Two hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort will be closing again next week, as the resort adjusts to meet guest demand during the pandemic.
The Sapphire Falls and Aventura hotels will close for the time being starting August 21, Universal's partner Loews Hotels said this evening. Guests with reservations at those hotels will be accommodated at one of the Universal Orlando Resort hotels that will remain open: Endless Summer - Surfside, Cabana Bay, Royal Pacific, or the Hard Rock.
Two of Universal's hotels, Portofino Pay and Endless Summer - Dockside, have not reopened (or, in Dockside's case, opened, since it was set to debut in late March) since the resort's theme parks began welcoming back guests in June. These new closures mean that half of Universal's eight hotel properties will be closed to guests temporarily. All of Universal Orlando's hotels are operated by Loews Hotels.
Universal Orlando is offering deep discounts to Florida residents as it looks to attract guests to the resort during the ongoing pandemic, which has reduced interstate and all but eliminated international travel. But locals don't need hotels like out-of-towners do, and Universal isn't filling its rooms with professional sports leagues, either.
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Greaaat. One of the reasons my wife and I were ok with going to Universal in September was how socially distanced the smaller number of on-site guests would be. We debated heavily and that helped us decide we felt comfortable with it. Now we may have to seriously reconsider.
Except at the pool, I never felt like any of my dozens of visits to any Universal hotel felt crowded. The only reason I'm not going now is NY dictator requiring quarantine upon return.
"NY Dictator" is keeping us one of the safest states in the country, so, yeah...If YOU choose to go to Florida, I don't see why I should get sick and die.
Aventura was a big disappointment when staying there earlier this year - really slapped that together and it shows. There are some good and cheaper options across from Universal and since attendance is lower there isn’t a great advantage to staying on property and getting in early anyway.
MikeW: "Florida's entire mentality of 'reopen and they will come' really hasn't been working right ..."
Me: Was there a deadline? Did our "entire mentality" claim that our tourist industry would return to a certain level by August 15th?
Dan, NY has one of the worst death rates there is, worse than most countries.
Florida might have more cases but a much smaller percentage of deaths.
There has always been enough hotel inventory in and around the International Drive area. Universal used to partner with them and sell destination packages. Comcast changed that and wished to COPY Disney's sequester strategy.
It might have worked. Now that market has way too many rooms.
Disney is of course in the same boat.
I wonder if UO had invented a unique strategy for providing one of a kind entertainment experiences instead of just copy Disney they might have saved themselves some pain.
Mr Torrance - New York's overall death rate is significantly higher, after that state (mostly city) was SLAMMED by Covid deaths at the beginning.
However, average number of daily deaths in New York over the past month? About 15.
Average daily deaths in Florida over the past month? About 140.
With both states having about the same population. New York is doing a great job.
Aventura's rooftop bar is very nice!
If you like theme parks go! Spent long weekends with family at Universal Hard Rock and Disney Rivera. Felt comfortable. Social distance, good hygiene and masks are worth the lack of crowds. Just be smart about it. I was surprised on how many people staying at Rivera flew to Florida. Way more than I would have thought, least 50% of the people I met traveled by air.
If you like theme parks go! Spent long weekends with family at Universal Hard Rock and Disney Rivera. Felt comfortable. Social distance, good hygiene and masks are worth the lack of crowds. Just be smart about it. I was surprised on how many people staying at Rivera flew to Florida. Way more than I would have least 50% of the people I met traveled by air.
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Florida's entire mentality of "reopen and they will come" really hasn't been working right given the bad reaction to events in that state. The sad thing being, had we'd had a concentrated effort at all this months ago, we might be in a better spot but hotter and thicker heads prevailed. Sucks for the workers once more unemployed.