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Universal Stella Nova Resort is the mid-priced Universal hotel with an official walking path to Epic Universe: 750 two-queen rooms for up to four guests, a 10,000 sq ft pool with a kids’ splash pad, quick-service dining and Universal’s Prime Value perks, which means Early Park Admission and free shuttles but no Express Pass. It opened in January 2025 on Epic Boulevard, a few miles south of CityWalk and the two original parks.
Quick answer: Book Universal Stella Nova Resort if Epic Universe is the heart of your trip, your party fits in a two-queen room for four and you want to walk to the gate without paying Signature Collection rates. Look elsewhere if most of your days are at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure (every park day starts with a bus), if you need a suite or a room for five, or if you expect Express Pass.
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Universal Stella Nova Resort at a glance
- Area and address: 4500 Epic Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, next to Epic Universe and across the road from its twin, Universal Terra Luna Resort. Run by Loews in the Prime Value tier.
- Distances: about 0.6 to 0.7 miles on foot to Epic Universe’s Chronos Portal (Universal says 5 to 10 minutes); about 4 miles by road to the CityWalk garages and to SeaWorld; about 13 miles to the airport.
- Rooms: 750 rooms, all 315 sq ft with two queen beds for up to four, in Standard or Pool View plus accessible versions. No suites, no king rooms.
- Pool: one 10,000 sq ft pool with a kids’ splash pad, hot tub, fire pit, outdoor games and poolside movies. No waterslide or lazy river; you may also use Terra Luna’s pool, but not the main-campus pools.
- Breakfast: not included; Cosmos Cafe and Market serves a quick-service breakfast.
- Restaurants and bars: Cosmos Cafe and Market, Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill by the pool, Nova Bar in the lobby, and pizza delivery to rooms.
- Parking and fees: self-parking $30 plus tax per night at the time of writing, no valet listed; no resort fee listed; 12.5% tax; $20 for each adult beyond two.
- Park perks: Early Park Admission, free shuttles to all four parks and CityWalk, room-key charging and purchase delivery. No Universal Express, no water taxi.
- Best for: couples and families of up to four spending two or more days at Epic Universe.
See prices and availability at Universal Stella Nova Resort on Booking.com
Stella Nova photos
A look at the lobby, lounges, bathrooms and poolside bar from the property’s own photo gallery. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or browse the full gallery and current rates on Booking.com.
Location and distances: next to Epic Universe, a bus ride from everything else
Stella Nova sits on Epic Boulevard at the south end of Universal Orlando Resort. Epic Universe is a short walk away; Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and CityWalk are a few miles north. The road distances below come from an open-source router, rounded, with drive times in light traffic; Loews quotes 2 and 14 miles for the convention center and the airport.
| Destination | Road distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Epic Universe guest parking | About 1 mile (or walk) | 5 min |
| CityWalk garages (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure) | About 4 miles | 10 min |
| SeaWorld Orlando | About 4 miles | 10 min |
| Orange County Convention Center (West) | About 2.5 miles | 7 min |
| Disney Springs | About 9 to 10 miles | 20 min |
| EPCOT parking lot | About 12 to 13 miles | 25 min |
| Magic Kingdom (Transportation and Ticket Center) | About 13 to 15 miles | 25 min |
| Orlando International Airport (MCO) | About 13 miles | 25 min |
The walking path to Epic Universe
Universal’s hotel page says Epic Universe “is accessible via walking path or complimentary shuttle”, and its Discover Universal blog (August 2025) puts Stella Nova “only a 5–10-minute walk away from the Chronos gate”. On the foot router, lobby to the turnstiles beside the Chronos Portal is about 0.6 to 0.7 miles, or 10 to 15 minutes at a family pace. Planner reports in our Stella Nova vs Terra Luna comparison range from 8 to 15 minutes, with at least one signal-controlled road crossing.
Loews sells Pool View rooms, which it describes as an upgraded view of the pool, and Standard View rooms. There is no park-view category, so a glimpse of Epic Universe from your window is luck.
