Stella Nova Resort is one of Universal Orlando’s newest on site hotels and one of the closest hotels to EPIC Universe. Thanks to its dedicated walking path to the park, it has quickly become one of the most popular places to stay for guests planning an EPIC-focused vacation. Read on to find out what we thought about this resort in our Stella Nova Resort review and guide.
One thing Stella Nova has going for it is location. Unlike Terra Luna, Stella Nova offers a dedicated walking path to EPIC Universe. Depending on your room location, you can also catch views of both EPIC Universe and Helios Grand Hotel.
BOTTOM LINE: Stella Nova’s biggest selling point is its direct walking path to EPIC Universe. If proximity to the park on a budget is your top priority, it’s easy to see the appeal. If you’re comparing overall value, amenities, and hotel experience, however, we think some of Universal Orlando’s older budget hotels offer much stronger value for the money.
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Overview: What Is Stella Nova Resort?
Universal Orlando’s Stella Nova Resort opened on January 21, 2025, becoming the first hotel in Universal’s new south campus expansion surrounding EPIC Universe.
RELATED: Click here to read about the evolution of Universal Orlando on site hotels and Universal Orlando’s south campus.
At first glance, Stella Nova makes a fantastic impression. The exterior is stunning. The massive reflective glass facade stands out from every other hotel at Universal Orlando and fits perfectly with the hotel’s celestial theme. At night, the lighting effects make it one of the most visually striking hotels on property. We have questions about the metal benches sitting in the boiling Florida summer heat, but we’ll leave those for another time.
The hotel’s biggest selling point, however, is its direct walking path to EPIC Universe. While the nearby Terra Luna Resort relies entirely on shuttle transportation, Stella Nova guests can simply walk to the park. (Don’t be fooled though, it’s a hike.)
Beyond those advantages, Stella Nova is a fairly simple hotel. Unlike many other Universal Orlando on site hotels, there are no suites. Guest accommodations consist entirely of standard rooms. Amenities are also fairly limited compared to other Universal hotels in a similar price range.
Atmosphere
One of the biggest surprises during our stay was how quiet Stella Nova felt.
Many Universal Orlando hotels develop a certain energy throughout the day. Cabana Bay, Dockside, Hard Rock, and even Helios Grand often feel like extensions of the theme parks themselves. Guests are everywhere, pools are busy, restaurants are buzzing, and the whole hotel feels alive.
Stella Nova was different. While certainly not empty, the atmosphere was noticeably calmer and more relaxed. The hotel never felt crowded, even during busy park hours. For guests looking for a quieter place to recharge after a day at EPIC Universe, that will likely be a positive.
Main Lobby
The main lobby houses the check in desks, Universal Vacation Planning Center, lobby bar, market and counter service dining, and guest services.
The design is sleek, bright, and extremely modern. Nearly everything is white, curved, smooth, or illuminated. Whether you find that minimalist or sterile will probably come down to personal preference.
We found ourselves comparing it to the other Loews hotels throughout our stay. The Signature Collection hotels have a distinct sense of place. Sapphire Falls feels Caribbean. Portofino feels Italian. Royal Pacific feels tropical. Stella Nova feels more like a very nice convention hotel that happens to have a space theme.
RELATED: Click here to check out our reviews and probably offensive opinions of other Universal Orlando on site hotels.
One thing longtime Loews guests may notice immediately is that the signature Loews lobby scent is nowhere to be found. This may sound like a small detail, but returning guests know exactly what we’re talking about.
Holidays at Stella Nova Resort
Like every other Universal Orlando on site hotel, Stella Nova Resort thoughtfully decorates for the holidays in November and December. Most on site hotels are also getting into the Halloween Horror Nights spirit in September and October.
While the holiday displays are not as elaborate as some of the premier hotels, the south campus did a nice job last year bringing festive energy into the public spaces. It’s one of those little touches that reminds you Universal treats even its budget hotels as part of the overall vacation experience rather than simply a place to sleep.
Should You Stay at Stella Nova Resort?
