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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.
Both are Loews-operated hotels on Epic Blvd, a few miles south of CityWalk, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and both belong to Universal’s mid-priced Prime Value tier with Universal Aventura Hotel. Stella Nova opened on January 21, 2025, and Terra Luna on March 25, 2025, about two months before Epic Universe opened on May 22, 2025.
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Stella Nova vs Terra Luna at a glance
Quick answer: Book Universal Stella Nova Resort if you want to walk to Epic Universe, plan to be at the gate for rope drop, or have kids under about 8 who will use the splash pad. Book Universal Terra Luna Resort if it is cheaper for your dates and you will take the free bus anyway, which suits most adults and teens. Families of five or more should look at Aventura or Cabana Bay instead.
| Feature | Stella Nova | Terra Luna | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | January 21, 2025 | March 25, 2025 | Even |
| Rooms | 750 | 750 | Even |
| Room type and max guests | 2 queens, 315 sq ft, up to 4 | 2 queens, 315 sq ft, up to 4 | Even |
| Getting to Epic Universe | Walking path (about 8 to 15 min) or free shuttle | Free shuttle (walk is 20 to 30+ min) | Stella Nova |
| Pool features | 10,000 sq ft pool, kids’ splash pad, hot tub, fire pit | Zero-entry pool, larger hot tub, fire pit | Stella Nova for young kids |
| Pool bar | Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill | Moonrise Bar and Moonrise Grill (rum drinks) | Your preference |
| Lobby bar | Nova Bar (smoke-infused cocktails) | Luna Bar (craft cocktails) | Your preference |
| Quick-service venue | Cosmos Cafe and Market | Omega Cafe and Market | Even |
| Laundry hours | 24/7 with room key | 9 am to 6 pm daily | Stella Nova |
| Overnight parking | $30 plus tax per night | $30 plus tax per night | Even |
| Tier and perks | Prime Value; Early Park Admission, no Express | Prime Value; Early Park Admission, no Express | Even |
Fees and perks are as listed at the time of writing. For every hotel around the new park, including Helios Grand and off-site options, see our guide to hotels near Epic Universe.
What’s identical: rooms, tier, perks, fees and parking
Each hotel has 750 rooms, and every room is the same: two queen beds in 315 sq ft (29 sq m), for up to four guests. You choose only standard or pool view, plus accessible versions. There are no suites and no king rooms. Rooms have separate bath and vanity areas, a mini fridge, a coffee maker, a safe and a flat-panel TV.
A family of five needs two rooms or a different hotel. The official pages do not say whether an infant counts toward the limit, so ask before you book for four plus a baby (cribs are free on request).
As Prime Value hotels, both include these perks at the time of writing:
- Early Park Admission: up to one hour before regular opening at select attractions in the park or parks Universal designates, which can include Epic Universe. Valid tickets required.
- Free shuttles: to Epic Universe, the CityWalk hub and Volcano Bay.
- Resort charging on your room key, and free delivery of purchases from select park and CityWalk stores.
Neither includes Universal Express. Free Express Unlimited comes only with Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific, and covers Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only, not Epic Universe. See our guide to Universal hotels with free Express Pass.
The fees match too. At the time of writing, both list:
- Parking: $30 plus tax per vehicle per night for overnight self-parking.
- Extra adults: $20 for each adult beyond two in a room.
- Check-in and check-out: 4 pm and 11 am. Direct bookings linked to a Universal Account can use mobile check-in, and you must be 21 or older to book.
- Resort fee: none listed on the official Universal or Loews pages, and planners report none.
- Taxes: 12.5% on the room rate (6.5% Florida sales tax plus 6% Orange County occupancy tax).
These can change, so check current terms.
The difference that matters: walking vs riding to Epic Universe
The official wording is clear. For Stella Nova, Loews says “Epic Universe is accessible via walking path or complimentary shuttle.” For Terra Luna, it says the parks and CityWalk “are accessible via convenient and complimentary shuttles,” with no walking path mentioned.
