Best Hotels at Universal Orlando Resort for Families

Last Updated on March 13, 2024 by Suzy McCullough

Universal Orlando Resort is home to three Universal Orlando Resort Parks, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay. These are great for families and are packed full of rides, attractions and experiences for all ages. We loved our time spent there and we can’t wait to return. Universal Orlando also has a great range of official park hotels. There are 8 resort hotels to choose from and we will take a closer look at each including the transport to the parks, facilities and bedrooms you can book. There will be a fourth Universal Park opening in the summer of 2024 plus hopefully another hotel. At Universal, there is also City Walk which has a great selection of restaurants including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co and The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.

We will start with our top choice for families, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. It’s a great hotel for those not looking to overspend and the facilities there are excellent, we can certainly vouch for that. So what is our first choice? If you click on a link in this piece, we may earn affiliate revenue.

Table of Contents

1. Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Best Hotels at Universal Orlando Resort for Families

Address: 6550 Adventure Way, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
About – Just a short walk or a free shuttle away from the theme parks is Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. The resort has a 1950s and 1960s American theme with all sorts of retro-styling throughout. Even the bathroom amenities look retro. We spent many an afternoon after a busy day at the theme parks having fun at the pools. For families, we recommend their family suites with two large Queen-sized beds plus a double sofa bed in the lounge. They also have air-con, 2 TVs, Wi-Fi and a kitchenette with a mini-fridge and microwave.

The Cabana courtyard has a pool with a waterslide plus a kid’s splash play area. Here you can rent a poolside Cabana and there is also a pool bar serving food and drinks. Over on the other side of the hotel is the Lazy River Courtyard which has yes you guessed it a lazy river. Plus there is a sand beach area with games and a bar and grill. This pool is closest to the Volcano Bay waterpark and you can hear different fun noises coming from there. Also on-site there is a bowling alley and games room.

Lazy river courtyard Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort

2. Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando

Address: 5800 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
About – At the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, you can live life like a rock star. The resort is filled with memorabilia and it has earned a place on the Conde Nast Gold List of the World’s Best Places to stay. There are two restaurants on-site plus a couple of bars. The hotel has complimentary transport to all the Universal Orlando theme parks. The guest rooms are double rooms that sleep up to 4 people and have garden or pool views.

There is a guitar-themed fountain out front and laid-back luxe decor indoors. The centrepiece of the hotel is its massive outdoor pool with a sandy beach, two hot tubs, a waterslide and underwater music. Children have their own area with sprinklers and fountains and all the family can grab a drink at the waterside bar. Cabanas can be hired that has a ceiling fan, HD Plasma TV, a fridge with soft drinks, someone to attend to you and Wi-Fi. Free Universal Express Unlimited is included with your stay at this hotel.

Universals Hard Rock Hotel Orlando Bedroom

3. Lowes Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando

Address: 6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
About – Bringing a taste of Polynesia to Florida is the Lowes Royal Pacific Resort. You will be swept away by the hotel’s tropical scenery, exotic food and white sands. Dotted throughout the grounds are lily ponds. Kids will love the lake that has an old-fashioned seaplane floating in it. The resort is located a close walk away from the theme parks and there is a complimentary shuttle bus to Universal’s Volcano Bay.

A large lagoon-like pool snakes its way through the grounds. There is an interactive water play area for kids and you can also rent waterside cabanas. Families can enjoy a range of organised poolside activities plus there is a hotel-run kid’s club. Free Universal Express Unlimited is included with your stay at this hotel. Rooms are large double rooms that can sleep up to 4 people with 2 US Queen-sized beds, air-conditioning, Wi-Fi a mini-fridge and more. Free Universal Express Unlimited is included with your stay at this hotel.

4. Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel At Universal Orlando Boat

Address: 5601 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
About – The Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel is styled on the chic Italian village of Portofino. You can even travel in style and take a water taxi to the theme parks from this hotel. Or if boats aren’t your thing the parks are just a short walk away and there is a free shuttle to Universal’s Volcano Bay.

There are three swimming pools one of which has a stretch of sand, a kid’s pool and a waterslide. You can even lie back in a rubber ring and watch the latest blockbuster on a big screen during their Dive In movie nights. Rooms can sleep up to 4 people and have either a bay or garden view. In-room facilities include Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and an audio dock. Plus a coffee machine, mini fridge, bathrobes and more. A free Universal Express Unlimited is included with your stay at this hotel.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel At Universal Orlando Minions bedroom

5. Lowes Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando

Address: 6601 Adventure Way, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
About – How about a Caribbean-themed hotel with exotic greenery and cascading waterfalls? The Lowes Sapphire Falls Resort is an easy walk from the Universal Orlando Resort and there is a shuttle bus and water taxi that can take you to the theme parks. The pool has been landscaped with tropical plants and palm trees and has a waterslide and children’s play area. It even has a sandy beach.

Caribbean cuisine is prepared in the on-site restaurant and there is also a bar plus a poolside bar and grill. Other facilities include a games room, health and fitness centre plus a sauna. Rooms are doubles that sleep up to 4 people. These rooms come with Wi-Fi, a TV, a mini-fridge, a safe and more.

6. Universal’s Aventura Hotel

Address: 6725 Adventure Way, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
About – A sleek and modern hotel that is one of the smaller hotels on this list is Universal’s Aventura. It has a more intimate feel to it and there is even a rooftop bar for enjoying views of the surrounding area. The theme parks are a free shuttle bus ride away and you are just a short walk away from Universal’s Volcano Bay.

Outdoors there is a swimming pool with a hot tub, a kids’ splash area and a fire pit. The hotel organises fun daily activities around the pool. You have five places that serve food in the hotel’s food hall plus a couple of other bars. Bedrooms are doubles that can sleep up to 4 people in 2 Queen-Sized beds.

7. Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Surfside Inn and Suites

Address: 7000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
About – Located between Universal Boulevard and International Drive is Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Surfside Inn. Opened in 2019 the hotel is a short distance away from Universal’s theme parks plus the restaurants and bars on International Drive. A free shuttle bus will take you to the theme parks. The hotel has a lakeside location with a coastal theme inside that has been inspired by waves and the beach.

Families will love the extra-large rooms plus they even have 2 bedroom suites that can sleep up to 6 people. There is a large outdoor swimming pool which hosts daytime games. Food-wise this hotel also has a food court and a pool bar. Adults can keep up their fitness routines in the on-site gym.

Universal’s Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites Pool

8. Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Dockside Inn and Suites

Universal's Endless Summer Resort - Dockside Inn and Suites Pool

Address: 7125 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, United States
About – The last hotel on our list is Universal’s Endless Summer Resort Dockside Inn. It is a different hotel to the one listed above and it is the newest hotel in the Universal line-up. Dockside Inn has a coastal theme and there are free shuttle buses to the theme parks. On-site there is an extra large lagoon pool, a second lagoon pool, a couple of splash pads for the kids plus a waterside bar.

Indoors there is plenty of choice on offer in the food court. Or you can choose to stay in your room and have pizza delivered. For adults, there is a gym and all the family can have fun in the games room. This hotel has double rooms plus 2 bedroom suites. These are great for families as they sleep up to 6 people. They have a kitchenette with a sink, mini-fridge, picnic table and a coffee maker.