We had been harsh on Helios Grand Lodge when Common Orlando pulled again the curtain at the new in-park resort overlooking Epic Universe. However we’re at all times prepared to confess when flawed or faulty, so in that spirit, we need to revisit our remark in regards to the upcoming signature lodge now that base pricing has been published.
Nearly all of our critique was once premised across the trust that Helios Grand Lodge can be a luxurious lodge. That it will instantly develop into Common Orlando’s flagship resort, with costs upper than any of the present accommodations. We speculated that it will simply eclipse Portofino Bay Lodge, which is these days height canine, with beginning costs of $393 in keeping with evening.
We by no means made public predictions as to worth issues (fortunately), however our expectation was once that Helios Grand Lodge would rival Walt Disney International park-adjacent accommodations when it comes to pricing. To make certain, we weren’t expecting that Helios Grand Lodge would price up to the Grand Floridian from the leap, however in the similar ballpark as Walt Disney International’s least expensive park-connected accommodations? Positive.
Because it seems, this expectation was once very flawed–until you employ probably the most liberal interpretation of “park-connected” accommodations at Walt Disney International. Are Pop Century and Artwork of Animation park-connected via distinctive feature in their Skyliner get right of entry to to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios? If that is so, then Walt Disney International comes out on height–and remains to be less expensive.
However you and I each neatly know that’s no longer what any cheap individual manner via park-connected or adjoining. Evaluating the Common’s Epic Universe in-park resort to Pop Century and deeming them equivalents is like evaluating filet mignon to Fancy Dinner party Filet Mignon taste. There’s no solution to spin this that makes it cross the odor check.
Anyway, Common Orlando nonetheless hasn’t published complete pricing for Common Helios Grand Lodge (that’ll come subsequent week), however we do have an concept of beginning costs primarily based the resort comparability instrument. Right here’s a glance:
Earlier than we move anything else additional, there are a pair necessary asterisks.
First, the $293 in keeping with evening price at Common Helios Grand Lodge is the beginning worth. Charges will move up from there.
2d, that is the fee for a 4-night or longer keep. It’s protected to think that shorter period remains can be dearer on a per-night foundation.
Only for the sake of added context, I searched single-night remains at Portofino Bay for what I’d be expecting to be low season and height season dates, and the variability for the ones 1-night remains in 2025 was once $491 to $1,024 for the standard room.
For much more context, I searched single-night remains at Gran Destino Tower in Disney’s Coronado Springs Lodge for the very same low season and height season dates, and the variability for the ones 1-night remains in 2024-2025* was once $398 to $602 for the standard room. (*I needed to seek 2024 height season dates for Gran Destino as a result of 2025 costs for that time frame aren’t out but–charges don’t materially build up for the remainder of 2025, regardless that.)
For a similar dates, Grand Floridian is $732 to $1,224. Once more, same old room.
Walt Disney International enthusiasts who really feel forced to shield the corporate for no matter reason why will most likely level to the 1-night price on the upper finish of the spectrum at Portofino Bay. In any case, that arguably “proves” that Common’s beginning worth is advertising puffery, false promoting, or no matter.
I’d be fairly receptive to that argument with regards to Portofino Bay–and even Laborious Rock Lodge or Royal Pacific Lodge (for many who are questioning, each are over $900 for height season dates round Christmas 2025). The ones charges are extraordinarily dear, all on par with the most costly Deluxe Inns at Walt Disney International all over the similar time frame.
On the other hand, I figured that may well be as a result of Limitless Specific Move. Since Walt Disney International doesn’t come with Lightning Lane Premier Move–a lot much less an limitless incarnation of it–with Deluxe Lodge remains, that still isn’t an apples to apples comparability. So I took a take a look at Common’s different “Signature Assortment” lodge that doesn’t be offering Limitless Specific Move for a cleaner comparability.
Positive sufficient, Sapphire Falls is priced at $451 in keeping with evening all over the ones height season dates. Not up to part any of the opposite top-tier choices at Common, and in addition less expensive than Gran Destino Tower. (Regardless of how you are feeling in regards to the different comparisons, there’s little denying that Sapphire Falls and Gran Destino are in the similar ballpark, quality-wise.)