Stella Nova is one of the most popular hotels at Universal Orlando right now. It routinely sells to capacity, and there are two (2) major reasons why.
First, many guests are still planning EPIC Universe-focused vacations. Rather than splitting their time between all four theme parks, they are building entire trips around Universal’s newest park and want to stay as close to it as possible.
Second, Stella Nova has something its sister hotel Terra Luna does not: a direct walking path to EPIC Universe. For many guests, that feature alone is worth paying extra. Whether it should be worth paying extra is a different conversation.
As the novelty of EPIC Universe continues to wear off, we suspect more guests will begin comparing Stella Nova not to Helios Grand Hotel, but to Universal’s other budget hotels. When that happens, the value discussion becomes much more interesting.
RELATED: Click here to find out why we won’t stay at the Helios Grand Hotel again.
The EPIC Universe budget sister hotels draw obvious comparisons to the north campus budget sister hotels, the Endless Summer Resorts. We will mention them throughout our reviews of each of these south campus hotels.
RELATED: Read our Dockside Inn and Suites review here, and our Surfside Inn and Suites review here. Spoiler alert: we love them so much more than the new EPIC Universe hotels.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Walking Path
As mentioned above, Stella Nova’s biggest benefit is its dedicated walking path to EPIC Universe.
Exclusive Theme Park Benefits
Like every Universal Orlando on site hotel, Stella Nova guests receive Early Park Admission and complimentary transportation throughout the resort. We are huge believers in staying on site because these perks save time, simplify logistics, and help maximize your vacation. Read more on Universal on site hotel exclusive benefits below.
Proximity to EPIC Universe
This is the reason to stay here.
The dedicated walking path to EPIC Universe is Stella Nova’s biggest advantage over Terra Luna and arguably its biggest advantage over every other budget hotel at Universal Orlando. Being able to leave your room and walk directly to the park is incredibly convenient.
Brand New
Stella Nova opened in 2025 and still feels brand new. Everything is fresh, clean, and modern. Whether you love the minimalist design style or not, there is something nice about staying in a hotel where everything still feels new.
Lobby Bar
Each of these budget hotels has a sleek, convenient lobby bar, and it’s part of why these hotels are classified as “prime value” instead of just “value.”
Cons
Distance from the Main Campus
The further Universal Orlando expands, the more noticeable this becomes.
If your vacation includes Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, and Volcano Bay, you’re going to spend a fair amount of time on shuttle buses. For guests planning a full Universal Orlando vacation, we think the north campus hotels remain much more convenient.
Small Scale Amenities
For the price, Stella Nova feels surprisingly limited. (Other than the lobby bar, which is lovely.)
The market is small. The retail shop is small. The public spaces are relatively small. While the hotel looks beautiful, there simply isn’t as much here as you will find at many of Universal’s older hotels.
No Suites
Unlike every other Universal Orlando hotel, Stella Nova (as well as Terra Luna) does not offer suites. For couples and smaller travel parties, this probably won’t matter. For larger families, however, it removes one of the biggest advantages found at hotels like Surfside, Dockside, Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, and the premier resorts.
Stella Nova Resort Price Comparison
Stella Nova is listed in Universal Orlando’s “Prime Value” category. The only other hotels in this category are Terra Luna Resort—Stella Nova’s sister hotel—and Aventura Hotel, another modern, minimalist property.
The comparison is interesting.
At Aventura, you can walk to Sapphire Falls and use the water taxi. At Stella Nova, you can walk directly to EPIC Universe.
Beyond that, both hotels focus on a streamlined hotel experience rather than packing in tons of amenities.
Let’s look at some numbers.
The Stella Nova Numbers: Is It Worth It?
Budget hotel prices for July 2026 (lowest rate):
- Aventura Hotel: $225
- Stella Nova Resort: $223
- Terra Luna Resort: $207
- Cabana Bay Beach Resort: $227
- Surfside Inn and Suites: $199
- Dockside Inn and Suites: $186
RELATED: Click here to read why the annual passholder hotel discount alone makes it worth having one.
