Before we get to our Epic Universe preview tomorrow, Universal Orlando invited us this evening to be among the first people outside the company to tour the new Universal Helios Grand Hotel.
This 500-room, Signature Collection hotel overlooks Universal Epic Universe, with a dedicated entrance for hotel guests directly into the theme park. That convenience is unmatched, as Universal's first in-park hotel in the United States. But equally enticing are the views from the lobby, the rooftop bar and many of the rooms in this Loews hotel.
Universal officials led us around the property this evening, starting in the lobby...
and then into the Lotus Lagoon pool area.
Back in the hotel, we headed up to the 10th floor to see Bar Helios, with its stunning domed ceiling and views into Epic Universe.
Then we toured one of the rooms overlooking the park, a double queen bed room.
Come back tomorrow for our authorized press visit inside Universal Epic Universe and my first review, including photos and video from inside the park.
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Your final shot peering out of the window gives heavy Vegas vibes to me.
I am wondering if anyone can go to the Helios Bar or Restaurant - or is it just Hotel Guest?
I can see that Helios Bar getting to capacity quickly.
Being a bartender up there would be flipping awesome... No drunk regulars, no dingy environment, just visitors and views.
Beautiful
I'm wondering the same thing Brian. My initial thought is that it should probably be exclusive to guests of the Helios Grand, because there are so many nice restaurants and bars in Celestial Park that they don't want regular roaming the hotel instead of the park. Since the hotel is not officially open, we also don't know exactly what type of exclusive access Helios guests will have in Epic (media entered through the main "front" entrance even though the toured the hotel the day before). Will guests get access to Celestial Park before and/or after park hours?
FWIW, Universal/Loews are not playing around with the self parking at this hotel with single day non-guest rates initially set at $125/day.
$700 for a small standard room? The scary thing is there are many people who will get gladly ripped off at this hotel and at the new theme park. may the suckers arrive!
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you are having way too much fun without me.