Universal Stella Nova Resort Review: Is It the Best Hotel for Epic Universe?
When Universal Stella Nova Resort opened alongside Epic Universe in 2025, it immediately became one of the most talked-about hotels in Orlando. The reason was simple. While other Universal hotels offer transport to the new park, Stella Nova is currently the only one with a direct walkway to Epic Universe.
That was a major factor in our decision to stay there.
We spent a week at Stella Nova during our Epic Universe trip, using it as a base for Epic Universe, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. After staying there, walking to the park and experiencing everything the hotel has to offer, we came away with a pretty clear view of where Stella Nova fits into the Universal hotel line-up.
The short version? If Epic Universe is the main reason for your trip, Stella Nova makes a very strong case for itself.
Why We Chose Stella Nova
Interestingly, Stella Nova wasn’t the hotel we were originally most excited about.
Looking purely at photos, we probably preferred the style of neighbouring Terra Luna Resort. However, once we started planning the practical side of the trip, Stella Nova quickly moved to the top of the list.
The deciding factor was the direct walkway to Epic Universe. While Terra Luna sits very close by, the two hotels are separated by a busy road and currently don’t offer the same straightforward walking route to the park. If your priority is spending as much time as possible inside Epic Universe, that convenience is difficult to ignore.
For us, the hotel wasn’t just somewhere to sleep. It was part of the overall strategy for making the most of a brand-new theme park.
The resort is stunning when it sparkles in the sun
First Impressions
One of the biggest advantages Stella Nova has right now is that it still feels brand new.
Everything from the lobby to the public spaces feels fresh, modern and well maintained. The space-inspired design works well without feeling over-the-top, and the exterior looks particularly impressive when the Florida sun catches the reflective tiles around the building.
The hotel also feels much more substantial than some people expect from a Prime Value resort. Universal has clearly invested in making it feel modern and stylish rather than simply functional, and that comes across from the moment you walk through the doors.
The Biggest Advantage: Location
If you’re visiting Epic Universe, location is Stella Nova’s superpower.
The walk to the park took us around ten minutes at a comfortable pace and follows a simple, direct route. In reality, it often felt quicker and easier than waiting for transport, particularly at the beginning and end of the day.
The real benefit, however, comes once you’re actually on holiday. Epic Universe is a huge park and Florida can be exhausting, especially during the summer months. Knowing you can easily head back to the hotel for a break changes how you approach your day.
We saw this first-hand during our trip when we needed to return to the hotel unexpectedly. After an emergency room visit involving our daughter, we went back to Stella Nova, collected medication, grabbed a quick shower and were back in Epic Universe within roughly half an hour. It’s an extreme example, but it perfectly demonstrates how convenient the location really is.
Even without unexpected situations, being able to escape the heat, freshen up and return later for the evening is a genuine advantage.
What’s Around Stella Nova?
This is probably the biggest thing potential guests should understand before booking.
Stella Nova is close to Epic Universe, but it doesn’t offer the same overall resort environment as hotels such as Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay. You’re not stepping outside and walking straight into CityWalk, and you don’t have dozens of restaurants and entertainment venues immediately on your doorstep.
The Epic Universe area is still developing, so the surroundings feel quieter and less established than Universal’s original resort area.
That said, there is more nearby than many people realise. During our stay we discovered there was a Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Chick-fil-A and a café within walking distance of the hotel. It’s around fifteen minutes on foot depending on your pace and involves walking around the surrounding roads, but it’s useful to know those options exist if you need supplies or want an alternative to hotel food.
If you’d like to see exactly what that walk looks like, we’ve included it in one of our Universal Orlando videos here.
The Rooms
As a base for a family of four, the room worked really well.
We stayed on one of the upper floors at the end of a corridor and found it surprisingly quiet throughout the week. There was enough storage for a longer stay, the layout felt practical and we never found ourselves wishing we had more space.
The bathroom was modern, the shower was good and the air conditioning coped well with the Florida heat. The blackout curtains were particularly effective and helped us get a decent night’s sleep after long park days.
Nothing about the room felt especially luxurious, but that’s not really the point of Stella Nova. What matters is that it was comfortable, clean and worked exactly as we needed it to. For a Prime Value resort, we came away impressed.
