Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites Universal Resort
Universal's Endless Summer Resort - Dockside Inn and suites is the newest addition to the Universal Orlando Resort Hotel group. Dockside Inn & Suites at Universal Studios Florida brings a coastal vibe to this sunny retreat making it a carefree escape for families at awesomely affordable rates. Universal's Dockside Inn & Suites is an Orlando vacation even if your family never steps foot into the Universal parks. From the breathtaking sunsets in the magnificent pool areas to the Oasis Beach Bar, Universal has outdone themselves once again on a new resort value hotel. Your family will not believe the great deal that awaits you at Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites.
Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites Universal Resort
Read more about the rooms, cost, excusive theme park benefits, and select attractions no matter what time of year you visit at Universals newest resort. Make sure to read this family review for all of the important information before you book your trip to Dockside Inn & Suites.
Dockside Inn & Suites Universal Orlando, Florida Family Review
When Did Universal Dockside Inn and Suites Open?
The Dockside Inn & Suites was able to open in December of 2020 making it the newest addition to the Universal Resort Orlando, Florida group. This is the reason my family wanted to try the Dockside Inn & Suites resort option during our Orlando, Florida stay being that it was less than a year old at the time of our visit and we wanted to compare to Universal's sister hotel and resort options, Sapphire Falls and Cabana Bay.
What Outdoor Activities are Available for My Family During My Stay at Dockside Inn and Suites?
Arcade
Ping Pong Tables
Zero entry massive pool
Games like connect four poolside
Splash pad
Sand play area
Pool bar
The pool is at most 3-4 feet which was SO wonderful with smaller children. I was able to actually sit and enjoy a drink while they swam safely. Life vests and towels are provided at the resort, so no need to pack your own.
What Indoor Activities are Available for My Family During My Stay at Dockside Inn and Suites?
Arcade / Game Room
Fitness Center
Photo Credit: Travel Weekly
What are the Dining Options at Dockside Inn & Suites?
There is a large food court style dining option at Dockside Inn & Suites. It was really easy for families to grab various options and find seating on your own. No need to wait to be served so this was a plus when we had hangry kids to feed ASAP! Since it was a food court style dining the atmosphere was really relaxed. My kids loved the pizza and Parks and I enjoyed all of the food we tried as well. Adults can grab alcoholic beverages here too. We grabbed snacks to take up to the room with us from the food court as well. The prices were very reasonable which was a pleasant surprise.
There are also pool bars at each Dockside Inn & Suites pool with delicious alcoholic beverages for those 21 and older. We loved the convenience of the bars and the setting was gorgeous. We ate many meals by the pool in the ample seating rather than sitting inside of the food court.
There is also a Starbucks in the lobby which was convenient to caffeinate before a busy day!
Why stay at Dockside Inn & Suites vs. other Universal Studio’s Resort Properties?
The price. You truly cannot beat the nightly rate to be on Universal’s property. If your family or group is looking to be budget conscious during your Universal Resort stay, then I would definitely take a look at Dockside Inn & Suites.
You cannot go wrong at ANY Universal Resort. Universal breaks down their resorts into four categories: Value $, Prime Value $$, Preferred $$$ & Premier $$$$. Loews Sapphire Falls is considered a Preferred $$$ resort. Our family stayed at the Preferred level Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in Feb. 2020 and we had a phenomenal experience. While it was a phenomenal trip, the nightly room rate was 4x the amount Dockside Inn and Suites would be for our family. So cost is ultimately why we opted for Dockside Inn & Suites.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort is another Universal Studios Resort that is far more affordable than Sapphire Falls but has more of a luxurious feel and is very quiet and calm comparatively to Dockside Inn and Suites despite being relatively the same size. The layout of these two resorts is what makes a huge impact with Cabana Bay being 4 smaller 2 story buildings and having the calm feeling of a coastal retreat and Dockside Inn and Suites being 20 plus story resort buildings.
The Universal website has a great comparison of properties and offers for rooms, amenities and dining and theme park benefits. You can find that comparison here.
What is the difference between Dockside Inn & Suites and Surfside Inn & Suites?
This question comes up a lot. No, they are not connected but they are both part of the universal endless summer resort umbrella.
They are two totally separate properties. Both Dockside Inn & Suites and Surfside Inn & Suites are the two value $ level resort options but right across the street from each other.
The major differences between Dockside Inn & Suites and Surfside Inn & Suites are the size of the properties.
Surfside Inn & Suites is considerably smaller with only 750 rooms total. Surfside Inn & Suites also has views of the lake. It has one large surfboard shaped pool for visitors to use.
Dockside Inn & Suites is a 2,050 room property with two huge towers. It boasts two very large pools that guests can enjoy. A personal favorite of Surfside Inn & Suites was the Starbucks in the lobby!
What are the room options at Dockside Inn & Suites?
2050 guest rooms at this value resort total with 1,059 of these being spacious 2-bedroom suites
Standard Rooms at Dockside Inn & Suites
The Standard Rooms can be booked for up to 4. This is a 313 square foot room that offers two queen beds with separate bath and vanity areas. These rooms are very similar to a typical standard room and on average cost 189.00 a night. If your party is traveling with adults or a family of 4 that can easily share and is really looking for an economical way to travel to Universal Studios, you cannot beat this rate.
