Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Universal Stella Nova Resort

    4.1 (56 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

    Universal Stella Nova Resort Photos

    From this Business

    Recommended Reviews - Universal Stella Nova Resort

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Jackie S.

    Stella Nova Hotel Stayed here for 3 nights with my son. Pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness and new modern look of the room. The beds were comfortable and the air conditioning worked well. I really loved the extra table top area for the luggage. It really made a difference. Only one little downfall is the lights turn on automatically when you get up to go to the bathroom. Maybe there's a way to turn them off but I didn't know how. Other than that minor annoyance it was a great stay.... Also, we spent an entire day in the pool area. The pool was simple but clean, nice, and a good environment to hang out for the day. The food was good too, we ate at the restaurant downstairs. The kids also enjoyed the ping pong at the pool area.

    Huevos rancheros
    Brilynn C.

    Come for the accessibility to Universal, huge pool deck, and very tasty food options. The room towels and bed cover are very thin, the shower is roomy with great pressure, and the overall resort is very clean. The hotel does not cater to your convenience, there is no room service and pool deck orders are submitted by a QR code. I found check-in to be cumbersome. Although the text message capabilities are helpful to communicate with staff.

    Stella Nova and splash pad!
    Jeremy R.

    Stella Nova is one of Universals newest properties. It is a beautiful place very clean and modern. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The pool is amazing! As far as the rooms they are nice and clean but I would say they are simple, don't expect too of the line accommodations when you enter the room. Nothing wrong but nothing stands out. One thing to note is even though the bed is moderately comfortable the blankets and bedding is a little lacking. I definitely do recommend and I love staying near Epic and seeing the fireworks show from the room! Also staying in a Universal property gets you in an hour early at all of their parks so take advantage of this perk.

    Keri C.

    The exterior at Stella Nova is fun to pull up to on your journey arriving or getting back from a day at the parks. Multicolor bricks catch the sun and moonlight differently through the day and night, adding to the fantastical and dreamy feeling of frequenting Universal Orlando. Every single team member inside this hotel was lovely. From check-in, to bag check, to my double (sometimes triple) espreso guy, to the staff in the merchandise store. I arrive at 10am, check-in is at 4pm. By 1pm my room was ready. AND it had a park view of Epic Universe. If you are staying here, at Stella Nova, I am guessing it is because, like me, you are centering Epic. So this view excited me like a giddy kid. I did come in January, which is a slightly slower time. So keep that in mind when requesting rooms and waiting for check-in. You can check-in, then check your bags and go straight to the parks! But I wanted to rest up first, so I lounged by the pool. The pool is pretty large (smaller than the typical UO resort), with the hot tub right next to the bar. I liked staying on the loungers that were on a sand area, so I could pretend I was at the beach. The design is galactic, cosmos, space shuttle inspired, which you can totally tell by the architecture. I get what they were going for with all the white, but I felt it needed more pop of color, my artwork, or more interesting installations to avoid it looking a little bland. This is Universal after all! The lobby bar didn't appeal to me, though their drinks looked lovely. It was a little small and cramped. Sort of gave me an airport feel. The market and cafe were WAY better than I imagined, with fresh food available, but I will get into those details in a separate review of Cosmos Cafe. The biggest perk: 3-4 minute shuttle to Epic, or a very easy walking path that took about 8/10 minutes. The biggest con: Who made these room walls? My gosh, I could hear every single door open and close on my floor. If a kid was giggling three rooms over I heard it. If the shuttle bus (I was park facing and on the side of the shuttles) was parking, I heard the beeps. Luckily, I had ear plugs and played brown noise on my phone. Y'all, ear plugs are a must here. With only that one con to consider and steps to counteract the sounds, I would absolutely stay here again.

    Brittany S.

    Wanted to try this hotel as we have stayed at several of universals resorts in the past... Absolutely loved this hotel! Was bright, modern, and loved the theming. Easily commute into city walk and across the street from epic universe. The pool is massive and great for a day of relaxation. Couldn't hear sound from hallways or the people next door which was great. Everything was super clean and staff was very welcoming. Couldn't ask for more.

    Room 3026
    Warren D.