From my point of view, the rationale for all of this pricing is lovely easy: Limitless Specific Move, or the dearth thereof, is the important thing motive force of room charges amongst Signature Assortment accommodations at Common Orlando.
This explains why Sapphire Falls is such a lot less expensive the week between Christmas and New 12 months’s in overdue 2025. It additionally explains why the beginning worth for Common Helios Grand Lodge is not up to Portofino Bay. Or, for that subject, why it’s not up to all 3 of the legacy top-tier accommodations.
Now, you need to additionally make the case that Sapphire Falls isn’t as sumptuous as Portofino, Laborious Rock, or Royal Pacific. That’s truthful and correct. I’m no longer so positive it’s true of Helios Grand Lodge, regardless that. It arguably is when evaluating sure components of every, however around the board? I don’t assume so.
I’m a large fan of all 3 of the ones accommodations and was once highly-critical of Helios Grand Lodge’s divulge.
With that stated, I will be able to’t declare that my least favourite of the trio–Royal Pacific–appears higher than Helios Grand Lodge around the board. On no account to the purpose that it justifies top rate pricing of what seems can be round $50 in keeping with evening!
That is exactly why I used to be serious of Helios Grand Lodge within the first position. Despite the fact that we knew it wouldn’t come with Limitless Specific Move, I nonetheless anticipated it will be the new flagship at Common Orlando, most likely having a place to begin of $100 extra than Portofino Bay–no longer $100 much less. That $200 in keeping with evening swing in anticipated vs. exact pricing makes me a lot, a lot more forgiving.
My unhealthy. I undervalued Limitless Specific Move and overestimated Helios Grand Lodge’s location overlooking Epic Universe. A minimum of, as in comparison to Common Orlando’s valuation of those options. My bet is that the ‘marketplace’ will make an review extra in step with mine, and Helios Grand Lodge can be very tricky to guide. However we will see!
Turning to remark, now that the beginning price has been published for Common Helios Grand Lodge–and we will infer charges past that in line with proportion variations between it, Sapphire Falls and Royal Pacific, I’m a lot more prone to stick there. In truth, my first affect (or is it 2d?) of the price proposition is now a lot more favorable.
Visitors staying at Common Helios Grand Lodge, or any of the opposite Common Orlando accommodations, obtain Early Park Admission to revel in make a choice points of interest on the theme parks, which is able to extend to incorporate Common Epic Universe with the park’s opening in 2025. Early Park Admission will be offering as much as one hour of precedence get right of entry to sooner than the park opens with legitimate theme park admission.
In truth, I’m pleasantly stunned right here that Early Park Admission is being expanded to Epic Universe. I wouldn’t essentially have guess on that, and anticipated that Common Orlando would as an alternative attempt to monetize early get right of entry to in the similar method they do at Tremendous Nintendo International in Hollywood. So that could be a small victory on the very least–and one which may be extremely precious at Epic Universe.
Clearly, location is the opposite large one. Whilst I’d generally moderately be at the major campus of Common Orlando, I’d want the proximity to Epic Universe in 2025. It is because I’m going to spend a disproportionate period of time there, and assume it’s strategically effective for Early Access, noon breaks, and the entirety else. Long term, who is aware of.
For this exact same reason why, I don’t care a complete lot about Limitless Specific Move.
We’ve speculated for some time that Helios Grand Lodge wouldn’t be offering it or that Epic Universe wouldn’t…or each. This grew to become out to be correct. As we’ve mentioned prior to now, Common Orlando most likely regrets the deal they made with Loews to provide Limitless Specific Move to its Premier Lodges, which is why next accommodations (and now parks) haven’t noticed that association prolonged.
Common would no longer make the similar deal within the 2020s that it did within the overdue Nineties, which is strictly why Sapphire Falls doesn’t be offering Specific Move. Common Orlando is now already established as a bona fide theme park heavy hitter, and there is not any want to hang this sort of park to get a dedication from Loews. The hotelier couldn’t get a sweetheart deal this time–it’s Common with the leverage now.
