We had our first stay at the newest Universal hotel: Universal Stella Nova Resort. Check out my Stella Nova resort review for all the details from our six night stay.
Stella Nova Resort is themed to celestial galaxies with purple, pink, and blue accents throughout the resort. The first thing you will notice is the outside shimmering walls of the building.
When the sun catches it just right, it sparkles. We arrived at night so we had to wait until morning for the reveal but it was worth it.
This resort is beautiful on the outside and the inside does a great job of making guests feel welcome. It offers great accommodations and location for Universal Orlando visitors.
Stella Nova Resort Review
Stella Nova Resort is considered a Prime Value Hotel among the Universal Resort offerings. It’s biggest draw is its location to Epic Universe, the newest park opening May 2025. It is one of the three Epic Universe hotels.
Be sure to check out floor 3 for an out of this world surprise! There is a specially decorated hallway that everyone will want to take their picture with.
- Standard Rooms (fit 4)
- Pool, Hot Tub, Splash Pad
- Complimentary Bus Transportation
- Nightly Poolside Movie Night and Lawn Games (Table Tennis, Connect 4, Jenga)
- Game Room
- Fitness Center
- Fire Pit
- Cosmos Cafe & Market (Grab & Go), Galaxy Bar and Grill (Pool side dining)
- Universal Studios Store (souvenirs and everyday needs: OTC medicine, sunscreen, etc.)
- Text service from check-in to check-out. This is really convenient and helpful when/if you need towels or have any questions.
Location
Epic Universe is directly across the street from Stella Nova. I expect it to be a 15 minute walk once open. It is about 6 miles from the other Universal parks.
Shuttle Bus, Walk to Parks, & Parking
Stella Nova Resort offers bus transportation to and from the resort and Universal CityWalk, Islands of Adventure, and Universal Studios Florida.
Expect a 15-17 minute bus ride to the other parks. The bus ride is not terrible but be sure to factor in extra time
Disappointingly, during our visit we had a few issues with the busing. This was only a few weeks after the hotel officially opened but the buses were slow.
We would be at the bus stop at 6:55am for a 7:00am rope drop pick up only to find the bus arriving late or waiting longer to board. This can impact your arrival time at the park gates because Stella Nova is one of the furthest hotel from the parks other than Epic Universe.
I am hoping they resolve this problem and add more buses to allot for the longer drive time to the other parks. If I was visiting all the Universal parks I would probably stay at Surfside Inn or Dockside Inn because it is between all the parks.
If you are only visiting Epic Universe I would definitely stay at Stella Nova for a close walk to the park.
Perks for Universal Guests
- Early Park Admission to participating theme parks. Check latest info here.
- Complimentary shuttle bus transportation or walking path.
- Use room key for purchases across the Universal Orlando Resort
- Merchandise can be shipped to your hotel room free of charge at participating shopping retailers.
Tickets to Parks
Tickets to the Universal Parks are not included in your stay. Be sure to purchase tickets before you arrive to save time and money at the parks.
Stella Nova Room Tour
During our stay we booked connecting standard rooms for our family of five. Each room had 2 queen beds. The views of the room are fantastic because you either have a pool view or a view of Epic Universe.
The rooms have a coffee maker, small fridge, a safe and minimal decor. When you walk in there is a closet to your right and the bathroom vanity to your left with a separate shower/toilet space.
There is a partition between the vanity and the sleeping area of the room. Along the dresser there is a small couch bench to sit at. It is not big enough for sleeping but was a nice added addition.
Average Nightly Cost
We were lucky to find an Annual Passholder rate of $114.00/night but when I searched, pricing was all over the place. Expect the nightly rate to be anywhere from $150.00-$350.00 a night depending on your time of visit.
Book Your Stay at Stella Nova Resort
Pool
The pool area at Stella Nova has a good size pool, hot tub, splash pad, and lawn games. There are also lots of chairs. Guests can order from a QR code on their chair from the Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill.
During our visit is was a bit chilly so I didn’t go in the pool but my husband did. He mentioned they have underwater speakers playing music. I did go in the hot tub and it was a nice size for guests to feel like they can have space.
We didn’t use the splash pad but it would be perfect for young children and there were lots of chairs around it for parents to relax while they play.
Amenities
Stella Nova has the fastest elevators I have ever experienced at a hotel! They arrived quickly and got you to your floor quickly. The minute you press the floor button the doors close and you are on your way, make sure all guests are in the elevator or you may leave someone behind!
There is also a very nice fitness room, a small arcade, a fire pit, and outside lawn games.
Dining
- Cosmos Cafe & Market
- Galaxy Bar & Galaxy Grill
- Nova Bar
- Pizza Delivery (Available 5:00pm-12:00am)
There is a quick service, grab and go, and bar/grill on-site for guests. We enjoyed the quick service option, Cosmos Cafe. Guests order from a counter and then wait for your buzzer to pick up your food.
There is something for everyone from fish dishes, to pasta, to burgers and chicken fingers. My salmon dish was delicious. At the grab and go area they have muffins, pastries, sandwiches, and coffee.
Final Thoughts
Overall I would recommend Stella Nova Resort for your Universal Orlando vacation. Every team member we encounter was friendly and helpful. It made our stay very special.
My only issue was the busses but that may be a random thing and it wouldn’t stop me from staying again. My entire family loved the food and amenities of Stella Nova, it is an overall good pick for your vacation if the price is right.
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Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
