Helios Grand Resort is the brand new resort inside Epic Universe, with views overlooking the third theme park at Common Orlando. This overview options room images & video, a take a look at frequent areas & facilities, plus the professionals & cons of staying on the latest in-park lodging and whether or not it’s well worth the splurge.
Common Helios Grand Resort is a 500-room, full-service lodge located in Common Orlando’s top-tier “Signature Assortment” alongside Loews Portofino Bay Resort, Arduous Rock Resort, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. The primary three inns on that record are the legacy deluxe resorts, which provide limitless Specific Go with stays, amongst different issues. Neither the new-ish Sapphire Falls nor Helios Grand Resort supply limitless Specific Go.
As with the opposite resorts at Common Orlando, Helios Grand Resort is a collaboration–designed by Common Inventive and operated by Loews Accommodations. The brand new lodge is ostensibly a Mediterranean-inspired resort, with astronomical and mythological motifs. Helios Grand Resort rises above the luxurious gardens and scenic waters of Celestial Park at Epic Universe, and is designed as a “palatial” resort. The lodge has a cosmos-inspired rooftop bar and the lodge’s personal devoted entrance into Epic Universe as its foremost options.
Helios Grand Resort will undoubtedly make a robust first impression on most visitors, me included. Whenever you stroll by means of the entrance entrance, you’re instantly drawn to the overlook on the different finish of the foyer that boasts large views into Epic Universe. All through the lodge, each excessive level is the proximity to the park. The views into Epic Universe are spectacular and thrilling, particularly in the event that they’re whetting your urge for food for a primary go to to Epic Universe.
Helios Grand Resort is being described by Common Orlando because the “crown jewel” of Epic Universe, which is comprehensible given its location rising above the park. It’s basically the point of interest from round Celestial Park and, accordingly, you may count on this to be the flagship lodge at Common Orlando, very similar to Resort MiraCosta at Tokyo DisneySea or the Grand Californian at Disneyland Resort.
Not a lot. Its in-park location is the one factor Helios Grand Resort has in frequent with these flagship resorts.
Sadly, there’s no there there in a thematic sense with Helios Grand Resort when you get previous a couple of cool particulars. On its floor, it seems and looks like Common’s tackle the kind of lodge tower you’d discover in Las Vegas. There are really magnificent inns with overwhelming and ostentatious design in Las Vegas.
Whereas the Las Vegas comparisons are going to be apparent and ample, Helios Grand Resort doesn’t measure as much as any of these properties when it come to lavishness. Nor does it have the slate of options and facilities visitors might count on from an upscale Las Vegas lodge or, for that matter, different high tier theme park resorts in Central Florida.
Let’s dig deeper into the resort by having a look round Helios Grand Resort…
Helios Grand Resort Visitor Rooms & Suites
The visitor rooms and suites of Common Helios Grand Resort are mentioned to evoke the tranquility of a blissful backyard, with most of the rooms affording breathtaking views of Epic Universe and others boasting the worst metropolis view possible.
Customary Rooms on the Common Helios Grand Resort present a garden-themed retreat, out there with both a king mattress for as much as three visitors or two queen beds for as much as 5. The 2-queen-bed normal rooms measure 325 sq. toes, whereas the king-bed normal rooms supply a bit more room at 340 sq. toes.
Deluxe Rooms are bigger nonetheless, at 415 sq. toes and accommodating as much as 5 visitors. This format has two queen-sized beds and a typical space that includes a small sleeper couch. The suites are even larger, with choices from 545 sq. toes (The right way to Prepare Your Dragon Children’ Suites) to over 1,000 sq. toes for the hospitality and presidential suites.
All rooms at Helios Grand Resort boast 300-thread-count, 100% cotton mattress linens; versus a mattress runner, all of them have ornamental duvets that cowl the total size of the mattress. Consolation-wise, the bedding was plush and incredible. The sheets have been likewise fairly good. Each Common and Disney have improved their mattresses within the final a number of years, so completely no complaints there.
Different in-room facilities embody a mini-fridge, free Wi-Fi, dresser, 55-inch flat panel TV with on-demand in-room motion pictures, single-cup espresso maker, Julien Farel bathtub merchandise, and all kinds of shops and USB ports. There’s a protracted record of belongings you’d count on, like a protected and iron (separate options), however I’m not going to record that every one.
Most notable is that there’s a pill for controlling the lights, temperature, TV, and studying concerning the lodge. There are additionally wall controls for all the similar, though I discovered them to be hit and miss. I had a really troublesome time opening and shutting the drapes, and I promise this wasn’t as a consequence of consumer error. The system was glitchy, as confirmed by different visitors staying at Helios Grand Resort. Lastly, my desk lamp turned on at random in the midst of the night time on two completely different events, main me to unplug the clearly-haunted gentle fixture.
I’ve very combined emotions concerning the visitor rooms at Helios Grand Resort. I liked the headboard in my room, which evoked a watercolor portray with its floral brushstrokes in smooth pink and blue tones. The carpet and furnishings was likewise good, as have been a number of accents, all elevating the room and making it really feel refined and stylish.
The largest drawback is the room measurement. I had simply stayed at Common Terra Luna Resort the nights earlier than switching to Common Helios Grand Resort. My room on the former, a ‘Prime Worth Resort’ costing lower than $150 per night time, was 315 sq. toes. My room at Helios Grand was solely 325 sq. toes. A negligible distinction.
Furthermore, I can’t conclusively state that the visitor room on the Signature Assortment resort was materially nicer than the funds possibility. There have been little touches suggesting that, to make certain, however nothing really excessive finish. A part of the “drawback” right here is Terra Luna arguably punches above its weight for its value. However the rooms at Helios Grand Resort additionally punch under theirs.
The one factor that made apparent the distinction was opening the drapes and searching into Epic Universe.
The park view is beautiful, and focuses visitors’ consideration outdoors the room moderately than in it. Significantly, this angle overlooking Epic Universe is magnetic, overshadowing virtually the whole lot else concerning the lodge. That is nothing just like the distant views afforded by park view rooms of Magic Kingdom on the Grand Floridian or Modern Resorts. Since Helios Grand is a real in-park lodge, you’re totally immersed in Epic Universe. This view is pure magic.
Clearly, this solely applies with a park view room. The opposite facet of the lodge affords views into back-of-house services and belongings you typically received’t need to see. Because of this, we are able to actually solely advocate Helios Grand Resort for those who’re keen and in a position to splurge on a park view room. We’d prioritize the park view over all different room varieties. (Be aware: the Membership Stage lounge doesn’t have a park view.)
Listed here are extra images from our Park View Room at Helios Grand Resort on the Membership Stage:
Non-public Park Entrance Into Epic Universe
Positioned off the foyer is Helios Grand Resort’s devoted entrance into Epic Universe that gives entry to and from the theme park (legitimate theme park admission required, after all).
Evaluations from the media occasion praised this park entrance, with a number of indicating that the road could be shorter and quicker than the primary entrance. That is false, and underscores the issue with reviewing a lodge in a managed and capability constrained setting.
The devoted entrance into Epic Universe has a 500-room lodge all served by a single safety scanner for bag verify and a few turnstiles. Unsurprisingly, many (most?) of the visitors in these 500 rooms all need to enter Epic Universe for Early Park Admission. The tip consequence, no less than throughout my keep, was a massively lengthy line that stretched all the way in which outdoor and into the pool space.
It was neither quick nor quick. Associates staying at close by Terra Luna Resort obtained by means of safety on the foremost entrance quicker than me. Maybe this may change over time as there’s much less of an emphasis on Epic Universe for visitors staying at Helios Grand Resort, however I doubt it. The explanation to remain right here will at all times be going to Epic Universe.
The excellent news is that, as soon as the morning rush subsides, utilizing this entrance is an absolute breeze. I used to be out and in of Epic Universe in a matter of minutes. For noon breaks, the devoted entrance into Helios Grand Resort is a gamechanger.
Helios Grand Resort Pool
It’s no secret that Central Florida has 43 weeks of summer time, making the lodge pool some of the necessary options for a lot of visitors at Common Orlando or Walt Disney World. This zero-entry pool space is lengthy and winding, that includes a spacious tiered seating space. It additionally options underwater audio system, poolside cabana leases, a sizzling tub, poolside motion pictures, and each day leisure actions. Lotus Lagoon is the resort’s poolside bar & grill, serving up drinks and pub meals.
Throughout my keep, I by no means noticed too many individuals utilizing the pool at Helios Grand Resort. The seating space was, at most, one-quarter full and there was ample house within the pool itself. I think this may change over time, given what I’ve noticed from different pool areas at Common Orlando. This shall be busy and crowded sooner or later.
As in comparison with decrease degree pool areas at Common Orlando, the one at Helios Grand Resort is sweet. The lengthy and winding format breaks up the house, and is much superior to the large complexes on the funds resorts.
Nonetheless, Helios doesn’t maintain a candle to the pool areas at any of the opposite Signature Assortment resorts, all of which provide a number of the nicest swimming pools in Central Florida. I hold seeing reward for this pool and it being described as an “oasis,” which has me questioning whether or not we stayed on the similar lodge.
The opposite Common Orlando Signature inns have quite a lot of nice and fascinating options, whereas the pool at Helios Grand Resort feels extra superficial–an grownup pool that serves an atmospheric function whereas lounging. There’s not essentially something fallacious with that, however you probably have children who love taking part in in swimming pools, you may need to look elsewhere.
Its location additionally leaves one thing to be desired, “nestled” between the parking zone and Monsters Unchained present constructing. The best way it’s wedged into this spot makes me wonder if it have been initially supposed to be situated on the park facet of Helios Grand Resort.