Use those numbers as a reference point for the discussion below.
Cabana Bay has two (2) pools, a lazy river, hot tubs, pool cabanas, sand beaches, water slides, a Starbucks, two (2) pool bar and restaurant combos, a huge cafeteria, a bowling alley and restaurant, a lobby bar, an ice cream shop, and pizza delivery. It also has a direct walking path to Volcano Bay water park, water park view rooms, poolside rooms, and family suites.
Dockside has a lobby bar, two (2) pool bars, two (2) pools, sand beaches, hot tubs, pool games, a Starbucks, a huge cafeteria, a grab and go market, and pizza delivery. It also has family suites.
Surfside has a pool, a pool bar, a cafeteria and grab and go market, and a Starbucks. It also has family suites.
Aventura has a rooftop bar, a cafeteria, a grab and go market, a Starbucks, and a lobby bar. It also has family suites.
Stella Nova has a walking path to EPIC Universe, a pool, a pool bar, a walk up restaurant, a grab and go market, a lobby bar, and standard guest rooms.
Terra Luna Resort has a pool, a pool bar, a grab and go market, a counter service restaurant, and a lobby bar.
We’ll let you draw your own conclusions.
For us, the entire value proposition comes down to one question: how much is the EPIC Universe walking path worth to you? If the answer is “a lot,” Stella Nova makes perfect sense. If the answer is “not much,” there are some very compelling alternatives elsewhere at Universal Orlando Resort.
Express Pass
Do not stay here and buy Universal Express Unlimited for everyone in your party. If you plan to buy Express Passes, stay at a premier resort. They pay for themselves.
This is one of the biggest mistakes we see guests make when planning a Universal Orlando vacation. They focus on saving money on the hotel room and then spend thousands purchasing separately what the premier hotels include for free.
The Unlimited Express Pass can run you up to $350 per day, per person. And depending on your party size, that will add up quickly. If you have four (4) people in two (2) rooms, buying the Unlimited Universal Express Pass for three (3) days can set you back more than $4,000.
At that point, the math starts getting very awkward.
RELATED: Click here to compare Universal Orlando on site hotel benefits in the easy reference chart in our 2026 ultimate Universal Orlando planning guide.
Exclusive Universal Orlando On Site Perks
There are both pros and cons to Stella Nova park benefits. While these new south campus budget options give guests access to the amazing exclusive perks available at every hotel, they do not include the perks that you would get with some Signature Collection hotels.
RELATED: Click here to discover the exclusive benefits at each Universal Orlando on site hotel in our 2026 Universal Orlando Planning guide.
Benefits at Every Universal On Site Hotel
As a hotel in Universal Orlando’s Prime Value tier, Stella Nova Resort includes every basic on site hotel exclusive benefit, including:
- Early Park Admission: Access to select attractions at Universal Orlando theme parks up to an hour early with valid theme park admission.
- Complimentary Transportation: Shuttle buses provide convenient access to all Universal Orlando theme parks and Universal CityWalk Orlando.
- Resort-Wide Charging Privileges: Guests can use their room key for purchases throughout Universal Orlando Resort.
- Complimentary Merchandise Delivery: Have purchases from any and all Universal Orlando Resort stores delivered directly to your hotel room. You can shop at any time during you trip and not worry about lugging your merch around. (Easily our personal favorite Universal Orlando on site feature!)
UNLOCKED TIP: Packages will usually show up in your room the day after your purchase. Make sure you leave enough time for your stuff to reach your suitcase before your departure.
- Universal Studios Store: Like every on site hotel, Stella Nova Resort has a Universal Orlando merch shop. They’re great for picking up last minute souvenirs before you catch your flight, or for grabbing last minute necessities before you go to the parks. As we mentioned above, the Stella Nova store is small and unimpressive.
- Universal Vacation Planning Center: Each on site hotel has its own on site Vacation Planning Center where you can pick up your park tickets from your vacation package and purchase any other Universal Orlando tickets and passes, or make any reservations, you need.