Stella Nova: a short, simple walk
Planners describe a similar route. The path starts near the lobby and bus pickup area, follows the bus road and crosses at least one signal-controlled road (Jackson Jetsetting and Park Hopping mention one traffic light shared with the buses; Orlando Informer mentions a couple of crossings). Reported times from lobby to park entrance range from about 8 to 15 minutes. The bus ride alone takes under 10 minutes before you count the wait, so walking is often as fast or faster.
Terra Luna: walkable, but most people ride
Terra Luna sits across the road from Stella Nova, farther from the gate. Orlando Informer describes a route that starts past the hotel’s bus stop, winds past Stella Nova and joins its path, taking about 20 minutes. TouringPlans and Jackson Jetsetting say it is over a mile with several multi-lane road crossings, and Upgraded Points reports 30 minutes or more with no shade. Most guests take the shuttle, which reaches the gate in under 10 minutes.
What this means at rope drop and park close
- Rope drop: Stella Nova guests leave when they want. Terra Luna guests depend on the bus, so allow time for a wait on Early Park Admission mornings.
- Midday break: a short walk makes a nap or swim realistic. From Terra Luna, it means two extra bus rides and waits.
- Park close: walkers skip the bus line. Shuttle lines can build as the park empties.
- Heat and rain: in summer or a storm, even Stella Nova guests may prefer the air-conditioned bus.
If being right at the park matters most, Universal Helios Grand Hotel is the only hotel with its own entrance into Epic Universe. It belongs to the pricier Signature Collection and does not include Express either.
Pools: splash pad vs zero-entry, and which suits young kids
Universal lists Stella Nova’s pool area as a 10,000 sq ft pool with a kids’ splash pad, hot tub, fire pit, outdoor games and poolside movies (weather permitting). Terra Luna has a zero-entry pool with a hot tub, lounge and table-top seating and select outdoor games; Loews also lists a fire pit, and Universal’s fact sheet calls the hot tub large.
Planners add useful detail:
- Size and depth: the pools are about the same size, roughly 10,000 sq ft, and about 4 ft at the deepest. Universal does not publish Terra Luna’s pool size, so these are planner figures.
- Layout: Stella Nova’s pool sits outside the tower’s L-shape, next to the food court; its deck is larger, and one planner found it hot, with limited shade. Terra Luna’s pool is inside the L by the lobby, which is more convenient but less private.
- Hot tub: Terra Luna’s is the larger one.
For kids under about 8, Stella Nova’s splash pad is the deciding feature, a shallow play area that a pool alone does not give toddlers. Terra Luna’s zero-entry edge lets small children wade in, but there is no splash pad. Universal’s hotel FAQ says the Stella Nova and Terra Luna pools are reserved for guests staying at either hotel, so you can try the other pool too (confirm at the front desk).
Teens will not miss the splash pad, and neither hotel lists a waterslide or lazy river. For those, look at Cabana Bay (below) or our roundup of the best family-friendly hotels in Orlando.
Dining, bars and the small differences
Breakfast is not included at either hotel. Each has one quick-service restaurant for three meals, a pool bar with a grill, a lobby bar and pizza delivered to rooms during select hours. The menus follow the same template, so the differences are mostly names and cocktails.
- Quick service: Cosmos Cafe and Market (Stella Nova) and Omega Cafe and Market (Terra Luna) serve burgers, paninis, fried chicken and pastas, plus grab-and-go.
- Pool bar and grill: Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill at Stella Nova; Moonrise Bar and Moonrise Grill at Terra Luna, a full bar known for rum drinks, plus beer and wine. Both grills serve burgers, quesadillas and salads.
- Lobby bar: Stella Nova’s Nova Bar makes smoke-infused cocktails in enclosed smoke vessels; Terra Luna’s Luna Bar serves craft cocktails.
Neither lists a table-service restaurant, so a sit-down dinner means the shuttle to CityWalk or a meal in the parks.