Bar Helios
A glowing and classy rooftop lounge, Bar Helios at Common Helios Grand Resort affords a menu of tapas and acquainted favorites, handcrafted specialty cocktails, and unequalled 360-degree views of Epic Universe and past – making this the proper spot for visitors to sit back within the night after a busy day within the parks.
Bar Helios is definitely the excessive level of Helios Grand Resort. Actually and figuratively. If you happen to don’t have a room with a park view, you’ll completely need to go to Bar Helios. Ditto visitors who aren’t staying at Helios Grand Resort, as that is positively a vacation spot bar.
Heck, I did have a park-view room and nonetheless discovered myself making three separate visits to Bar Helios. Because of the early closing time of Epic Universe, a cease up at Bar Helios is an effective way to finish–or prolong–the night. The moody ambiance inside is beautiful, and the views outdoors are unequalled. I extremely advocate reservations at Bar Helios, and doing drinks or dishes at this rooftop bar. It’s phenomenal.
Flora Taverna
This full-service restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner and foyer bar with a light-weight and ethereal ambiance – that includes an open-style kitchen with dwell cooking. Flora Taverna serves up Mediterranean consolation meals and pizza, providing al fresco seating overlooking the gorgeous surroundings of Celestial Park.
As I used to be staying Membership Stage, I didn’t have event to dine at Flora Taverna–however I did stroll by means of the restaurant and was impressed by each its views and ambiance. My pals who have been staying at Helios Grand Resort on the similar time have been impressed by the delicacies right here.
Aurora Market
A up to date espresso store and market providing freshly-roasted coffees, grab-and-go meals objects, in addition to snack & dessert choices from morning to nighttime.
In terms of the restaurant lineup, Aurora Market is my greatest disappointment. I had simply come from Common Terra Luna Resort instantly earlier than my keep at Helios Grand Resort, and was actually impressed by the meals court docket there. That is merely, because the identify suggests, a grab-and-go market. And a moderately small one. The unequivocal highlights are the espresso and gelato.
Whereas I do know it’s frequent for the top-tier Common Orlando or Walt Disney World resorts to have undercooked counter service choices, it’s nonetheless disappointing that there’s nowhere to go for a fast sizzling meal at Helios Grand Resort. It’s additionally value noting that this resort has a light-weight restaurant lineup as in comparison with most of its counterparts. (Granted, there’s an entire park stuffed with eating simply outdoors Helios!)
Different facilities at Common Helios Grand Resort additionally embody a state-of-the-art health middle that includes quite a lot of energy and cardio tools; a recreation room for visitors to blast, zap and race their manner by means of a set of arcade video games with the acquisition of a recreation card; Common Orlando Resort Retailer for visitors to buy the whole lot from sundries and requirements to merchandise.
I don’t have a lot significant commentary so as to add concerning the different facilities. They’re just about par for the course at Common Orlando resorts. Whereas I didn’t use the health room, I discovered it to be fairly good and appreciated the views it affords into Celestial Park. Adjoining to the health middle can also be a pleasant altering space–I did use this, as I had a late flight on checkout day.
Staying at any Common Orlando lodge additionally comes with unique theme park advantages. Friends of Common Helios Grand Resort, or any of the opposite Common Orlando inns, obtain Early Park Admission to take pleasure in choose points of interest on the theme parks, which incorporates Epic Universe. Early Park Admission affords as much as one hour of precedence entry earlier than the park opens with legitimate theme park admission.
Happily, the problems with the glacially sluggish devoted entrance don’t affect Early Park Admission, as safety begins ‘processing’ visitors with greater than ample time to make into the park earlier than the beginning of EPA. (Simply don’t present up ~quarter-hour upfront and count on to be within the park on-time.) Be aware that it’s a farther stroll from Helios Grand Resort to Tremendous Nintendo World, however this wasn’t a difficulty for us–we nonetheless made it to the entrance of the pack for EPA. (See our Early Park Admission at Epic Universe Technique Information: Beating Crowds in Tremendous Nintendo World!)
Common Orlando lodge visitors can even make the most of complimentary shuttle bus transportation to the theme parks and Common CityWalk, resort-wide charging privileges, complimentary merchandise supply and extra.
The outside of Helios Grand Resort seems just like the love-child of Disney’s Riviera Resort and Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs, and people are unquestionably the 2 Walt Disney World resorts that provide the most effective comparisons to Common’s new tower. Like these, Helios Grand Resort is boxy, bland, and underbaked from a thematic perspective.
There’s no two methods about it: if Helios Grand Resort have been constructed to miss one of many Walt Disney World theme parks, it might be completely excoriated by followers. There’s a double-standard for Common Orlando vs. Walt Disney World. I’ll be the primary to confess that I grade Common on a curve, and most different theme park followers do too, judging by how a lot of a go Common will get for the issues followers over which Disney would obtain countless criticism.
Fortunately, the outside of Helios Grand Resort does look nicer than its up to date counterparts at Walt Disney World–however barely. For a lodge that’s the de facto point of interest of a model new theme park, it’s nonetheless embarrassingly bland. However in Common’s protection, we not too long ago skilled the identical with the disappointing Fantasy Springs Resort at Tokyo DisneySea, largely lauded as the best theme park on earth. I think each initiatives noticed COVID-induced funds cuts and funneled that in direction of their respective resorts. Higher that the lodge be value-engineered than Epic Universe itself.
Inside, Common Helios Grand Resort will not be nicer than Disney’s Riviera Resort, and even Gran Destino Tower.
Each of these ‘trendy’ Walt Disney World inns boast extra consideration to element all through their frequent areas, with superior match and ending. Additionally they have higher facilities–from extra sturdy restaurant rosters to their swimming pools and different options.
Even with Common being graded on a curve, I’m stunned extra consideration isn’t being drawn to this. Like Riviera Resort, the foyer at Helios Grand is surprisingly compact and underwhelming–Gran Destino Tower simply surpasses each when it comes to grandiosity. That is still the exemplar of Las Vegas model resorts in Central Florida, even when it’s missing in location.
When confined to the partitions of Helios Grand Resort itself, there’s little or no that separates this property from the opposite latest resorts at Common Orlando. All the pieces is pretty pedestrian and paint-by-numbers, and it’s troublesome to argue that this property is materially nicer than Aventura, Stella Nova, or Terra Luna.
From my perspective, Helios Grand Resort doesn’t maintain a candle to Portofino Bay, which stays the high-water mark for themed resorts at Common Orlando. In fact, it’s additionally a product of a distinct period. Visitor preferences have modified since then, and so too have each Common’s and Disney’s approaches to themed lodge design. However I might additionally rank Arduous Rock Resort and Royal Pacific above Helios Grand, in terms of the inns themselves. From a private choice perspective, I may additionally give the sting to Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay, for that matter!
The distinction between Helios Grand Resort and the older Common resorts is that they strove for idealized and romanticized themes that transport you to a different time and place. These resorts are immersive, heat, and reassuring. Though ostensibly Mediterranean and mythology-inspired, Helios Grand Resort will not be thematically transportive–the design is all floor degree. The lodge strives for one thing completely different totally.
What Helios Grand Resort strives for is being actually transportive. It locations you proper inside Epic Universe, and pulls visitors’ consideration away from the property itself and in direction of that attractive theme park the resort faces.
In so doing, it’s straightforward to miss the various faults of Helios Grand Resort when you’re fairly actually overlooking Epic Universe. It’s utterly comprehensible that extra followers aren’t fixating on how Helios Grand Resort lacks X or Y facilities or design particulars, underwhelms as in comparison with the legacy Signature Assortment properties, and falls far wanting ‘flagship’ standing. Everybody’s consideration is on the park itself!
This was true for me, too. After I first entered the lodge, I instantly seemed previous the undersized foyer to the out of doors overlook. After I entered my room, I raced to the window. All of my waking hours within the room have been spent on the window-side desk. Bar Helios is the place I spent my late nights, savoring that view. Apart from fast laps across the resort for the sake of this overview, the whole lot of my focus throughout my keep at Helios Grand Resort was truly Epic Universe. The spotlight of the lodge is definitely the park, with Helios Grand Resort “proving” the primary three guidelines of actual property: location, location, location.
Lastly, as coated in Common’s Epic Universe In-Park Resort is Low cost, nightly charges for Helios Grand Resort begin at $293 per night time for normal rooms with no view and stays of 4 nights or longer.
In all probability, you’ll have an exceedingly troublesome time discovering availability at or round this value level until you’re reserving manner upfront. Common Orlando makes use of dynamic pricing for its resorts, and we’ve seen costs steadily enhance for Helios Grand Resort (whilst availability has remained pretty good) by means of 2026.
On common, you must count on to pay beginning costs within the neighborhood of $500 per night time–and maybe greater than that. For instance, my Membership Stage, Park-View Room booked instantly when reservations opened was cheaper than the present price for the standard room throughout the fall low season.
Reserving early is the optimum method for Helios Grand Resort, after which circling again to see if any reductions drop later. Our expectation is that received’t occur till the ‘new lodge odor’ wears off, which might take years. Evaluations have been moderately glowing of Helios Grand Resort, so demand will possible stay robust.
Given all of that, we extremely advocate requesting a quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Common Most popular Journey Company. They’ll help reserving Helios Grand Resort for you, comparability procuring among the many varied inns, and serving to decide which packages will work greatest for your loved ones.
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for the whole lot about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for the whole lot about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and rather more, join our FREE e mail e-newsletter!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does Common Helios Grand Resort show that it’s all about location, location, location? Impressed by the model or substance? What do you consider the outside and inside? Will you ebook Common Helios Grand Resort, or stick to one of many present resorts? Agree or disagree with our Helios Grand Resort overview? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
Helios Grand Resort is the brand new resort inside Epic Universe, with views overlooking the third theme park at Common Orlando. This overview options room images & video, a take a look at frequent areas & facilities, plus the professionals & cons of staying on the latest in-park lodging and whether or not it’s well worth the splurge.
