Where to stay near Universal Orlando: the 3 hotels with Express Unlimited, value hotels with Universal perks and budget stays on International Drive.
Check prices at hotels near Universal Orlando
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Only Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel include free Universal Express Unlimited. Here is what it covers (not Epic Universe), how the room key works on check-in and check-out day, and when the higher rate pays off.
If you’re working out where to stay for Disney and Universal on one trip, most people do best with a split stay: a Universal hotel for the Universal days, then a hotel at or near Walt Disney World for the rest.
This guide lists the Disney World and Universal Orlando rooms that fit a family of 5 or 6 in one booking, with beds, bathrooms and occupancy rules from the official room pages.
Stella Nova vs Terra Luna comes down to one thing: Stella Nova has an official walking path to Epic Universe, while Terra Luna advertises shuttles only, and the rooms, perks and fees are the same. Book Stella Nova for walking, rope drop or young kids; book Terra Luna if it is cheaper and you will ride the bus anyway.
The cheapest Universal Orlando hotels are the two Endless Summer Resort hotels, Dockside Inn and Suites and Surfside Inn and Suites, which sit in Universal’s lowest tier, Value Inns and Suites.
This guide compares Drury, Rosen and Disney-owned hotels with no resort fee by parking cost, free park shuttles and breakfast, and works out the real nightly cost with tax.
The closest hotels near Epic Universe are Universal’s three Epic-area hotels: Helios Grand is inside the park, Stella Nova is a short walk from the gate and Terra Luna is a quick shuttle ride away.
Our Loews Portofino Bay Hotel review covers free Express Unlimited and where it doesn’t work, the water taxi and walk to the parks, every room and suite size, the pools, dining, parking and fees.
Orlando hotels with shuttle to Universal and Disney are rarer than most planners expect: only a few, such as Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista, Ramada by Wyndham Kissimmee Gateway and Hilton Orlando, run buses to both resorts, and even those rarely cover every park.
