Universal's Epic Universe - News and Discussion

[juxtapose]

lol this is where DVC has spoiled me, I do expect them at a resort/theme park, especially where the view is a selling point, or of course a beach, but even in other places I do look specifically for them .... I was amazed I found multiple places in Toronto and Chicago with balconies, so not just beach places...

We basically only book hotels with balconies now (the one exception is like NYC where they rarely exist) if you are looking for them it's not hard to find in the US or Europe. We eat breakfast in the room and it's so nice to go outside and get some fresh air while having breakfast. I'm always surprised when "deluxe/expensive" hotels don't have them especially in a location with nice weather year around. The lack of a balcony was honestly the first thing I noticed about the new hotel when looking at photos.

 

[georgina]

And some of us don't care at all about lack of a balcony. When I have them I rarely use them. I might walk out and take a couple of pictures of the view.

Still hoping to hear more about Helios and tickets structure before I let my AP expire in November.

 

[tony67]

And some of us don't care at all about lack of a balcony. When I have them I rarely use them. I might walk out and take a couple of pictures of the view.

Still hoping to hear more about Helios and tickets structure before I let my AP expire in November.

Same for a view honestly - at least at a theme park hotel.

I'm so busy going from open to close that I just never find the time to enjoy the view.
I've stayed at all three monorail hotels with a view of the castle and yeah its nice, but don't have the time to enjoy it.

At universal Ill usually spring for the few dollars for a room with a view, but then I rarely take advantage of it.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Yeah - I can't imagine staying there and not getting express pass for US\IOA.

If they don't change it then they may end up with a lot of people doing one night and then switching.

There is still all the questions on tickets in general and how they will work as well for Epic.
The talk is a 3 day ticket with 1 day of epic for example or a 5 day with 2 days of Epic.
How will that work for AP holders, I don't need a three day ticket for US\IOA.

So there is still a lot to be fleshed out no doubt.

They have also added Sapphire to the signature hotels, and that wont be getting express either. The other option is they will add it at some point in the future to all signature hotels - or remove it totally - or some other permutation - like Club level only.

Will be interesting to see how this all works out. They need to figure it out soon so people can plan for it.

I absolutely plan to resort hop. If the ticket structure stays the same, then 2 nights at Helios and 3 nights at RPR or Portofino. Not just for the express pass but also because it's so nice walking to Citywalk or taking the boat.

 

[Minnie1222]

The lack of balcony is not going to prevent me from staying at a hotel, but it would be nicer to have the option. Even our ski resorts have balconies despite the frigid temperature.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The lack of balcony is not going to prevent me from staying at a hotel, but it would be nicer to have the option. Even our ski resorts have balconies despite the frigid temperature.

I was going to mention the other day but lodge/ski places are another place aside from the beach that you'd be more likely to get a balcony but these types of things are very destination genre dependent it's not weather dependent. It's just not a feature that theme park guests are saying is a must. I don't think people would really think too much about this if it wasn't a Disney board where they've stayed at hotels on Disney's property with balconies.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I absolutely plan to resort hop. If the ticket structure stays the same, then 2 nights at Helios and 3 nights at RPR or Portofino. Not just for the express pass but also because it's so nice walking to Citywalk or taking the boat.

After our 2022 stay I told my husband I'd be down for split stay again as we had done Royal Pacific and Endless Summer Surfside. I'm not sure if we'd be up for splurging for Helios as I think it will come down to the perks and price but it's def. an option. I hadn't really thought about split stay until that last trip although we also stayed at Hampton for the Disney portion of our trip so it was 3 hotels total which can be a lot more for the unpacking/packing thing.

 

[tony67]

I absolutely plan to resort hop. If the ticket structure stays the same, then 2 nights at Helios and 3 nights at RPR or Portofino. Not just for the express pass but also because it's so nice walking to Citywalk or taking the boat.

True - most likely I'll do one night at Helios (depends on what the benefits are of course and what kind of rate I can get with an AP)

Changing resorts is a bit of a headache, but I usually do change at least once.

 

[tony67]

After our 2022 stay I told my husband I'd be down for split stay again as we had done Royal Pacific and Endless Summer Surfside. I'm not sure if we'd be up for splurging for Helios as I think it will come down to the perks and price but it's def. an option. I hadn't really thought about split stay until that last trip although we also stayed at Hampton for the Disney portion of our trip so it was 3 hotels total which can be a lot more for the unpacking/packing thing.

perks and price - 100% agree

Last time I did Disney - I don't do Disney very often - I just stayed at Dockside and got an Uber over 3 days.

I did do one night at the Dolphin as a I had a free night, but since dockside was only $85 a night I just kept the room and brought what I needed for the one night.

It was just as easy - that advantage of the Dolphin was the late night.
Of course as a solo traveler its a lot easier to do that.

 

[keishashadow]

We basically only book hotels with balconies now (the one exception is like NYC where they rarely exist)

For obvious reasons, rarely in Vegas other than a select few high roller suites

3 nights at RPR or Portofino. Not just for the express pass

Enjoy that perk.

Rumors out there have increased after confirmation no EP with Helios thar U isn't inclined to renew current deal with Lowe's when the time comes. Rationale being they expect park numbers to increase with new park & occupancy/rates has been high in the deluxe properties.