Common Helios Grand Resort is a 500-room, full-service lodge located in Common Orlando’s top-tier “Signature Assortment” alongside Loews Portofino Bay Resort, Arduous Rock Resort, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. The primary three inns on that record are the legacy deluxe resorts, which provide limitless Specific Go with stays, amongst different issues. Neither the new-ish Sapphire Falls nor Helios Grand Resort supply limitless Specific Go.
As with the opposite resorts at Common Orlando, Helios Grand Resort is a collaboration–designed by Common Inventive and operated by Loews Accommodations. The brand new lodge is ostensibly a Mediterranean-inspired resort, with astronomical and mythological motifs. Helios Grand Resort rises above the luxurious gardens and scenic waters of Celestial Park at Epic Universe, and is designed as a “palatial” resort. The lodge has a cosmos-inspired rooftop bar and the lodge’s personal devoted entrance into Epic Universe as its foremost options.
Helios Grand Resort will undoubtedly make a robust first impression on most visitors, me included. Whenever you stroll by means of the entrance entrance, you’re instantly drawn to the overlook on the different finish of the foyer that boasts large views into Epic Universe. All through the lodge, each excessive level is the proximity to the park. The views into Epic Universe are spectacular and thrilling, particularly in the event that they’re whetting your urge for food for a primary go to to Epic Universe.
Helios Grand Resort is being described by Common Orlando because the “crown jewel” of Epic Universe, which is comprehensible given its location rising above the park. It’s basically the point of interest from round Celestial Park and, accordingly, you may count on this to be the flagship lodge at Common Orlando, very similar to Resort MiraCosta at Tokyo DisneySea or the Grand Californian at Disneyland Resort.
Not a lot. Its in-park location is the one factor Helios Grand Resort has in frequent with these flagship resorts.
Sadly, there’s no there there in a thematic sense with Helios Grand Resort when you get previous a couple of cool particulars. On its floor, it seems and looks like Common’s tackle the kind of lodge tower you’d discover in Las Vegas. There are really magnificent inns with overwhelming and ostentatious design in Las Vegas.
Whereas the Las Vegas comparisons are going to be apparent and ample, Helios Grand Resort doesn’t measure as much as any of these properties when it come to lavishness. Nor does it have the slate of options and facilities visitors might count on from an upscale Las Vegas lodge or, for that matter, different high tier theme park resorts in Central Florida.
Let’s dig deeper into the resort by having a look round Helios Grand Resort…
Helios Grand Resort Visitor Rooms & Suites
The visitor rooms and suites of Common Helios Grand Resort are mentioned to evoke the tranquility of a blissful backyard, with most of the rooms affording breathtaking views of Epic Universe and others boasting the worst metropolis view possible.
Customary Rooms on the Common Helios Grand Resort present a garden-themed retreat, out there with both a king mattress for as much as three visitors or two queen beds for as much as 5. The 2-queen-bed normal rooms measure 325 sq. toes, whereas the king-bed normal rooms supply a bit more room at 340 sq. toes.
Deluxe Rooms are bigger nonetheless, at 415 sq. toes and accommodating as much as 5 visitors. This format has two queen-sized beds and a typical space that includes a small sleeper couch. The suites are even larger, with choices from 545 sq. toes (The right way to Prepare Your Dragon Children’ Suites) to over 1,000 sq. toes for the hospitality and presidential suites.
All rooms at Helios Grand Resort boast 300-thread-count, 100% cotton mattress linens; versus a mattress runner, all of them have ornamental duvets that cowl the total size of the mattress. Consolation-wise, the bedding was plush and incredible. The sheets have been likewise fairly good. Each Common and Disney have improved their mattresses within the final a number of years, so completely no complaints there.
Different in-room facilities embody a mini-fridge, free Wi-Fi, dresser, 55-inch flat panel TV with on-demand in-room motion pictures, single-cup espresso maker, Julien Farel bathtub merchandise, and all kinds of shops and USB ports. There’s a protracted record of belongings you’d count on, like a protected and iron (separate options), however I’m not going to record that every one.
Most notable is that there’s a pill for controlling the lights, temperature, TV, and studying concerning the lodge. There are additionally wall controls for all the similar, though I discovered them to be hit and miss. I had a really troublesome time opening and shutting the drapes, and I promise this wasn’t as a consequence of consumer error. The system was glitchy, as confirmed by different visitors staying at Helios Grand Resort. Lastly, my desk lamp turned on at random in the midst of the night time on two completely different events, main me to unplug the clearly-haunted gentle fixture.
I’ve very combined emotions concerning the visitor rooms at Helios Grand Resort. I liked the headboard in my room, which evoked a watercolor portray with its floral brushstrokes in smooth pink and blue tones. The carpet and furnishings was likewise good, as have been a number of accents, all elevating the room and making it really feel refined and stylish.
The largest drawback is the room measurement. I had simply stayed at Common Terra Luna Resort the nights earlier than switching to Common Helios Grand Resort. My room on the former, a ‘Prime Worth Resort’ costing lower than $150 per night time, was 315 sq. toes. My room at Helios Grand was solely 325 sq. toes. A negligible distinction.
Furthermore, I can’t conclusively state that the visitor room on the Signature Assortment resort was materially nicer than the funds possibility. There have been little touches suggesting that, to make certain, however nothing really excessive finish. A part of the “drawback” right here is Terra Luna arguably punches above its weight for its value. However the rooms at Helios Grand Resort additionally punch under theirs.
The one factor that made apparent the distinction was opening the drapes and searching into Epic Universe.
The park view is beautiful, and focuses visitors’ consideration outdoors the room moderately than in it. Significantly, this angle overlooking Epic Universe is magnetic, overshadowing virtually the whole lot else concerning the lodge. That is nothing just like the distant views afforded by park view rooms of Magic Kingdom on the Grand Floridian or Modern Resorts. Since Helios Grand is a real in-park lodge, you’re totally immersed in Epic Universe. This view is pure magic.
Clearly, this solely applies with a park view room. The opposite facet of the lodge affords views into back-of-house services and belongings you typically received’t need to see. Because of this, we are able to actually solely advocate Helios Grand Resort for those who’re keen and in a position to splurge on a park view room. We’d prioritize the park view over all different room varieties. (Be aware: the Membership Stage lounge doesn’t have a park view.)
Listed here are extra images from our Park View Room at Helios Grand Resort on the Membership Stage:
Non-public Park Entrance Into Epic Universe
Positioned off the foyer is Helios Grand Resort’s devoted entrance into Epic Universe that gives entry to and from the theme park (legitimate theme park admission required, after all).
Evaluations from the media occasion praised this park entrance, with a number of indicating that the road could be shorter and quicker than the primary entrance. That is false, and underscores the issue with reviewing a lodge in a managed and capability constrained setting.
The devoted entrance into Epic Universe has a 500-room lodge all served by a single safety scanner for bag verify and a few turnstiles. Unsurprisingly, many (most?) of the visitors in these 500 rooms all need to enter Epic Universe for Early Park Admission. The tip consequence, no less than throughout my keep, was a massively lengthy line that stretched all the way in which outdoor and into the pool space.
It was neither quick nor quick. Associates staying at close by Terra Luna Resort obtained by means of safety on the foremost entrance quicker than me. Maybe this may change over time as there’s much less of an emphasis on Epic Universe for visitors staying at Helios Grand Resort, however I doubt it. The explanation to remain right here will at all times be going to Epic Universe.
The excellent news is that, as soon as the morning rush subsides, utilizing this entrance is an absolute breeze. I used to be out and in of Epic Universe in a matter of minutes. For noon breaks, the devoted entrance into Helios Grand Resort is a gamechanger.
Helios Grand Resort Pool
It’s no secret that Central Florida has 43 weeks of summer time, making the lodge pool some of the necessary options for a lot of visitors at Common Orlando or Walt Disney World. This zero-entry pool space is lengthy and winding, that includes a spacious tiered seating space. It additionally options underwater audio system, poolside cabana leases, a sizzling tub, poolside motion pictures, and each day leisure actions. Lotus Lagoon is the resort’s poolside bar & grill, serving up drinks and pub meals.
Throughout my keep, I by no means noticed too many individuals utilizing the pool at Helios Grand Resort. The seating space was, at most, one-quarter full and there was ample house within the pool itself. I think this may change over time, given what I’ve noticed from different pool areas at Common Orlando. This shall be busy and crowded sooner or later.
As in comparison with decrease degree pool areas at Common Orlando, the one at Helios Grand Resort is sweet. The lengthy and winding format breaks up the house, and is much superior to the large complexes on the funds resorts.
Nonetheless, Helios doesn’t maintain a candle to the pool areas at any of the opposite Signature Assortment resorts, all of which provide a number of the nicest swimming pools in Central Florida. I hold seeing reward for this pool and it being described as an “oasis,” which has me questioning whether or not we stayed on the similar lodge.
The opposite Common Orlando Signature inns have quite a lot of nice and fascinating options, whereas the pool at Helios Grand Resort feels extra superficial–an grownup pool that serves an atmospheric function whereas lounging. There’s not essentially something fallacious with that, however you probably have children who love taking part in in swimming pools, you may need to look elsewhere.
Its location additionally leaves one thing to be desired, “nestled” between the parking zone and Monsters Unchained present constructing. The best way it’s wedged into this spot makes me wonder if it have been initially supposed to be situated on the park facet of Helios Grand Resort.
