Helios Grand Hotel

[Eckert]

Does that parking structure work for the 500 room hotel?

 

[saint.piss]

 

[GA-MBIT]

Saw them working with the sign on my bus ride to the park around 1pm Wednesday. Sign was being held up by some workers standing in the road to the hotel while the support structure was being readied. Couldn't quite see in the moment what the sign was for. By the time we went back to the rooms around 430pm (Very cold and wet park day sent us back real early haha), sign was already installed. Really neat to see!!

 

[DK745]

Any thoughts about staying at this hotel for an entire trip versus staying at a hotel closer to other parks? Given the entry into Epic it seems nice but then need a bus to get around to all the other parks and citywalk. Other hotels can get you closer to that then a bus to Epic.

Anyone have any preference or thoughts on what they would do or plan on doing? Is it even worth thinking about trying to book two different hotels during a stay to be closer to the park you’re going to on that day? I know it’s not open and all hypothetical at the moment but just curious.

Still shocked the price for Grand Helios seems to be cheaper than I anticipated.

 

[Grabnar]

Still shocked the price for Grand Helios seems to be cheaper than I anticipated.

Yeah I'm kinda interested to see how the rooms are at this price point with them being essentially IN the parks.

 

[Alicia]

Any thoughts about staying at this hotel for an entire trip versus staying at a hotel closer to other parks? Given the entry into Epic it seems nice but then need a bus to get around to all the other parks and citywalk. Other hotels can get you closer to that then a bus to Epic.

Anyone have any preference or thoughts on what they would do or plan on doing? Is it even worth thinking about trying to book two different hotels during a stay to be closer to the park you’re going to on that day? I know it’s not open and all hypothetical at the moment but just curious.

Still shocked the price for Grand Helios seems to be cheaper than I anticipated.

Personally I’d stay just at Helios. A 10 minute bus ride to the other parks is still quicker than most WDW busses to all their parks from most of their resorts.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yeah I'm kinda interested to see how the rooms are at this price point with them being essentially IN the parks.

The room rates I've tracked through some future months have Helios very close to the rates for Portofino/HRH/RP.

 

[Tobias]

Personally I’d stay just at Helios. A 10 minute bus ride to the other parks is still quicker than most WDW busses to all their parks from most of their resorts.

Yeah, this is my thought as well. For my HHN trip later this year, I was initially thinking of a 2-night park view stay, and then 2-nights at a hotel closer to the studios. But now that my trip has to be shortened to three nights, it'll just be more convenient to stay in Helios for the three nights. Especially since I'll probably be spending the days just at Epic Universe.

 

[Jake S]

I wouldn’t stay more than a couple nights at Helios if my other options offered express pass. If it’s between Helios and going to Cabana Bay, I’d probably stick at Helios (budget allowing, of course).

 

[Evan]

I am sure I could not afford (or would want to afford) the price of staying at Helios, even though I’d love to stay there.

It’s gonna be mind bending

 

[Grabnar]

The room rates I've tracked through some future months have Helios very close to the rates for Portofino/HRH/RP.

I was going to say none of those are attached to a theme park but this one doesn’t offer the fast pass so it’s a wash I guess.

Still interested in seeing how this stacks up to the others, it’ll be hard to top Portofino and RP for me.

 

[Mad Dog]

I was going to say none of those are attached to a theme park but this one doesn’t offer the fast pass so it’s a wash I guess.

Still interested in seeing how this stacks up to the others, it’ll be hard to top Portofino and RP for me.

Helios is nice but it's not even close to Portofino.

 

[4hartthreat]

Any thoughts about staying at this hotel for an entire trip versus staying at a hotel closer to other parks? Given the entry into Epic it seems nice but then need a bus to get around to all the other parks and citywalk. Other hotels can get you closer to that then a bus to Epic.

Anyone have any preference or thoughts on what they would do or plan on doing? Is it even worth thinking about trying to book two different hotels during a stay to be closer to the park you’re going to on that day? I know it’s not open and all hypothetical at the moment but just curious.

Still shocked the price for Grand Helios seems to be cheaper than I anticipated.

We are doing a trip in July. 2 days at Epic and 3 days at the other parks. We are staying at Helios for 3 nights and at a different one for the rest of them. I value the ability to walk (or boat) to the parks and Citywalk as I please too much to stay at Helios for nights other than those that are connected to our Epic days

 

[Mad Dog]

We are doing a trip in July. 2 days at Epic and 3 days at the other parks. We are staying at Helios for 3 nights and at a different one for the rest of them. I value the ability to walk (or boat) to the parks and Citywalk as I please too much to stay at Helios for nights other than those that are connected to our Epic days

My opinion also. I love the campus feel of Universal original and I doubt I'll ever stay more than three days, if any, at one of the Epic hotels.

 

[GA-MBIT]

My opinion also. I love the campus feel of Universal original and I doubt I'll ever stay more than three days, if any, at one of the Epic hotels.

If we ever end up getting Citywalk South or the open nighttime Celestial Park, maybe I could reconsider my stance. At this point though, once Epic closes for the night, there just isn't anything to do at the South campus. Not even the little things like bowling at Cabana are around. Stella, Terra, and Helios seem to be good for proximity to OCC and Epic, and that's mostly it.

 

[kristenabelle]

We like being able to walk to parks, if possible (transportation can be great, but for some reason I feel better just being able to move - albeit slower than a bus or boat - and not having to wait). We'll be at Helios for the 2nights/days we're focused on Epic.

 

[Mad Dog]

I wondering if the average guest length of stays at the three Epic hotels will end up being shorter then the average stays at the present campus hotels. I'm betting there will be a significant difference.

 

[jwbitterman]

I'll be drinking on top of Helios. That's enough night time entertainment for me.

 

[fryoj]

Any thoughts about staying at this hotel for an entire trip versus staying at a hotel closer to other parks? Given the entry into Epic it seems nice but then need a bus to get around to all the other parks and citywalk. Other hotels can get you closer to that then a bus to Epic.

Anyone have any preference or thoughts on what they would do or plan on doing? Is it even worth thinking about trying to book two different hotels during a stay to be closer to the park you’re going to on that day? I know it’s not open and all hypothetical at the moment but just curious.

Still shocked the price for Grand Helios seems to be cheaper than I anticipated.

To each their own, but I hate the packing, checking out, checking in, unpacking. I'm staying at one hotel for the duration.

 

[Jake S]

To each their own, but I hate the packing, checking out, checking in, unpacking. I'm staying at one hotel for the duration.

i'm the same way. i'd much rather find a place i want to stay for the week rather than hopping from hotel to hotel.