Universal Orlando Resort has evolved a lot over the last five years or so, due in no small part to the smashing success of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The opening of both Hogsmeade in the Islands of Adventure theme park and Diagon Alley in the Universal Studios theme park have seen a marked increase in guests, not to mention various other attractions like Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and Fast & Furious – Supercharged and a cutting-edge water theme park in 2017 with Volcano Bay. But Universal Orlando Resort isn’t just about the rides, they’re about the overall Universal experience, and that includes on-site hotels.

When Universal first broached the idea of on-site hotels, they began with three properties: The Italian-themed Loews Portofino Bay, the pacific islander-themed Loews Royal Pacific, and the self-explanatory Hard Rock Hotel. In 2014, they added their first “prime value” hotel (i.e. cheaper than the others) in the fantastic 50s and 60s-themed Cabana Bay Beach Resort, and 2016 introduced the gorgeous Loews Sapphire Falls—a step up price-wise from Cabana Bay, but still cheaper than Portofino and Hard Rock.

Now, seeing an exponential increase in guests and traffic, Universal Orlando Resort has launched its sixth on-site hotel, the Aventura Hotel. Recently I was invited along with a group of other journalists to get an early look at the Aventura, which boasts a modern, sleek design and theme that allows it to stand apart from Universal’s other hotels. It’s a “prime value” hotel, which means it’s in the same price range as Cabana Bay (starting at $116 a night for a four-night stay), but it offers a decidedly different experience.

So here’s what you need to know about Universal’s Aventura Hotel.

It’s Unlike Any of Universal’s Other Hotels

universal-aventural-hotel-image-6
Image via Universal Orlando Resort

Each of Universal Orlando’s hotels has a very specific theme, and Aventura keeps with that tradition while forging new territory. The 17-story, 600-room hotel is sleek, stylish, and modern, and that describes everything from the beds to the food.

It’s actually a pretty brilliant pivot here. Cabana Bay has become immensely popular with its family-friendly vibe and fun-loving tones, while Sapphire Falls, Royal Pacific, Hard Rock, and Portofino provide a more adult experience with a bit of a higher price tag (depending on which one you’re staying at). Aventura, however, offers the adult experience at the same price point as Cabana Bay.

A simple guest room at Aventura starts at $116 per night plus tax, and indeed while the hotel does have kids suites and does cater to families quite well, it seems aimed more directly towards twentysomethings or thirtysomethings who are heading to Orlando for a different kind of vacation. The rooftop bar, modern cuisine, and floor-to-ceiling windows more closely evoke New York City nightlife than Orlando, Florida, and that’s the point. Aventura offers an experience you can’t get anywhere else in Orlando, including at any of Universal’s other hotels. With a growing hotel portfolio, Universal Orlando Resort looks to been aiming towards catering to any and all types of people that may be choosing Orlando for their vacation destination, and Aventura charts exciting new territory by ticking a very specific box.

The Urban Pantry Food Hall Caters to Modern Tastes

universal-aventural-hotel-urban-pantry-food-hall
Image via Universal Orlando Resort

The modern theme of Aventura runs right through to its food hall. If you’re familiar with Cabana Bay, you’ll know that hotel’s “Bayliner Diner” is one of its most popular destinations. This concept—in which a variety of foods can be ordered at various stations before checking out cafeteria-style—has been ported over to Aventura, albeit in a different fashion called Urban Pantry.

While the Aventura Hotel’s dining hall does include burgers and pizza, they’re of the more adventurous variety. There’s a diverse range of toppings available, with pizzas made with ingredients like prosciutto and smoked salmon, and grass-fed Black Angus beef burgers (or turkey or vegetarian or even Florida Grouper, if that’s your style) topped with aged Gouda, bacon, fig jam, and roasted mushrooms. There’s also a roast station serving lamb, prime rib, and paella, and even a sushi station if you’re craving seafood. Don’t worry though, there’s still something for the kids—you can still get a plain cheeseburger or a cheese pizza. But the variety of options beyond the basic pick is pretty impressive.

Additionally, each food station serves wine and beer themed to the cuisine at that particular station. Speaking of which…

Rooftop Bar!

universal-aventural-hotel-bar-17-bistro
Image via Universal Orlando Resort

The cherry on top of the Aventura Hotel sundae is, quite literally, the Bar 17 Bistro, which is a rooftop bar and grill located on the 17th floor. The open-air location provides a full 360-degree view of the Orlando area, including most strikingly the entirety of the Universal Orlando Resort from Volcano Bay to Hogwarts.