Bar Helios
A glowing and classy rooftop lounge, Bar Helios at Common Helios Grand Resort affords a menu of tapas and acquainted favorites, handcrafted specialty cocktails, and unequalled 360-degree views of Epic Universe and past – making this the proper spot for visitors to sit back within the night after a busy day within the parks.
Bar Helios is definitely the excessive level of Helios Grand Resort. Actually and figuratively. If you happen to don’t have a room with a park view, you’ll completely need to go to Bar Helios. Ditto visitors who aren’t staying at Helios Grand Resort, as that is positively a vacation spot bar.
Heck, I did have a park-view room and nonetheless discovered myself making three separate visits to Bar Helios. Because of the early closing time of Epic Universe, a cease up at Bar Helios is an effective way to finish–or prolong–the night. The moody ambiance inside is beautiful, and the views outdoors are unequalled. I extremely advocate reservations at Bar Helios, and doing drinks or dishes at this rooftop bar. It’s phenomenal.
Flora Taverna
This full-service restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner and foyer bar with a light-weight and ethereal ambiance – that includes an open-style kitchen with dwell cooking. Flora Taverna serves up Mediterranean consolation meals and pizza, providing al fresco seating overlooking the gorgeous surroundings of Celestial Park.
As I used to be staying Membership Stage, I didn’t have event to dine at Flora Taverna–however I did stroll by means of the restaurant and was impressed by each its views and ambiance. My pals who have been staying at Helios Grand Resort on the similar time have been impressed by the delicacies right here.
Aurora Market
A up to date espresso store and market providing freshly-roasted coffees, grab-and-go meals objects, in addition to snack & dessert choices from morning to nighttime.
In terms of the restaurant lineup, Aurora Market is my greatest disappointment. I had simply come from Common Terra Luna Resort instantly earlier than my keep at Helios Grand Resort, and was actually impressed by the meals court docket there. That is merely, because the identify suggests, a grab-and-go market. And a moderately small one. The unequivocal highlights are the espresso and gelato.
Whereas I do know it’s frequent for the top-tier Common Orlando or Walt Disney World resorts to have undercooked counter service choices, it’s nonetheless disappointing that there’s nowhere to go for a fast sizzling meal at Helios Grand Resort. It’s additionally value noting that this resort has a light-weight restaurant lineup as in comparison with most of its counterparts. (Granted, there’s an entire park stuffed with eating simply outdoors Helios!)
Different facilities at Common Helios Grand Resort additionally embody a state-of-the-art health middle that includes quite a lot of energy and cardio tools; a recreation room for visitors to blast, zap and race their manner by means of a set of arcade video games with the acquisition of a recreation card; Common Orlando Resort Retailer for visitors to buy the whole lot from sundries and requirements to merchandise.
I don’t have a lot significant commentary so as to add concerning the different facilities. They’re just about par for the course at Common Orlando resorts. Whereas I didn’t use the health room, I discovered it to be fairly good and appreciated the views it affords into Celestial Park. Adjoining to the health middle can also be a pleasant altering space–I did use this, as I had a late flight on checkout day.
Staying at any Common Orlando lodge additionally comes with unique theme park advantages. Friends of Common Helios Grand Resort, or any of the opposite Common Orlando inns, obtain Early Park Admission to take pleasure in choose points of interest on the theme parks, which incorporates Epic Universe. Early Park Admission affords as much as one hour of precedence entry earlier than the park opens with legitimate theme park admission.
Happily, the problems with the glacially sluggish devoted entrance don’t affect Early Park Admission, as safety begins ‘processing’ visitors with greater than ample time to make into the park earlier than the beginning of EPA. (Simply don’t present up ~quarter-hour upfront and count on to be within the park on-time.) Be aware that it’s a farther stroll from Helios Grand Resort to Tremendous Nintendo World, however this wasn’t a difficulty for us–we nonetheless made it to the entrance of the pack for EPA. (See our Early Park Admission at Epic Universe Technique Information: Beating Crowds in Tremendous Nintendo World!)
Common Orlando lodge visitors can even make the most of complimentary shuttle bus transportation to the theme parks and Common CityWalk, resort-wide charging privileges, complimentary merchandise supply and extra.
The outside of Helios Grand Resort seems just like the love-child of Disney’s Riviera Resort and Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs, and people are unquestionably the 2 Walt Disney World resorts that provide the most effective comparisons to Common’s new tower. Like these, Helios Grand Resort is boxy, bland, and underbaked from a thematic perspective.
There’s no two methods about it: if Helios Grand Resort have been constructed to miss one of many Walt Disney World theme parks, it might be completely excoriated by followers. There’s a double-standard for Common Orlando vs. Walt Disney World. I’ll be the primary to confess that I grade Common on a curve, and most different theme park followers do too, judging by how a lot of a go Common will get for the issues followers over which Disney would obtain countless criticism.
Fortunately, the outside of Helios Grand Resort does look nicer than its up to date counterparts at Walt Disney World–however barely. For a lodge that’s the de facto point of interest of a model new theme park, it’s nonetheless embarrassingly bland. However in Common’s protection, we not too long ago skilled the identical with the disappointing Fantasy Springs Resort at Tokyo DisneySea, largely lauded as the best theme park on earth. I think each initiatives noticed COVID-induced funds cuts and funneled that in direction of their respective resorts. Higher that the lodge be value-engineered than Epic Universe itself.
Inside, Common Helios Grand Resort will not be nicer than Disney’s Riviera Resort, and even Gran Destino Tower.
Each of these ‘trendy’ Walt Disney World inns boast extra consideration to element all through their frequent areas, with superior match and ending. Additionally they have higher facilities–from extra sturdy restaurant rosters to their swimming pools and different options.
Even with Common being graded on a curve, I’m stunned extra consideration isn’t being drawn to this. Like Riviera Resort, the foyer at Helios Grand is surprisingly compact and underwhelming–Gran Destino Tower simply surpasses each when it comes to grandiosity. That is still the exemplar of Las Vegas model resorts in Central Florida, even when it’s missing in location.
When confined to the partitions of Helios Grand Resort itself, there’s little or no that separates this property from the opposite latest resorts at Common Orlando. All the pieces is pretty pedestrian and paint-by-numbers, and it’s troublesome to argue that this property is materially nicer than Aventura, Stella Nova, or Terra Luna.
From my perspective, Helios Grand Resort doesn’t maintain a candle to Portofino Bay, which stays the high-water mark for themed resorts at Common Orlando. In fact, it’s additionally a product of a distinct period. Visitor preferences have modified since then, and so too have each Common’s and Disney’s approaches to themed lodge design. However I might additionally rank Arduous Rock Resort and Royal Pacific above Helios Grand, in terms of the inns themselves. From a private choice perspective, I may additionally give the sting to Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay, for that matter!
The distinction between Helios Grand Resort and the older Common resorts is that they strove for idealized and romanticized themes that transport you to a different time and place. These resorts are immersive, heat, and reassuring. Though ostensibly Mediterranean and mythology-inspired, Helios Grand Resort will not be thematically transportive–the design is all floor degree. The lodge strives for one thing completely different totally.
What Helios Grand Resort strives for is being actually transportive. It locations you proper inside Epic Universe, and pulls visitors’ consideration away from the property itself and in direction of that attractive theme park the resort faces.
In so doing, it’s straightforward to miss the various faults of Helios Grand Resort when you’re fairly actually overlooking Epic Universe. It’s utterly comprehensible that extra followers aren’t fixating on how Helios Grand Resort lacks X or Y facilities or design particulars, underwhelms as in comparison with the legacy Signature Assortment properties, and falls far wanting ‘flagship’ standing. Everybody’s consideration is on the park itself!
This was true for me, too. After I first entered the lodge, I instantly seemed previous the undersized foyer to the out of doors overlook. After I entered my room, I raced to the window. All of my waking hours within the room have been spent on the window-side desk. Bar Helios is the place I spent my late nights, savoring that view. Apart from fast laps across the resort for the sake of this overview, the whole lot of my focus throughout my keep at Helios Grand Resort was truly Epic Universe. The spotlight of the lodge is definitely the park, with Helios Grand Resort “proving” the primary three guidelines of actual property: location, location, location.
Lastly, as coated in Common’s Epic Universe In-Park Resort is Low cost, nightly charges for Helios Grand Resort begin at $293 per night time for normal rooms with no view and stays of 4 nights or longer.
In all probability, you’ll have an exceedingly troublesome time discovering availability at or round this value level until you’re reserving manner upfront. Common Orlando makes use of dynamic pricing for its resorts, and we’ve seen costs steadily enhance for Helios Grand Resort (whilst availability has remained pretty good) by means of 2026.
On common, you must count on to pay beginning costs within the neighborhood of $500 per night time–and maybe greater than that. For instance, my Membership Stage, Park-View Room booked instantly when reservations opened was cheaper than the present price for the standard room throughout the fall low season.
Reserving early is the optimum method for Helios Grand Resort, after which circling again to see if any reductions drop later. Our expectation is that received’t occur till the ‘new lodge odor’ wears off, which might take years. Evaluations have been moderately glowing of Helios Grand Resort, so demand will possible stay robust.
Given all of that, we extremely advocate requesting a quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Common Most popular Journey Company. They’ll help reserving Helios Grand Resort for you, comparability procuring among the many varied inns, and serving to decide which packages will work greatest for your loved ones.
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for the whole lot about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for the whole lot about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and rather more, join our FREE e mail e-newsletter!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does Common Helios Grand Resort show that it’s all about location, location, location? Impressed by the model or substance? What do you consider the outside and inside? Will you ebook Common Helios Grand Resort, or stick to one of many present resorts? Agree or disagree with our Helios Grand Resort overview? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
Helios Grand Resort is the brand new resort inside Epic Universe, with views overlooking the third theme park at Common Orlando. This overview options room images & video, a take a look at frequent areas & facilities, plus the professionals & cons of staying on the latest in-park lodging and whether or not it’s well worth the splurge.