    Dates of stay: December 1 - 2, 2025 Stella Nova is the closest you can stay to the action at Universal Epic without sleeping in the parking lot. Choose between a 10-minute completely paved/pedestrian-friendly walk or frequent shuttle buses to get to the park (we actually beat the bus once because of the ridiculously long traffic signal at Epic Blvd), making it incredibly easy to start enjoying some rides. Want to go to another park or over to CityWalk? Take the shuttle to Epic and then catch another bus over to your intended destination. Being a Loews hotel, it is a very nice facility, if a bit sparse in some areas. The couch in the room was not very comfortable and the lack of hand lotion in the room was disappointing, but overall it's a great space. Our room was admittedly basic in many ways but it was very clean and the bed was comfortable. We didn't hear any outside noise, either, which is also important. Our check-in was efficient and incredibly friendly--I wish I had been more timely with this review so I could shout out the lovely young lady from Mexico that got us checked in and provided both facility and how to access the park so we could get started on the fun. The housekeeping and valet staff we encountered were less friendly. I wouldn't go as far as calling them rude, but they weren't giving the warm fuzzies. Much attention to detail really elevates the theme over the gimmicks you see in places such as Las Vegas; here the carpet, room numbers, and the lobby decor all tie together nicely to make you feel like you're somewhere other than Orlando, Florida circa 2025! If you're going to Universal, this is a great option for your vacation and is far more affordable than most other official Universal hotels.

    Frank L.

    This was my first stay at Universal's new Epic Universe area hotel properties (they currently have 3), and this was a very nice value hotel. It's a brand new hotel property, everything inside looks very modern, fresh and clean and fits the space/universe theme of Epic perfectly. Our hotel room was very nice, the privacy shade covering the bathroom/sink area from the rest of the room was a nice touch. We got a cool view of SeaWorld and Icon Park from our room which was neat too. We loved the pool area, there is a big heated swimming pool and also a big hot tub and a sand area with volley ball, along with a pool bar/restaurant. The lobby also has a nice cafe restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner. The best benefit of staying here is the free bus transportation to the parks/Citywalk on property, along with Epic Universe being a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel. I'd absolutely recommend a stay at Stella Nova if you want a cheaper hotel that's good quality and close to Epic Universe.

    Pool bar cocktails
    Jamie P.

    We chose this hotel because we can walk to the front gate of Epic Universe. We got a low FL resident price and stayed two nights. Check in was pretty quick after doing some of it ahead of time online. All the staff we encountered were nice and seemed happy to be there. The food was great for breakfast and lunch. It was all under salted to my taste but that's normal for Universal. The cocktails at the pool bar were really good and the bartender was able to adjust the flavors for our preferences because what we ordered was not pre-batched. The pool itself was nice but a little boring. Not a lot of people were around when we were there on a Thursday afternoon. It was cool that the music playing could also be heard under the water. The pool loungers all had QR tags on them to help you mobile order for the pickup window at the side of the pool deck. It's a smaller menu than the cafe inside, though. Our room was a standard view of the parking lot but Epic Universe was easily seen just beyond the entrance of the hotel. It was pretty at night. The double queen room was very clean and the bed was firm but comfortable. I do wish hotels would stop using the a/c sensor only system and allow the unit to keep running. I kept walking up hot and having to trigger the wall sensor to kick the air back on. Especially after a long day in the park, that was annoying to come back to. Over all, this was a good staycation for us and we would come back to this hotel again.

    View from 9th floor room. The Universal Epic park can be seen.
    Carlos C.

