Comments on: 2026 Universal Orlando Planning Guide

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 02:58:15 +0000

What is the stroller situation? Were used to having stroller parking by every ride at Disney…
Thank you!

By: Tom Bricker

Tom Bricker — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 22:25:24 +0000

In reply to Tom D.

Good catch on Volcano Bay. I’ve gone back and updated that.

You’re correct about the Universal Orlando Hotel Rankings & Reviews needing another update now that Epic Universe is open and we’ve stayed at those hotels.

Thanks!

By: Tom D

Tom D — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 21:13:54 +0000

Your update to this article needs some more editing to bring it up-to-date. Here are some things I noticed.

You say “We’ve recently stayed at every single on-site hotel at Universal Orlando Resort–here are our reviews,” but you don’t include a review for Stella Nova. You then say “For insight into all of these hotels, their pros & cons, and how they compare and contrast with one another, see our Universal Orlando Hotel Rankings & Reviews.” However, that linked article does not rank the Epic Universe hotels. You hadn’t yet stayed at any of them when you wrote that article.

The Express Pass section doesn’t note that the Express Pass Unlimited that you get for staying at Royal Pacific, Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay does not include Epic Universe, or that an Express Pass Unlimited cannot even be purchased for Epic Universe. You also contrast Express Pass to Lightning Lanes at WDW as though Disney’s only options were Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. Disney now also has Lightning Lane Premiere Pass.

You discuss what TapuTapu is at Volcano Bay. Universal abolished the TapuTapu system months ago.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:51:14 +0000

Hello Tom, as usual great info.
How long does it take to get from Helios to Universal Studios via resort transport?
Jan 2026, staying Helios for a few nights then Portofino. I have not been able to buy tickets for Epic during our 5night stay @ Helios. We would like to make all our restaurant reservations in advance, but don’t know how to plan this with no Epic tickets, I called yesterday, and I could get tickets for 4 days Epic only if I changed my original reservation at Helios for the same 5 nights, from 2,300.00 to 7400.00. I said NO WAY! I feel totally taken advantage of, SHAME on UNIVERSAL

By: Tom Bricker

Tom Bricker — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:19:44 +0000

In reply to Nic. No specific insight, but Universal has definitely been playing around with ticket & package availability for Epic Universe over the next several months. I'm not surprised that also extends to Helios. Sorry to hear that your dates are impacted, though!

By: Nic

Nic — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:51:30 +0000

Hey Tom. I’ve been stalking Helios prices for spring break 2026 for months. Along with checking to see if express passes are available. I check both resort pricing and EP almost daily. Today Helios prices have jumped significantly (like from $350 to $700/$900). I checked a bunch of random dates and on some dates Helios is even more $$$ than Portifino and Hard Rock. Prices were pretty high when Helios opened, I’m sure due to newness and demand, but they seem to have stabilizers and been decently priced to lower priced (at least for next March) which is the time frame I’ve been stalking. Any insight as to why Helios pricing has jumped so much, today, for 2026???