Common Helios Grand Resort is a 500-room, full-service lodge located in Common Orlando’s top-tier “Signature Assortment” alongside Loews Portofino Bay Resort, Arduous Rock Resort, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. The primary three inns on that record are the legacy deluxe resorts, which provide limitless Specific Go with stays, amongst different issues. Neither the new-ish Sapphire Falls nor Helios Grand Resort supply limitless Specific Go.
As with the opposite resorts at Common Orlando, Helios Grand Resort is a collaboration–designed by Common Inventive and operated by Loews Accommodations. The brand new lodge is ostensibly a Mediterranean-inspired resort, with astronomical and mythological motifs. Helios Grand Resort rises above the luxurious gardens and scenic waters of Celestial Park at Epic Universe, and is designed as a “palatial” resort. The lodge has a cosmos-inspired rooftop bar and the lodge’s personal devoted entrance into Epic Universe as its foremost options.
Helios Grand Resort will undoubtedly make a robust first impression on most visitors, me included. Whenever you stroll by means of the entrance entrance, you’re instantly drawn to the overlook on the different finish of the foyer that boasts large views into Epic Universe. All through the lodge, each excessive level is the proximity to the park. The views into Epic Universe are spectacular and thrilling, particularly in the event that they’re whetting your urge for food for a primary go to to Epic Universe.
Helios Grand Resort is being described by Common Orlando because the “crown jewel” of Epic Universe, which is comprehensible given its location rising above the park. It’s basically the point of interest from round Celestial Park and, accordingly, you may count on this to be the flagship lodge at Common Orlando, very similar to Resort MiraCosta at Tokyo DisneySea or the Grand Californian at Disneyland Resort.
Not a lot. Its in-park location is the one factor Helios Grand Resort has in frequent with these flagship resorts.
Sadly, there’s no there there in a thematic sense with Helios Grand Resort when you get previous a couple of cool particulars. On its floor, it seems and looks like Common’s tackle the kind of lodge tower you’d discover in Las Vegas. There are really magnificent inns with overwhelming and ostentatious design in Las Vegas.
Whereas the Las Vegas comparisons are going to be apparent and ample, Helios Grand Resort doesn’t measure as much as any of these properties when it come to lavishness. Nor does it have the slate of options and facilities visitors might count on from an upscale Las Vegas lodge or, for that matter, different high tier theme park resorts in Central Florida.
Let’s dig deeper into the resort by having a look round Helios Grand Resort…
Helios Grand Resort Visitor Rooms & Suites
The visitor rooms and suites of Common Helios Grand Resort are mentioned to evoke the tranquility of a blissful backyard, with most of the rooms affording breathtaking views of Epic Universe and others boasting the worst metropolis view possible.
Customary Rooms on the Common Helios Grand Resort present a garden-themed retreat, out there with both a king mattress for as much as three visitors or two queen beds for as much as 5. The 2-queen-bed normal rooms measure 325 sq. toes, whereas the king-bed normal rooms supply a bit more room at 340 sq. toes.
Deluxe Rooms are bigger nonetheless, at 415 sq. toes and accommodating as much as 5 visitors. This format has two queen-sized beds and a typical space that includes a small sleeper couch. The suites are even larger, with choices from 545 sq. toes (The right way to Prepare Your Dragon Children’ Suites) to over 1,000 sq. toes for the hospitality and presidential suites.
All rooms at Helios Grand Resort boast 300-thread-count, 100% cotton mattress linens; versus a mattress runner, all of them have ornamental duvets that cowl the total size of the mattress. Consolation-wise, the bedding was plush and incredible. The sheets have been likewise fairly good. Each Common and Disney have improved their mattresses within the final a number of years, so completely no complaints there.
Different in-room facilities embody a mini-fridge, free Wi-Fi, dresser, 55-inch flat panel TV with on-demand in-room motion pictures, single-cup espresso maker, Julien Farel bathtub merchandise, and all kinds of shops and USB ports. There’s a protracted record of belongings you’d count on, like a protected and iron (separate options), however I’m not going to record that every one.
Most notable is that there’s a pill for controlling the lights, temperature, TV, and studying concerning the lodge. There are additionally wall controls for all the similar, though I discovered them to be hit and miss. I had a really troublesome time opening and shutting the drapes, and I promise this wasn’t as a consequence of consumer error. The system was glitchy, as confirmed by different visitors staying at Helios Grand Resort. Lastly, my desk lamp turned on at random in the midst of the night time on two completely different events, main me to unplug the clearly-haunted gentle fixture.
I’ve very combined emotions concerning the visitor rooms at Helios Grand Resort. I liked the headboard in my room, which evoked a watercolor portray with its floral brushstrokes in smooth pink and blue tones. The carpet and furnishings was likewise good, as have been a number of accents, all elevating the room and making it really feel refined and stylish.
The largest drawback is the room measurement. I had simply stayed at Common Terra Luna Resort the nights earlier than switching to Common Helios Grand Resort. My room on the former, a ‘Prime Worth Resort’ costing lower than $150 per night time, was 315 sq. toes. My room at Helios Grand was solely 325 sq. toes. A negligible distinction.
Furthermore, I can’t conclusively state that the visitor room on the Signature Assortment resort was materially nicer than the funds possibility. There have been little touches suggesting that, to make certain, however nothing really excessive finish. A part of the “drawback” right here is Terra Luna arguably punches above its weight for its value. However the rooms at Helios Grand Resort additionally punch under theirs.
The one factor that made apparent the distinction was opening the drapes and searching into Epic Universe.
The park view is beautiful, and focuses visitors’ consideration outdoors the room moderately than in it. Significantly, this angle overlooking Epic Universe is magnetic, overshadowing virtually the whole lot else concerning the lodge. That is nothing just like the distant views afforded by park view rooms of Magic Kingdom on the Grand Floridian or Modern Resorts. Since Helios Grand is a real in-park lodge, you’re totally immersed in Epic Universe. This view is pure magic.
Clearly, this solely applies with a park view room. The opposite facet of the lodge affords views into back-of-house services and belongings you typically received’t need to see. Because of this, we are able to actually solely advocate Helios Grand Resort for those who’re keen and in a position to splurge on a park view room. We’d prioritize the park view over all different room varieties. (Be aware: the Membership Stage lounge doesn’t have a park view.)
Listed here are extra images from our Park View Room at Helios Grand Resort on the Membership Stage:
Non-public Park Entrance Into Epic Universe
Positioned off the foyer is Helios Grand Resort’s devoted entrance into Epic Universe that gives entry to and from the theme park (legitimate theme park admission required, after all).
Evaluations from the media occasion praised this park entrance, with a number of indicating that the road could be shorter and quicker than the primary entrance. That is false, and underscores the issue with reviewing a lodge in a managed and capability constrained setting.
The devoted entrance into Epic Universe has a 500-room lodge all served by a single safety scanner for bag verify and a few turnstiles. Unsurprisingly, many (most?) of the visitors in these 500 rooms all need to enter Epic Universe for Early Park Admission. The tip consequence, no less than throughout my keep, was a massively lengthy line that stretched all the way in which outdoor and into the pool space.
It was neither quick nor quick. Associates staying at close by Terra Luna Resort obtained by means of safety on the foremost entrance quicker than me. Maybe this may change over time as there’s much less of an emphasis on Epic Universe for visitors staying at Helios Grand Resort, however I doubt it. The explanation to remain right here will at all times be going to Epic Universe.
The excellent news is that, as soon as the morning rush subsides, utilizing this entrance is an absolute breeze. I used to be out and in of Epic Universe in a matter of minutes. For noon breaks, the devoted entrance into Helios Grand Resort is a gamechanger.
Helios Grand Resort Pool
It’s no secret that Central Florida has 43 weeks of summer time, making the lodge pool some of the necessary options for a lot of visitors at Common Orlando or Walt Disney World. This zero-entry pool space is lengthy and winding, that includes a spacious tiered seating space. It additionally options underwater audio system, poolside cabana leases, a sizzling tub, poolside motion pictures, and each day leisure actions. Lotus Lagoon is the resort’s poolside bar & grill, serving up drinks and pub meals.
Throughout my keep, I by no means noticed too many individuals utilizing the pool at Helios Grand Resort. The seating space was, at most, one-quarter full and there was ample house within the pool itself. I think this may change over time, given what I’ve noticed from different pool areas at Common Orlando. This shall be busy and crowded sooner or later.
As in comparison with decrease degree pool areas at Common Orlando, the one at Helios Grand Resort is sweet. The lengthy and winding format breaks up the house, and is much superior to the large complexes on the funds resorts.
Nonetheless, Helios doesn’t maintain a candle to the pool areas at any of the opposite Signature Assortment resorts, all of which provide a number of the nicest swimming pools in Central Florida. I hold seeing reward for this pool and it being described as an “oasis,” which has me questioning whether or not we stayed on the similar lodge.
The opposite Common Orlando Signature inns have quite a lot of nice and fascinating options, whereas the pool at Helios Grand Resort feels extra superficial–an grownup pool that serves an atmospheric function whereas lounging. There’s not essentially something fallacious with that, however you probably have children who love taking part in in swimming pools, you may need to look elsewhere.
Its location additionally leaves one thing to be desired, “nestled” between the parking zone and Monsters Unchained present constructing. The best way it’s wedged into this spot makes me wonder if it have been initially supposed to be situated on the park facet of Helios Grand Resort.
