We’re Live from Universal Helios Grand Hotel, Epic Universe’s In-Park Resort (Photos & Video)
Universal Helios Grand Hotel has opened early, and we’re staying at the new in-park resort overlooking Epic Universe for paid previews of the third theme park at Universal Orlando. We wanted to share a preview of the guest rooms, restaurants, retail and everything else in Helios hotel before its official grand opening on May 22, 2025.
In terms of basic background, Helios Grand Hotel is brought to life by the award-winning Universal Creative team and co-owned and operated by Loews Hotels & Co. The new Universal Orlando property is a Mediterranean-inspired resort rising above the lush gardens and scenic waters of Celestial Park at Epic Universe.
According to Universal and Loews, Helios Grand Hotel was designed to blend immersion and relaxation to create a hotel stay like no other. The palatial resort features tranquil sleeping accommodations, entertaining amenities for the whole family to enjoy, divine dining options, a stunning rooftop bar and the hotel’s very own dedicated entrance to the new Epic Universe theme park.
Bringing Universal Orlando’s resort portfolio to a total of 11 hotels and 11,000 guest rooms, Universal Helios Grand Hotel builds upon Universal’s more than three decades of expertise in world-class entertainment and creative theming – combined with Loews Hotels’ hospitality and service excellence – to set a new standard in immersive hotel experiences.
Only at Universal Helios Grand Hotel can guests unwind in the serenity of a sunlit retreat in one moment and then within minutes find themselves in the heart of exhilarating theme park adventures. Universal Helios Grand Hotel is so much more than just a place to stay; it’s the crown jewel of Epic Universe and the pinnacle of Universal Orlando’s hotel experiences.
According to Universal Orlando, as soon as guests step into this radiant sanctuary, they will be transported to a fantastical world within the palace of Helios, the Greek god of the sun, adorned with beautiful details of celestial patterns, dazzling constellations and elegant yet casual Mediterranean design elements. (All their words, not mine.)
I’m not going to editorialize much here because we’re still at the beginning of the stay. And because I have limited time to write this, edit photos, and get to bed before an early morning at Epic Universe tomorrow. So I’d rather take some more time for my thoughts to simmer, and have a full experience prior to firing off hot takes. What I will say is that, thus far, Helios Grand has mostly matched or exceeded my most recent expectations.
My original expectations were sky-high, as I expected Helios Grand Hotel to easily be the flagship resort at Universal Orlando and one of the best theme park hotels in all of Central Florida. Maybe in all of the world. I was disabused of this when Universal did its grand reveal of the hotel, which seemed to position more on par with Gran Destino Tower or Disney’s Riviera Resort, but overlooking a theme park.
For the most part, that’s exactly what Helios Grand Hotel is. If anything, those comparisons are probably charitable to Helios Grand Hotel. It’s very whelming as far as hotels overlooking theme parks go, and definitely not the flagship property at Universal Orlando. I’m not really what is, at this point, because the legacy hotels are starting to show their age a bit. For my tastes, Portofino Bay is still #1.
What I underestimated (or forgot), more than anything else, is just how cool it is to stay in a hotel overlooking a theme park. It’s really, really cool. Especially if you have a theme park view room! All throughout this check-in day, I’ve felt like a kid waiting on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to come, and then for the next morning to unwrap presents.
I really love hotels that overlook theme parks, and the sense of anticipation that brings with it on arrival day. That’s intensified exponentially when it’s a brand new theme park that I’ve never experienced. To say I’m hyped would be a massive understatement!
In the interest of getting this post done quickly (by my standards), I’m mostly going to share video as opposed to photos. It’s a whole process to get images from my camera to computer, whereas I can quickly upload phone videos and share those.
Might also be a nice change of pace, too! (Rest assured, a full review of Universal Helios Grand Hotel is coming soon, including meticulous documentation via photos.)
Let’s start with the arrival at Universal Helios Grand Hotel on opening day:
Universal Orlando announced that Helios Grand would open at noon, and my thought was to arrive slightly early to beat the rush. In so doing, I forgot the military-esque mantra of theme park openings: “if you’re slightly early, you’re late. If you’re ridiculously early, you still won’t be first in line.” Suffice to say, I encountered a lengthy line for check-in upon arrival…which was entirely gone a few hours later.
