DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal Review: Walk, Fees, Rooms

This guide contains affiliate links to Booking.com. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

The DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal is a 742-room Hilton on Major Boulevard, just northeast of Universal Orlando’s original parks, and its main selling point is simple: you can walk to Universal CityWalk in about 20 minutes. It is a full-service hotel with a big heated pool, plenty of casual food and rooms that sleep up to six.

It is a Universal Partner Hotel, not a Universal-owned one. That brings a Universal desk in the lobby and a scheduled, reservation-only shuttle, but not on-site perks such as Early Park Admission. Here is what the walk, the shuttle and the extras really look like.

Quick answer: Book the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal if you want a large Hilton within walking distance of CityWalk (about 0.9 mile), with no resort fee listed and self-parking at $34 a day at last check. Skip it if you need Early Park Admission or on-demand transport; Universal’s own hotels include Early Park Admission and free transportation to the parks.

Check prices at hotels near Universal Orlando

Destination or hotel

Check-in

Check-out

Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Children 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rooms 1 2 3 4 5

Search hotels

DoubleTree Universal photos

Here is a look at the rooms, suites, pool deck and public areas from the hotel’s own photo gallery. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or browse the full gallery and current rates on Booking.com.

Location: how close is it to Universal?

Hilton calls the hotel “a short walk” from Universal and lists CityWalk at 0.5 mile, shorter than any walking route. The route we mapped is longer: about 0.9 mile from the hotel entrance to the middle of CityWalk, roughly 20 minutes at an easy pace, and about a mile (22 to 25 minutes) to the Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure entrance areas.

It follows sidewalks along Major and Universal Boulevards, not a resort path, so it feels longer in summer heat, storms or late at night; allow time for Universal’s security screening too.

Destination	Approx. distance	Time (no traffic)	Note
Universal CityWalk	0.9 mi walk	About 20 min	Hilton lists 0.5 mi
Epic Universe	4 mi by road	About 10 min	To the parking toll plaza; Hilton lists 3 mi
ICON Park, I-Drive	3 mi	About 8 min	Restaurants, attractions
SeaWorld Orlando	7 mi	15 to 20 min	Drive or rideshare
Disney Springs	10 mi	About 20 min	Parking free
EPCOT / Magic Kingdom	14 / 15 mi	25 to 30 min	Disney parking $35 a day
Orlando airport (MCO)	14 mi	About 30 min	Hilton lists 18 mi

Road distances are rounded OSRM routes; drive times grow quickly at rush hour and on I-4. Universal’s Volcano Bay is close too, but it is scheduled to close for maintenance from October 26, 2026, reopening on or before April 1, 2027.

Rooms and suites

Hilton lists 742 rooms. Standard rooms have one king, one queen or two queen beds with Hilton’s Sweet Dreams bedding, a mini fridge, coffee maker, large flat-screen TV with streaming, a desk with an ergonomic chair and free Wi-Fi. Hilton does not publish room sizes.

Room type	Beds	Sleeps	Good to know
King or queen room	1 king or 1 queen	2	Universal-view kings sold
King corner room	1 king	3	One more guest than a king
Two-queen room	2 queens	4	Universal-view version sold
Two-queen corner room	2 queens	5	Best standard pick for 5
Two-bedroom suite	1 king + 2 queens	6	Two separate bedrooms
Fitness room	1 king or 2 queens	2 or 4	In-room workout gear

Hilton sells king and two-queen rooms in a “Universal view” category, and the hotel’s photos of them show Universal’s coasters through floor-to-ceiling windows. If the view matters, book that category.

Suites, fitness rooms and accessible rooms

The two-bedroom suite pairs a king bedroom with a two-queen bedroom. Parlor rooms with a seating area, wet bar and sofa bed can be attached to a sleeping room. Fitness rooms add a Wattbike, TRX straps, a pull-up bar, a yoga mat, medicine balls and a digital workout kiosk.

Accessible rooms come with roll-in showers or accessible tubs, and some add visual alarms and door and phone alerts for guests with hearing loss. Hilton warns that photos may not show the exact accessible room, so confirm features with the hotel.

Pools and recreation

The main pool is a heated outdoor pool of junior Olympic size (Hilton gives 24 by 13 meters), set on more than an acre of deck with loungers and palms. Hilton also lists a separate splash pad, a children’s pool, a hot tub and a tropical pool bar with frozen cocktails. Pool hours were 7 am to 11 pm at last check.