Bar Helios
A glowing and classy rooftop lounge, Bar Helios at Common Helios Grand Resort affords a menu of tapas and acquainted favorites, handcrafted specialty cocktails, and unequalled 360-degree views of Epic Universe and past – making this the proper spot for visitors to sit back within the night after a busy day within the parks.
Bar Helios is definitely the excessive level of Helios Grand Resort. Actually and figuratively. If you happen to don’t have a room with a park view, you’ll completely need to go to Bar Helios. Ditto visitors who aren’t staying at Helios Grand Resort, as that is positively a vacation spot bar.
Heck, I did have a park-view room and nonetheless discovered myself making three separate visits to Bar Helios. Because of the early closing time of Epic Universe, a cease up at Bar Helios is an effective way to finish–or prolong–the night. The moody ambiance inside is beautiful, and the views outdoors are unequalled. I extremely advocate reservations at Bar Helios, and doing drinks or dishes at this rooftop bar. It’s phenomenal.
Flora Taverna
This full-service restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner and foyer bar with a light-weight and ethereal ambiance – that includes an open-style kitchen with dwell cooking. Flora Taverna serves up Mediterranean consolation meals and pizza, providing al fresco seating overlooking the gorgeous surroundings of Celestial Park.
As I used to be staying Membership Stage, I didn’t have event to dine at Flora Taverna–however I did stroll by means of the restaurant and was impressed by each its views and ambiance. My pals who have been staying at Helios Grand Resort on the similar time have been impressed by the delicacies right here.
Aurora Market
A up to date espresso store and market providing freshly-roasted coffees, grab-and-go meals objects, in addition to snack & dessert choices from morning to nighttime.
In terms of the restaurant lineup, Aurora Market is my greatest disappointment. I had simply come from Common Terra Luna Resort instantly earlier than my keep at Helios Grand Resort, and was actually impressed by the meals court docket there. That is merely, because the identify suggests, a grab-and-go market. And a moderately small one. The unequivocal highlights are the espresso and gelato.
Whereas I do know it’s frequent for the top-tier Common Orlando or Walt Disney World resorts to have undercooked counter service choices, it’s nonetheless disappointing that there’s nowhere to go for a fast sizzling meal at Helios Grand Resort. It’s additionally value noting that this resort has a light-weight restaurant lineup as in comparison with most of its counterparts. (Granted, there’s an entire park stuffed with eating simply outdoors Helios!)
Different facilities at Common Helios Grand Resort additionally embody a state-of-the-art health middle that includes quite a lot of energy and cardio tools; a recreation room for visitors to blast, zap and race their manner by means of a set of arcade video games with the acquisition of a recreation card; Common Orlando Resort Retailer for visitors to buy the whole lot from sundries and requirements to merchandise.
I don’t have a lot significant commentary so as to add concerning the different facilities. They’re just about par for the course at Common Orlando resorts. Whereas I didn’t use the health room, I discovered it to be fairly good and appreciated the views it affords into Celestial Park. Adjoining to the health middle can also be a pleasant altering space–I did use this, as I had a late flight on checkout day.
Staying at any Common Orlando lodge additionally comes with unique theme park advantages. Friends of Common Helios Grand Resort, or any of the opposite Common Orlando inns, obtain Early Park Admission to take pleasure in choose points of interest on the theme parks, which incorporates Epic Universe. Early Park Admission affords as much as one hour of precedence entry earlier than the park opens with legitimate theme park admission.
Happily, the problems with the glacially sluggish devoted entrance don’t affect Early Park Admission, as safety begins ‘processing’ visitors with greater than ample time to make into the park earlier than the beginning of EPA. (Simply don’t present up ~quarter-hour upfront and count on to be within the park on-time.) Be aware that it’s a farther stroll from Helios Grand Resort to Tremendous Nintendo World, however this wasn’t a difficulty for us–we nonetheless made it to the entrance of the pack for EPA. (See our Early Park Admission at Epic Universe Technique Information: Beating Crowds in Tremendous Nintendo World!)
Common Orlando lodge visitors can even make the most of complimentary shuttle bus transportation to the theme parks and Common CityWalk, resort-wide charging privileges, complimentary merchandise supply and extra.
The outside of Helios Grand Resort seems just like the love-child of Disney’s Riviera Resort and Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs, and people are unquestionably the 2 Walt Disney World resorts that provide the most effective comparisons to Common’s new tower. Like these, Helios Grand Resort is boxy, bland, and underbaked from a thematic perspective.
There’s no two methods about it: if Helios Grand Resort have been constructed to miss one of many Walt Disney World theme parks, it might be completely excoriated by followers. There’s a double-standard for Common Orlando vs. Walt Disney World. I’ll be the primary to confess that I grade Common on a curve, and most different theme park followers do too, judging by how a lot of a go Common will get for the issues followers over which Disney would obtain countless criticism.
Fortunately, the outside of Helios Grand Resort does look nicer than its up to date counterparts at Walt Disney World–however barely. For a lodge that’s the de facto point of interest of a model new theme park, it’s nonetheless embarrassingly bland. However in Common’s protection, we not too long ago skilled the identical with the disappointing Fantasy Springs Resort at Tokyo DisneySea, largely lauded as the best theme park on earth. I think each initiatives noticed COVID-induced funds cuts and funneled that in direction of their respective resorts. Higher that the lodge be value-engineered than Epic Universe itself.
Inside, Common Helios Grand Resort will not be nicer than Disney’s Riviera Resort, and even Gran Destino Tower.
Each of these ‘trendy’ Walt Disney World inns boast extra consideration to element all through their frequent areas, with superior match and ending. Additionally they have higher facilities–from extra sturdy restaurant rosters to their swimming pools and different options.
Even with Common being graded on a curve, I’m stunned extra consideration isn’t being drawn to this. Like Riviera Resort, the foyer at Helios Grand is surprisingly compact and underwhelming–Gran Destino Tower simply surpasses each when it comes to grandiosity. That is still the exemplar of Las Vegas model resorts in Central Florida, even when it’s missing in location.
When confined to the partitions of Helios Grand Resort itself, there’s little or no that separates this property from the opposite latest resorts at Common Orlando. All the pieces is pretty pedestrian and paint-by-numbers, and it’s troublesome to argue that this property is materially nicer than Aventura, Stella Nova, or Terra Luna.
From my perspective, Helios Grand Resort doesn’t maintain a candle to Portofino Bay, which stays the high-water mark for themed resorts at Common Orlando. In fact, it’s additionally a product of a distinct period. Visitor preferences have modified since then, and so too have each Common’s and Disney’s approaches to themed lodge design. However I might additionally rank Arduous Rock Resort and Royal Pacific above Helios Grand, in terms of the inns themselves. From a private choice perspective, I may additionally give the sting to Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay, for that matter!
The distinction between Helios Grand Resort and the older Common resorts is that they strove for idealized and romanticized themes that transport you to a different time and place. These resorts are immersive, heat, and reassuring. Though ostensibly Mediterranean and mythology-inspired, Helios Grand Resort will not be thematically transportive–the design is all floor degree. The lodge strives for one thing completely different totally.
What Helios Grand Resort strives for is being actually transportive. It locations you proper inside Epic Universe, and pulls visitors’ consideration away from the property itself and in direction of that attractive theme park the resort faces.
In so doing, it’s straightforward to miss the various faults of Helios Grand Resort when you’re fairly actually overlooking Epic Universe. It’s utterly comprehensible that extra followers aren’t fixating on how Helios Grand Resort lacks X or Y facilities or design particulars, underwhelms as in comparison with the legacy Signature Assortment properties, and falls far wanting ‘flagship’ standing. Everybody’s consideration is on the park itself!
This was true for me, too. After I first entered the lodge, I instantly seemed previous the undersized foyer to the out of doors overlook. After I entered my room, I raced to the window. All of my waking hours within the room have been spent on the window-side desk. Bar Helios is the place I spent my late nights, savoring that view. Apart from fast laps across the resort for the sake of this overview, the whole lot of my focus throughout my keep at Helios Grand Resort was truly Epic Universe. The spotlight of the lodge is definitely the park, with Helios Grand Resort “proving” the primary three guidelines of actual property: location, location, location.
Lastly, as coated in Common’s Epic Universe In-Park Resort is Low cost, nightly charges for Helios Grand Resort begin at $293 per night time for normal rooms with no view and stays of 4 nights or longer.
In all probability, you’ll have an exceedingly troublesome time discovering availability at or round this value level until you’re reserving manner upfront. Common Orlando makes use of dynamic pricing for its resorts, and we’ve seen costs steadily enhance for Helios Grand Resort (whilst availability has remained pretty good) by means of 2026.
On common, you must count on to pay beginning costs within the neighborhood of $500 per night time–and maybe greater than that. For instance, my Membership Stage, Park-View Room booked instantly when reservations opened was cheaper than the present price for the standard room throughout the fall low season.
Reserving early is the optimum method for Helios Grand Resort, after which circling again to see if any reductions drop later. Our expectation is that received’t occur till the ‘new lodge odor’ wears off, which might take years. Evaluations have been moderately glowing of Helios Grand Resort, so demand will possible stay robust.
Given all of that, we extremely advocate requesting a quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Common Most popular Journey Company. They’ll help reserving Helios Grand Resort for you, comparability procuring among the many varied inns, and serving to decide which packages will work greatest for your loved ones.
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for the whole lot about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for the whole lot about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and rather more, join our FREE e mail e-newsletter!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does Common Helios Grand Resort show that it’s all about location, location, location? Impressed by the model or substance? What do you consider the outside and inside? Will you ebook Common Helios Grand Resort, or stick to one of many present resorts? Agree or disagree with our Helios Grand Resort overview? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
Helios Grand Resort is the brand new resort inside Epic Universe, with views overlooking the third theme park at Common Orlando. This overview options room images & video, a take a look at frequent areas & facilities, plus the professionals & cons of staying on the latest in-park lodging and whether or not it’s well worth the splurge.
