The Common Helios Grand Resort is spectacular for one large cause: its unbeatable view into Common’s new Epic Universe theme park. The “Park View” rooms and the lodge’s rooftop bar, Bar Helios, provide sweeping vistas of the theme park. And for the reason that lodge has its personal non-public entrance to Epic Universe, it is handy for park guests.

Regardless of the prime location, the Common Helios Grand Resort’s costs are robust to justify when it’s not tough to discover a high quality lodge in Orlando for lower than $200 per evening. Room charges on the Common Helios Grand Resort simply high $700 per evening. Even different Common-owned motels inside strolling distance — Stella Nova and Terra Luna — usually are available at lower than $300 per evening, although they lack the views and personal park entrance.

I didn’t keep the evening, however I lately toured the brand new Common Helios Grand Resort throughout a media preview forward of Epic Universe’s opening. I left dreaming of a return go to with my very own room keys in hand, however with the excessive value, it’s unlikely I ever will.

Nevertheless, if gazing on the park — particularly lit up after darkish out of your mattress — is in your bucket record, then the Common Helios Grand Resort delivers.

The Common Helios Grand Resort sits on the fringe of Epic Universe, and there’s a personal lodge visitor entrance main proper into the park. For friends who plan to spend most of their time at Epic Universe, you really can’t beat this location.

However the location could make you are feeling trapped on an Epic Universe island. Epic Universe is a couple of 15-minute drive from the center of Common Orlando Resort, which incorporates two different parks (Common Studios Florida and Common Islands of Journey), a water park and the Common CityWalk eating and leisure district.

Common supplies complimentary shuttle buses from the Helios Grand Resort to the resort hub, but it surely doesn’t provide the identical nice expertise as strolling or using a water taxi from Common’s older motels. As a substitute, you’re using what looks like a metropolis bus previous strip malls and a TGI Fridays. It’s useful, however not precisely magical.

And moreover Epic Universe, there’s principally nothing inside strolling distance of the Common Helios Grand Resort moreover Common’s two budget-oriented motels — Stella Nova and Terra Luna — which you don’t want to go to except you’re staying there.

Customary visitor rooms with a king mattress are pretty compact at about 340 sq. ft, with area for a rollaway mattress to accommodate 4 friends whole. For a room this expensive, you would possibly discover it a bit smaller than you anticipated.

Nonetheless, rooms are well-designed with trendy touches, like a 55-inch sensible TV, mini fridge and occasional maker.

Bogs additionally really feel luxurious, with high-end toiletries and rainfall bathe heads. A touchscreen pill controls the lighting, temperature and blinds, making it straightforward to regulate settings with out having to fumble with a number of switches.

You may e-book larger suites, which, in fact, are dearer. The The right way to Prepare Your Dragon Youngsters’ Suite is good for households. At 545-square-feet, it options two bedrooms. One room has the usual theme seen throughout the opposite lodge rooms, however the second room options two twin beds with a viking-inspired headboard and themed wallpaper.

I anticipated this suite to have views of the Isle of Berk (that’s the world throughout the park themed to the movie). As a substitute, the The right way to Prepare Your Dragon Youngsters’ Suite I toured had among the many worst views in the entire lodge: a parking and loading space.

Key facilities on the Common Helios Grand Resort

The lodge’s standout function is its unique park entrance into Common’s Epic Universe. Off the primary foyer, lodge friends have entry to a personal safety checkpoint and gate that leads instantly into the park’s central hub.

This helps Helios friends simply entry the park every morning with out ready in lengthy public traces. When paired with Common’s early entry perk (extra on that later), it may primarily get friends to the entrance of the journey traces.

The comfort all through the day is incredible, too, as you possibly can come and go freely if you happen to forgot one thing in your room or simply want a mid-day break.

Word that you simply do want a sound park ticket and your room key (or proof of a eating reservation at one of many eating places) to make use of the non-public entrance. It’s not open to most of the people.

Helios Grand’s pool, dubbed Lotus Lagoon, is a trendy, zero-entry pool (that means it has a mild slope entry like a seashore). It is surrounded by palm timber and umbrellas that create a Mediterranean vibe.

Cabanas can be found to hire for a further price.

The pool doesn’t have any extravagant water options or slides, so youngsters searching for most stimulation may be upset. Take into account this extra of a soothing, upscale pool.

Whereas I solely peeked in throughout the tour, I noticed that the health club was well-equipped with a wide range of cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes) and a collection of weight machines and free weights.

Ground-to-ceiling home windows introduced in a number of pure mild.

There’s additionally an arcade with a typical collection of video video games. As with most lodge arcades, it prices about $1 to $3 per play for every recreation.

