When news spread about the development of Universal Epic Universe in 2024, my sister and I — the fairy vacation-planners of our family — knew exactly where we wanted to go on our next visit to Universal Orlando Resort. Having vacationed in theme parks for almost three decades as Sunshine State residents, we’re no strangers to thrills and amusement-park highs in the form of our favorite adrenaline-rushing, stomach-fluttering rides. And with Epic Universe now entering the chat, this gave us new ways to transport to immersive worlds of family fun and unforgettable excitement.
Before we knew it, we were on our way to Orlando again for another highly anticipated family vacation, excited for an entirely new theme park experience.
We were a party of eight on this year’s visit, including my sister, the soon-to-be first-time mother of our group, and her husband; my older brother, the girl dad, along with his eight-year-old theme-park thrill-loving princess (try saying that five times fast!); not one, but two boomers represented by my mom and aunt; and my little brother and I, the fun-loving uncle and auntie of the crew.
With three generations present, we were eager for a weekend of family-time fun. But before we got to Epic Universe, we first settled in to what would serve as our starry residence for the weekend. This is where we met Universal Terra Luna Resort.
First Impressions of Universal Terra Luna Resort
We arrived at Terra Luna Resort at night, which provided a great setting for the hotel’s planetary theme. When we walked through the revolving entrance doors into the lobby, I was expecting the usual loveable chaos. You might know how it goes — couples checking in at the front desk, kids running around, and the general animated bustle of vacation-goers coming and going.
But what we stepped into was an atmosphere of leisure and interstellar tones. The lobby was pristine with, dare I say, a hush settled over the area. The lighting was spherical and dim. Combined with the wavy interior reflected in the pattern on the walls and ceiling, you might think you’ve entered another stratosphere entirely.
With first impressions underway, Terra Luna Resort sent us into orbit. Our destination? Unforgettable vacation (station).
Our First Night at Universal Terra Luna Resort
My aunt checked in hours before we did, and we spent our first night catching up with her, sitting on her two queen beds and exchanging updates about our lives. She hails from Texas, and we don’t get to see her often. The hotel room provided a nice and relaxing setting for our reunion, with circular lighting throughout that reminded me of stars in the night sky, along with the backdrop of a planet behind the beds. You could almost say we got lost in our own little… space.
We decided to head downstairs to pick up a bite at Omega Cafe and Market. We missed dinner hours, but taking a look at the menu made me wish we hadn’t. It’s really the only stop needed for families bringing a diversity of tastes and appetites to the table. The dinner menu has anything from Hot Honey Chicken Pizza to a Hawaiian Turkey Burger, to Fried Tofu & Vermicelli Noodles, to “Out of This World” Tomato Soup for those wanting to snuggle up to a hot bowl of comfort at the end of an intensely fun day.
Though if you check in later to the party like we did, no worries. There are a few after-hour options, like sandwiches and mini pizza at Omega Cafe and Market’s grab & go area if you’re looking to grab a light meal or snack. My brothers shared a pizza with the table, and I enjoyed a Banh Mi sandwich. They were exactly the tasty bite we needed before heading up to our rooms and catching some collective ZZZ’s for the night.
The Universal Terra Luna Resort Experience
My favorite part about staying at Terra Luna Resort was our room. I could spend hours unwinding in our cozy room, equipped with double queen beds and a Neptune-colored couch (good for either relaxing, or if you’re like my family, storing belongings!). The standard rooms are well-accommodated for parties of different sizes, and the value this hotel provides is incredible. Whether you’re a group of four, like we were in my room, or two, you’ll find the space comfortable and inviting at the end of an activity-filled day.
If you’re looking for a more refreshing way to unwind, you can visit the pool like my family did. But be warned: you might lose track of time floating among the ripples of crystal blue water in this slice of celestial paradise. What was supposed to be a shorter visit turned into an over-three-hour stay, as my family had a fun time swimming, relaxing, and simply hanging out with each other and the other pool guests.
The area is well-suited for families big and small. The zero-entry pool is designed like a beach you can step into that gets deeper the further you venture. So, if you only feel like lingering waist-deep in the shallow end or dipping your toes at the edge while the kids make waves, then there’s a spot for you. Or if you’d rather submerge in the deep end, there’s room for that, too.
And if you’re there after sunset, you might find that this cosmic oasis resembles a theatre of family-fun entertainment. When it turned dark, the hotel played a movie on a large screen for everyone. My family thought this was a great perk for the pool guests there!
But Wait…There’s More!
I haven’t even talked about the biggest perk of staying at Terra Luna Resort yet: being close to Epic Universe! Thanks to Early Park Admission, we were able to access select attractions in the theme park an hour before it opened. This is a great benefit for families staying at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel with eager kids (or 30-somethings!) who want to get started exploring the different worlds as soon as possible.
Terra Luna Resort also provides a complimentary shuttle to Epic Universe, which is just a quick ride to and from the park. After a day of activity and family fun, we re-boarded the shuttle and plopped into our seats, lingering in the wonderful exhaustion that comes with an epic time of adventure, excitement, and quality bonding time to last us until our next visit. And before we knew it, we arrived at Terra Luna Resort again, this time with a world of memories to take back with us.
I loved that I could see Epic Universe from the window of our hotel room. I thought this view was quite literally a picture that represented the benefit of this entire experience.
My family arrived at Terra Luna Resort expecting a place with great value where we could lay our heads in between activity-filled days. What we found was a world of leisure waiting for us, and the invitation to relax, recharge, and unwind constantly throughout our stay. Not to mention, my niece had a great time and loved the theme of the hotel!
I think you’ll find that all the details embedded in this starry resort make for a more memorable and enchanting experience like we did.
What perk do you look forward to most when staying at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel? Let us know in the comments!
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