Hilton lists no waterslide or lazy river; this is a pool for cooling off between park sessions. In the evening, the courtyard between the towers has a fire pit and a fountain.

Dining and breakfast

Food is a strength, with casual options open late. Hours are from Hilton’s listings at last check:

• Sunshine: breakfast 7 to 11 am, a la carte or buffet ($29.99 adults, $16.95 children, plus tax).
• Courtyard Cafe: coffee and pastries, 6 am to noon.
• American Grill: lobby restaurant and full bar, evenings until 11 pm.
• Pizza, Burgers & More: noon to 11 pm, eat in the courtyard or by the pool.
• Double Locos Food Truck: tacos, arepas, empanadas and birria, mornings and evenings.
• Gelato Shop: gelato and candy, 1 pm to 1 am.

Hilton lists no room service and no kids’ menu, and breakfast is “available for a fee,” so compare any breakfast-inclusive rate with paying the buffet per person.

Parking, resort fee and other charges

At last check, Hilton’s hotel information page listed parking charges but no resort or amenity fee, and the Booking.com fine print showed none either. The extras to budget for:

Charge	At last check	Note
Self-parking	$34 a day + tax	In/out privileges, not covered
Valet parking	$44 + tax	Booking listing shows $38
Resort fee	None listed	Check the final price screen
Pets	$75 non-refundable	Up to 60 lb
Late checkout	$100 (Hilton)	Booking lists $75 until 2 pm

There are six Tesla and two universal EV chargers, billed per kilowatt-hour. Hilton says the hotel takes cards only (no cash), the minimum check-in age is 21, and leaving early can cost one night’s room and tax, which may be waived if you tell the desk at check-in. Orange County adds 12.5% hotel tax.

Transport to Universal, Epic Universe and Disney

The scheduled Universal shuttle

Hilton’s policy describes “Scheduled Theme Park Transportation” to the Universal Orlando theme parks, reserved in person at the Universal Partner Hotel Vacation Planning Center in the lobby, from one day ahead up to 30 minutes before departure. It follows regular park hours rather than running continuously, space is first come, first served, and it is not valid for special events, groups or Early Park Admission. Neither Hilton nor Universal states a charge or whether Epic Universe is served, so ask at the desk; for able walkers, the 20-minute walk is often simpler.

Epic Universe

Epic Universe’s parking toll plaza is about 4 miles by road, roughly 10 minutes by car outside rush hour. If Epic is your priority, compare our guide to hotels near Epic Universe, where several hotels sit closer to its gates.

Disney, SeaWorld and the airport

Hilton lists no Disney, SeaWorld or airport shuttle, so drive or use a rideshare; standard Disney theme park parking was $35 a day at last check. For arrival day, see our guide to getting from Orlando airport to Universal.

Universal perks: what a Partner Hotel gets

Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations lists this DoubleTree among its moderate Partner Hotels and marks it with its “Bonus Benefits” symbol: merchandise discounts at select theme park shops, food and non-alcoholic drink discounts at select CityWalk and theme park locations, and scheduled transportation to the theme parks. Universal notes the benefits can change without notice, so confirm them at the lobby desk.

Early Park Admission is the big gap. Universal offers it to guests of its own hotels and other select groups, but neither Hilton’s pages nor Universal’s Bonus Benefits list includes it for this DoubleTree, so plan your days without it. Our guide to how Universal Early Park Admission works explains who qualifies, and our Universal Orlando tips for first-timers cover tickets and lines.

Amenities: fitness, Wi-Fi and services

Hilton lists a fitness center, the fitness rooms above, free standard Wi-Fi, Digital Key, a concierge, connecting rooms and streaming TV. Hilton lists no spa, kids’ club or childcare. Hilton lists cribs as available while the Booking.com listing says they aren’t, so request one directly with the hotel.

Hilton describes 32 breakout rooms, ballrooms and an exhibit hall, so the hotel also hosts conferences; expect groups on some dates.

Who it suits

The DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal suits travelers spending most of their trip at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk who want a branded full-service hotel and don’t mind a 20-minute walk. Families of five fit the corner rooms, and groups of six can share the two-bedroom suite.