Exclusive Theme Park Benefits: What’s Missing?
While Stella Nova Resort offers the same exclusive park benefits as every budget hotel offering at Universal Orlando, it is missing some premier benefits.
Benefits Exclusive to Premier Resorts
- Universal Express Pass Unlimited: Premier level resorts include an unlimited express pass to use at the parks. Skip the lines, every time. Skip back up to read some hard numbers on its value.
- Water Taxi Service: Every premier tier hotel at Universal Orlando (plus Sapphire Falls Resort) sits along the Universal river and offers relaxing water taxi service that drops you conveniently very close to the entrances to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. When staying on the south campus, the only way to get to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida is via the shuttle that services Universal budget hotels.
- Priority Seating at Resort Restaurants: Show your room key at restaurants across the resort and skip the walk in guest line.
Because Stella Nova Resort is not a premier level resort, it does not offer any of these benefits.
Travel and Stella Nova Resort
Travel to Stella Nova Resort
Whether you bring your own vehicle, rent a TURO or AVIS vehicle, use a rideshare service, or book the Universal Orlando official shuttle, just pull up to the circle entrance of the hotel, and the hotel team members will take care of you.
Unlike many of the other on site hotels, arrival at Stella Nova Resort tends to be pretty straightforward. There are no sprawling resort grounds to navigate and no mystery elevator systems to decode. You pull up, check in, and start your vacation.
The check in area itself can be a little confusing the first time you arrive. The queue setup is not as intuitive as many other Universal Orlando hotels, and we found ourselves briefly wondering where exactly the line was supposed to start.
If you bring a vehicle to the hotel (rented or otherwise), you have two options, self parking and valet. The prices are:
- Self parking: $30 per day.
If you are not staying at the hotel but want to park there for the day, the prices are (30 minutes complimentary):
- Self parking: $65
You’re going to experience similar overnight guest parking fees at every on site hotel, and it’s frankly why we try to avoid bringing a car to Universal Orlando if at all possible. Once you’re on property, Universal does a pretty good job moving you around without one.
You’re going to experience similar overnight guest parking fees at every on site hotel, and it’s frankly why we try to avoid bringing a car to Universal Orlando if at all possible. Once you’re on property, Universal does a pretty good job moving you around without one.
Travel to and from the Parks
The biggest perk to staying at Stella Nova Resort is the dedicated walking path that takes you directly to EPIC Universe.
This is the feature that separates Stella Nova from Terra Luna and the primary reason Stella Nova consistently commands higher prices and occupancy rates. Many guests absolutely love it. We are apparently not those guests.
After spending an entire day walking around EPIC Universe, the idea of voluntarily adding more steps to our day is not especially appealing. By park closing, we’re usually looking for the transportation option that requires the fewest additional decisions and the fewest additional footsteps.
That said, we completely understand why so many guests love the walkway. It eliminates shuttle waits, gives you more flexibility, and allows you to come and go from the park on your own schedule.
The Resort Shuttle
If you’re more like us, the Universal Orlando Resort shuttle bus will take you to EPIC Universe, as well as Volcano Bay water park and CityWalk Orlando. From CityWalk, you will enter the north campus parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
The bus will drop you off at the shuttle depot near the main Universal Orlando parking lot. From there, you can take the bridge to CityWalk Orlando and the north campus parks. The Volcano Bay shuttle will drop you at the Volcano Bay bus depot. The EPIC Universe shuttle will drop you at the EPIC Universe shuttle depot.
The biggest downside to Stella Nova isn’t getting to EPIC Universe. It’s getting everywhere else.
If your vacation includes Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, CityWalk, and Volcano Bay, you’re going to spend a fair amount of time on shuttle buses traveling between the south and north campuses.
Stella Nova Resort Accommodations
Stella Nova (like Terra Luna) offers just one standard guest room type.
Unlike every other Universal Orlando hotel, there are no family suites, themed kids suites, hospitality suites, or luxury suite upgrades. What you see is what you get.
