Helios Grand Hotel

[Frank Drackman]

I wondering if the average guest length of stays at the three Epic hotels will end up being shorter then the average stays at the present campus hotels. I'm betting there will be a significant difference.

I agree (at least while only AP's can get tickets to multiple Epic days). On the flip side, the ability to have fireworks at Epic as well as what I hear about Epic's transition from day to night, the fountain show --- just seems it might be cool if you can see this all from your hotel, roof top bar even if you can't go to Epic.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

I’m hopeful that access to the bar won’t be exclusive or hard to do. I’m holding a single night Helios reservation but I feel very close to letting it go.

 

[Brian G.]

I’m hopeful that access to the bar won’t be exclusive or hard to do. I’m holding a single night Helios reservation but I feel very close to letting it go.

Wouldn't be shocked if they did in the Opening Months, or at least guest priority.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

Wouldn't be shocked if they did in the Opening Months, or at least guest priority.

Me neither.

 

[rhino4evr]

For my first time , I’m going to stay at Helios , but in the future I will likely stay at one of the hotels that provides free express. That perk is just too good and usually a significant value.

I also really enjoy being able to walk to the hotel and city walk from my hotel. I rarely take the ferry’s unless I’m extremely tired.

Of course if Helios blows me away , I could change my mind. Being able to head back to the hotel mid day at epic with very little travel time is a huge perk as well.


As discussed , I was hoping that epic ‘s hub could stay open later to utilize all the restaurants/ bars after the park technically closes. I can still see them doing this eventually.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I could definitely see them at the very least requiring reservations at the rooftop bar during the times of firework shows.

 

[fryoj]

I could definitely see them at the very least requiring reservations at the rooftop bar during the times of firework shows.

I'm curious how that will work out. The hotel is between the fountain and the fireworks pad. No real way to see the whole show from there unless there's an outdoor patio.

 

[Andysol]

Personally I’d stay just at Helios. A 10 minute bus ride to the other parks is still quicker than most WDW busses to all their parks from most of their resorts.

No express at Epic universe for a while?

I’ve stayed at grand hotel in Beijing and Miracosta in Japan- and though I never thought it would matter, a theme park room is actually awesome.

But no express will absolutely make it a one and done for me unless you get some type of premium access to the park.

Sapphire falls is my favorite of the universal hotels, but no express has me never stay there anymore.

 

[boomerthom]

I’m staying at Stella Nova on the night of 5/22. What would be the best way to get over to Helios that night just to check it out? Bus ride to CityWalk and then a bus ride to Helios (assuming you don’t need a room key)?

 

[Mad Dog]

No express at Epic universe for a while?

I’ve stayed at grand hotel in Beijing and Miracosta in Japan- and though I never thought it would matter, a theme park room is actually awesome.

But no express will absolutely make it a one and done for me unless you get some type of premium access to the park.

Sapphire falls is my favorite of the universal hotels, but no express has me never stay there anymore.

In my opinion Sapphire is superior to Royal Pacific, but nowhere near Portofino. But, as you say, no Express gives RP/Portofino/HRH the advantage, unless there's a huge discrepancy in price. Splitting a long vacation is an option. I do it all the time. Example: Portofino is more than double the price of Sapphire through March 29. Starting March 30 Portofino is only about $100 a night more. So I booked Sapphire March 26-30 and Portofino March 30 to April 4. That way I get express for 60% of my vacation. It balances costs, if you don't mind packing and moving which is easy if you have a car. I did the same with the upcoming November trip.....If I ever do Helios, it'll just be for 2 or 3 days. I always take long vacations to Universal, so Epic hotels will be secondary for me since it lacks the closeness of everything that I love about the original 'campus'.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

In my opinion Sapphire is superior to Royal Pacific, but nowhere near Portofino. But, as you say, no Express gives RP/Portofino/HRH the advantage, unless there's a huge discrepancy in price. Splitting a long vacation is an option. I do it all the time. Example: Portofino is more than double the price of Sapphire through March 29. Starting March 30 Portofino is only about $100 a night more. So I booked Sapphire March 26-30 and Portofino March 30 to April 4. That way I get express for 60% of my vacation. It balances costs, if you don't mind packing and moving which is easy if you have a car. I did the same with the upcoming November trip.....If I ever do Helios, it'll just be for 2 or 3 days. I always take long vacations to Universal, so Epic hotels will be secondary for me since it lacks the closeness of everything that I love about the original 'campus'.