It suits you less if you want Early Park Admission, plan several Epic Universe days without a car, or need on-demand transport with small children.

Pros

• About 20 minutes on foot to CityWalk, so you can skip Universal’s parking fee.
• No resort fee listed at last check.
• Corner rooms for five, a two-bedroom suite for six and Universal-view rooms.
• Heated junior Olympic-size pool with a children’s pool, splash pad and hot tub.
• Plenty of casual food, open late.
• Pet-friendly up to 60 lb, with a $75 non-refundable fee.

Limitations to know

• No Early Park Admission or free Universal Express.
• The shuttle runs on a timetable, needs an in-person reservation and has limited space.
• The walk follows public streets, not a resort path.
• Breakfast costs extra, and Hilton lists no room service or kids’ menu.
• Self-parking costs $34 a day plus tax.
• No waterslide, lazy river, spa or kids’ club; you must be 21 to check in.

What to check before you book

• The exact room category: only corner two-queen rooms (5) and the two-bedroom suite (6) take more than four guests.
• Shuttle times, any charge and whether Epic Universe is served.
• Current parking and valet rates, which differ between Hilton and Booking.com listings.
• Late checkout and early arrival charges, and crib availability.
• Whether your rate includes breakfast.
• Volcano Bay’s closure dates if a water park day is on your list.

See available rooms at DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal

Nearby alternatives

If on-site perks matter more than price, Universal Endless Summer Resort is Universal’s value tier, with Early Park Admission and complimentary shuttle buses; see how it compares in our list of the cheapest Universal Orlando hotels. Families who want suites and a walking path should look at Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort. For every on-site and nearby option, start with our guide to hotels near Universal Studios Orlando.

More Hilton options: compare the Hilton hotels near Universal Orlando.

Frequently asked questions

Can you walk to Universal from the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal?

Yes. The walking route we mapped to the middle of CityWalk is about 0.9 mile, roughly 20 minutes at an easy pace, and about a mile to the Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure entrances. Hilton’s 0.5-mile figure is shorter than any walking route. The route follows sidewalks along public roads, so allow extra time in heat or rain.

Does the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal have a shuttle to Universal?

Yes, as a Universal Partner Hotel it offers scheduled transportation to the Universal theme parks. At last check you reserved in person at the lobby’s Universal desk, from one day ahead up to 30 minutes before departure. It runs on a timetable with limited space and not for special events or Early Park Admission. Ask about any charge and Epic Universe.

Does the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal charge a resort fee?

Hilton’s hotel information page listed no resort or amenity fee at last check, and the Booking.com fine print showed none either. Your main extras are parking ($34 a day self-parking or $44 valet, plus tax, per Hilton), breakfast and Orange County’s 12.5% hotel tax. Check the final price screen before you pay.

How much is parking at the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal?

Hilton listed self-parking at $34 a day and valet at $44, plus tax, with in-and-out privileges, at last check; the Booking.com listing shows valet at $38. Because CityWalk is about a 20-minute walk, you can skip Universal’s own garages, which charged $35 a day including tax at last check.

Do DoubleTree guests get Universal Early Park Admission?

No. Universal offers Early Park Admission to guests of its own hotels and other select groups, and neither Hilton’s pages nor Universal’s Bonus Benefits list for partner hotels includes it for this DoubleTree. The hotel’s shuttle policy even says it isn’t valid for Early Park Admission, so plan your park days without early entry.

Is the DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal pet-friendly?

Yes. At last check Hilton listed pets as allowed for a $75 non-refundable fee, with a 60-pound maximum weight. Service animals are welcome. Universal’s vacation-package listing says pets are not allowed, so if you book a package, confirm the pet policy, fee and limits with the hotel first.

Bottom line

The DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal is a sensible base if you want a full-service Hilton within walking distance of CityWalk and Universal’s two original parks, no resort fee listed and rooms for five or six. It is not a Universal hotel, so plan on walking or a scheduled shuttle and no Early Park Admission, and compare its rate with Universal’s value hotels before you commit.

Compare rates for DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal

Sources checked in October 2026: Hilton: hotel information and policies (archived April 13, 2026), Hilton: overview, dining and location (archived June 11, 2026), Hilton: rooms and suites (archived January 21, 2026), Universal Orlando: Early Park Admission, Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations: moderate Partner Hotels.