Food and Dining
One area where Stella Nova exceeded our expectations was the food.
Theme park hotels don’t always have the best reputation when it comes to variety, but Universal seems to have made a real effort here. Alongside the expected burgers and family favourites, we found healthier options, fresh salads, gluten-free choices and a wider selection than we’ve experienced at some comparable hotels.
Healthier options are on the menu at Stella Nova
The on-site Starbucks was also excellent and became a regular stop during our stay. As well as coffee, it offered sandwiches, snacks and drinks, making it useful whether we were heading to the parks first thing or returning later in the day.
The only thing that surprised us wasn’t the quality of the food but the cost. We’ve stayed on-site at Walt Disney World multiple times and, despite often choosing Deluxe Disney resorts, we found ourselves spending more on food than we expected during this Universal trip. That’s not a criticism of Stella Nova specifically, but it is something we’d factor into the budget next time.
Pool, Facilities and Amenities
The pool area is attractive, well maintained and works particularly well for families. Younger children will enjoy the splash areas, while the overall layout provides plenty of space to relax between park days.
Our only real criticism is that the pool could benefit from more shaded seating. During quieter periods it wasn’t an issue, but on busier days we found ourselves thinking a few more umbrellas would be welcome, particularly during the hottest part of the afternoon.
Elsewhere, the facilities are exactly what most families need. The gym isn’t huge, but it has everything required for a holiday workout, while the laundry facilities were straightforward to use and conveniently located. We also found the on-site shop well stocked with both essentials and Universal merchandise.
One thing we should mention is the staff. Throughout our stay they were consistently friendly and helpful, and we actually found them more proactive than we had experienced at some previous Universal hotels.
Transport and Early Park Admission
Although the walkway gets most of the attention, the transport was also excellent.
Buses arrived frequently and we never found ourselves waiting particularly long. Whether heading to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure or CityWalk, getting around the resort was simple and reliable.
Early Park Admission is another significant benefit and one of the biggest reasons to stay on Universal property in the first place. During our visit it allowed us to get into position before the main crowds arrived, which is particularly valuable at a new park like Epic Universe.
When demand is high and everyone wants to experience the newest attractions, having that head start can make a real difference to your day.
Who Should Stay at Stella Nova?
Stella Nova makes the most sense for guests who are prioritising Epic Universe.
If your plan is to spend several days exploring the new park and you want the easiest possible access, it’s difficult to argue against it. Families looking for a modern hotel with Universal benefits at a sensible price point will also find plenty to like.
On the other hand, if your holiday revolves around Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk, there are situations where one of Universal’s original hotels may make more sense. Hotels such as Royal Pacific offer a more established resort environment and place you much closer to Universal’s traditional entertainment district.
The right choice really depends on what your holiday is built around.
Would We Stay Again?
Yes, absolutely, but with one important caveat.
If Epic Universe is the main focus of the trip, Stella Nova would probably be our first choice. The combination of a comfortable room, helpful staff, reliable transport, Early Park Admission and that direct walkway makes it incredibly convenient.
If, however, we were planning a Universal holiday centred primarily around Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk, we’d also look closely at some of the other Universal hotels before deciding.
That’s not a criticism of Stella Nova. It’s simply recognising that the hotel’s biggest strength is its connection to Epic Universe.
Final Thoughts
Universal Stella Nova Resort doesn’t try to compete with Universal’s Premier hotels on luxury, and that’s exactly why it works.
Instead, it focuses on providing a modern, comfortable and well-designed base for guests who want to maximise their time in the parks. The rooms are good, the facilities are solid, the food is better than we expected and the location for Epic Universe is genuinely outstanding.
For us, the direct walkway ended up being far more useful than we anticipated and remains the single biggest reason we’d choose Stella Nova again.
If you’re currently planning a Universal Orlando holiday, make sure you explore our Universal Orlando Planning Hub for more guides, reviews and trip-planning advice. If you’re comparing Universal with the rest of your Orlando holiday, our Disney Planning Hub and Florida Planning Hub can also help you build the trip that works best for your family.