It’s down the road, at UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT!
Vacationing on a budget can sometimes be a challenge. Believe me, I get it!
Staying in the lap of luxury can be fabulous, but what if you’re not planning on spending much time at the resort?
Me? I am a hardcore theme park girl! That means I am in my room for bed and a shower.
Are you anything like me? Are you planning on spending most of your time in the parks?
If this is you, you probably are saving most of your budget for park days, special tours, delicious dining, and amazing experiences…and we should be friends!
Welcome to Universal’s Endless Summer Resorts! Consisting of two great hotel options to choose from: Dockside and Surfside. Both tower-style hotels offer modern style with light and airy but fun beachside theming.
I have stayed here several times, and let me tell you, I mean it when I say that this is my favorite Value Resort. From the time you enter the lobby to hitting your bed after a long day in the parks, it does not feel like a compromise. Did I mention there’s a Starbucks right in the lobby??
Staying on property at Universal is a no-brainer. I don’t know about you, but when I am on vacation I don’t want to worry about anything. Transportation, food, merchandise delivery, charging to the room…it is all right there! PLUS you get Early Park Admission (EPA), giving you access to select attractions one hour before general admission!
Endless Summer offers bus only transportation, BUT this is NOT a limitation at all. These buses start one hour prior to EPA and run about every 10-15 min until after CityWalk closes. These buses are efficient and reliable and travel time from any resort is less than 10 minutes. Now, although Endless Summer is not very far from the parks, it is on the opposite side of a VERY busy road, making walking unsafe and not really feasible.
Food. We gotta eat! Since Endless Summer IS a Value Resort, there is not a table service option here. However, their quick service is convenient and has a good variety to satisfy the whole family. My family was very impressed with our food, and it saved us so much time some mornings to grab a quick breakfast on the go from there and eat it on the bus! Of course, as I mentioned, you will find a Starbucks here in the lobby. I will say that the lines for Starbucks tend to be on the long side right before the parks open. This is more true at Dockside, being the larger of the two resorts.
All Universal Resorts include merchandise delivery, resort-wide charging using your room key and early park admission.
Room options include: Standard 2-Queen Rooms (sleeps 4) and 2 Bedroom Suites (sleeps 6). The availability of suites here is wonderful for my larger families or those that want a bit of built in privacy. They’re airy and spacious with a kitchenette and table.
I did say there are 2 resorts, didn’t I? What is the difference. Not a lot, actually…mainly Dockside is larger than Surfside. As such, Dockside has 2000 rooms with 2 pools, and a larger lobby & food court. Surfside is smaller with only 750 rooms and just one pool. I feel that the food is somewhat better at Dockside with better quality food items and more variety to choose from. It is a note to some that Surfside is closer to conveniences on I-Drive such as a Walgreens, which is walkably close.
Bottom-Line these resorts are the perfect option if you need a super budget-friendly but convenient place to lay your head after casting spells and racing velociraptors. Have you stayed at Endless Summer Dockside or Surfside? What did you think?
Travel agents with our sister company, Smart Moms Travel, are always going to chat with you about what you’re looking for when considering your resort options. Since we experience the resorts and parks ourselves, we are well-equipped to provide recommendations to fit your family’s needs. If you’re already working with a Smart Moms Travel Agent, you are already getting that expertise! If you don’t have a travel agent yet, I am here for you! Let’s chat about your magical dream vacation! Start by filling out my short questionnaire here so I can reach out to you to get started!