Customary Common Orlando lodge perks

Staying on the Helios Grand Resort comes with the identical Common Orlando on-site lodge advantages supplied throughout all its Orlando properties (sure, even the Stella Nova down the highway that’s lower than half the worth of Helios).

Helios Grand offers its friends early entry entry to the Common Orlando theme parks. This implies you possibly can enter the parks as much as one hour earlier than the official opening time to hop in line for choose points of interest with shorter traces. This is likely one of the greatest perks of staying at a Common lodge, and it would imply you will not have to purchase a Common Categorical Cross (Common’s model of a quick move) if you happen to can hit your must-do points of interest early within the day.

There’s no free airport shuttle, however no less than there’s a free shuttle throughout all of Common’s parks. The shuttles run usually and are complimentary, so that you received’t want a rental automotive to get round Common.

One other neat profit is complimentary merchandise supply to your lodge. When you go on a memento procuring spree within the theme parks, you don’t should lug them round all day. Common’s present retailers will ship your purchases to Helios Grand’s present store or bell providers, and you’ll choose them up later (usually the subsequent day).

Bear in mind it usually isn’t obtainable in your departure day (since deliveries occur in a single day), so use it early in your journey. Nonetheless, it’s a incredible profit that prices nothing additional.

Common Helios Grand Resort eating places

Throughout the lodge, the culinary theme is Mediterranean-inspired with a contemporary twist, becoming the lodge’s sun-kissed Greek god Helios motif. Right here’s a breakdown of every eating institution.

Situated simply off the foyer, this upscale-casual restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a light-weight, ethereal area with an open kitchen and each indoor and out of doors seating overlooking the gardens of Celestial Park.

The menu has choices for choosy and non-adventurous eaters like eggs and bacon for breakfast and pizza throughout the day. The restaurant additionally has extra distinctive choices like shawarma-spiced beef hash for breakfast and octopus or seared halloumi cheese later within the day. I didn’t dine there, however the employees informed me the baklava French toast ($28) is price coming again for.

That is the lodge’s star eating facility, which opens within the late afternoon and stays open till previous midnight on most weekends.

The central, round bar has a dramatic domed ceiling painted with golden constellations. When you can’t get a seat beneath the dome, head exterior to the terrace which presents views of Celestial Park — particularly excellent if you happen to can time your reservation with sundown.

Reservations are really helpful significantly on weekends or throughout sundown. The restaurant makes use of Resy as its reservation system, a win for holders of sure American Categorical playing cards.

For instance, the American Categorical® Gold Card presents as much as $50 in assertion credit twice a 12 months at U.S. Resy eating places (enrollment required). With The Platinum Card® from American Categorical, cardholders can entry unique reservations held particularly at prime instances, in addition to precedence notifications when tables open up at eating places that have been beforehand booked. Phrases apply.

Meals and drinks aren’t low-cost — most cocktails value greater than $20 earlier than tax and tip — however you’re paying for the vibes and views.

And hey, if you happen to don’t need to purchase a park ticket however need to nonetheless have the ability to see it (albeit from a hen’s-eye view), a spherical of drinks at Bar Helios would possibly simply be the least expensive method to see Epic Universe.

Situated on the pool of the identical identify, the Lotus Lagoon is just about your normal pool bar with salads, burgers and fries. The drink menu is extra inventive with frozen cocktails, together with the signature prosecco popsicle, a glass of prosecco with a fruity popsicle that slowly melts into the drink.

That is the spot for a fast chunk or specialty espresso on the way in which to the parks. There’s some Mediterranean aptitude right here, however nothing to exit of the way in which for.

Strains can get lengthy within the morning, however if you happen to’re headed inside Epic Universe anyway, don’t panic. There are two Starbucks areas contained in the park, which serve comparable fare to what you’ll discover in Aurora.

Common Helios Grand Resort: Is it price it?

If Epic Universe is the star of your journey, Helios’s location is unbeatable. The comfort of popping out and in of your room for a noon break (or skipping the shuttle or parking upon arrival and departure) is a large perk.

However if you happen to’re planning to spend extra time on the unique Common parks, you may be happier at a extra centrally situated lodge like Loews Portofino Bay Resort or Onerous Rock Resort, the place you possibly can stroll to Common Studios and Islands of Journey.

And don’t overlook the fee. Helios is likely one of the priciest motels you possibly can e-book anyplace in Orlando. Even notoriously lavish motels like The Ritz-Carlton Orlando and the Conrad Orlando are usually cheaper than the Common Helios Grand Resort.

For Epic Universe followers, a keep right here may be a bucket record expertise. For everybody else, strolling by means of the foyer and stopping for a drink at Bar Helios can be enough.