Universal Helios Grand Hotel

The Hotel Overview

Universal's newest and most luxurious hotel, Helios Grand opened April 16, 2025 as the flagship resort for Epic Universe, sitting at the edge of the park's Celestial Park hub with a celestial, 'heavens and earth' design motif reflected in its architecture and public spaces. With roughly 500 rooms, including specialty suites like the How to Train Your Dragon-themed kids' suites, it's grouped with Universal's other top-tier Premier properties in service level and amenities.

Its standout feature is a dedicated guest entrance connecting straight into Epic Universe, letting hotel guests walk into the park without going through CityWalk or a bus at all — a first for a Universal Orlando hotel.

Dining & Amenities

Flora Taverna serves full-service Mediterranean cuisine, Aurora Market covers coffee and grab-and-go meals, and Bar Helios is a rooftop lounge offering tapas and cocktails with park views.

The resort-style pool features zero-entry access, a hot tub, and upscale cabanas, alongside a fitness center, game room, and an on-site Universal Orlando Resort store; as a brand-new property, its pool hasn't yet built the long track record of the CityWalk-area resorts' pools.

Booking Strategy

• Despite its Premier-level pricing and service, Helios Grand does not include Universal Express Unlimited Pass — this is a quirk tied to Epic Universe rather than a downgrade in room quality, so don't assume it's included the way it is at Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, or Royal Pacific.
• Its Early Park Admission benefit applies to a rotating single park per day, so check which park is eligible before you plan your morning.
• Compared to the CityWalk-area Premier hotels, Helios Grand trades USF/IOA walkability and Express Pass for direct Epic Universe park access — the better choice if Epic Universe is your primary destination, less so if you plan to split time evenly across all the parks.
• Because it's so new, expect premium pricing and high demand; book well ahead, especially for opening-era travel.