The bar itself is pretty large, and will presumably be able to accommodate quite a few visitors at once. Surrounding the bar is plenty of cushy seating, but seriously the footprint of Bar 17 Bistro is huge—you could spend quite a lot of time just walking along the perimeter, taking in the views.

Food-wise the menu is once again very modern and stylish, with items ranging from braised pork belly bao (which is delicious) to summer beet and glazed fig salad. When it comes to signature drinks, the Aventura is all about mixing it up. There’s a smoky cocktail which uses mezcal as its base, and a drink called a “Firebird” which is made with tequila, jalapeño, strawberry, and cilantro. Whether you’re popping up to Bar 17 for a nightcap or choosing it as your nighttime destination, you’ll find plenty of options to keep you occupied.

You Can Bring Your Content with You

universal-aventural-hotel-room-image
Image via Universal Orlando Resort

When it comes to the actual rooms, tech is the name of the game. Each room features floor-to-ceiling windows, which provide fantastic views of Orlando, and each room also comes outfitted with its own tablet. The tablet controls everything from the TV to the air conditioning to room service, but one big advance here is that you can bring your own content with you and throw it up onto the TV. Yes indeed, you can sign into your Netflix, Hulu, etc. account on the tablet, and stream your own content on the TV provided in your hotel room. This will likely be great selling point for families or couples who want to relax a bit after a morning at the park, or who are looking to unwind before bed.

Location, Location, Location

universal-aventural-hotel-image-2
Image via Universal Orlando Resort

The Aventura Hotel actually has a pretty small footprint in comparison to Universal Orlando Resort’s other hotels, which explains why it’s so tall. But nestled right next door to Sapphire Falls and across the street from Cabana Bay, it features all the amenities you’ve come to expect from Universal Orlando property (including early park access). There are free shuttle buses that provide access to both main parks and CityWalk, as well as a walking path to both if that’s more your speed. Plus, there’s a very short walking path to Volcano Bay, so you don’t have to worry about walking around in your swimsuit for too long before you get to the water park.

It’s Only the Beginning…

universal-endless-summer-resort
Image via Universal Orlando Resort

With 600 rooms in the Aventura Hotel, Universal Orlando Resort’s total hotel room count rises to a whopping 6,200. But they’re just getting started. Aventura and Cabana Bay are at present the cheapest available on-site hotels for Universal, dubbed “prime value” hotels. But in 2019, Universal Orlando will open its very first “value” hotel with Endless Summer Resort.

Rooms at Endless Summer will start at lower than $100 a night, which is insane considering you’ll also be getting all the standard Universal amenities like free shuttles, early park access, and great service. Endless Summer will be made up of two hotels in the same complex—the Surfside Inn & Suites opens in Summer 2019, and the Dockside Inn & Suits in 2020. Once both are open, Endless Summer will add a combined 2,800 rooms to Universal Orlando, bringing the total to 9,000.

If that sounds like a lot, it should tell you something. Rumors have been swirling that Universal is about to start construction on a fourth theme park as they recently bought a massive chunk of land. We know they have Nintendo Land on the way, and clearly Wizarding World of Harry Potter is ripe for expansion (a new Potter ride is coming to Hogsmeade next year). The sky is apparently the limit here, and Universal is anticipating this growth to continue over the next few years, as evidenced by the uptick in new hotels.

Having stayed at Portofino Bay, Sapphire Falls, and Cabana Bay, I can personally attest that Universal Orlando’s hotels are genuinely terrific. So if they can keep this quality up not only with Aventura but also with Endless Summer, there’s no reason to think Universal Orlando Resort won’t become the go-to destination when booking a hotel for your Orlando vacation. The price point of Endless Summer alone is game-changing, and I’m personally excited to see how this all shapes up. Based on my brief look at Aventura, Universal is diversifying its hotel portfolio in a really smart and exiting way, so look out.

universal-aventural-hotel-image-11
Image via Universal Orlando Resort
universal-aventural-hotel-image-15
Image via Universal Orlando Resort
aventura-urban-pantry-pizza
Image via Universal Orlando Resort
aventura-urban-pantry-wok-station
Image via Universal Orlando Resort

 

universal-aventural-hotel-image-4
Image via Universal Orlando Resort