Universal Epic Universe (South Expansion Complex) - Opens May 22 2025

[tissandtully]

So is what feels like 20sqft of Hard Rock’s. I know because I felt that my entire time there this summer was spent shuffling towards it. And I’m not a tall guy. Slide was fantastic though.

I have to say, I’m kinda stunned by what we saw of the room. It’s what I’d imagined for the other two hotels. I liked what little I saw of the kids suites though. But again, 14 of them? We’ve stayed in the HR equivalent a few times, and there always seems to be quite a demand for their low numbers.

Hugely underwhelming overall.

yeah Hard Rock pool is laughably shallow compared to a Disney pool, the renderings from what's in the press release and what's in the video are different too for Helios, the video one shows a really shallow pool, the rendering in the press release looks a bit deeper, so who knows what's going on

 

[Padraig]

yeah Hard Rock pool is laughably shallow compared to a Disney pool, the renderings from what's in the press release and what's in the video are different too for Helios, the video one shows a really shallow pool, the rendering in the press release looks a bit deeper, so who knows what's going on

We also stayed in BCV for our first week. First time in the pool at SAB, I hopped into the lazy river. I knew the depth ratings, but didn’t realise where I was going in. Feet (multiple) of water above my head. The contrast was in my mind quite a bit in HR.

 

[My95cobras]

No mention of included hotel express passes but guests will get

other exclusive theme park benefits

there will be no express for the entire park for a while, I’m not sure why you’d think resort guests would be entitled to it.

 

[lewisc]

there will be no express for the entire park for a while, I’m not sure why you’d think resort guests would be entitled to it.

I never said they were entitled to express. I was wondering what kind of exclusive perks.
Early entry? Exclusive souvenirs?

The type of extras will help determine what kind of price premium the hotel will be able to charge.

Sapphire Falls and Royal Pacific are very similar, excluding express

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Could staying in the hotel entitle a guest to unrestricted admission to Epic? Not being tied to the 1 out of 3 days admission or whatever it was?

I don't recall if anything has been said about that restriction being lifted for guests of that particular hotel.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

there will be no express for the entire park for a while, I’m not sure why you’d think resort guests would be entitled to it.

Because the comparable resorts at similar price points have had USF/IoA Express for years. Not that hard to understand.

I never said they were entitled to express. I was wondering what kind of exclusive perks.
Early entry? Exclusive souvenirs?

The type of extras will help determine what kind of price premium the hotel will be able to charge.

Sapphire Falls and Royal Pacific are very similar, excluding express

Early entry to Epic is confirmed!

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

These are the most boring looking rooms for this price range, wow. Also Universal is keeping its 3ft deep pool rule I see. Nothing like walking on your knees in the middle of the Hard Rock pool so your waist is at least in the water.

Where did they announce prices?

 

[ToTBellHop]

I initially expected this to be at the Portofino level. It definitely is not.

We will stick with a hotel with Express and a walkway to two of the three parks and CityWalk. Happy to ride a bus the one day they let us into EU.

 

[Fox&Hound]

The outside is beautiful but the rooms are bland, bland, bland. For that price?!?! No thanks…

 

[lewisc]

I must have missed it. when did Universal announce room rates for Helios?

 

[Scuttle]

These are the most boring looking rooms for this price range, wow. Also Universal is keeping its 3ft deep pool rule I see. Nothing like walking on your knees in the middle of the Hard Rock pool so your waist is at least in the water.

Agreed, the shallow pool thing is getting ridiculous. What’s the point of having multiple lifeguards on duty!?

 

[surfsupdon]

I agree. I initially expected this to be at the Portofino level. It definitely is not.

We will stick with a hotel with Express and a walkway to two of the three parks and CityWalk. Happy to ride a bus the one day they let us into EU.

Agree fully! I’d rather Royal, Hard Rock, Portofino, Aventura, Cabana, Saphire, Helios in that order!!!

Premiers with express pass first, then el cheap is close to parks, then Helios bc I’m sure it’s expensive but no water slide but an extra hr only as a perk lol.

 

[csmat99]

Makes sense. Unlimited express pass for hotel guests at a new park would be a bit nuts...

They will offer it but not first year maybe not for 18 months. But eventually see you will get express pass with all top hotel levels.

 

[sonoma15]

I must have missed it. when did Universal announce room rates for Helios?

Room rates have not been announced yet.

 

[UK Disney]

Is early entry only available to Helios guests for Epic?

 

[lewisc]

They will offer it but not first year maybe not for 18 months. But eventually see you will get express pass with all top hotel levels.

Do you have any specific information? Is this personal speculation?

 

[bwr827]

I must have missed it. when did Universal announce room rates for Helios?

They have not yet announced rates. People are just speculating.

Also: on a Universal forum, folks are pointing out that the Unlimited Express that comes with the top three hotels is based on an old contract with Loews and unlikely to involve Epic nor Helios.

If true, that’s a major loss of a Universal hotel perk.

 

[lewisc]

They have not yet announced rates. People are just speculating.

Also: on a Universal forum, folks are pointing out that the Unlimited Express that comes with the top three hotels is based on an old contract with Loews and unlikely to involve Epic nor Helios.

If true, that’s a major loss of a Universal hotel perk.

It makes a lot of sense. Hotel Express pass predates the extensive selling of express passes. Sapphire doesn’t offer express passes. Volcano Bay doesn’t offer any hotel express passes.

The internal charge to add hotel express passes would probably be.$$$.

 

[tissandtully]

It makes a lot of sense. Hotel Express pass predates the extensive selling of express passes. Sapphire doesn’t offer express passes. Volcano Bay doesn’t offer any hotel express passes.

The internal charge to add hotel express passes would probably be.$$$.

Not really the point, if the price tier for this hotel doesn't include UE it's not really worth choosing it over the ones that still do unless there's a really good perk the others don't have, which it seems like they are just thinking it's "location location location" with this one.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Don't worry about pool slides. Your Epic Universe park ticket will automatically* include access to Volcano Bay... for the extra price of a Volcano Bay add-on.


*and inseparably