing your trip to UO. Have a great time.

 

[Liastaob]

Disney's hotels can't compare with UO's. When you see Dockside and Surfside you'll see how much better they are compared to the All Star Motel 6 resorts. You're doing the correct thing changing your trip to UO. Have a great time.

I have to say, I was pretty impressed with Portofino Bay when we stayed there recently. The only thing that really annoyed me was the lack of a good QS breakfast option; and the gift shops were pretty lame.

 

[Minnie1222]

I've stayed at all the Universal Premier hotels, including the newest Helios Grand. They're different, not better or nicer than the Disney deluxes.

 

[Skippyboo]

I have to say, I was pretty impressed with Portofino Bay when we stayed there recently. The only thing that really annoyed me was the lack of a good QS breakfast option; and the gift shops were pretty lame.

QS are the weak point at the top tier Universal hotels. The hotel gift shops are pretty similar across all the Universal hotels that I have stayed at ( I have done all the north of i4 ones). I do like the amenities of a Cabana Bay say versus a WDW value. The parking fee is annoying.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I've stayed at all the Universal Premier hotels, including the newest Helios Grand. They're different, not better or nicer than the Disney deluxes.

I would say the exact opposite and have stayed at all of their resorts including Helios twice and Stella Nova twice .
Loews Hotels are considered to be managed by the hotel industry versus Disney that is not a hotel company .
I stayed at Sapphire Falls a week ago and all of the bed sheets and covers were brand new .I don’t think I have ever had anything brand new at Disney except for my recent stay at the new Polynesian Island Tower.
I also love Disney Resorts but Loews are a better class .

 

[Liastaob]

I would say the exact opposite and have stayed at all of their resorts including Helios twice and Stella Nova twice .
Loews Hotels are considered to be managed by the hotel industry versus Disney that is not a hotel company .
I stayed at Sapphire Falls a week ago and all of the bed sheets and covers were brand new .I don’t think I have ever had anything brand new at Disney except for my recent stay at the new Polynesian Island Tower.
I also love Disney Resorts but Loews are a better class .

One thing I really enjoyed was the ability to text for things like extra towels or more conditioner, and they would actually quickly respond and have them delivered in the next 20 minutes or so. It was incredibly refreshing.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

With my stay at TERRA LUNA this weekend (I don't know why it keeps capitalizing it... I swear it's not me ), I've officially stayed at all onsite Universal hotels again.

I really liked it! I think I like the aesthetics of it better than Stella Nova. Rooms felt new and immaculately clean. Bus service to Epic Universe was really convenient. 5 minutes there and back and buses constantly running back and forth which was helpful for a midday break from Epic because that heat is no joke!

The differences with Stella Nova were so minor that it's a toss-up between which one to choose, especially if there's a price differential. TERRA LUNA (there it is again) was running about $60 a night cheaper than Stella this weekend.