All of that’s a bit of inside of baseball, regardless that. From a realistic visitor point of view, in 2025 I don’t care as a lot about Limitless Specific Move as a result of my precedence is Epic Universe, which is not going to have it. The turn aspect of this is that I’ll care about Limitless Specific Move much less at Common Studios Florida and Islands of Journey.
That is each as a result of I’ll be spending much less time in the ones parks all over my keep and since I don’t assume it’ll be as important. That means that even with the holiday programs that “drive” other folks to discuss with the opposite two parks, I’d guess that the prevailing gates don’t seem to be seeing vital spikes in crowds subsequent 12 months.
After all, I may well be flawed about this–however it’s a chance that I’m in my view prepared to make as a result of I don’t truly care if I’m flawed (been there, achieved that with the prevailing parks–they’re no longer height priorities this go-round). No longer best that, however the recognized upsides of Common Helios Grand Lodge (cheaper price + higher location) outweigh the downsides, even the possible ones. A minimum of, for me. As at all times, your cases would possibly fluctuate.
I’m additionally unbothered via the “beginning worth” or that it’s “in line with a 4-night keep” a part of the bottom worth. Firms seeking to catch your consideration with best-case costs isn’t precisely stop-the-presses information. Someone who has ever watched a Walt Disney International business that ends with “holiday beginning at $X in keeping with individual” costs which can be comically low must know that!
Positive, Common Helios Grand Lodge gained’t price $293 for a 1-night keep on New 12 months’s Eve–it’ll most likely be with regards to double that. However unmarried nights all over the low season shouldn’t be that a lot more dear (~$350/evening if we extrapolate and regulate from Sapphire Falls).
Past all else, I don’t care as a result of a 4-night or longer keep is most likely what I’d guide at Common Helios Grand Lodge! If I’m the typical vacationer reserving a resort in 2025 who’s emphasizing Epic Universe, I’m both doing a cut up keep between Common Orlando and Walt Disney International, or just staying at Common and commuting to Disney.
The on-site perks at Common are extra precious than those at WDW and, a minimum of for now, Common pricing is nonetheless awesome. In gentle of that, a 4-night keep is most likely precisely what I’m reserving, and that base worth isn’t misleading from my point of view.
In the end, given all of this–I need to revise and improve my preliminary review of Common Helios Grand Lodge. As sooner than, the outside appears to me just like the extraordinary love-child of Disney’s Riviera Lodge and Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs, however with extra artifice and a spotlight to element so it’s no longer so boxy.
It’s nonetheless no longer just about as excellent as Portofino Bay, which stays the high-water mark for themed accommodations at Common Orlando. With that stated, it’s priced nearer to Gran Destino Tower than Riviera or Portofino Bay, so it’s completely truthful for Helios Grand to seem like a greater model of that.
The pool likewise appears great, which isn’t an enormous marvel since Common Ingenious and Loews have achieved an improbable process with pool complexes at most of the present accommodations. It’s most likely truthful to mention that Common accommodations, on moderate, outdo Disney from the point of view of swimming pools. The swimming pools at Laborious Rock and Portofino Bay are my non-public favorites, however there are a number of nice ones. (Cabana Bay may also be excellent, however it’s ceaselessly packed.)
The usual rooms glance small and bland, however with the added context that Common Helios Grand is nearer in worth to Sapphire Falls than it’s Portofino Bay, it now makes entire sense that it will strike a cord in me of the previous. It seems like Common sought after to cram as many rooms into as small of a footprint as conceivable…most likely as a result of they did! Common took the economical and environment friendly way–each to development and pricing Helios Grand Lodge–and it’s tricky to argue with that call!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Stunned via the low costs of Common Helios Grand Lodge? Had been you anticipated the bottom worth to be upper? Did you assume it will be the flagship Common Orlando resort, or did you are expecting this? Will you guide Common Helios Grand Lodge, or persist with one of the vital present accommodations? Suppose Epic Universe can be a 3rd gate that’s a worthy addition to Common Orlando Lodge…and doubtlessly on par with Disney’s ideal lands? Agree or disagree with our review that a lot of the internal appears too very similar to Common’s new lower-tier accommodations? Any questions? We like listening to from readers, so please percentage every other ideas or questions you’ve got within the feedback beneath!