The other small differences
- Laundry: Stella Nova’s coin laundry is open 24/7 with room-key access; Terra Luna’s runs 9 am to 6 pm daily. That matters if you get back after dark.
- Theme: both room designs share a curved, spaceship-style window and differ only in color: cool blues, teals and purples at Stella Nova, and warm earth tones (greens, browns and golds) at Terra Luna.
- Views: planners say Stella Nova has the closer views of Epic Universe, while Terra Luna’s higher floors have the wider panorama. Neither sells a park-view room, so a park view is not guaranteed.
Both also have a game room (fees apply), a free fitness center and a Universal Studios Store.
Getting to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk and Volcano Bay
The two hotels are identical here, and neither is walkable to the original parks, which sit a few miles north. You rely on the free shuttle, a car or a rideshare.
- Original parks and CityWalk: the free shuttle drops you at the CityWalk hub, a walk from both parks. Planners report buses about every 15 minutes, starting about an hour before Early Park Admission, with a ride of roughly 15 to 20 minutes.
- Volcano Bay: a separate bus route. Universal has scheduled a maintenance closure from October 26, 2026, with reopening on or before April 1, 2027.
- Park close: planners report long return lines when both original parks close. Leave a little early or linger at CityWalk.
- Airport: MCO is roughly 12 to 14 miles away. Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle costs extra, and Universal’s Stella Nova page lists an Avis desk in the lobby (8 am to 6 pm daily at the time of writing).
Schedules change, so check the Universal app during your stay. If most of your days are at the original parks, those bus rides add up (see Aventura below). For more, see our list of hotels with the best shuttle service to Universal and Disney.
Price patterns and how to compare rates for your dates
Rates change with dates, demand and promotions, and planners disagree on the usual gap. Upgraded Points (November 2025) found Stella Nova tends to run $10 to $30 more per night than Terra Luna. Jackson Jetsetting (July 2026) says the two are usually within a few dollars, and a gap of $25 or more should decide it.
Compare the total cost of the stay, not the headline rate:
- Price the same dates at both, including the 12.5% tax.
- Add $30 plus tax per night if you drive. It is the same at both, so it matters only against other hotels.
- Add $20 for each adult beyond two.
- Weigh the gap against the walk. For several Epic Universe days or rope drop, a small Stella Nova premium can be worth it.
- Check cancellation terms. For room-only bookings made directly with Universal, the deposit is the first night plus tax, with a full refund if you cancel 6 or more days out; inside that window you pay one night plus tax. Vacation packages and Booking.com rates have their own terms, so check them before you book.
Rates also shift with seasons and school holidays; our guide on when to visit Orlando shows the quieter weeks. If both are over budget, see the cheapest Universal Orlando hotels.
Check Universal Stella Nova Resort prices on Booking.com
Check Universal Terra Luna Resort prices on Booking.com
Stella Nova vs Aventura, and families of 5 or more
Both Epic Universe hotels cap rooms at four guests and sit away from the original parks. If either is a problem, consider these two.
Universal Aventura Hotel
Aventura is the third Prime Value hotel, with the same perks and no Express. The difference is location: it is on the main campus next to Volcano Bay and Cabana Bay, with walking paths to CityWalk and the original parks. Planners put the walk to CityWalk at about 20 to 25 minutes (roughly 1.5 miles via Sapphire Falls and the Garden Walk).
- Why stay: most of your days are at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, or you need one room for five. The 575 sq ft Kids’ Suite has a king bed, two twins in a separate kids’ area and a sleeper sofa, and sleeps up to 5.
- Getting to the parks: walking path or free shuttle to the original parks; Epic Universe days mean a bus ride.
- Good to know: overnight parking is $30 plus tax at the time of writing, and breakfast is not included. There is a rooftop Bar 17 Bistro with park views and a pool with a kids’ splash zone. The Volcano Bay walking path is unavailable during the park’s maintenance closure.
Best for: original-park trips and families of five who want one room.
