Helios Grand Lodge is the brand new hotel within Epic Universe, and one in all 4 resorts at Common Orlando that gives a Membership Stage. This overview options front room & meals footage, how this compares to different concierge tiers, execs & cons of staying Membership Stage at Helios, and whether or not it’s well worth the splurge.
For starters, this focuses best at the Membership Stage front room. Should you’re searching for our ideas at the new lodge as a complete, take a look at our Common Helios Grand Lodge Overview. Suffice to mention, there’s a large number of excellent, dangerous & unpleasant that applies to the hotel as a complete; this covers best the upsides and drawbacks of this one reserving class.
As fundamental background, Common Orlando gives Membership Stage lodging at 4 accommodations in its Signature Assortment: Exhausting Rock Lodge, Loews Portofino Bay Lodge, Loews Royal Pacific Hotel, and Helios Grand Lodge. The general lodge within the new Signature Assortment (in the past Premier) is Loews Sapphire Falls Hotel, which doesn’t have a Membership Stage.
Previous to this keep at Helios Grand Lodge, we’ve best finished one different Membership Stage at Common Orlando–Portofino Bay Lodge a couple of years in the past. It sounds as if, I forgot to do a standalone overview of that have, however we typically appreciated it. The meals was once extra substantive and hearty than maximum Membership Ranges at Walt Disney International, with Common acknowledging the truth that many (maximum?) visitors need to do complete dinner in the living room.
That was once most definitely my greatest takeaway–much less refined small bites and extra crowd-pleasing convenience meals for a right kind dinner. That’s no longer essentially a worth judgment in both course; there are execs & cons of each and every manner. Differently, I discovered a large number of overlap between Membership Stage at Portofino Bay Lodge and the Deluxe Lodges at Walt Disney International. Breakfast, lunch/afternoon snacks, dessert & beverages have been all equivalent. The living room at Portofino Bay is likewise beautiful. If it have been a Deluxe Hotel at Walt Disney International, that Membership Stage would rank extremely.
To that time, we’ve stayed at virtually each Membership Stage at Walt Disney International, some more than one occasions. (For extra normal ideas on concierge stage at WDW, take a look at our Is Membership Stage at Walt Disney International Price It? information.) We even have finished quite a few actual global Membership Stage remains at more than a few Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott homes.
There’s actually no longer a lot sense evaluating Membership Ranges at Common or Disney to their actual global opposite numbers. Actual global hotel concierges pass out in their technique to make you’re feeling particular and pampered. Their carrier may be very attentive and proactive. Provider at theme park lodge Membership Ranges is extra reactionary; if you wish to have help, it’s there. This can also be useful if you happen to’re a Disney or Common amateur and wish fundamental making plans help upon arrival, however it’s no longer in particular helpful to skilled theme park guests.
Don’t get me incorrect–if you make the effort to talk up Staff or Forged Contributors, they’ll be conversational. Masses are long-tenured and liked by means of visitors, however it simply isn’t the similar. It’s pleasant and acquainted carrier versus attentive and opulent, if that makes any sense. That is all what’s normally the case; there are exceptions at each Disney and Common.
All over the day, the Membership Stage front room at Helios Grand Lodge serves the next:
- Breakfast: 7 to 11 a.m.
- Snack Provider (Lunch-ish): Midday to a few p.m.
- Night Hors d’oeuvres (Dinner): 5-7 p.m.
- One thing Candy (Truffles & Cordials): 8-10 p.m.
As with any different Membership Stage lounges, the hors d’oeuvres/dinner choices are the very best quality and maximum substantive, adopted by means of breakfast, after which the ‘one thing candy’ carrier. Lunch or the snack carrier is, by means of some distance, the weakest.
With fundamentals out of the way in which, let’s flip to the great, dangerous & unpleasant of Common Helios Grand Lodge’s Membership Stage:
Just right of Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge
The meals within the Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge is excellent to nice.
Particularly, the dinner carrier is a standout, with Mediterranean and Greek-inspired dishes which are flavorful, top of the range, and sundry. Right through my multi-night keep, there was once all the time one thing other for dinner, and it was once all the time well-rounded. Lighter and more fit choices along heavier dishes.
The hen & cheese skewers, sliders, and red meat abdominal have been all highlights, and higher than the rest I’ve had up to now on the standalone eating places in Helios Grand Lodge. The hummus and salads have been refreshing, and in a similar fashion flavorful. The dinner carrier at Helios is a standout amongst Orlando theme park resorts, and some distance awesome to what we had in the past at Portofino Bay.
Breakfast may be a excellent, however no longer nice like dinner.
For me, this checked the suitable bins. I used to be in a position to have high quality eggs, yogurt, pastries, and fruit. The espresso may be superb.
There wasn’t actually a marquee breakfast dish all through my keep, however this is much better than your moderate ‘loose’ lodge continental breakfast served at some 3rd celebration resorts close to Common Orlando and Walt Disney International. It was once sufficient to energy me via rope drop till lunch.
