Universal Orlando today revealed concept art for the final piece of its upcoming Universal Epic Universe theme park - the Universal Helios Grand Hotel.
Developed in partnership with Loews Hotels - Universal's partner on the other 10 Universal Orlando Resort hotels - Universal Helios Grand Hotel will stand at the far end of Epic Universe, with its own entrance to the park for hotel guests.
Universal Creative has designed the hotel with a Mediterranean theme that fits with the look of the park.
The hotel's main restaurant will be Flora Taverna, a full-service location serving a Mediterranean-inspired menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Flora Taverna's lobby bar will provide another venue for drinks and bites.
For a quick-service option, head to Aurora Market, which will offer grab-and-go food, snacks, desserts and coffee.
Atop Universal Helios Grand Hotel will stand Bar Helios, the hotel's rooftop lounge.
Bar Helios will offer a 360-degree view of Epic Universe and beyond.
Back on the ground, the hotel will offer guests a zero-entry pool with underwater speakers and poolside movies, a hot tub, and poolside cabanas for rent.
Next to the pool, Lotus Lagoon will serve drinks and casual fare including burgers, salads, and sandwiches.
Universal also shared a look at the hotel's standard guest rooms...
As well as its "How to Train Your Dragon"-themed kids suites.
For more looks at the hotel, Universal Creative and Loews Hotels also released a video overview of the property.
With the announcement of Universal Helios Grand Hotel, Universal Orlando is again reclassifying its hotel line-up, which soon will stand at 11 properties, with 11,000 guest rooms. Helios will join the top tier of the resort's hotels, which also expands to include Sapphire Falls.
The inclusion of Helios and Sapphire Falls in the new Signature Collection tier does not mean that those hotels now will offer the Universal Express Unlimited perk now available to guests at the three other hotels in that tier, which were the original three hotels at Universal Orlando Resort. Guests at all Universal Orlando hotels, including Helios, will get one hour of Early Park Admission to the Universal Orlando theme parks for which they have tickets, including Epic Universe when it opens.
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Cabana Bay is signature in my book
These concept drawings/videos are great and all, but I think it's peculiar that they are not officially announcing how guests will access Epic Universe and its individual Portals. I thought for sure when they officially detailed the Helios Grand that it would finally break the seal on admission and access details for the new theme park. If nothing else, Universal would be able to get some reaction to the rumored limitations and 3-day ticket requirements and still have some time to make tweaks to the proposed rules to avoid major backlash.
It really doesn't make any sense to me, because the rumors have been pretty consistent on how guests will access Epic, and the final piece of the puzzle (aside from a formal announcement) is what kind of extra perks (save for the exclusive entrance and spectacular views) that guests of the Helios Grand will get. Some have speculated (like David) that Helios Grand guests will not be restricted in their visits to Epic (i.e. can buy single day tickets and/or visit Epic on every day of a multi-day ticket while still hopping to the legacy parks), while others have speculated some other perks available to Helios Grand guests like limited Express access to individual attractions, preferred seating at shows and dining experiences, and unlimited access to the portals without needing to make reservations.
The lack of details on specific Helios Grand benefits indicates to me that either Universal isn't really sure how they want to operate the new park, or they know how they want to operate it and don't want to reveal those plans because they know they're going to be unpopular with guests and will kill the marketing momentum Epic has generated over the summer.
The bottom line is that they will eventually have to release those details, and in my view these pretty drawings and videos of the Grand Helios are pointless until we know what logistical perks guests of the new Signature Resort will receive.
Wasn’t there, at one point, a rumor of a hotel being built that would adjoin to Epcot via their vast parking lot? Anyhow, I digress. This hotel looks beautiful for sure, though I thought there might be a little more theming that might separate its design from other lux resorts given its proximity to the park. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a beauty and I know I’m only basing this assertion on a conceptual walkthrough so please, enjoy those grains of salt - they’re on the house. This does seem to match up well exteriorly with the ornate botanical cosmos that is the main spine of Epic Universe and ultimately the mere fact that guests staying here will have their own dedicated entrance is really the only selling point needed by Universal. I’m curious to see how many limbs will be required as sacrificial payment to stay here, but I’d wager The Grand Floridian will still have higher rates.
The annoucements do seem a little muted. I would think entire floors would be dedicated to How to Train Your Dragon, Harry Potter, and especially Nintendo. There should be a lounge/gift shop on their respective floors with sheets, stealable/memeable towels, soap, portals to my throne, puppet shows in the lounge etc. Also, where is the world's largest ball of yarn or exterior glass elevators. Having those buses just cheapens the whole thing. Nothing screams high class more than a wheel chair accessible bus and tearing through the streets of Orlando. They need to install something like the Harry Potter train to keep up the immersion.... the trip from Epic to Universal is in heavy need of a portal.
@puckpilgrim: I too was left a bit vexed about the seeming omission of the World’s Largest Ball of Yarn ??. Tis’ a bold gambit on the part of Universal Creative, or any creative team anywhere ever for that matter, to omit it. Alas, we’ll have to see how this situation unspools…
Well you catch my drift. It could have been world blankest blank. First blank of its kind in the most blankiest of blanks the blank over. I score based on engagement. +1 me. Also where the french toast is the pricing?
I would have to assume (or rather, hope) that the next announcement will be just about that. How the hell can we visit? And when we do, what hoops must be jumped through? Universal has a very saavy social media and PR team who’ve no doubt been monitoring the online chatter and brow-furrowing consternation of fans who’ve been lamenting its rumored 3-park mandate or reservation rumors. One would think that they’d like to get out in front of it all, especially when they keep saying things like ”this park will revolutionize how people visit theme parks”.
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Given that entry into Epic Universe must surely be a guaranteed feature of a stay at this hotel (the video as good as s aid as much) I can't even begin to imagine the eye-watering rates these rooms are going to command...