Stella Nova Resort: Chaos and Charm on Its Grand Opening Day!

On the first day of any new venture, there are bound to be highs and lows, and the launch of Universal’s latest resort, Stella Nova, was no different.

On Tuesday, January 21st, I eagerly attended the grand opening of a resort adjacent to the recently unveiled Universal Epic Universe theme park, which I had reserved a spot for on the opening day as early as April 2024.

In this post, I’ll share my initial impressions of my first day at Universal’s latest resort hotel, where I spent a five-day, four-night stay, and compare it to the Disney resort hotels I’ve previously visited.

Landing At Stella Nova…

On the first day, I received an email from Stella Nova Resort, informing me to check-in at the hotel by 11 AM. I arrived a little after, at 11:30 AM.

Regardless of the surprisingly damp and chilly conditions in Orlando, the vibrant, tiled mosaics glistening from the resort and the warm greetings of the Universal staff members caused me to momentarily overlook the inclement weather.

As a movie enthusiast, stepping into the theater, I was met with heartwarming smiles from two staff members, visibly thrilled to have me there. Upon entering further, I received an additional warm welcome from another team member, who graciously presented me with a delightful glass of violet lemonade.

Heads up–there is a large revolving door to get into the resort.

Follow the ‘stars’ to see where the door ends and you can step in.

Let The Chaos Commence…

And now comes the chaos.

I ventured into the main lounge area, where I encountered a bustling atmosphere filled with noise, activity, friendly faces, and an aura reminiscent of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. My objective was clear: locate the check-in queue amidst the crowd in the lobby. Fortunately, another helpful Cast Member guided me to the end of the line, which, at that moment, had approximately 100 people waiting.

Clearly, checking such a vast number of guests into a hotel might seem extraordinary, especially under normal circumstances. However, considering it was the grand opening of a new hotel, and numerous vloggers were present to document the event, it was indeed reasonable.

To prevent guests from feeling overlooked or confused, multiple staff members were present at the check-in line, greeting us warmly, expressing gratitude for our presence, expressing patience, and inquiring if we had any queries. Additionally, staff members moved through the line picking up empty lemonade cups and offering us free refills.

The ‘Stella Nova’ lemonade was much better than plain water in my opinion.

Not only was this impressive, but Universal had even more surprises in store for those queueing up, making their wait feel less like a chore and more like part of an enjoyable experience.

The lobby was filled with astronauts dressed up, offering photo opportunities, and they even strolled along the queue for check-ins. One of these astronauts, equipped with a sound system backpack, played 80’s songs with a spacey vibe, like ‘Cosmic Girl’ by Jamiroquai, keeping the crowd amused.

Absolutely, even those who are young at heart weren’t overlooked, as they had a chance to snap pictures with Poppy, Branch, and Guy Diamond from the Trolls movie. The enthusiasm of both the guests and characters suggested that this was a huge hit. Universal deserves applause for their strategy in ensuring guests felt comfortable, entertained, and acknowledged during this extraordinary check-in line event.

It’s important to note that Disney employs staff members known as Cast Members who assist with check-ins at certain resorts, such as Art of Animation. On the opening day of Stella Nova, I didn’t anticipate daily encounters with character meet and greets or roaming astronauts, as it was the first day of operation.

Checking In With Sticker Shock…

Following nearly an hour-long queue (which felt shorter due to the entertainment), checking in was effortless. My booking information was verified, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my room was already prepared – a fact that wasn’t unexpected since it was the grand opening day.

During my check-in at the hotel, I was made aware of its facilities and advised to explore the ‘Star Corridor’ on the third floor. The staff members were all efficient and there were plenty of supervisors available to handle any problems that might arise. This process was remarkably similar to Disney’s in terms of efficiency, although Universal doesn’t offer an online check-in option to bypass the main line yet. Maybe they’ll introduce this feature in the future.

Universal’s resorts have consistently had a nightly parking fee, ranging from $25 at Royal Pacific (Premium resort) to $15 at Cabana Bay (Value Plus Resort). However, I was taken aback when I discovered that overnight parking at Stella Nova resort would cost me $30 per night. The teller’s expression suggested that not everyone was pleased with this new fee. In fact, it could have been more expensive; the daily rate for non-hotel guests is a steep $65 for any duration over 30 minutes.

On the opening day, it was fortunate that the 20-minute parking rule wasn’t strictly implemented because of the high number of visitors checking in, allowing them ample time to do so without worry.

At Disney, hotel guests no longer have to pay for parking, which makes sense since the resort lies directly opposite the Orange County Convention Center. This convenience might discourage convention-goers from parking at Stella Nova. Additionally, with the opening of Epic Universe, this policy could also deter people from parking at the hotel and instead opting for the park. Remember, while Stella Nova is a Prime Value resort, consider parking fees when planning your stay budget.

Launching To My Room…

Of course on the way to my room I stopped by the 3rd floor to check out the Star Corridor.

Upon exiting the elevator and turning right, you’ll be greeted by an astounding sight: a mesmerizing light pattern illuminating the black expanse of space. The glowing motif combined with a Tron-esque carpet underfoot gives the impression that you’re stepping aboard a futuristic spaceship…all while being at Universal.

Indeed, the intricate backlighting details adorning each chamber and the thoughtfully designed hallways left me reminiscing about a labyrinthine wonderland, in all honesty.

Perhaps Universal took some design notes from Disney?

The room I needed was located on a rather elevated level, offering a scenic vista of the swimming pool below. Its dimensions were roughly equivalent to those found in one of Disney’s budget accommodations.

Rooms with a view of the resort offer a perspective similar to seeing the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary Resort. However, Helios has an even clearer view of Celestial Park.