Rooms: 315 sq ft, two queens, up to four guests
Every room is the same Standard Room with two queen beds: 315 sq ft (29 sq m) with a small sitting area and separate vanity and bath areas. Loews lists a flat-panel TV, a mini fridge, a coffee maker, an in-room safe, a hairdryer and free basic Wi-Fi.
You choose only the view, Standard or Pool, each also offered as a mobility-accessible room with an ADA tub or a roll-in shower; Loews lists hearing-accessible rooms in Standard View. There are no suites or king rooms, and the official pages do not mention connecting rooms. Maximum occupancy is four: Universal’s page offers complimentary cribs on request, Loews calls them Pack ‘n Plays, and neither says whether an infant counts toward the four, so confirm before booking four plus a baby. Families of five need two rooms or a different hotel. You must be 21 or older to book and check in (17 with an active military ID), and each adult beyond two costs $20 at the time of writing.
Pool, splash pad and recreation
The pool area is the hotel’s main amenity, and a good one for younger kids. Universal lists a 10,000 sq ft resort-style pool, a kids’ splash pad, a hot tub, a fire pit with seating, outdoor games and poolside movies when the weather allows; Loews adds a walk-up bar and food window. There is no waterslide and no lazy river.
Universal’s hotel FAQ says the Stella Nova and Terra Luna pools “are reserved exclusively for guests staying at Stella Nova or Terra Luna”, so you can also try Terra Luna’s zero-entry pool across the road. The main-campus hotels form a separate pool-hopping group: their guests cannot use your pools, and Stella Nova guests are not in that group. One planner report cited in our comparison also found the large deck hot, with limited shade.
Dining and breakfast: quick service only
Breakfast is not included, whether you book directly or on Booking.com. Everything on site is casual:
- Cosmos Cafe and Market: the three-meal quick-service restaurant, with American classics such as burgers, paninis, fried chicken and pastas, plus grab-and-go pastries, sandwiches and coffee.
- Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill: the poolside full-service bar with a separate grill window for burgers, quesadillas and salads.
- Nova Bar: the lobby bar, known for cocktails infused with smoke in enclosed vessels, plus classics, beer and wine (21 and over with photo ID).
- Pizza delivery: fresh-made pizza delivered to your room during posted hours.
There is no table-service restaurant, so a sit-down dinner means the shuttle to CityWalk, a restaurant inside Epic Universe or a drive.
Parking, fees and the fine print
| Item | Amount at the time of writing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight self-parking | $30 plus tax per vehicle per night | No valet listed |
| Day-guest parking | Free under 30 minutes, then $65 plus tax per day | For visitors who are not staying |
| Resort fee | None listed | Checked on Universal’s and Loews’ pages |
| Hotel tax | 12.5% of the room rate | 6.5% state sales tax plus 6% Orange County occupancy tax |
| Extra adult | $20 per adult beyond two | Maximum four guests per room |
| Wi-Fi | Basic free; Premium Plus $9.95 per 24 hours | Up to 10 devices per room |
Universal’s terms apply to rooms booked directly: the first night plus tax is charged within five business days of booking, cancellations six or more days out are refunded in full, and inside five days you lose one night plus tax. Booking.com rates carry their own cancellation terms, so read the rate conditions rather than assuming Universal’s. Check-in is 4 pm and check-out 11 am.
Getting to the parks: walk to Epic, bus to everything else
Stella Nova has no water taxi and no walking path to the original parks. Universal lists the free bus routes as Epic Universe (or walk), the hub at CityWalk for Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and a dedicated route to Volcano Bay; its hotel FAQ says transportation begins one hour before Early Park Admission.
Bus frequency is where Universal’s own pages disagree: the Discover Universal blog says the Stella Nova shuttle “arrives every 10 minutes”, while the hotel FAQ says every 15 minutes at Cabana Bay, Aventura, Helios Grand, Stella Nova and Terra Luna. Plan on 10 to 15 minutes between buses and, per the blog, a ride of 10 to 20 minutes. Volcano Bay has a maintenance closure: at the time of writing Universal schedules it from October 26, 2026, with reopening on or before April 1, 2027, so that bus pauses too. For hotels with a walking path to CityWalk, see our best hotels near Universal Studios Orlando roundup.
