I Loved This Cheap Hotel Within Walking Distance to Epic Universe

Universal Stella Nova Resort is one of the newest hotels located right near Epic Universe at Universal Orlando. This hotel is so close to Epic Universe that it even has its own walking path.

We recently stayed at this new Universal Orlando hotel and was surprised at what a great value it is for the price. Keep reading for our full review of the Universal Stella Nova Resort.

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Walk to Epic Universe from Universal Stella Nova

Universal Stella Nova Resort is within walking distance to Epic Universe. There is a walking path that leads directly to the theme park. The walk is about 10-15 minutes depending on your walking speed and it's a straight forward path and only requires you to cross one street.

Universal is Fast with Shuttle Service

We didn't even end up using the Epic Universe walking path just because Universal was so fast with their bus service to and from the park. The buses were ready to go an hour before Early Entry at Epic Universe even began. But since the hotel is so close to the front gate, this means a bus trip only took just a few minutes and we were there! The Universal Stella Nova Resort is incredibly convenient for its proximity to Epic Universe and is by far one of the biggest perks of the stay.

Epic Universe Walking Path

Here is the walking path view to Epic Universe, You just walk straight down this road towards the theme park. We saw many families utilizing the walking path but we ended up picking the buses just because they were so efficient!

Brand New Rooms with Galaxy Theme

The theming of Universal Stella Nova Resort is galaxy inspired and this carries over into the design of the rooms. This hotel opened in early 2025 so this is a brand new hotel!

Views of Epic Universe for Most Rooms

Since the hotel faces Epic Universe, most hotel rooms will have a view of the park. We were impressed to see how well we could see the park.

Our Epic Universe Room View

This is the view from our hotel room. You can see Stardust Racers on the left in the image! Laying in bed at night we could see the park lit up which was a nice perk.

Bathroom Divider for Extra Privacy

The Universal Stella Nova Resort hotel rooms are plenty spacious and I also appreciated this nice privacy divider between the beds and bathroom area.

Brand New Hotel Means Brand New Bathrooms

A brand new hotel means brand new bathrooms! Usually the condition of a bathroom is how you can tell the true age of a hotel.

Overall, the room itself was clean, updated, and provided plenty of space for my family of three. You can't go wrong with staying in a hotel that is this new!

Large Pool Area for Universal Resort Guests

The pool area was especially impressive considering its large size! There was so much seating along with a poolside bar. The pool area offers a large pool, splash pad, and hot tub. We didn't get much use out of the pool during our stay since we were at the theme parks so much but I was impressed at the size of it.

Modern Lobby Area with Plenty of Food

The lobby of the Universal Stella Nova Resort features a gift shop, the Nova Bar, a cafe, and a restaurant. In the evenings the Nova Bar as lively with many guests enjoying drinks.

Large Eating Area with Plenty of Options

The restaurant in Universal Stella Nova Resort had a large eating area with plenty of options.

Great Breakfast Food

We enjoyed breakfast at the Universal Stella Nova Resort twice during our stay and both times we enjoyed our food.

Big Portions for What You Order

The portion sizes for some of the menu items were great, especially if you ordered the oatmeal!

Biscuits and Gravy with Egg

The biscuits and gravy came with an egg inside of it and it was very filling. Although you may want to save yourself for the amazing Epic Universe food items including breakfast in the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Is Universal Stella Nova Resort Worth It?

Universal Stella Nova Resort averages around $190 per night with even cheaper rates in the off season. During our stay we paid around $200 per night since it was peak summer season with prices tend to be high even though crowds are actually quite low according to our Universal Orlando crowd calendar.

For what we paid, this felt like a far higher end resort! The hotel is brand new and all of the amenities and food options seem like those that belong in a much higher priced resort. The only true downside is how far you are from the other Universal Orlando theme parks and City Walk which is at least a 10 minute bus ride away. But if you plan on spending a lot of time at Epic Universe, the Universal Stella Nova Resort is a great choice.

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