Check Universal’s Aventura Hotel prices on Booking.com
Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Cabana Bay is in Universal’s Value Inns and Suites tier, not Prime Value, but it still includes Early Park Admission, free shuttles, resort charging and package delivery (no Express). Its strengths are room size and pool extras.
- Why stay: 430 sq ft Family Suites sleep 6, with two queens, a pull-out sofa, a privacy partition and a kitchenette (mini fridge, microwave, sink). 772 sq ft two-bedroom suites sleep 8.
- Getting to the parks: walking paths (about 20 to 30 minutes to CityWalk) plus free shuttles.
- Good to know: a lazy river, a waterslide and the 10-lane Galaxy Bowl (fees, reservations required). Overnight parking is $26 plus tax at the time of writing.
Best for: families of 6 to 8, and kids who want a lazy river.
Check Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort prices on Booking.com
For more big-family options, see rooms that sleep 5 or 6 at Disney World and Universal and our best hotels near Universal Studios Orlando.
Our verdict by traveler type
| Traveler | Book | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Epic-focused trips and rope-drop planners | Stella Nova | Walk to the gate, no bus wait |
| Kids under about 8 | Stella Nova | Kids’ splash pad, easy midday breaks |
| Adults, teens and bus riders | Whichever is cheaper, often Terra Luna | Same room, perks and fees |
| Mostly original-park days | Aventura or Cabana Bay | Walking paths to CityWalk |
| Families of 5 or more | Aventura Kids’ Suite or Cabana Bay suites | Rooms sleep 5 to 8 |
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk to Epic Universe from Stella Nova or Terra Luna?
Yes from Stella Nova, which Loews advertises with a “walking path or complimentary shuttle.” Planners report the walk takes about 8 to 15 minutes, with at least one signal-controlled crossing. Terra Luna advertises shuttles only. Its walkable route is over a mile with multi-lane road crossings and no shade, taking about 20 to 30+ minutes, so most guests ride the free bus, which takes under 10 minutes.
Is Stella Nova or Terra Luna better for young kids?
For kids under about 8, Stella Nova. Its pool area has a kids’ splash pad and poolside movies (weather permitting), and the short walk to Epic Universe makes midday naps easier. Terra Luna’s zero-entry pool lets toddlers wade in, but there is no splash pad. With teens the pools matter less, so book whichever is cheaper.
Do Stella Nova and Terra Luna include Universal Express Pass?
No. Neither includes Universal Express, and neither do Aventura or Cabana Bay. At the time of writing, free Express Unlimited comes only with Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific, and it is valid at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only, not Epic Universe.
How many people can stay in a room at Stella Nova or Terra Luna?
Four. Every room at both hotels has two queen beds, 315 sq ft and a maximum occupancy of 4, and there are no suites. The official pages do not say whether an infant counts, so ask before booking four plus a baby. Groups of five or more should look at Aventura or Cabana Bay.
Do Stella Nova and Terra Luna charge a resort fee or for parking?
No resort fee is listed on the official Universal or Loews pages, and planners report none. Overnight self-parking is $30 plus tax per vehicle per night at both at the time of writing, plus $20 for each adult beyond two and 12.5% tax on the room rate. Confirm current fees when you book.
Do Stella Nova and Terra Luna guests get Early Park Admission at Epic Universe?
Yes, on dates when Universal designates Epic Universe. Guests with valid tickets enter up to one hour early at select attractions. Universal’s Early Park Admission calendar sets which park or parks and which attractions open early on each date, and Epic Universe has been included on many dates. On past Epic Universe dates, early entry covered lands such as Super Nintendo World and Ministry of Magic. Check the calendar for your travel dates.
Sources checked in September 2026: Universal Stella Nova Resort (Universal Orlando), Universal Terra Luna Resort (Universal Orlando), Universal Stella Nova Resort (Loews Hotels), Universal Terra Luna Resort rooms (Loews Hotels), Early Park Admission (Universal Orlando).