From the airport, Universal’s SuperStar Shuttle serves the hotel (fees apply; book at least 24 hours before your flight), and an Avis desk in the lobby is open 8 am to 6 pm daily.
Park perks: Early Park Admission yes, Express Pass no
As a Prime Value hotel, Stella Nova includes Early Park Admission, free transportation, room-key charging and free delivery of purchases from select park and CityWalk stores. Early Park Admission lets hotel guests with valid tickets into the designated park or parks up to an hour before opening, at select attractions. At the time of writing, Universal’s calendar runs October 5 to November 30, 2026 at Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe (select attractions in Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk and Celestial Park), with nothing at Universal Studios Florida. Dates change, so read our guide to how Universal Early Park Admission works and check Universal’s page for your dates.
What you do not get is Universal Express. Free Express Unlimited comes only with three Signature Collection hotels on the main campus, and even there it covers Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure only, not Epic Universe or Volcano Bay. Mobile check-in through the Universal app is reserved for reservations made with Universal or Loews and linked to a Universal Account, so with a Booking.com reservation you check in at the front desk.
Amenities: fitness, game room, laundry, Wi-Fi and accessibility
Beyond the pool, the amenities are practical: the free fitness center with locker rooms and showers, the game room (fees apply), a coin-operated laundromat open 24/7 with room-key access, luggage storage, free safety deposit boxes, free basic Wi-Fi and a Universal Studios Store. Neither official page lists a spa or a kids’ club.
Accessibility is well documented. Loews lists accessible routes to registration, the accessible rooms, restaurants, fitness center and pool, 36-inch clear doorways in mobility-accessible rooms, a TTY and accessible transportation with advance notice. Universal’s page adds roll-in showers or tubs with a seat and hand bar, toilets with hand bars and hearing-impaired kits from the front desk. Mobility scooters can only be delivered by four approved vendors (Buena Vista Rentals, BP Mobility, Scooter Bug and Apple Scooter), per Universal’s page.
Who Stella Nova suits, and who it doesn’t
It suits couples and families of up to four whose trip is built around Epic Universe for two or more days, rope-drop planners who want to reach the Chronos gate without waiting for a bus, and parents of young children who want a splash pad and an easy midday break.
It does not suit families of five or more, groups who want a suite with a kitchenette, travelers spending most days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, or guests who expect Express Pass, a table-service restaurant, a lazy river or the main-campus pools.
Pros
- The only mid-priced Universal hotel with an official walking path to Epic Universe.
- Early Park Admission, free shuttles to all four parks and CityWalk, room-key charging and purchase delivery, with no resort fee listed.
- A 10,000 sq ft pool with a splash pad, hot tub, fire pit and poolside movies.
- Separate vanity and bath areas in every room, a mini fridge and free basic Wi-Fi.
- 24/7 laundry, a free fitness center and detailed accessibility provisions.
Limitations to know
- No Universal Express; Universal’s hotel comparison page puts a two-park Express Unlimited pass at $124.99 to $389.99 per person, depending on the date, at the time of writing.
- One room type, 315 sq ft, maximum four guests, no suites and no kitchenette.
- Every visit to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure starts with the bus: 10 to 15 minutes between buses and 10 to 20 minutes on board.
- Quick-service dining only, and no included breakfast.
- No waterslide or lazy river, and pool sharing only with Terra Luna.
- Pets are not allowed; Universal lists four pet-friendly hotels on its main campus, for a $150 fee at the time of writing.
What to check before you book
- Your Early Park Admission dates: which park opens early each morning of your stay, and whether Epic Universe is included.
- Terra Luna’s rate for the same nights; the rooms and perks are identical, so if it is much cheaper and you will ride the bus anyway, it wins.
- The cancellation terms of your specific Booking.com rate, which differ from Universal’s six-day rule.
- Whether your dates overlap Volcano Bay’s maintenance closure or a ticketed evening event at the original parks.