    My only reason for rating 4 stars rather than 5 is that the rooms aren't cleaned every day. You come back tired after more than 12 hours in the park, only to find the same mess you left behind when you rushed out in the morning. The room costs $350+ per night... Even a 2-star hotel cleans rooms every day! Besides that, I found everything else good: Front desk wait time was only a few minutes. Personnel is professional and multi-language. The hotel is new, very nicely decorated, and clean. The room on the 9th floor was super quiet, with great views. The room was very clean and very well furnished: hair dryer, coffee, a coffee machine, a small fridge (no noise!), an ample desk and sofa to put bags and stuff, a large laptop-sized safe, a large TV, and AC (very low noise). The Avis car rental onsite was a big bonus. We arrived too early to Tampa airport. Uber/Lyft cost was around $150 one way. Avis to the hotel was less than $50! Hotel service is excellent. You ask for towels, coffee, whatever you've run out of, and they deliver in minutes. Nice swimming pool area with a bar. Plenty of tables for your meal. There's a restaurant open until 10pm and a Starbucks coffee. Food delivered to room until 12am. Alcohol is expensive, but other food is reasonably priced for the location. Food quality is just Ok, amussement park quality. You can get very good meals for a reasonable price (not cheap) in the Univerdal Boardwalk. The hotel is a 15-minute walk from Epic's park entrance. Or take the free Universal Shuttle bus to any park -- the stop is just next to the lobby. If you're visiting Epic Universe, this hotel is an excellent location, and you also get 1-hour early access. There's a more expensive hotel inside the park, but if budget is a factor, Stella Nova is a better deal at this time, in my opinion. I also made a Yelp review of Epic Universe itself. If you're spending more time at the other parks, you might be better off staying at one of the hotels closer to the boardwalk. One extra tip: if you stay at an on-site Universal Orlando Resort hotel, most of the stores in the park offer free delivery to the lobby. They guarantee next-day delivery by noon, but I got same-day delivery.

    Lobby
    Chanel F.

    I want to say I had a very interesting stay here this past weekend. Upon arriving, I thought the place looked very nice on the outside. I arrived to the hotel early and they were very accommodating. We were off to a good start. And by accommodating, I just mean, they let us do an early check-in and a late checkout. This is supposed to be a so-called budget friendly hotel. But I've seen the price go well over $200 online which I do not think it's worth it and I'm gonna tell you why. This place charge you $30 for parking which is very steep. I will never get over the fact that you can rent a room somewhere and they charge you for parking. While checking in, the young lady told us that housekeeping cleans your room every other day so if you stay 2 nights, you do not get any housekeeping. For that alone, I won't stay here again. Having to make your bed or figure out where trash is going go because the trashcan is full, Is not something I want to do on vacation. The walls are thin I could always hear people talking outside my room or through the vents. The room itself was spacious, the beds were doable. They have a nice size pool and jacuzzi. There's lot of seating out there and games. Pool stays open late til like 11 pm. The lights in the room drove me insane. They have motion sensors, so if you're not moving around they go off. My family was going to epic we rented 4 rooms, I loved that the park was across the street and they had a shuttle. I stayed here because it was new, but that will not bring me back.

    Hallway
    Ashlee S.

    We stayed here for my birthday! The staff was super nice and accommodating. I loved the quick service restaurant that they had. It was convenient and a quick turnaround that helped keep us on track to go to EPIC. This hotel is within walking distance of the park but also included a bus transportation for those that needed it. I loved the hotel it was beautiful and there were plenty of elevators so you weren't waiting long to go downstairs. The food we had was so fresh and well seasoned. Would absolutely recommend the hotel. My only reason for not giving 5 stars would be because of the actual room. I wasn't wowed by the shower and would've loved thicker covers like a duvet or something. Its a good enough room to be in for the night but just nothing that was extra special.

    American breakfast plate.
    Madison K.

    Food at the cafe is alright. HUGE portions though. I got the all American breakfast plate with sausage. It mentioned a mushroom gravy on the menu which I did not see in my plate. Biscuits were on the dry side and a coffee was $4.50. Yikes! I could've gone to the Starbucks next to it and gotten something more substantial for only a little more. Breakfast was decent but left some to be desired. It was nice that we could visit here just for food before hitting up Universal Studios.

    Gina H.