Standard Room
The standard (and only) rooms at Stella Nova are similar in size to most other Universal Orlando on site hotel rooms. The biggest difference from the Signature Collection hotels is the lack of carpet. Each room comes equipped with a mini fridge, shower, free basic wifi, and an alarm clock. The decor is minimalist and modern, much like the rest of the hotel.
The standout design feature is the large celestial mural above the beds. It’s one of the few places where the hotel’s space theme really comes alive, and we think Universal did a nice job with it.
UNLOCKED TIP: The hotel touts its modern and techy nature, but we couldn’t get any of it to work, including the tv casting. Shoot us an email if you’ve had a different experience.
UNLOCKED TIP: Ask guest services (via text service) for an extra blanket because the bedding is very thin.
You can also pay for a pool view if you want. Depending on room location, you may even catch views of EPIC Universe or Helios Grand Hotel. Whether that’s worth the extra money is a question only your vacation budget can answer.
No Suites
The south campus budget hotels are the only on site hotels at Universal Orlando without a suite option.
This is a bigger deal than it might sound. One of the reasons Surfside and Dockside have become so popular is that families can book affordable suites that sleep six (6) people. Stella Nova removes that option entirely.
For couples and smaller travel parties, this probably won’t matter. For larger families, however, it means booking multiple rooms or looking elsewhere on property.
Given the prices Stella Nova often commands, we were surprised Universal chose not to include even a limited suite inventory.
Dining at Stella Nova Resort
Stella Nova (like Terra Luna) offers a counter service cafeteria, a grab and go market, a lobby bar, a walk up counter service poolside venue, and a poolside bar.
Cosmos Cafe & Market
- What: Counter service cafeteria and grab and go market
- Where: Off the main lobby
- Cafeteria Hours: 7AM to 10PM, daily
- Market Hours: 6AM to 11PM, daily
Every budget hotel at Universal has this grab and go / cafeteria combo restaurant. The difference at Stella Nova is that the food is ordered at counters rather than served cafeteria style.
As for grab and go, you can grab water, soft drinks, beer, and wine there. Quick grab food options include chips, candy, cereal, bars, and other packaged snacks. It also houses the hotel’s Coke Freestyle machines. There are tables to eat there, or you can take it with you.
RELATED: Click here to read about Coke Freestyle and more Universal Orlando tips and tricks in our 2026 FAQ.
You can buy your Coke Freestyle mug (if you want one) at the hotel and avoid having to search one out in the parks.
UNLOCKED TIP: If you have purchased a Coke Freestyle mug, you can definitely use it here, but don’t forget that you can also just use the machines to fill up water bottles instead of purchasing expensive bottled water over and over. Buy one or two bottles and fill them up here.
Market
The market is one of our biggest complaints about Stella Nova.
It’s small. Very small. We were especially surprised because Universal’s older hotels have some excellent grab and go markets. Even some of the budget hotels offer larger selections. For a hotel that often costs more than Surfside and Dockside, we expected more.
The selection is adequate if you need a snack, drink, or a few travel essentials. Beyond that, however, there isn’t much to get excited about.
Ironically, Terra Luna’s market was noticeably better during our visits, including a dedicated gluten free section that Stella Nova lacked.
Cafe
The cafe itself is better than the market. The seating area is functional but basic. Think workplace cafeteria rather than resort dining venue. It gets the job done.
Service can vary depending on who is working. During one visit, we found the lines moved slowly because there appeared to be very few team members covering the venue. On another visit, service was excellent.
We had particularly good experiences discussing food allergies with the Stella Nova team. One manager immediately walked us through the gluten free pizza preparation process, including separate utensils, preparation areas, and ovens. The confidence and familiarity with the procedures were reassuring.
Breakfast was more mixed. The certified gluten free pancake mix was not our favorite. The breakfast sandwich was much better. The eggs were forgettable. The bacon was fine. The service was excellent.
Overall, we came away feeling better about the cafe than the market.
Click here to explore the Cosmos Cafe menu.
Nova Bar
- What: Lobby bar
- Where: Main lobby
- Hours: 5PM to 12AM, daily
The lobby bar, called Nova Bar was easily our favorite part of Stella Nova.