It was nevertheless all worth it for the warm welcome from Loews and Universal Team Members. Maybe I’m crazy, but this type of thing is why I love these opening days. I live for it. I’ll endure all of the needless waiting for the fanfare and being part of the collective energy and excitement for something new. It’s not for everyone, to be sure, but I enjoy the communal aspect of these events. My best memory from March 2020 is still that first morning of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Hopefully in another decade, it’s my only memory of that month! 😉
Moving along, here’s a nighttime tour of our Park View room at Universal Helios Grand Hotel (wait for it…):
Here’s everything that Universal Helios Grand Hotel offers:
Serene Guest Rooms and Spacious Suites – Bright, inviting and warm, the guest rooms and suites of Universal Helios Grand Hotel evoke the tranquility of a blissful garden – with many of the rooms offering fantastic views of Epic Universe.
Here’s that view again during daytime so you can get a better and closer look at all the action inside Epic Universe:
Unique to Universal Helios Grand Hotel are the imaginative How to Train Your Dragon Kids’ Suites, where little ones can take to the skies and rest amongst dragons in a colorful room inspired by the Viking village of Berk.
Setting aside the view, which is frankly absurd–like setting aside the meat when evaluating a steak dinner–our room was fairly unremarkable. I’m now curious to check out one of the How to Train Your Dragon Kids’ Suites–maybe if Megatron is into the franchise when she gets a bit older!
Lobby Overlook – Just outside the main lobby of Universal Helios Grand Hotel is this gorgeous lobby overlook offering views into Epic Universe. Its especially gorgeous at night. In my view above, you can see testing of the Cosmos Fountain Show in the late night hours before Epic Universe started paid previews.
We couldn’t get enough of that lobby overlook, so here’s another view:
Dedicated Entrance to Universal Epic Universe – Located off the lobby is the hotel’s dedicated entrance into Epic Universe – an unparalleled amenity for guests of Universal Helios Grand Hotel that provides direct, convenient access to and from the theme park (valid theme park admission required).
The dedicated entrance hasn’t been opening yet as I’m writing this (since it’s before day one of previews), but its size is slightly concerning for rope drop purposes. A 500-room hotel all served by a single security station. I’m sure it’ll be fine throughout the day, but the morning rush has me slightly concerned.
Bar Helios – A sparkling and stylish rooftop lounge, Bar Helios at Universal Helios Grand Hotel offers a delectable menu of creative tapas and familiar favorites, thoughtfully-handcrafted specialty cocktails, and unmatched 360-degree views of Epic Universe and beyond – making this the perfect spot for guests to kick back in the evening after a busy day in the parks.
If you don’t have a Park View room, you will absolutely want reservations at Bar Helios and a table in the outdoor seating area overlooking the park. Sure, the bar itself looks cool, but those views are the real stars.
Resort-style Pool – The oasis of the zero-entry pool is the ultimate spot for rest and relaxation – complete with underwater speakers, poolside cabanas available for rent, a hot tub, poolside movies, recreational activities and more.
Guests of Universal Helios Grand Hotel can also enjoy:
- a complimentary state-of-the-art fitness center featuring a variety of strength and cardio equipment;
- a game room for guests to blast, zap and race their way through a collection of arcade games with the purchase of a game card;
- a Universal Orlando Resort Store for guests to purchase everything from sundries and necessities to Universal Orlando merchandise; and so much more.
Guests looking to have a meal or grab a quick snack in between visits to the parks can choose from a variety of unique dining options, including:
- Flora Taverna – a full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner and lobby bar with a light and airy atmosphere – featuring an open-style kitchen with live cooking, Mediterranean comfort foods, pizza ovens, and al fresco seating overlooking the beautiful scenery of Celestial Park;
- Aurora Market – a contemporary coffee shop and market offering freshly-roasted coffees, delightful grab-and-go food items and enticing snack and dessert options from morning to night;
- Lotus Lagoon – a poolside bar and grill where guests can cool off with refreshing cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks and enjoy casual fare options like burgers, salads, sandwiches and more.
That’s a wrap on our live coverage from the first day and night of Universal Helios Grand Hotel. If you have any question or there are aspects of the resort you’d like to see covered, please let me know and I’ll try to make sure I capture content about that. I probably won’t have time to answer the questions here since I’m heading into Epic Universe for Very Important Research over the next few days, but I’ll see them and work them into future coverage.
Need trip planning tips and comprehensive advice for your visit to Central Florida? Make sure to read our Universal Orlando Planning Guide for everything about Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Also check out our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for everything about those parks, resorts, restaurants, and so much more. For regular updates, news & rumors, a heads up when discounts are released, and much more, sign up for our FREE email newsletter!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of Universal Helios Grand Hotel? Impressed by the style or substance? What do you think of the exterior vs. interior? Will you book Universal Helios Grand Hotel, or stick with one of the existing resorts? Think Epic Universe will be a third gate that’s a worthy addition to Universal Orlando Resort…and potentially on par with Disney’s best lands? Agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!
Attention Bob Iger, please take a look at this pool and pool area at Helios. Then take a look at your latest pool at the Polynesian.