Beyond the delightful aroma of the freshly-cleaned hotel room, the harmonious blend of curved lines against a backdrop of solar white, violet purple, and blue creates a soothing ambiance. The expansive ‘starship window’ and starfield artwork preserve the resort’s space-themed aesthetic. It was surprising to find that the refrigerator wasn’t yet connected on the first day, while the coffee maker had been plugged in (a crucial detail for many guests). It seemed a minor oversight, something one wouldn’t expect from hotel Operations on their opening day.

I plugged in the fridge myself instead of calling the front desk and verified it was working.

That Pool Though…

On the opening day of Stella Nova’s pool, it was chilly enough that they didn’t let swimmers in. However, from a visual standpoint, it was quite stunning.

Similar in size to the colossal Hippy Dippy pool at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, it undoubtedly features heating, as I noticed steam emanating from it when the outdoor temperature was below 50 degrees.

There are a lot of chairs and several ‘areas’ to enjoy, plus two play areas for kids.

In my experience, the seating area near the pool at Galaxy Bar and Grill exudes a futuristic ambiance with an abundance of comfortable seats. The bar typically winds down at 5 pm daily (it seems quite early for a closing time), but the Grill’s operating hours depend on the schedule for that particular day. Regrettably, on this specific occasion, Galaxy Bar and Grill remained closed due to the chilly weather conditions.

Gift Shop Goodies…

In the retail store located within the Stella Nova Resort (Universal Studios), you’ll discover an array of unique Epic Universe merchandise that isn’t available at the Universal CityWalk preview center.

At this store, you’ll encounter merchandise from Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, and the Ministry of Magic, along with general Epic Universe logo items. Additionally, the shop carries standard souvenirs similar to those found in other gift shops across the resort and at Disney.

At convenience stores, the costs tend to be lower than here. Here, you’re essentially covering the cost of convenience and the premium associated with a themed park experience.

In that particular spot, a trickle of water was present, close to the merchandise related to the Harry Potter Ministry of Magic, yet buckets had been placed on the ground to catch it all. Regrettably, it’s not aesthetically pleasing to have water droplets in a brand-new hotel establishment.

The Evening Wind-Down

The evening after-parks dining rush is always my benchmark for efficiency.

Unfortunately, there’s no option for mobile ordering for quick service dining at this location, but team members have printed menus readily available for guests. Also, it’s important to note that you can’t place food orders within the Universal App as the hotels are managed by Loews Hotels, which operates on a separate system. However, you can scan a menu QR code located in the hotel lobby and on your in-room TV. The only item that can be ordered via mobile for now is pizza delivery, from 5 pm to 12 am.

I was told fantastic tales about the Hot Honey Chicken pizza, so I decided to give it a try, accompanied by a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.

Once I’d made my purchase, they handed me a pager to signal when my items were prepared. When the pager beeps, you simply head up to the counter to collect your goods. Considering it was their opening day, I allowed for some extra time to get my order.

In the bustling dining room, it took me a bit longer than expected, around 20 minutes, to receive my meal due to a crowd of patrons placing their orders. Despite the delay, I was pleased with the quality of my dishes – they were served at the right temperatures and everything tasted scrumptious. My grilled cheese could have been more ‘stretchy’, but it was freshly made, as was the tomato soup.

And all the positive buzz about the hot honey chicken was all true.

The total for the grilled cheese ($15), pizza ($15), and two refillable mugs for seven days of unlimited refills ($50) came to $80, but since I’m a passholder, I got a 10% discount. The refillable mugs are worth the investment, especially at Universal where they have Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers with over 100 different beverage options, unlike Disney.

In this version, I tried to make the text more natural and easy to read while maintaining the original meaning.

At Disney, each refillable mug costs approximately $22.99 plus tax for the entire duration of your visit, however, they do not feature Coca-Cola Freestyle machines offering a wide variety of choices, such as my preferred beverage: Fanta Zero.

Relaxing in the evening at Stella Nova should be effortless, and it nearly was until I discovered that I could stream Netflix on the fantastic wall-mounted 55″ 4K HDTV.

Or:

As evening approaches at Stella Nova, unwinding becomes a breeze. And it almost did so when I learned that Netflix was available on the incredible wall-mounted 55″ 4K HDTV.

Immediately upon getting comfortable to watch the newest episode of “My Happy Marriage”, a considerable amount of noise erupted from the hallway, upstairs, and downstairs.

Herein lies one of the main downsides of the Stella Nova Resort hotel.

Soundproofing is practically NON-EXISTENT.

In simpler terms, performing actions like flushing a toilet, shifting a chair, slamming a door, or making certain loud noises (I’m using exaggeration for the last one) are likely to make sounds that you might hear, especially if the room is quiet. However, people who have spent the day in parks might be tired and less sensitive to such noises. But if you’re someone who tends to wake up easily, these sounds could potentially disrupt your sleep.

It’s important to note that both Disney’s value resorts and hotels like Hampton Inn can have noise issues, but if you’re prepared to pay a lower price in exchange for improved soundproofing (don’t forget some earplugs for added comfort), the experience is generally worth it.

So Let’s Keep It Real…

In summary, the Stella Nova resort by Universal offers an enhanced hotel experience at a budget-friendly price. Plus, it’s conveniently located near Epic Universe, which can be reached on foot, and Universal Orlando’s other parks and CityWalk, which are accessible via bus.

The resort is situated near a Chick-fil-A, CVS, Publix, and the Orange County Convention Center, all within a short walk. Unfortunately, upon arrival, there were problems with poor soundproofing, water leaks, and appliances that weren’t functioning. Despite these issues, the inaugural day of Stella Nova was enjoyable rather than overwhelming.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the hotel manages these issues in the coming days of my stay.

2025-01-25 02:56