    This is a basic moderate hotel but had all that we needed and I would definitely stay here again! The shuttle is right outside to the various parks and ran often enough that we didn't feel we were waiting too long. The walk to EPIC is also not long though if its hot outside feels longer with the humidity that we Californians are not used to :( The hotel front desk staff is SUPERB! The only thing i had an issue with was that we could not get a cleaning every day meaning we had to come get our own towels on day 2. And they don't have 24/7 service to bring towels up to us. The service at the cafe (grab and go) was also great. We had come from a long day at the park twice and wanted to grab a few things and everything was amazing. From the burger, pizza and ice cream we were pleased. I even got some hot tea on the house! I can't comment on the pool area as we did not get a chance to experience any of it but it stays open until 11 an looks AMAZING from our window. For the room itself, i liked the personal touch of our name on the tv screen, the ability to log into NETFLIX and the soft beds. The bathroom was split so we could use the toil.et and another could use hte sink if needed. Teh shower was also great! If you are going to EPIC on vacation try this place out!

    Lobby

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M V.
    0
    6
    4

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 4

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    The best food in the world, I can still taste it. Amazing service and unbelievable service and access to the parks through the shuttle.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mr. F.
    138
    125
    77

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    There was no cushioning in the couch armrest overall the place was great the pool was my favorite thing to do and the food was great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Really nice hotel only issue was reallllllly long hallways. Takes a while to get to your room.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Universal Stella Nova Resort

    Review Highlights - Universal Stella Nova Resort

    The best part about this hotel is that it is located literally 5-10 minutes walking distance from Epic Universe.

    Mentioned in 17 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Four Seasons Resort - Adult pool

    Four Seasons Resort

    (222 reviews)

    Disney World, Horizons West / West Orlando

    This was the best family vacation stay I have experienced! We took our son and his fiance and my…read moregrandaughter for a 5 night stay at this beautiful property. I have stayed at about 10 different four seasons and this was by far the best. The level of service is what you would expect with the four seasons brand but this hotel stands above the rest with beauty and things to do. We enjoyed the 5 acre water park every day and loved it. So much to do for families at the pool area and we dipped away from the kids for the quiet adults pool also. If you are staying here to visit Disney it was equally amazing with character breakfasts in Ravello and the Disney shuttles that ran very often. We mostly ate at the pool ( lakehouse) and in the evening at the hotel ( ravello/Lobby bar) The other place capa? on the roof was nice but we didnt dine there but we did enjoy using their balcony to watch the fireworks from magic kingdom/epcot. The Lickitysplit coffee/pastry/sandwich place was very convenient when we needed something on the go for our busy vacation plans outside the hotel. Shining star- Its hard to pick one person since every employee there is a 10/10 on service but Hannah in LakeHouse was a shinier diamond among diamonds she always went above and beyond for my picky grandaughter Bonus- Doing the Smores at the pool was something pretty amazing

    This is certainly the best hotel in and around Disney World, but that being said I would still give…read moreit four stars. The service was friendly and the breakfast was serviceable. The room was a good size and comfortable if a little on the tired side. Also, after much searching we discovered that our room had no mini bar which was kind of annoying. We weren't able to take advantage of the pool situation because it was unseasonably cold while we were there and even though it's heated, swimming while it was 40 degrees did not seem appealing. We did use the gym facility which was expansive and very well equipped. I would recommend this hotel for anyone coming to Disney but it's not necessarily on par with other Four Seasons Hotels.

    JW Marriott

    JW Marriott

    (555 reviews)

    $$$

    South Orange Blossom Trail / OBT

    We've made the JW Marriott Grande Lakes one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions. My in-laws…read morecome down every year for Thanksgiving, and we typically stay here or at the Ritz-Carlton. The two properties are connected, and one of the best perks is that guests can enjoy the amenities at either hotel, so you really get the best of both worlds. The lazy river is a highlight every time. The pool area is massive, which I really appreciate because you're not fighting everyone else for a lounger or feeling packed in around the pool. It's easy to spend an entire afternoon relaxing here. The service is consistently top notch. Everyone we encounter is friendly, attentive, and genuinely focused on making the stay enjoyable. That level of service is one of the reasons we keep coming back. And the restaurants on property are another big plus. We love being able to have great meals without having to leave the resort, especially during a holiday stay when convenience matters. Overall, the JW Marriott Grande Lakes is a fantastic place for a relaxing getaway and has become part of our family's Thanksgiving tradition. Beautiful property, great amenities, excellent dining, and consistently wonderful service. We'll definitely be back!