Common Helios Grand Resort is a 500-room, full-service lodge located in Common Orlando’s top-tier “Signature Assortment” alongside Loews Portofino Bay Resort, Arduous Rock Resort, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. The primary three inns on that record are the legacy deluxe resorts, which provide limitless Specific Go with stays, amongst different issues. Neither the new-ish Sapphire Falls nor Helios Grand Resort supply limitless Specific Go.
As with the opposite resorts at Common Orlando, Helios Grand Resort is a collaboration–designed by Common Inventive and operated by Loews Accommodations. The brand new lodge is ostensibly a Mediterranean-inspired resort, with astronomical and mythological motifs. Helios Grand Resort rises above the luxurious gardens and scenic waters of Celestial Park at Epic Universe, and is designed as a “palatial” resort. The lodge has a cosmos-inspired rooftop bar and the lodge’s personal devoted entrance into Epic Universe as its foremost options.
Helios Grand Resort will undoubtedly make a robust first impression on most visitors, me included. Whenever you stroll by means of the entrance entrance, you’re instantly drawn to the overlook on the different finish of the foyer that boasts large views into Epic Universe. All through the lodge, each excessive level is the proximity to the park. The views into Epic Universe are spectacular and thrilling, particularly in the event that they’re whetting your urge for food for a primary go to to Epic Universe.
Helios Grand Resort is being described by Common Orlando because the “crown jewel” of Epic Universe, which is comprehensible given its location rising above the park. It’s basically the point of interest from round Celestial Park and, accordingly, you may count on this to be the flagship lodge at Common Orlando, very similar to Resort MiraCosta at Tokyo DisneySea or the Grand Californian at Disneyland Resort.
Not a lot. Its in-park location is the one factor Helios Grand Resort has in frequent with these flagship resorts.
Sadly, there’s no there there in a thematic sense with Helios Grand Resort when you get previous a couple of cool particulars. On its floor, it seems and looks like Common’s tackle the kind of lodge tower you’d discover in Las Vegas. There are really magnificent inns with overwhelming and ostentatious design in Las Vegas.
Whereas the Las Vegas comparisons are going to be apparent and ample, Helios Grand Resort doesn’t measure as much as any of these properties when it come to lavishness. Nor does it have the slate of options and facilities visitors might count on from an upscale Las Vegas lodge or, for that matter, different high tier theme park resorts in Central Florida.
Let’s dig deeper into the resort by having a look round Helios Grand Resort…
Helios Grand Resort Visitor Rooms & Suites
The visitor rooms and suites of Common Helios Grand Resort are mentioned to evoke the tranquility of a blissful backyard, with most of the rooms affording breathtaking views of Epic Universe and others boasting the worst metropolis view possible.
Customary Rooms on the Common Helios Grand Resort present a garden-themed retreat, out there with both a king mattress for as much as three visitors or two queen beds for as much as 5. The 2-queen-bed normal rooms measure 325 sq. toes, whereas the king-bed normal rooms supply a bit more room at 340 sq. toes.
Deluxe Rooms are bigger nonetheless, at 415 sq. toes and accommodating as much as 5 visitors. This format has two queen-sized beds and a typical space that includes a small sleeper couch. The suites are even larger, with choices from 545 sq. toes (The right way to Prepare Your Dragon Children’ Suites) to over 1,000 sq. toes for the hospitality and presidential suites.
All rooms at Helios Grand Resort boast 300-thread-count, 100% cotton mattress linens; versus a mattress runner, all of them have ornamental duvets that cowl the total size of the mattress. Consolation-wise, the bedding was plush and incredible. The sheets have been likewise fairly good. Each Common and Disney have improved their mattresses within the final a number of years, so completely no complaints there.
Different in-room facilities embody a mini-fridge, free Wi-Fi, dresser, 55-inch flat panel TV with on-demand in-room motion pictures, single-cup espresso maker, Julien Farel bathtub merchandise, and all kinds of shops and USB ports. There’s a protracted record of belongings you’d count on, like a protected and iron (separate options), however I’m not going to record that every one.
Most notable is that there’s a pill for controlling the lights, temperature, TV, and studying concerning the lodge. There are additionally wall controls for all the similar, though I discovered them to be hit and miss. I had a really troublesome time opening and shutting the drapes, and I promise this wasn’t as a consequence of consumer error. The system was glitchy, as confirmed by different visitors staying at Helios Grand Resort. Lastly, my desk lamp turned on at random in the midst of the night time on two completely different events, main me to unplug the clearly-haunted gentle fixture.
I’ve very combined emotions concerning the visitor rooms at Helios Grand Resort. I liked the headboard in my room, which evoked a watercolor portray with its floral brushstrokes in smooth pink and blue tones. The carpet and furnishings was likewise good, as have been a number of accents, all elevating the room and making it really feel refined and stylish.
The largest drawback is the room measurement. I had simply stayed at Common Terra Luna Resort the nights earlier than switching to Common Helios Grand Resort. My room on the former, a ‘Prime Worth Resort’ costing lower than $150 per night time, was 315 sq. toes. My room at Helios Grand was solely 325 sq. toes. A negligible distinction.
Furthermore, I can’t conclusively state that the visitor room on the Signature Assortment resort was materially nicer than the funds possibility. There have been little touches suggesting that, to make certain, however nothing really excessive finish. A part of the “drawback” right here is Terra Luna arguably punches above its weight for its value. However the rooms at Helios Grand Resort additionally punch under theirs.
The one factor that made apparent the distinction was opening the drapes and searching into Epic Universe.
The park view is beautiful, and focuses visitors’ consideration outdoors the room moderately than in it. Significantly, this angle overlooking Epic Universe is magnetic, overshadowing virtually the whole lot else concerning the lodge. That is nothing just like the distant views afforded by park view rooms of Magic Kingdom on the Grand Floridian or Modern Resorts. Since Helios Grand is a real in-park lodge, you’re totally immersed in Epic Universe. This view is pure magic.
Clearly, this solely applies with a park view room. The opposite facet of the lodge affords views into back-of-house services and belongings you typically received’t need to see. Because of this, we are able to actually solely advocate Helios Grand Resort for those who’re keen and in a position to splurge on a park view room. We’d prioritize the park view over all different room varieties. (Be aware: the Membership Stage lounge doesn’t have a park view.)
Listed here are extra images from our Park View Room at Helios Grand Resort on the Membership Stage:
Non-public Park Entrance Into Epic Universe
Positioned off the foyer is Helios Grand Resort’s devoted entrance into Epic Universe that gives entry to and from the theme park (legitimate theme park admission required, after all).
Evaluations from the media occasion praised this park entrance, with a number of indicating that the road could be shorter and quicker than the primary entrance. That is false, and underscores the issue with reviewing a lodge in a managed and capability constrained setting.
The devoted entrance into Epic Universe has a 500-room lodge all served by a single safety scanner for bag verify and a few turnstiles. Unsurprisingly, many (most?) of the visitors in these 500 rooms all need to enter Epic Universe for Early Park Admission. The tip consequence, no less than throughout my keep, was a massively lengthy line that stretched all the way in which outdoor and into the pool space.
It was neither quick nor quick. Associates staying at close by Terra Luna Resort obtained by means of safety on the foremost entrance quicker than me. Maybe this may change over time as there’s much less of an emphasis on Epic Universe for visitors staying at Helios Grand Resort, however I doubt it. The explanation to remain right here will at all times be going to Epic Universe.
The excellent news is that, as soon as the morning rush subsides, utilizing this entrance is an absolute breeze. I used to be out and in of Epic Universe in a matter of minutes. For noon breaks, the devoted entrance into Helios Grand Resort is a gamechanger.
Helios Grand Resort Pool
It’s no secret that Central Florida has 43 weeks of summer time, making the lodge pool some of the necessary options for a lot of visitors at Common Orlando or Walt Disney World. This zero-entry pool space is lengthy and winding, that includes a spacious tiered seating space. It additionally options underwater audio system, poolside cabana leases, a sizzling tub, poolside motion pictures, and each day leisure actions. Lotus Lagoon is the resort’s poolside bar & grill, serving up drinks and pub meals.
Throughout my keep, I by no means noticed too many individuals utilizing the pool at Helios Grand Resort. The seating space was, at most, one-quarter full and there was ample house within the pool itself. I think this may change over time, given what I’ve noticed from different pool areas at Common Orlando. This shall be busy and crowded sooner or later.
As in comparison with decrease degree pool areas at Common Orlando, the one at Helios Grand Resort is sweet. The lengthy and winding format breaks up the house, and is much superior to the large complexes on the funds resorts.
Nonetheless, Helios doesn’t maintain a candle to the pool areas at any of the opposite Signature Assortment resorts, all of which provide a number of the nicest swimming pools in Central Florida. I hold seeing reward for this pool and it being described as an “oasis,” which has me questioning whether or not we stayed on the similar lodge.
The opposite Common Orlando Signature inns have quite a lot of nice and fascinating options, whereas the pool at Helios Grand Resort feels extra superficial–an grownup pool that serves an atmospheric function whereas lounging. There’s not essentially something fallacious with that, however you probably have children who love taking part in in swimming pools, you may need to look elsewhere.
Its location additionally leaves one thing to be desired, “nestled” between the parking zone and Monsters Unchained present constructing. The best way it’s wedged into this spot makes me wonder if it have been initially supposed to be situated on the park facet of Helios Grand Resort.
