I stayed at Universal's new space-themed hotel for $124 a night. The family-friendly resort packs so much value.
I stayed at Universal Orlando's new space-themed Stella Nova Resort.
It opened in January as part of the property-wide expansion for Universal Epic Universe.
The prime-value hotel cost me $124 a night, and it was so worth it.
This spring, Universal Orlando Resort plans to open its Epic Universe theme park. In anticipation, the property is also launching three new hotels: Stella Nova Resort, Terra Luna Resort, and Helios Grand Hotel.
Stella Nova was the first to open its doors this January. The beautiful space-themed resort is tiled in dichroic glass and decorated with recreations of NASA space photographs. Plus, it's located right across from Epic Universe, which is set to open in May.
I recently booked a stay for $124 a night — a steal for someone who visits the Central Florida theme parks often and usually spends way more on a hotel room in the area.
Here's what Stella Nova was like.
Stella Nova falls into Universal's prime-value hotel category.
As someone who firmly believes a family's theme-park budget is better spent on things like delicious food and skip-the-line-style ticket passes, saving on a hotel is key.
There are three tiers of hotels at Universal Orlando: signature, prime value, and value. Signature properties like the Hard Rock Hotel are usually quite expensive, but prime-value offerings like Stella Nova tend to be more affordable.
I was able to book a room at the new resort for $124 a night using a Florida-resident discount, but I've heard of families booking the property for as low as $100 a night depending on the dates of their stay.
Rates at these hotels always depend on when you're visiting — January isn't exactly a peak time — and as we get closer to the theme-park opening they're sure to go up.
However, at the time of writing, there are still rooms available this summer for under $300 a night, which I think is a pretty great deal.
Stella Nova's lobby is spacious.
The modern-looking lobby area at Stella Nova was brightly lit and had tons of space.
In addition to the front-desk area, lobby bar, and café, there were plenty of places to sit, work on a laptop, or relax throughout the area.
There's also a gift shop and a vacation-planning center, where you can purchase or pick up park tickets, make dining reservations, and more.
I found some characters greeting guests.
There are usually a few characters roaming Universal Orlando's hotel lobbies, and Stella Nova was no exception.
During my visit, I spotted Guy Diamond from the "Trolls" movies and a few astronauts posing for photos with guests. The real highlight, however, was seeing characters from "Men in Black" (including Frank the Pug), who I've yet to meet at the theme parks because the lines to do so are always long.
Meeting characters at your hotel is a great way to get those photos and autographs in a less-stressful environment.
All the rooms have the same two-queen layout.
All 750 of Stella Nova's rooms have two queen beds along with a dresser, nightstand, couch, and big closet.
There are more than 20 ADA-accessible rooms, too, which can be selected at the time of booking.
I also love the two-room bathroom layout.
The rooms also have a bathroom with two separate areas, one for the toilet, tub, and shower, and another for the sink.
I think this makes it easier for multiple people to get ready at at time, thus getting everyone out the door and into the theme parks much easier.
My room had all the essential amenities.
In addition to basics, like comfy beds and a place to sit, Stella Nova's rooms had elevated essentials like a mini fridge and a coffee machine.
There's also an ice machine and a station for refilling water bottles on each floor — two incredibly convenient things when you're trying to stay hydrated on busy theme-park days.
The out-of-this-world touches felt luxurious for the cost.
I loved the starry art on the walls above the beds and the beautiful back-lit bathroom vanity. I also got a kick out of the hotel's signature cosmic-amber-scented shampoo, conditioner, and soap.
These little touches really elevated Stella Nova and made it feel high-end, despite the affordable price.
The main dining area had plenty of options for every meal.
Cosmos Cafe and Market, the main dining hub at Stella Nova, is the perfect spot to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
From banana-nut pancakes to pickle-fried-chicken sandwiches, the menu had lots to choose from. The dining room was also spacious with plenty of seating.
It's a great place to corral your family in the morning before heading to the theme parks or sip coffee and people-watch in the afternoon.
There's a grab-and-go area that serves quick bites and Starbucks coffee.
Cosmos also has a grab-and-go area selling breakfast sandwiches, salads, bottled drinks, and other quick bites.
Most importantly, however, it serves Starbucks coffee drinks. I was thrilled to be able to sip a grande skinny vanilla latte en route to the theme parks each morning.
My husband was also quite impressed by the store's case of ice cream — he had a scoop before bed each night.
The sleek lobby bar sells cocktails and mocktails.
Nova Bar, the hotel's lobby bar, has an impressive menu of cocktails and mocktails.
I ordered a zero-proof espresso martini that tasted no different from the alcoholic versions I've had. My husband ordered a whiskey drink that was smoked right in the glass.
We also loved just looking through the space-themed cocktail names, like the Nebula, a drink made with mezcal and tonic, and the Black Hole, an alcoholic espresso martini.
The pool area had everything I needed.
Stella Nova has a large, heated outdoor pool and a separate hot tub.
Around the pool area, there are plenty of chairs and umbrellas as well as hula hoops and other activities for kids. At the Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill, you can sip poolside drinks or order quick fare like burgers and shrimp cocktail.
Weather permitting, the hotel hosts a nightly poolside movie. There's also a fire pit near the pool, which is a great place to unwind.
Other amenities, like a fitness center and an arcade, were also nice.
I think it's always a good idea to squeeze in some downtime on a theme-park vacation, and Stella Nova has plenty of options for families who need a break from the crowds.
In addition to a vast pool area, I found an arcade and a fitness center — both looked brand new and full of equipment.
As someone who can't wait for Epic Universe to open, the resort gift shop was a highlight.
I'm counting down until the opening of Epic Universe, so I loved shopping in Stella Nova's Universal Studios Store.
It had all sorts of merchandise collections, from all-new "Harry Potter" items to fun Super Nintendo World products.
A highlight was seeing Dark Universe merchandise, which features characters like Dracula and the Bride of Frankenstein, who will roam the monster-themed land of Epic Universe.
There are a few transportation options to the parks.
Universal's other hotels are centrally located to its two original theme parks, so I wasn't sure how it would feel to stay a 15-minute drive from the action.
Luckily, getting to the parks was still pretty seamless.
I appreciated that Stella Nova provides buses to and from Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk. However, since I had my car with me during my stay (which cost $30 a night to park), I just drove.
Once Epic Universe opens, it'll just be a short walk across the street from Stella Nova.
Overall, Stella Nova is an incredible value that's perfect for families on a budget.
As someone who writes about these theme parks for a living, this hotel is such an exciting value for families. It's so beautiful and nice but so incredibly affordable.
In a world where theme-park hotel rooms seem to cost more every year, it's refreshing to see Universal Orlando open a resort that doesn't force families to compromise on quality or perks.
I think Stella Nova is truly out of this world, and I can't wait to go back with my family.
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