Talking of, the afternoon snack carrier (“lunch”) was once excellent sufficient.
Above is a mixture of the pre-packaged pieces I grabbed for my bag to snack whilst caught in line when Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity broke down.
None of that is the rest particular, clearly, however it avoids making “the dangerous” checklist as a result of that is par for the route with Membership Stage. Even maximum actual global resorts have mild lunch choices.
In any case, there’s dessert.
The macarons and creme brulee carried the day right here; the entirety else was once high-quality. Extra selection undoubtedly could be great, and I strongly suspect that’ll occur through the years. The very first thing to do would be the comically small unfold of macarons.
Listed here are extra meals footage from Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge:
Every other spotlight of Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge is the Staff Contributors.
Loews obviously pulled the most efficient of the most efficient for the release of Helios Grand Lodge, because the carrier is top-notch around the board. I discovered the body of workers in the living room to be pleasant, useful, and the lodge, front room, and Epic Universe.
This enjoy was once simply essentially the most attentive Membership Stage keep I’ve had at Disney or Common. It most definitely helped that I used to be doing a solo keep, so it wasn’t as though they have been interrupting any dialog, and likewise that the hotel is brand-new. It’ll be price tracking this within the years yet to come, however as of at this time, I’m inspired by means of the polish of the visitor carrier at Helios Grand Lodge. It’s nice around the board, with Membership Stage being the spotlight.
Dangerous of Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge
Should you confirmed me the above picture with out context and informed me this was once the breakfast house at a Fairfield Inn in Des Moines or Grand Rapids, I wouldn’t bat a watch. It jogs my memory a good quantity of a few areas on the 3rd celebration resorts close to Disneyland; possibly with a bit extra pizzazz.
That is hardly ever any marvel. Should you learn our complete Common Helios Grand Lodge Overview, you’d know one of the crucial greatest criticisms is that it’s boxy, bland, and underbaked from a thematic viewpoint. We emphasised how, if Helios Grand Lodge have been constructed to disregard one of the crucial Walt Disney International theme parks, it might be completely excoriated by means of fanatics.
Helios Grand Lodge is sort of a cut-rate Gran Destino Tower. That Reasonable Hotel boasts extra consideration to element during its commonplace spaces, with awesome are compatible and completing. The whole thing about Helios Grand Lodge feels find it irresistible was once worth engineered, with the hotel resting solely on its location and large perspectives of Epic Universe.
It’s no marvel that the Membership Stage Front room is rather like the remainder of Helios Grand Lodge from a thematic viewpoint. It’s a humdrum front room in a humdrum lodge. It’s nonetheless some distance from horrible–it’s simply high-quality. And for what it’s price, there are a number of lounges at Walt Disney International which are best “simply high-quality.”
Listed here are extra footage of the Membership Stage front room internal:
Unpleasant of Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge
Talking of location and large perspectives being the promoting level of Helios Grand Lodge, this front room does no longer have the latter.
In what’s certain to be a debatable resolution, the Membership Stage front room has a “skyline” view, which is to mention that it overlooks within reach roads and place of job parks, with a glimpse of taller constructions within the distance. At the plus aspect, a minimum of it’s no longer essentially a parking construction or behind the scenes amenities view. I in reality had that all through a special keep at Helios Grand Lodge.
Right here’s a glance:
That is unpleasant when contrasted with my room view at the different aspect of the lodge, and is a deserved access on this column, certain. However I will additionally perceive why Loews and Common made the verdict to position the living room in this aspect of the lodge.
Hanging the living room at the park aspect would reason visitors to linger, and likewise inspire the ‘hack’ of downgrading on room view and upgrading to Membership Stage for the most efficient of each worlds. That’s precisely the recommendation we’d’ve introduced!
I’ve been to accommodations with nice front room perspectives, and that’s precisely what occurs. And to make sure, I’ve been a part of the issue, so I’m no longer casting aspersions. It’s the logical factor to do, however it may also create frustrations to find tables because of the similar visitors monopolizing the gap.
I encountered no such problems with the living room at Helios Grand Lodge. Even if admittedly, I took maximum of my meals again to my room to benefit from the view from there.
Different Membership Stage Concerns
Membership Stage is positioned at the 9th surface at Helios Grand Lodge, which applies to each the living room and rooms. If you wish to have a high-floor room, that is the very best and maximum dependable means of having it.
On different remains, I’ve made that room request and nonetheless ended up at the fifth surface or beneath. (Different pals had the similar enjoy.) That is particularly profitable if you wish to have a hen’s eye view of Epic Universe. Right here was once my Park View from the ninth surface:
Moreover, Epic Universe is the number 1 meals park in Orlando. Even after spending more than one days there, I’ve nonetheless best scratched the outside of what its culinary scene has to supply. However what I did check out was once in large part outstanding, an out of this world mix of amusing, photogenic, scrumptious, and impressive. (See My Favourite Meals at Epic Universe & Should-Devour Eating places.)