Bar Helios
A glowing and classy rooftop lounge, Bar Helios at Common Helios Grand Resort affords a menu of tapas and acquainted favorites, handcrafted specialty cocktails, and unequalled 360-degree views of Epic Universe and past – making this the proper spot for visitors to sit back within the night after a busy day within the parks.
Bar Helios is definitely the excessive level of Helios Grand Resort. Actually and figuratively. If you happen to don’t have a room with a park view, you’ll completely need to go to Bar Helios. Ditto visitors who aren’t staying at Helios Grand Resort, as that is positively a vacation spot bar.
Heck, I did have a park-view room and nonetheless discovered myself making three separate visits to Bar Helios. Because of the early closing time of Epic Universe, a cease up at Bar Helios is an effective way to finish–or prolong–the night. The moody ambiance inside is beautiful, and the views outdoors are unequalled. I extremely advocate reservations at Bar Helios, and doing drinks or dishes at this rooftop bar. It’s phenomenal.
Flora Taverna
This full-service restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner and foyer bar with a light-weight and ethereal ambiance – that includes an open-style kitchen with dwell cooking. Flora Taverna serves up Mediterranean consolation meals and pizza, providing al fresco seating overlooking the gorgeous surroundings of Celestial Park.
As I used to be staying Membership Stage, I didn’t have event to dine at Flora Taverna–however I did stroll by means of the restaurant and was impressed by each its views and ambiance. My pals who have been staying at Helios Grand Resort on the similar time have been impressed by the delicacies right here.
Aurora Market
A up to date espresso store and market providing freshly-roasted coffees, grab-and-go meals objects, in addition to snack & dessert choices from morning to nighttime.
In terms of the restaurant lineup, Aurora Market is my greatest disappointment. I had simply come from Common Terra Luna Resort instantly earlier than my keep at Helios Grand Resort, and was actually impressed by the meals court docket there. That is merely, because the identify suggests, a grab-and-go market. And a moderately small one. The unequivocal highlights are the espresso and gelato.
Whereas I do know it’s frequent for the top-tier Common Orlando or Walt Disney World resorts to have undercooked counter service choices, it’s nonetheless disappointing that there’s nowhere to go for a fast sizzling meal at Helios Grand Resort. It’s additionally value noting that this resort has a light-weight restaurant lineup as in comparison with most of its counterparts. (Granted, there’s an entire park stuffed with eating simply outdoors Helios!)
Different facilities at Common Helios Grand Resort additionally embody a state-of-the-art health middle that includes quite a lot of energy and cardio tools; a recreation room for visitors to blast, zap and race their manner by means of a set of arcade video games with the acquisition of a recreation card; Common Orlando Resort Retailer for visitors to buy the whole lot from sundries and requirements to merchandise.
I don’t have a lot significant commentary so as to add concerning the different facilities. They’re just about par for the course at Common Orlando resorts. Whereas I didn’t use the health room, I discovered it to be fairly good and appreciated the views it affords into Celestial Park. Adjoining to the health middle can also be a pleasant altering space–I did use this, as I had a late flight on checkout day.
Staying at any Common Orlando lodge additionally comes with unique theme park advantages. Friends of Common Helios Grand Resort, or any of the opposite Common Orlando inns, obtain Early Park Admission to take pleasure in choose points of interest on the theme parks, which incorporates Epic Universe. Early Park Admission affords as much as one hour of precedence entry earlier than the park opens with legitimate theme park admission.
Happily, the problems with the glacially sluggish devoted entrance don’t affect Early Park Admission, as safety begins ‘processing’ visitors with greater than ample time to make into the park earlier than the beginning of EPA. (Simply don’t present up ~quarter-hour upfront and count on to be within the park on-time.) Be aware that it’s a farther stroll from Helios Grand Resort to Tremendous Nintendo World, however this wasn’t a difficulty for us–we nonetheless made it to the entrance of the pack for EPA. (See our Early Park Admission at Epic Universe Technique Information: Beating Crowds in Tremendous Nintendo World!)
Common Orlando lodge visitors can even make the most of complimentary shuttle bus transportation to the theme parks and Common CityWalk, resort-wide charging privileges, complimentary merchandise supply and extra.
The outside of Helios Grand Resort seems just like the love-child of Disney’s Riviera Resort and Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs, and people are unquestionably the 2 Walt Disney World resorts that provide the most effective comparisons to Common’s new tower. Like these, Helios Grand Resort is boxy, bland, and underbaked from a thematic perspective.
There’s no two methods about it: if Helios Grand Resort have been constructed to miss one of many Walt Disney World theme parks, it might be completely excoriated by followers. There’s a double-standard for Common Orlando vs. Walt Disney World. I’ll be the primary to confess that I grade Common on a curve, and most different theme park followers do too, judging by how a lot of a go Common will get for the issues followers over which Disney would obtain countless criticism.
Fortunately, the outside of Helios Grand Resort does look nicer than its up to date counterparts at Walt Disney World–however barely. For a lodge that’s the de facto point of interest of a model new theme park, it’s nonetheless embarrassingly bland. However in Common’s protection, we not too long ago skilled the identical with the disappointing Fantasy Springs Resort at Tokyo DisneySea, largely lauded as the best theme park on earth. I think each initiatives noticed COVID-induced funds cuts and funneled that in direction of their respective resorts. Higher that the lodge be value-engineered than Epic Universe itself.
Inside, Common Helios Grand Resort will not be nicer than Disney’s Riviera Resort, and even Gran Destino Tower.
Each of these ‘trendy’ Walt Disney World inns boast extra consideration to element all through their frequent areas, with superior match and ending. Additionally they have higher facilities–from extra sturdy restaurant rosters to their swimming pools and different options.
Even with Common being graded on a curve, I’m stunned extra consideration isn’t being drawn to this. Like Riviera Resort, the foyer at Helios Grand is surprisingly compact and underwhelming–Gran Destino Tower simply surpasses each when it comes to grandiosity. That is still the exemplar of Las Vegas model resorts in Central Florida, even when it’s missing in location.
When confined to the partitions of Helios Grand Resort itself, there’s little or no that separates this property from the opposite latest resorts at Common Orlando. All the pieces is pretty pedestrian and paint-by-numbers, and it’s troublesome to argue that this property is materially nicer than Aventura, Stella Nova, or Terra Luna.
From my perspective, Helios Grand Resort doesn’t maintain a candle to Portofino Bay, which stays the high-water mark for themed resorts at Common Orlando. In fact, it’s additionally a product of a distinct period. Visitor preferences have modified since then, and so too have each Common’s and Disney’s approaches to themed lodge design. However I might additionally rank Arduous Rock Resort and Royal Pacific above Helios Grand, in terms of the inns themselves. From a private choice perspective, I may additionally give the sting to Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay, for that matter!
The distinction between Helios Grand Resort and the older Common resorts is that they strove for idealized and romanticized themes that transport you to a different time and place. These resorts are immersive, heat, and reassuring. Though ostensibly Mediterranean and mythology-inspired, Helios Grand Resort will not be thematically transportive–the design is all floor degree. The lodge strives for one thing completely different totally.
What Helios Grand Resort strives for is being actually transportive. It locations you proper inside Epic Universe, and pulls visitors’ consideration away from the property itself and in direction of that attractive theme park the resort faces.
In so doing, it’s straightforward to miss the various faults of Helios Grand Resort when you’re fairly actually overlooking Epic Universe. It’s utterly comprehensible that extra followers aren’t fixating on how Helios Grand Resort lacks X or Y facilities or design particulars, underwhelms as in comparison with the legacy Signature Assortment properties, and falls far wanting ‘flagship’ standing. Everybody’s consideration is on the park itself!
This was true for me, too. After I first entered the lodge, I instantly seemed previous the undersized foyer to the out of doors overlook. After I entered my room, I raced to the window. All of my waking hours within the room have been spent on the window-side desk. Bar Helios is the place I spent my late nights, savoring that view. Apart from fast laps across the resort for the sake of this overview, the whole lot of my focus throughout my keep at Helios Grand Resort was truly Epic Universe. The spotlight of the lodge is definitely the park, with Helios Grand Resort “proving” the primary three guidelines of actual property: location, location, location.
Lastly, as coated in Common’s Epic Universe In-Park Resort is Low cost, nightly charges for Helios Grand Resort begin at $293 per night time for normal rooms with no view and stays of 4 nights or longer.
In all probability, you’ll have an exceedingly troublesome time discovering availability at or round this value level until you’re reserving manner upfront. Common Orlando makes use of dynamic pricing for its resorts, and we’ve seen costs steadily enhance for Helios Grand Resort (whilst availability has remained pretty good) by means of 2026.
On common, you must count on to pay beginning costs within the neighborhood of $500 per night time–and maybe greater than that. For instance, my Membership Stage, Park-View Room booked instantly when reservations opened was cheaper than the present price for the standard room throughout the fall low season.
Reserving early is the optimum method for Helios Grand Resort, after which circling again to see if any reductions drop later. Our expectation is that received’t occur till the ‘new lodge odor’ wears off, which might take years. Evaluations have been moderately glowing of Helios Grand Resort, so demand will possible stay robust.
Given all of that, we extremely advocate requesting a quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Common Most popular Journey Company. They’ll help reserving Helios Grand Resort for you, comparability procuring among the many varied inns, and serving to decide which packages will work greatest for your loved ones.
Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation on your go to to Central Florida? Ensure to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for the whole lot about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for the whole lot about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and rather more, join our FREE e mail e-newsletter!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Does Common Helios Grand Resort show that it’s all about location, location, location? Impressed by the model or substance? What do you consider the outside and inside? Will you ebook Common Helios Grand Resort, or stick to one of many present resorts? Agree or disagree with our Helios Grand Resort overview? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share every other ideas or questions you’ve within the feedback under!