2 Bedroom Suite Dockside Inn & Suites
The two-bedroom suite sleeps 6 and is 440 square feet. The 2-bedroom suite features one room with two queen beds and another with a single queen bed. There is also a kitchenette area with a picnic table perfect for meals, games or just hanging out. The bathroom has separate bath and vanity areas. This room on average is 250.00 a night.
We stayed in the two-bedroom suite during our stay at Dockside Inn & Suites. The boys slept in the main area where the two queen beds are, we got a complimentary crib for our 3-year-old and my husband, and I slept in the separate bedroom. The separate bedroom with the single queen has a door and had a TV which was nice to be able to watch a show after the boys were in bed and not having to whisper. It felt far larger than 440 square foot. The layout was great, and we had enough space. The room felt spacious for the price. Again, what you are getting for the 250.00 price would easily be 4-5x the price at any other Universal Resort property.
Even if your party is not large and you don’t need to sleep up to 6, I recommend the 2-bedroom suite just to have more space when you are in the room.
Would I Stay at Dockside Inn & Suites Again?
Never say never right? Its new and clean and you truly cannot beat the price for how great the room is for a family of 5.
However, I really enjoyed the ease of walking and taking the water taxi to and from City Walk when we were are the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. I definitely do not prefer staying in a hotel with 2,050 rooms. The indoor hallways and lobby were loud and chaotic at high traffic times with the comings and goings of that many guests. For me personally, having a smaller hotel fits better for our family. But the outside area was beautiful and I loved it! If I hadnt stayed at other Universal Resorts, I would definitely recommend. But after having stayed at Cabana Bay and Sapphire Falls and having a quiet more serene indoor resort experience, I would opt for those next time.
Is Universal Studios Theme Park Admission included with my stay at Dockside Inn & Suites?
With your stay at any Universal Studios Resort you gain access to exclusive theme park benefits like Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and early access to Universal's Volcano Bay™ one hour before the theme park opens. Even though you have early admission you are responsible for purchasing tickets to the park. Many guests stay at an on-site resort while visiting universal orlando theme parks for the perks, but we really enjoy staying at the
dockside inn & suites and other Universal resorts even though we are not heading to the theme park.
Is transportation provided to Universal Theme Park / CityWalk?
Yes, there are easy access free shuttle buses / complimentary transportation \ that take guests from all Universal Resort properties to and from CityWalk and the Universal Theme Parks. The shuttle buses run all day long and were available for use until 1am during our visit. We opted not to use the shuttle buses during our visit because we had a rental car. Universal Resorts are all located in a very convenient location 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport and a cheap uber ride from most anywhere you want to go!
This accessibility to CityWalk/Theme Parks was one of the downsides of staying at Dockside inn & Suites and would be the same for Surfside Inn & Suites. You are not able to walk to them as you can at any other level of Universal Resort. We really enjoyed walking nightly to CityWalk for ice cream or to explore during our stay at Loews Sapphire Falls, so if your party or family is planning on going to theme parks or CityWalk while there just keep in mind the added time and effort needed to use shuttle bus vs being able to walk or use the water taxi’s.
When is check in and check out at Dockside Inn & Suites?
Check in is at 4pm and check out is at 11am.
Is parking included with a stay at Dockside Inn & Suites?
Parking is not included with a stay at Dockside Inn & Suites Universal Orlando, Florida.
Overnight Guest Parking is $15 plus tax per night, per vehicle
The parking was a bit hectic as the hotel is so very large coming in with 3 small children and having a lot of suitcases / luggage to bring in.
Are there discounts for Florida residents?
YES! There are discounts for Florida residents during select travel dates. Be sure to inquire with Universal staff when booking.
Where is Dockside Inn & Suites located?
7125 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819
Reservations (888) 273-1311
Phone: 407-503-8000
Would we Stay at Another Universal Resort?
We have stayed at a Universal Resort before - Loews Sapphire Falls and LOVED it. If you want to read all about why Loews Sapphire Falls was a phenomenal resort you can read that recap here.
Universal Studios Hotels and Resort brings you transports you and your family back to a 1950’s and 1960’s beach resort with a Mad Men vibe but with present day amenities for families. Your family is going to LOVE the vibrant, retro-style rooms and suites brilliantly designed for endless family fun in the sun. Whether you are heading to Universal Resorts Cabana Bay Resort for maximum relaxation or ready to hit the theme parks running, Cabana Bay will exceed all expectations for hotel guests, and you will not want to leave. Plus, with the great value you will get from booking this resort option, youll have travel money left to book a return trip!
We enjoyed our visit to Dockside inn and suites a lot, and the outdoor pool and pool bar was the highlight for all 5 of us. The boys were so happy playing, and we could sit and talk and destress. If you are hunting for a travel deal and the best rates for your family to get to Orlando, Florida, then a value resort at Universal is a beautiful and clean resort option packed with fun that the rates truly cannot be beat! Have you stayed at Universal Resorts before? If so, what is your favorite?
If your family is heading to Orlando, Florida soon be sure to check out these blog posts with ideas for more family fun! Your family can head to the Sea Life Aquarium (less than 5 minutes from Universal Resort) or Crayola Experience in Orlando, Florida.
If you are willing to make a 45 minute drive, heading to the Legoland Water Park or Legoland Theme park are AMAZING day trips too!