The space fits the hotel’s modern aesthetic while still feeling comfortable enough to spend some time in. The cocktail menu is solid, the seating is comfortable, and unlike some areas of the hotel, this space feels like it has a little personality.
Most importantly, we had a fantastic bartender during our visit.
As we’ve said many times throughout our Universal Orlando reviews, hospitality is often about people more than buildings. Great team members can elevate an entire experience, and that was certainly true here.
If you’re staying at Stella Nova, this is where we’d spend our downtime.
Click here to explore the Nova Bar menu.
Galaxy Bar & Galaxy Grill
- What: Poolside bar & poolside counter service venue
- Where: Poolside
- Bar Hours: 11AM to 10PM, daily
- Grill Hours: 11:30AM to 8PM, daily
UNLOCKED TIP: The hours at the pool grill and bar at Stella Nova (and Terra Luna) have been all over the place since the opening in 2025. Double check all hours on your arrival.
Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill serve as Stella Nova’s poolside dining and drinking option.
The bar itself is pleasant, with plenty of seating and the same colorful mosaic tile work found throughout the hotel. The atmosphere is relaxing, though noticeably smaller than comparable pool bar areas at Dockside, Cabana Bay, or some of Universal’s larger resorts.
UNLOCKED TIP: An outside dining option is another reason Stella Nova (and Terra Luna) get to call themselves “prime value” hotels (instead of “value”). However, Cabana Bay has two (2) pool restaurants that offer full service and we’re just pointing that out!
The drinks were good. The seating was comfortable. No complaints there. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same about the food allergy experience.
Unlike Surfside, Dockside, Cabana Bay, and many other Universal Orlando venues, we did not find Galaxy Grill particularly accommodating for gluten free guests. Your experience may vary, but this is one of the few Universal dining locations where we walked away less impressed than usual.
Click here to explore the Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill menu.
Pizza Delivery
- What: Pizza delivery service
- Where: Your guest room or pick up from the cafeteria
- Delivery: 5PM to 12AM, daily
Pizza delivery service is available at this and every budget hotel. It offers pizza and other pizza restaurant fare, like wings and salads. They will also deliver select alcoholic beverages.
Sometimes the best vacation meal is eating pizza in bed while watching television and questioning whether that fifth ride on Stardust Racers was necessary.
No judgment here.
Click here to explore the Stella Nova pizza delivery menu.
Dietary Accommodations at Stella Nova Resort
RELATED: Click here to get our gluten free at Universal Orlando series that covers every single dining venue at Universal Orlando.
Most of Stella Nova Resort takes the same approach to allergen safe dining as the rest of Universal Orlando Resort. (The exception is the poolside counter service walk up. See above.) The minute you mention a food restriction to the cafeteria, they are on top of it. Protocols for safe meal preparation are in place and well practiced.
RELATED: Click here to read more about Universal Orlando Resort’s dietary accommodation policy in our 2026 Ultimate Planning Guide.
Amenities at Stella Nova Resort
Universal Studios Store
Every hotel has a Universal merch shop. Stella Nova’s is located off the main lobby. These stores have last minute items like sunglasses, sunscreen, meds, umbrellas, ponchos, etc. They also have limited merch from every land.
We found the Stella Nova store surprisingly small. Forgetting a necessity? You’ll be fine. Looking to do some serious souvenir shopping? We’d wait until we got to the parks. The selection is limited compared to most other Universal Orlando hotel shops.
Pool at Stella Nova Resort
The pool area includes a 10,000 square foot pool, a kids’ splash pad, outdoor games, a relaxing hot tub, fire pit, and poolside movies (weather permitting).
Like much of Stella Nova, the pool area is clean, modern, and visually appealing. The mosaic tile work continues throughout the outdoor spaces and helps tie the hotel’s celestial theme together.
That said, we never found ourselves particularly drawn to this pool area. It’s perfectly pleasant. It just lacks some of the personality and energy we find ourselves gravitating toward at places like Cabana Bay, Surfside, or Dockside.