Hmm. It’s giving Vegas. A room with a view of the strip and the Bellagio fountains.
Tom,
I am struck by the standard hotel room look of the Helios hotel. After owning DVC for 30 years I need more space and convenience. It strikes me as odd that Universal hasn’t yet added a Vacation Club hotel option for the guests. Anything in the works there?
One thing I’d be interested to read in your review is how well integrated into the park this hotel feels. In-park hotels fall along a spectrum in this regard, ranging from the Disneyland Hotel Paris (located just barely inside the park), to the MiraCosta (fully integrated into the park physically and thematically). I’ve obviously seen photos, but I think being there gives you a much better sense of whether the hotel actually succeeds at making you feel you’re inside the park.
It seems that this hotel and park would be much better looking at night.
Bar Helios Questions: Worth going to during the day or just at night? If day is okay, is it feasible to get back to Helios during the day for a beverage and snack and then return for touring, or is it not worth the hassle?
Why do the team member outfits look like nurse’s scrubs?
I am very eager to read your full hotel review, in particular concerning the bedding. I’ve seen some pretty meh reactions from other bloggers to the blanket at the new Epic hotels. Enjoy your visit!!
Oh, hi again…. curious if any single rider lines are open and how to snag a spot in virtual queue for Ministry of Magic? Thanks! And congratulations on getting in for day 1.
Welp, I guess I need to budget for a theme park view room at Grand Helios for my first trip to Epic Universe. Those views are STUNNING!
Awesome! Excited for this coverage! Although we will still visit Disney during our next Orlando trip, Epic Universe will be the keystone where we spend most of our time. Can’t wait to see how it stacks up.
Surprised they didn’t do some kind of water slide integrated into the landscape.
Tom,
This looks amazing!! Just wondering why they didn’t put balconies on the Theme Park have view side. I can just imagine how awesome it’d be to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds at night or while having coffee in the morning!! That view is incredible!!
Great first report! Not sure how well the phone/camera would capture this, but would be cool to see a video of the room at night with all lights turned off – lit by glow of the park and no reflections in the window. I’m guessing you did switch them off for your own viewing enjoyment!
Awesome timing for boots on the ground at Helios, thanks Tom! I’d love if you can get any scoop on the club lounge. We’re on the cusp of booking a 2 night club level stay in late July and wondering if it’s worth the upcharge for a park view room. If the lounge has a view amenity, I’d rather put the money towards trying to swing getting at least 1 day of Express Passes in Epic for the 4 of us, since it’s not included as a hotel perk (boo). But we’ve never stayed at an in park hotel, so I defer to your experience- would we be fools to leave the park view room option on the table? Thanks for your reporting, I have you have an amazing time!
So we had an opportunity to book both Terra Luna and Stella Nova for our trip at a significant pass holder discount but didn’t even though we were hoping that pass holder previews would be available during our stay. And, they are.
Although they look beautiful from the pictures, it seemed as if they were lacking in amenities for “Prime Value” resorts. So we elected to stay at Cabana Bay (one of the “value inn and suites” resorts) even though it was a little bit more expensive and further from Epic Universe.
We have never stayed in a Universal resort before but from descriptions online, it seemed that Cabana Bay had more to offer in terms of amenities and recreation. So in spite of recent reviews that mention some of the “age” issues you referenced we are staying there even though staying at a brand new hotel was tempting!
We weren’t able to snag a reservation at the Bar Helios. By the time I learned of them, it was too late. Another time, maybe. But we do have a reservation for the Taverna restaurant and are looking forward to it.
I didn’t see an option to reserve a table at either of the Epic In Park restaurants, but if you learn anything about that I would love to hear more. I’m open to grabbing a table on the fly also, and how that’s done. Would love to dine with the fish at Atlantic :o)
Looking forward to reading more about opening day!
Yes, how/where and when (e.g. in advance?) you can do bar and restaurant reservations would be valuable information I haven’t seen anywhere else! Also interested in what a rope drop approach from Helios should be. I’m guessing Monsters rather than Ministry? Or maybe Nintendo area if with kids (or not!)?
I’m glad to see you’re not jaded on reporting about theme parks and their hotels. You seem as excited as we are about our Epic preview day. You do this for a living and you are as excited to see all the newness as every one else. Have a great time Tom. Looking forward to your posts.
Am I crazy or does the room look just like Sapphire Falls just decorated differently?
Not crazy.
That’s tough for a resort charging $700 a night due to location and having a room that matches their moderate (Prime Value) resort. I guess if you can build it cheaper and charge more it’s good business. Wait did they move Sapphire Falls to Signature Collection? LOL.