Could be leverage to get Lowe's to pony up $ to keep EP perk, in some form. Heard perhaps more akin to the 1 x day per attraction

Don't shoot the rumor monger lol

 

[tony67]

For obvious reasons, rarely in Vegas other than a select few high roller suites

Enjoy that perk.

Rumors out there have increased after confirmation no EP with Helios thar U isn't inclined to renew current deal with Lowe's when the time comes. Rationale being they expect park numbers to increase with new park & occupancy/rates has been high in the deluxe properties.

Could be leverage to get Lowe's to pony up $ to keep EP perk, in some form. Heard perhaps more akin to the 1 x day per attraction

Don't shoot the rumor monger lol

Interesting.

I cant imagine Universal wants to manage the hotels. Any ideas when Is that deal up?

I recall that just before the shutdown there was a rumor of Marriott taking over management of the hotels.
Would be nice if a chain that rewards loyalty in some way ran the hotels - really miss LowesFirst.

 

[keishashadow]

I cant imagine Universal wants to manage the hotels. Any ideas when Is that deal up?

I do not. It's been in force since we started initially booking weekends there onto existing trips when they had the old youfirst suite upgrade program RIP

 

[Smugpugmug]

For obvious reasons, rarely in Vegas other than a select few high roller suites

Enjoy that perk.

Rumors out there have increased after confirmation no EP with Helios thar U isn't inclined to renew current deal with Lowe's when the time comes. Rationale being they expect park numbers to increase with new park & occupancy/rates has been high in the deluxe properties.

Could be leverage to get Lowe's to pony up $ to keep EP perk, in some form. Heard perhaps more akin to the 1 x day per attraction

Don't shoot the rumor monger lol

I saw this too over on the Universal fan forums. Apparently in the agreement Universal has with Loews, they're only obligated to give Express to Hard Rock, Royal Pacific and Portofino. That's why Sapphire Falls and now Helios won't get Express for IoA and USF. I didn't know that beforehand and thought that was so interesting if true.

 

[keishashadow]

I didn't know that beforehand and thought that was so interesting if true.

That's the current incantation. Inquiring minds would love to know terms lol.

SF is often priced near RP rated. They does a lot of convention business. For the rest of us, have wondered why SF didn't offer a discounted EP

 

[drenalin'junkie]

As long as we get EP with top tier passes after 4 we won't change strategy.
If not, we'll have do EU on weekdays and the others on weekends.
Blitz rides at rope drop, take a long lunch or resort visit and return with the Kiss my Pass after 4.

 

[GhostHost24]

As long as we get EP with top tier passes after 4 we won't change strategy.
If not, we'll have do EU on weekdays and the others on weekends.
Blitz rides at rope drop, take a long lunch or resort visit and return with the Kiss my Pass after 4.

very very unlikely they'll be AP access for the first year. Probably be discounted one day tickets for APs to buy until they roll out a 3 park AP

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Entirely possible, but we had quite a few perks when HPW opened.
Different ballpark but OU Def rewards loyal AP more than WD and a bit less than SW

 

[maverik85]

The new hotel tiers are a little strange to me. I will be really curious to see if some of the perks get changed across some of them.
Having Sapphire now be a signature hotel but without the Express perk will be strange, alongside the top one at Helios seeming to have fewer perks. Do wonder if they will change up the free express any to try to offer it to all 5 properties but maybe not to every guest to not overwhelm the system. Also given that the new Terra Luna/Stella Nova seem to be very similar to Cabana Bay but being a tier above (despite having lackluster pool areas in comparison) is interesting. Also makes me wonder if Cabana Bay could get a change in perks since it is being knocked down a tier essentially to be with Endless Summer. Main one I can see changing would be pool hopping as it really doesn't have too many extra perks anyway, but not sure that would be a huge issue either since it has the only lazy river at the resorts and still has a water slide too. We've always stayed there and I keep thinking about hopping to Sapphire Falls as their pool looks nice but we have yet to.
The concept of condensing to 3 tiers makes it seem simpler, but currently it almost makes it more confusing as the different hotels in each tier have different offerings and perks now.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The concept of condensing to 3 tiers makes it seem simpler, but currently it almost makes it more confusing as the different hotels in each tier have different offerings and perks now.

Universal added their Value level when they added Endless Summer so it's only been 5 years with an additional level.

I could have sworn many thought Helios would just be in its own category but IDK if I'm misremembering or not. Clearly that's not what Universal decided to do. Maybe they thought having 5 categories was too much.

Also given that the new Terra Luna/Stella Nova seem to be very similar to Cabana Bay but being a tier above (despite having lackluster pool areas in comparison) is interesting.

It's likely because they have proximity to Epic Universe. They are offering a lower cost option to be near Epic Universe. At the same time being near Epic Universe, at least right now, wouldn't make sense to price it at the very lowest end.

 

[tony67]

I could have sworn many thought Helios would just be in its own category but IDK if I'm misremembering or not.

Yeah - I was thinking the same - that is was going to be a "true Luxury" level hotel

I still think there will be changes and it will all be more aligned at each level at some point in time.