After years of dreaming about it, I finally checked off an item on my bucket list: staying at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel! And not just any hotel; my sister and I took a weekend staycation to the brand-new, out-of-this-world Universal Stella Nova Resort. This addition to Universal Orlando Resort is a shimmering kaleidoscope of neon tiles housing the latest hotel within walking distance to Universal Epic Universe.
Day One
On the first day of our stay, we wanted to explore all around the resort. Walking up to the hotel feels like you are being transported to another galaxy, especially at night when the blue lights shine through the UFO-esque porte-cochère. The tiles of the building completely transform to resemble shooting stars bouncing around the hotel’s surface. The futuristic design is a perfect backdrop for the galactic murals, eccentric lighting, and a black star-specked path that wraps around the first floor.
One of the first places we hit up was the Universal Store inside the lobby of Stella Nova Resort. I could have spent an hour taking it all in. This will be a great stop for guests who want to buy merchandise from the Universal Epic Universe without having to take time out of their day in the theme park. As a massive Harry Potter fan, I was most excited to see all of the new wizarding Paris merchandise from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The new Hogwarts house berets are going to be a staple of my park outfits! I also fell in love with the comic book-style collection from Dark Universe, which had some awesome mystery pin boxes and T-shirts. By the end of our shopping trip, I needed a much bigger suitcase to fit all my new treasures.
During our stay we tried all three of Stella Nova Resort’s dining locations: Cosmos Cafe and Market, Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill, and Nova Bar. Nova Bar, housed in the lobby, has some amazing drinks, all named after astronomical objects. I tried the Nebula, a refreshing mix of mezcal, strawberry-rose syrup, lime juice, tonic and soda.
Cosmos Cafe and Market is the main eatery in the resort and was our go-to for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This menu has everything from burgers to salads, chicken fingers, pancakes, soups, and more. If you’re looking for something sweet, my advice is that you must try the Gooey Monkey Bread. My sister and I devoured it within minutes and wanted to go back for more.
The poolside dining options are Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill. On the menu here, you’ll find quesadillas, burgers, snacks, cocktails, and beers. What more could you want? We ate here after taking a dip in the absolutely massive resort pool.
PRO TIP: Don’t miss out on the corridor on the third floor. This unique hallway has LEDs in the ceiling that shine like constellations! The little details like this make Stella Nova Resort so charming and build the story of sleeping amongst the stars.
Speaking of sleeping, I have to mention our room! This space was the perfect size for me and my sister. Each room has two queen beds, making it a comfortable fit for up to four people. I also love the design of having the bathroom sink outside of the actual bathroom so my sister can take a shower and I can do my makeup at the same time, with no argument required.
From the starry mural to the spaceship window, the room had a great sense of character. One of my favorite little details was the door hanger sign that said, “Dreams are Universal. Do Not Disturb.” I definitely had some Universal dreams when thinking about our upcoming day at the theme park.
Day Two
The next day, we got up bright and early to head to Universal Islands of Adventure. As silly as it sounds, I was so excited to ride on a Universal shuttle for the first time! The complimentary shuttle ride is a great perk of staying at a Universal hotel, making transportation to all four parks a breeze. This wasn’t just any bus either. It was one of the new electric buses with charging ports! This was so great for the ride back to the resort when our phone batteries were absolutely depleted.
Though, the absolute best perk of staying at a Universal Orlando Resort hotel is Early Park Admission. That’s right: every hotel guest gets up to an hour of early entry to enjoy select attractions at the theme parks! This was an amazing way to start off the day since we got to do some of the most popular (and busiest) rides in Islands of Adventure. After spending all day on our favorite roller coasters and devouring every Butterbeer treat we could find, we were ready to head back to Stella Nova Resort.
When we returned to the resort, we went outside to sit by the crackling fire pit and enjoy the poolside movie of the night. As we sat underneath the stars laughing, I knew this was a memory I would treasure forever.
We ended the day by getting in our matching Slytherin pajamas and ordering a pizza from room service. Do not miss out on ordering room service; the pizza is so delicious, especially after a long day in the theme parks. As we snuggled into our beds, I stared out the window, looking at Universal Epic Universe on the horizon, and fell asleep dreaming about our next trip. This weekend was amazing, and I could not have asked for a more relaxing staycation.
We absolutely loved this resort, and it is a shining star in Universal’s hotel portfolio. Now I have a new item on my bucket list: stay at ANOTHER Universal hotel!
Have you stayed at a Universal Orlando hotel before? Which one is your favorite?
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