- Your ticket type: Universal’s 3- to 5-day Park-to-Park tickets let you combine Epic Universe with other parks on the same day; our Epic Universe guide covers tickets, ride heights and hotels.
Nearby alternatives
- Universal Terra Luna Resort: the same rooms, perks and fees across the road, with a zero-entry pool instead of a splash pad (open to Stella Nova guests too) and shuttle-only access to Epic. It can be the cheaper of the pair on some dates; see the Stella Nova vs Terra Luna comparison.
- Universal Helios Grand Hotel: the Signature Collection hotel inside Epic Universe with a dedicated park entrance for its guests, at Signature Collection rates and still without Express.
- Universal Aventura Hotel: the third Prime Value hotel, on the main campus with walking paths to CityWalk and Volcano Bay and a Kids’ Suite that sleeps five.
- Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort: value-tier Family Suites for six with kitchenettes, a lazy river and a waterslide, walking paths to CityWalk and $26 plus tax parking.
- Off-site near Epic: hotels on Universal Boulevard and around the convention center sit about 2 to 3.5 miles from the park with no Universal perks; our guide to hotels near Epic Universe compares them.
For the lowest on-site rates, see the cheapest Universal Orlando hotels, and for the value and Prime Value tiers side by side, Cabana Bay vs Aventura vs Endless Summer.
Bringing a dog? see pet-friendly hotels near Universal.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk from Universal Stella Nova Resort to Epic Universe?
Yes. Universal says Epic Universe “is accessible via walking path or complimentary shuttle”, and its blog calls it a 5 to 10 minute walk to the Chronos gate. The foot route from the lobby to the park turnstiles is about 0.6 to 0.7 miles, so allow 10 to 15 minutes with kids or in the heat.
Does Universal Stella Nova Resort include Express Pass?
No. Free Universal Express Unlimited comes only with three Signature Collection hotels on Universal’s main campus, and it covers Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, not Epic Universe or Volcano Bay. Helios Grand, the Signature hotel at Epic, does not include it either. Stella Nova guests who want shorter lines must buy Express separately.
Is there a resort fee or parking charge at Stella Nova?
No resort fee is listed on Universal’s or Loews’ pages. Overnight self-parking is $30 plus tax per vehicle per night at the time of writing, each adult beyond two costs $20, and 12.5% tax is added to the room rate. Confirm current rates when you book.
How far is Stella Nova from Universal Studios Florida and CityWalk?
About 4 miles by road to the CityWalk parking garages, roughly a 10 minute drive without traffic. There is no walking path from Stella Nova to the original parks; the free shuttle to the CityWalk hub is the usual way, with buses every 10 to 15 minutes and a ride of 10 to 20 minutes.
Is breakfast included at Universal Stella Nova Resort?
No. Breakfast is not part of the rate, whether you book directly or through Booking.com. Cosmos Cafe and Market serves a quick-service breakfast plus grab-and-go pastries and coffee, the room’s mini fridge and coffee maker help with early starts, and CityWalk and the parks have more options.
Can Stella Nova guests use the pools at other Universal hotels?
Only Terra Luna’s. Universal’s hotel FAQ says the Stella Nova and Terra Luna pools are reserved exclusively for guests staying at either of the two hotels, so you can swim at Terra Luna’s zero-entry pool across the road. The main-campus hotels pool-hop only within their own group, which does not include Stella Nova. Confirm at the front desk.
Bottom line
Universal Stella Nova Resort does one thing better than any other mid-priced Universal hotel: it puts Epic Universe within a short walk. The costs are transparent, with no resort fee listed and $30 plus tax parking. If your party is four or fewer and Epic is the point of the trip, it is the right base; if the original parks are, pick a hotel with a walking path to CityWalk instead.
Check your dates for Universal Stella Nova Resort on Booking.com
Sources checked in October 2026: Universal Stella Nova Resort (Universal Orlando), Universal Stella Nova Resort (Loews Hotels), Hotel FAQs (Universal Orlando), Early Park Admission (Universal Orlando), How to Get from Your Hotel to Universal Orlando’s Parks (Discover Universal).