    This location is massive! They have a few bars so we opted for a drink before heading to the pool…read more The mojito was refreshing and the espresso tini was boozy! The pool is big with plenty of chairs, water slides and a bar you can order food and drinks from. We tried the tenders and backyard burger. Both were tasty and came with so many fries! The service was a bit slower than we expected. There's several restaurants on sight to try even if you're not staying as an overnight guest.

    Universal Orlando- Cabana Bay Beach Resort - Volcano Bay View

    Universal Orlando- Cabana Bay Beach Resort

    (1.2k reviews)

    $$

    Dr. Phillips, Horizons West / West Orlando

    Pools and lazy river are very nice, and I appreciate the slide for kids. The facilities are okay…read moreand the food is mediocre at best... I booked a standard room and it had a nice view with a big window ,but after staying a while I could tell that the room was run down. The TV would glitch and the outlets are loose. The real highlight was when I went to take a shower and I locked the door, but the door wouldn't unlock and I was stuck for a couple minutes and I had to call my husband to try and help me unlock the door from the other side and even after it unlocked the door would get stuck. Book this hotel if you want Universal stuff like early park access but maybe don't lock the bathroom doors

    Universal Orlando cabana bay resort was a great vacation destination,For me and my wife birthdays…read more The room was spacious and the beds were really comfortable. Nice and firm for a get night rest or a nap after being at the pool side for a few hours. Walk in closet big bathroom ,living room was cool as well. The rooms give you that old 1960 vibes with a modern touch. The resort also featured some old vintage 1960 cars similar to the TWA hotel at jfk airport. The resort had some nice places to go to. Me and my wife enjoyed the bowling alley. We had a lot of fun. Don't forget about the shops with all your favorite carton characters t shirts hats slippers you name it Star Wars, the minions the Simpsons fun for kids all ages. We also enjoyed the cabana cafeteria . I had a spicy chicken sandwich with fries my wife had chicken teriyaki lomein full of nice pieces of chicken ,Which she enjoyed .I also had some chicken tenders and fries from the cafeteria on our stay. We also ordered food from door dash while we were in the main lobby. We ordered shake shack which was cheaper ordering from door dash then buying food on the resort, smash burgers well done with cheese fries, for a little vacation cheat because I'm on a diet. By the way the order came really fast. Don The pool was great especially at night the view was amazing. With the lights shining on the pool and the really nice fire pit they had so you can even roast some marshmallows by it. Also the pool features a water slide for kids and adults. The blow up rafts were $9to17. You also could bring your own as well. You also had an ice machine with cold water free. Plus you had the soft drinks and soda all you can drink for $30 . That was the drink packed. Cabana bay resort also had a restaurant right next the pool outside. Where they had some really good chicken quesadillas with fries. My wife enjoyed that. . I went with the chicken wrap with lettuce and some veggies, It was great to eat pool side with the beach chairs equipped with the big umbrella for shade . Then you also had the lazy river at the resort. That featured a bigger water slide and pool . Bigger than the pool outside the main lobby. The staff was courteous and friendly the stay was fun. Just remember it's kinda pricey . But don't forget about all the theme parks you get to visit for $80 each way .

    Universal Orlando- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

    Universal Orlando- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel

    (620 reviews)

    $$$

    Dr. Phillips, Horizons West / West Orlando

    So, we didn't stay in any of their resort rooms this time. We just popped in for a quick visit. I…read morelove the theming of this resort so much. Cabana Bay and Portofino are my two favorites of the Universal properties. The buildings, resturaunts, shops and lobby ate all perfection. Also, if you have been to Portofino, Italy you already know how their waterfront is a VERY faithful representation. I absolutely love this resort and can't wait to get back for an adventurous staycation!