We have genuinely talked about setting aside 2 or 3 days for Epic and staying at Helios for those nights - then moving somewhere else for the remainder of the stay.

 

[DrStarlander]

Do the Universal hotels have a "we'll move your luggage" program (or does anyone think that would be helpful; does WDW do this?). You would bring your luggage down to the lobby in the morning, drop it off, go on the bus to the park of your choice, and afterward go to your new hotel where your luggage would be waiting for you.

I can see that this is purely for the interests of guests and not in Universal's interest, however maybe if you are booking a total 6 or more nights in Universal hotels they just chalk it up as a win and it's worth doing for customer service. Or at a small fee.

 

[Jake S]

Do the Universal hotels have a "we'll move your luggage" program (or does anyone think that would be helpful; does WDW do this?). You would bring your luggage down to the lobby in the morning, drop it off, go on the bus to the park of your choice, and afterward go to your new hotel where your luggage would be waiting for you.

I've seen conflicting information on this, but my understanding is that they'll only transfer luggage from a Premier hotel. They'll transfer it to any hotel on property, but you need to be going from a Premier hotel to get this service. I'd need to know more about the logistics to have a firm opinion, but if I'm Universal I think I'd prefer to provide the service if it means guests are going to go spend more time in my expensive theme parks rather than using that time to schlepp their bags to another hotel.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I’m staying at Stella Nova on the night of 5/22. What would be the best way to get over to Helios that night just to check it out? Bus ride to CityWalk and then a bus ride to Helios (assuming you don’t need a room key)?

Uber/Lyft is my guess but we're not sure rn

 

[DrStarlander]

if I'm Universal I think I'd prefer to provide the service if it means guests are going to go spend more time in my expensive theme parks rather than using that time to schlepp their bags to another hotel.

Yes. And if the guest wants to limit the length of stay at a particular hotel and move to a new hotel -- which could be for a variety of reasons including wanting variety or cost (can only afford a certain hotel a certain number of nights) or maybe members of the traveling party are peeling off/growing...this may be an opportunity to just move over to WDW. So if Universal can make it easy/desirable to stay at any Universal property, that is good.

BTW, it would be counter intuitive that they only move you "from" a Premier hotel, rather they should make it easy and move you "to" a Premier hotel ($$) right?

 

[Jake S]

Yes. And if the guest wants to limit the length of stay at a particular hotel and move to a new hotel -- which could be for a variety of reasons including wanting variety or cost (can only afford a certain hotel a certain number of nights) or maybe members of the traveling party are peeling off/growing...this may be an opportunity to just move over to WDW. So if Universal can make it easy/desirable to stay at any Universal property, that is good.

Right, the ability to move might also be the reason a guest is willing to stay two or three nights at a Premier hotel rather than opting to do an entire stay at Cabana Bay, for instance. I think that makes sense.

BTW, it would be counter intuitive that they only move you "from" a Premier hotel, rather they should make it easy and move you "to" a Premier hotel ($$) right?

You've got me there. If I had to guess, it's that the Premier hotels have the staffing and logistical capability to do this move and the other hotels do not. Though in a perfect world I'd have that staff decentralized from any one hotel, giving you more logistical flexibility.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Even if they don't offer it as an included thing, I'd definitely pay a small fee for something like that.

 

[Skold]

Hard Rock has transferred my luggage to Aventura and CBBR on different occasions, but I've never done it from any other hotel. Both times, the luggage was there when we showed up right after lunch for an early check-in (after spending Express Pass time in the parks) - it was seamless.

 

[DrStarlander]

Even if they don't offer it as an included thing, I'd definitely pay a small fee for something like that.

There is a company called NannyBag that has places in cities around the world where you store your luggage for the day for a low cost, mostly at hotels think. (I'm looking to use the service in Munich this summer.) I can imagine someone in Orlando offering this as a service, either through NannyBag or independently. With so many tourists in Orlando per year, seems a person could make a few hundred dollars a day shuttling luggage around between Universal and WDW hotels for, say, $5-$10 a bag! Even if you paid $40 for four bags, it's likely cheaper than taking an uber back to your old hotel and doesn't waste your time.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I tried to borrow a luggage carrier to walk my things from SF to Aventura. They would not let me saying they are a full service hotel and took it over for me.