Universal Kids Resort Hotel has thoughtful details, but a few features are missing
Universal Kids Resort Hotel was designed to complement the colorful energy of the park next door, but some of its most memorable features aren’t listed among the amenities. During our hosted media stay, we noticed the small touches that transformed the hotel from a place to sleep into part of the overall experience.
In some ways, Universal Kids Resort Hotel accomplishes a more immersive environment than the theme park does. But there are some missing and scaled-back amenities that leave something to be desired.
At first glance, the 300-room Universal Kids Resort Hotel might seem like a colorful place to rest after a day in the park. There are kid-friendly design touches and practical features that make traveling with young children easier. Unlike Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels, which are operated by Loews Hotels, the Universal Kids Resort Hotel is owned and operated directly by Universal Destinations & Experiences—the company’s first hotel to do so.
While a few expected amenities are noticeably absent, the kid-friendly touches throughout the property help make it a memorable place to stay.
All photos by Dani Meyering
Universal Kids Resort Hotel details to love
Let’s start with what the hotel gets right. Inside the hotel room, we found plenty of storage, electrical outlets in multiple places to help with devices, and kid-friendly furniture. Please note our experience of the hotel was provided during a hosted media preview of Universal Kids Resort.
Watch: Before reading over this review, take a minute to view our video below to get a general overview of the hotel.
The rainbow hallway
Pulling into the Universal Kids Resort Hotel provides an interesting perspective. After turning off a major toll road, the splashes of color stand out among the Texas ranchland that is now suburban sprawl. And yet a vast field with round bales of hay stood mere steps from this colorful hotel and theme park.
Once inside, the small lobby gives way to the hotel’s icon: a rainbow hallway. It’s Instagram-ready and sets the tone for the colorful, kinetic atmosphere of the hotel.
Before our visit, Jordan, a Project Superintendent on Universal Kids Resort, shared in a social media post that his favorite part of the hotel was the rainbow hallway connecting the lobby to the hub. “It’s just amazing,” he said.
The rainbow hallway leads to the elevator bank, the cafe and lounge, and the park entry next to the arcade.
The colors and decor
Did you know the hotel’s exterior is covered in more than 500 shades of paint spanning the rainbow?
But these colors aren’t just for hotel guests to enjoy. The tallest part of the hotel has colorful character murals on the exterior, and best of all? They are positioned to overlook the area of the theme park dedicated to those characters, so Gabby’s Dollhouse characters overlook the front of the park with Gabby’s friends, while the mural with SpongeBob characters overlooks Bikini Bottom.
Then, each guest room floor is themed to a different Universal character, with a large character display greeting guests as they step off the elevator. The elevator lobby on each floor also features colorful walls and lighting that match the theme, including orange for Puss in Boots, blue for Gabby, pink for Poppy, and green for Shrek.
- Second floor: Puss in Boots
- Third floor: Gabby
- Fourth floor: Poppy
- Fifth floor: Shrek
Important note: the guest rooms are not character themed, and the decor is the same inside the rooms from floor to floor.
Watch our YouTube video below for a quick tour around our hotel room.
The details parents will appreciate
- Bluetooth speaker clock with a built-in sound machine
- Plenty of storage throughout the room
- Soft-close drawers and cabinets
- Moveable footrests/stools
- Themed “Do Not Disturb” door hanger
- Family-friendly layout with flexible furniture
Many of the room’s most thoughtful features are easy to overlook at first but make everyday routines with young children much easier. The Bluetooth alarm clock doubles as a sound machine, offering several soothing sound options that can help children settle down for naps or bedtime while also providing parents with a portable speaker for music or white noise.
Storage is another highlight. Drawers, shelves, and hanging space are plentiful. Every drawer and cabinet also features soft-close hardware, reducing the loud slams that can wake a sleeping child or startle sensitive guests. There are plenty of outlets too, and I greatly appreciated having a nightstand on both sides of the queen bed.
Moveable footrests tucked beneath the desk can be pulled out wherever they’re needed. Parents may find them handy as an extra seat or place to set bags and belongings.
The bathroom has a bath tub with shower head and curtain rather than a stand-alone shower, which so many hotels have opted for these days. A few hooks for bags and towels are also helpful. And the television pivots easily so you can turn it to face the kids’ bunk beds or the queen bed for parents. The lack of balconies is also helpful for parents’ peace of mind.
Beyond the guest room, the Curiosity Cafe has great hours, open early and open until 10 p.m. The pool is zero-entry so little ones can splash in the shallows if full-on swimming is not yet an option. Plus there are underwater speakers so you can enjoy the music even as you’re submerged in the water. And the on-site shop and market is small, but has all the essentials like sunscreen, snacks, and a few over-the-counter health items.
“My favorite thing about being part of the theme park industry is watching guests’ reactions,” Michelle, Senior production art director for Universal Kids Resort, said. “We’ve spent all this time working so hard to get everything just the way we really want it. It’s the greatest thing in the world to me.”
The missing amenities and features
- No in-room coffee maker
- No bathroom step stool or kid-sized toilet seat
- No bedside reading lights
- The pool is fairly simple, with limited theming or play features
- The arcade is small and at the park entry door, so you have to pass it
- No dedicated hotel guest entrance at the theme park
- No outdoor dining near the main restaurant
Parents hoping to get their caffeine fix first thing in the morning will need to venture downstairs to the cafe or lounge. The regular drip coffee is free, but there are no coffee makers in the hotel rooms.
I’ve stayed at the Legoland Hotel in Florida a few times, as well as some of the Walt Disney World resorts. At these hotels, I have appreciated that there are step stools to make it easier for little kids to wash their hands and brush their teeth at the sink. And these hotels usually have one or two dimly lit reading lamps. As someone who prefers soft light at the end of the day, especially when reading at bedtime, these are helpful touches.
Surprisingly, both details are missing at Universal Kids Resort Hotel. I ended up unscrewing one of the lightbulbs in the bedside lights so I could have softer light during bedtime.
Another feature, found at Legoland hotels and inside the theme park of Universal Kids Resort, is a child-sized toilet seat in the hotel room bathroom. It’s an extra touch that I expected inside the hotel that prides itself on being built for kids.
Park entry
Hotel guests receive Early Park Admission, allowing them to enter Universal Kids Resort up to one hour before the scheduled opening time. Guests must have both a valid theme park ticket and a hotel reservation, and early admission is available for select lands and attractions, which may vary by day.
The park entry located at the hotel can be utilized at any time and does not provide a special entrance at the park. Instead, it is merely a side door that leads to the main entrance of the park. Hotel guests will pass through security located in front of the park’s entrance.
Final thoughts
It’s easy to focus on room types and amenities when reviewing a hotel. What stayed with us most were the design details. Some functional features are missing, which hold back this hotel from being the best it can be. Still, the care that went into creating Universal Kids Resort Hotel is evident. It’s worth a look if you want to make the most of your time, as the hotel itself elevates this new destination for kids.
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