    My partner and I just got back from a staycation at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and once again it…read morereminded me why this is one of my favorite hotels in Orlando. I've stayed here several times over the last 15 years, and it never disappoints. As one of Universal Orlando's original three Premier Resorts, it has everything you could want. The rooms are huge, the beds are hands down the most comfortable in all of the Universal hotels, the sheets are unbelievably soft, and there are plenty of great restaurants on property. The value is incredible too. Your room key doubles as an Express Pass at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, and if you've ever priced those passes, you know they can easily cost over $200 per person, per day. That alone makes staying here worth considering. We kicked off our trip with drinks at the Thirsty Fish. Check out my separate review because it was fantastic. We also had dinner at Mama Della's, which deserves its own review as well. This trip was all about the resort. We talked about going to CityWalk and maybe even hitting the parks, but we were having such a great time that we never left the hotel. Since it was just the two of us, it turned into the perfect relaxing getaway. Most people head to the Beach Pool with the slide, but we spent our time at the Villa Pool, and it was exactly what we were looking for. It reminded me of the pool at the Ritz-Carlton. Palm trees everywhere, a huge pool, tons of lounge chairs, and a much quieter atmosphere. It's only a short walk from the Beach Pool, and I was happy to find out it has the same full food and drink service. I ordered a tequila berry spritzer...or at least I think that's what it was called. I'll post a picture because I can't remember the exact name, but it was so good that by our second day it seemed like everyone around the pool was ordering one. Our second night, a big thunderstorm rolled in. We had reservations at CityWalk but canceled them, grabbed pizza and a Caesar salad from Sal's Market (see that review too), and had dinner in our room. Honestly, it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip. Good food, a little TV, some quality time together, and no reason to be anywhere else. We were only there for three days, but it felt like a true vacation. Whether you're coming to Orlando for the parks or just looking for an amazing staycation, Loews Portofino Bay is hard to beat. Was this review a little long? Probably. Do I care? Not even a little. We had an amazing time, and I think you will too.

    Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

    Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

    (511 reviews)

    My boyfriend planned a quick getaway for us at the Omni Resort, and it could not have been more…read morewell spent! From the moment we arrived, the entire property was clean, quiet, and visually gorgeous. The pool setup alone makes this place worth visiting. They have a fantastic variety of options depending on what mood you are in: a serene adult pool when you want to relax, a wave pool, a lazy river, and plenty of fun spots for smaller children. Another huge plus is convenience. With multiple restaurants, bars, and shops located right on site, it was effortless to find great food and drinks we loved without ever needing to leave the resort. On top of that, every staff member we encountered was friendly, welcoming, and incredibly attentive. We had an amazing time and cannot wait to return. Highly recommended!

    Beautiful resort with plenty going on and lots of amenities to enjoy. I stayed in the Sunset…read moresection, which felt like its own little neighborhood within the property. The resort was easy to navigate, and there were no shortages of dining options. The room was gorgeous and had some thoughtful touches that I appreciated, including pillow spray, a clothes steamer, and even a weighted blanket. It's the little things that make a work trip feel a bit more like a vacation. My biggest complaint? The gym was about the size of my thumbnail. Thankfully, it still managed to squeeze in everything I needed for a solid workout, so I can't complain too much. The conference food was good, though nothing particularly memorable. The late-night food offerings, however, were a welcome surprise and definitely earned bonus points. This is a fantastic property for hosting large corporate meetings and events. The staff was friendly and accommodating throughout our stay. They did have to move some activities indoors due to weather, but everything seemed to be handled smoothly. Overall, a great resort that balances business and leisure well.

    Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

    Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

    (488 reviews)

    $$$

    Disney World, Horizons West / West Orlando

    We recently stayed at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and overall had a really enjoyable…read moreexperience--it ended up being a great choice for our trip. There's a lot to love about this resort. The jogging trail and overall scenery are genuinely beautiful and make it feel like a relaxing escape after long park days. The freestyle soda machines were a nice perk, and the food quality exceeded expectations--it felt thoughtfully prepared rather than typical cafeteria-style resort food. Our room was very clean, which always makes a big difference, and the variety of transportation options to the parks was convenient and flexible. For what we paid, the value felt fair, especially considering the amenities. The pool area was also a highlight, and throughout our stay, the employees were consistently professional and helpful. The on-site laundry room was another underrated bonus--it made it easy to head home without a pile of laundry waiting. That said, there were a few drawbacks. We did notice gnats occasionally making their way into the room, which was frustrating. Transportation to Magic Kingdom in particular was inconsistent--the bus took a long time and caused us to miss early entry one morning. One bus driver interaction also stood out, as we were repeatedly corrected about our stroller not being "fully folded" (even though it was), along with strict direction on where we could stand or sit. Additionally, depending on your room location, the walk to Centertown Market can be quite long and inconvenient. The resort is also a bit far from any off-property convenience stores if you need to grab last-minute items, and the lack of a fitness center may be a downside for some guests. Overall, despite a few inconveniences, this was a fun and enjoyable place to stay. The positives definitely outweighed the negatives, and I would recommend it--and would stay here again.