Video Game Arcade
Every Universal Orlando on site hotel has their own version of a video arcade. It’s just a normal game arcade. But if you or your kids love video game arcades, it might be right up your alley!
Fitness Center
The fitness center is relatively large for a hotel gym and well stocked. There are treadmills, bicycles, ellipticals, a free weight area, and a weight machine area. We’d rather get our workouts at the parks, but to each their own!
Convenience Amenities
Luggage Storage
This one is important. Don’t waste a day of your trip sitting around waiting for your check in or check out time. Store your luggage and spend that time exploring the resort. This is especially important if you booked a Universal Orlando vacation package. Because your tickets will be valid the day of arrival and the day of departure.
Laundry Service
The hotel has coin operated self service washers and dryers.
Texting Service
This is hardly new anymore as many hotels across the world employ it, but Stella Nova has a texting service that you can use instead of calling the front desk. They will send you a welcome text when you check in, and after that if you need anything or have any problems, just text the chain. It’s very helpful and convenient.
Universal Vacation Planning Center
Every Universal Orlando on site hotel has a Universal Vacation Planning Center. Stella Nova’s is located near the check in desk in the main lobby. The planning centers are important because it’s where you pick up your park tickets from your vacation package. They also have any and all other park needs covered. You can buy any other passes there, including special event tickets like Halloween Horror Nights.
Amazon Delivery/Door Dash/Instacart
Before and during the pandemic, you could reliably have packages, groceries, and food delivered to any on site hotel. This is still true in some cases, but the past couple years we have found that these services are spotty at best. Try it at your own risk.
Click here to explore Stella Nova Resort.
Stella Nova Resort FAQ
Accommodations
Depends on your priorities. We don’t think so, but maybe you will. Read more here.
Just one. Read more here.
No.
Yes. Stella Nova Resort opened in January 2025.
Universal Orlando Resort
Yes. Read about them here.
No. Stella Nova Resort is not a premier level resort and therefore does not include the Unlimited Universal Express Pass.
Yes. At the Universal Orlando Store off the main lobby.
Yes, at the Universal Planning Center in the main lobby.
Stella Nova Resort has a dedicated EPIC Universe theme park walking path. To reach the north campus parks (Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and CityWalk Orlando), or EPIC Universe if you want, you can take the shuttle bus. You can catch it on the opposite side of the hotel from EPIC Universe. Read more here.
Stella Nova Resort Amenities & Activities
Yes, read about the single pool here.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
No.
Yes.
Find the rates here.
Yes.
Stella Nova Resort Dining
There are four (4) restaurant venues at Stella Nova Resort. A cafeteria and grab and go venue, a pool side bar and walk up venue, a lobby bar, and pizza delivery service. Read more here.
At times. Read more here.
No.
Yes, at the Cosmos Market and the Galaxy Bar area by the pool.
Stella Nova does not have 24/7 room service like the Signature Collection hotels. However, they do have a limited menu pizza delivery service. See below.
Yes. Read more here.
Yes. Cosmos Market sells liquor, wine, beer, and hard seltzers.
Conclusion: Stella Nova Resort Review and Guide
Thanks for reading! Make sure to bookmark this post while you’re considering Stella Nova Resort for your next EPIC Universal Orlando stay!
Click here to reach out if you have any questions or comments. We usually respond quickly!
Staying at the Stella Nova Resort definitely has its perks—there’s no denying the location near EPIC Universe with the direct walking path is incredibly convenient, and of course you get the other basic on site hotel perks. But when it comes to overall value, your mileage may vary. We do not think these budget hotels should cost more than Endless Summer. They should be the same or less. We suspect when the newness of EPIC Universe wears off, that will happen.
If you’re planning a once in a lifetime EPIC Universe trip and want to be right near the action, these resorts might make sense. But if you’re weighing comfort, budget, and experience, there are other Universal hotels that could offer a better balance. Either way, now you’ve got all the details to make the choice that’s right for your trip.
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