    This was the first Disney property we ever stayed in as a couple with kids. We chose it because the…read moretheme seemed interesting for our oldest son and it was promoted as a mid tier resort. When a vacation room has a door that faces the outside of the property I defined that as a motel and so that perception was immediately disappointing. We also experienced a lot of bugs coming in and out of the room and since you weren't in an interior space, traditional to a hotel, it contributed to having to walk through them. The resort is big in the pool area was nice. Getting from our room to the common area with food and gift shops seemed quite a distance, especially for us with a younger family. Travel to and from the park was convenient, although like any resort, very busy during peak times. Having visited other Disney resorts and resorts outside of the park, we would no longer choose to stay at the Caribbean beach resort.

    The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

    The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

    (429 reviews)

    $$$

    South Orange Blossom Trail / OBT

    I recently went here for a stay-cation and it does live up to its reputation…read more Its all in the details! From higher end bedding, to sparkling clean and well maintained everything, to the fresh lobby flowers, it all says high end and was much appreciated. Check in took a few minutes of waiting around noon and we were accommodated to an early check in. There was no availability for a room upgrade but the standard one was beautiful regardless. The bed was very comfortable, the bathroom was beautiful and very clean with a separate shower and tub. The toiletries were a nice touch since my husband forgot to bring his toothbrush. The soaps, shampoo, body wash and conditioner all seemed like a higher quality with muted, natural scents. The grounds a very pretty, they shared amenities with the JW next door which created a fun day going from their lazy river then back to the Ritz pool for some R&R. The Ritz pool area has complimentary water, fruit, sunscreen, towels floating mats. The pool server was attentive as well. The lobby bar is large with friendly wait staff. I had probably the best charcuterie board I've ever had, featuring really decent gluten free toast in lieu of regular crackers, fresh honey comb, and high quality meats and cheeses. Fruit and electrolyte water was waiting in my room after a long day at the pool, which was a pleasant surprise. The breakfast buffet was inside Highball&Harvest, which was packed full of options, including gf muffins, toast, and waffles which were made in their kitchen area away from the buffet. There are a lot of amenities that I walked by but didn't utilize, like mountain bikes for their wood path, canoes, pool tables, ping pong, foosball, giant chess, soccer goals and a bunch of kids activities. Overall, I had an excellent stay at the Ritz Carlton and would love to return soon!

    Beautiful property but some hiccups along the way left a bad taste. The staff is managing the…read moreconference between JW and Ritz, staff is either wound tight and unable to communicate kindly or super nice and unable to provide any assistance. Here for work, Friday-Tuesday. The hotel itself absolutely gorgeous, but with a smell of mold on the lower levels. For a Ritz I've never experienced this issue maybe an Orlando thing with humidity and HVAC issues in the area. Still something to consider addressing. Checking in I saw them treating guests differently based on the way they were dressed or how they appeared to be paying for said stay. (Let's say the guy next to me was using points to pay vs cash and they made sure to say it loud enough for us nearby to hear) inappropriate to say the least. Day 3 My husband left his key in the room and naturally went to front desk to get a spare, they in turn disabled the other keys we had including mine (without mentioning this to him) This issue will come back to haunt me later, mind you we are here for work and running around between properties and meetings. Elevators REQUIRE keys to get up to your floor. I ordered food to my room, had a few bites and left it to come back to between meetings. The housekeeping threw it all away, I had my button on for no service and somehow I was serviced between 6-7pm while in a meeting. Never in my Mariott/Ritz past stays have I ever faced these types of issues. The property's are normally some of the best. Super disappointing stay as a titanium elite member.

    Universal Stella Nova Resort - hotels - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...