There’s something to be mentioned for rolling away from bed and having a very easy and environment friendly breakfast ahead of rope drop. There’s additionally one thing to be mentioned for in reality playing the eating places in the number 1 meals park at Common Orlando. If I had to choose from ~$100 in spending cash every day for Epic Universe eating places or limitless meals within the Membership Stage front room at Helios Grand, I’m opting for the previous each unmarried time.
In some way, Membership Stage in reality felt find it irresistible reduced my Epic Universe enjoy. No longer breakfast–that was once nice–however leaving for dinner whilst my pals dined within the park simply felt incorrect. Your mileage might range on that, although. Epic Universe additionally has lengthy wait occasions for counter carrier eating, so the ease and loss of friction round this Membership Stage might be any other promoting level.
The benefit of Helios Grand Lodge to Epic Universe can’t be overstated, and that is doubly positive when leaving the park for foods. That is one thing we fight to do when staying Membership Stage at Walt Disney International, because the travel time for the “loose” meals is just too nice of a value.
A minimum of in my enjoy, doing foods within the Membership Stage front room at Helios Grand was once in reality a time-saver. As famous above, I’d section techniques with my pals, who would devour anyplace within the park, after which meet again up once we have been finished.
Each and every unmarried time, I met them at a counter carrier eating place the place they have been nonetheless completing up foods. And I didn’t in particular rush or the rest–I’d even prevent again at my room to grasp my tripod, alternate sneakers, price my telephone, and so forth. (It “is helping” that the preferred counter carrier eating places at Epic Universe get slammed at dinner.) The Membership Stage front room in reality being time-neutral to time-saving is an underrated receive advantages at Helios Grand Lodge.
Is Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge Definitely worth the Value?
It’s inconceivable to make an around the board overview of whether or not Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge is “price it.”
It is because Common Orlando/Loews use dynamic pricing for his or her resorts. What this normally method is that costs build up as dates draw closer. That’s no longer all the time true, however we’ve observed it occur a minimum of 80% of the time. Even all through the low season. Common generally offsets this by means of providing discounted charges to Florida citizens and Annual Passholders.
Regardless, demand-based pricing can produce quirks…akin to Skyline Membership Stage rooms costing the very same value as usual rooms, or being actually $1 costlier. I’ve observed a large number of this when looking last-minute within the months since Epic Universe opened, and it’s truthfully perplexing. You most likely don’t want me to let you know whether or not Membership Stage is “price it” for $1 consistent with evening. (Spoiler alert: it’s.)
Those quirks most commonly emerge final minute. When looking additional upfront, apparently to me that Membership Stage pricing begins at about $75 to $175 costlier consistent with evening. I received’t faux to be knowledgeable on usual pricing at Common Orlando/Loews, however that moves me as the typical value disparity. The distance grows round height season dates, and will shut within the low season with AP or FL resident reductions. All of this is kind of in step with Walt Disney International, minus the dynamic pricing section.
Cut up remains additionally paintings actually properly with Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge. It’s essential do a few nights right here and a pair extra on the primary campus of Common Orlando to leverage Limitless Specific Go, and even cut up time between Epic Universe and Walt Disney International. There are a ton of various techniques to leverage cut up remains and Membership Stage to scale back prices, optimize for location and foods, and so on.
Reserving early is the optimum manner for Helios Grand Lodge, after which circling again to look if any reductions drop later. Our expectation is that received’t occur till the ‘new lodge scent’ wears off, which might take years. Critiques were moderately sparkling of Helios Grand Lodge, so call for will most likely stay sturdy.
Given all of that, we extremely suggest asking for a quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Common Most popular Trip Company. They are able to lend a hand reserving Helios Grand Lodge for you, comparability buying groceries a few of the more than a few resorts, serving to decide which applications will paintings perfect on your circle of relatives, and discovering techniques to optimize a Membership Stage keep at Helios Grand Lodge!
In the long run, this is likely one of the perfect Membership Ranges we’ve finished at Walt Disney International or Common Orlando. The meals at breakfast, dinner and dessert is excellent to nice, and lunch is enough.
Provider is any other excessive level, with Loews obviously pulling the most efficient of the most efficient to body of workers the brand new lodge; the workers I encountered all took satisfaction and possession in their hotel. The living room is not anything particular thematically, however that’s par for the route with this lodge.
The one actual drawback is the view of the living room, and that’s remedied by means of reserving a Park View room. Clearly, that includes a value, however if you happen to’re taking a look at Membership Stage as a amusing splurge (which is actually the one technique to justify it–there worth proposition hardly pencils out except you win the $1 upcharge lotto reserving last-minute), then pairing it with Park View is the absolute technique to pass.
That’s what offered me on Membership Stage at Helio Grand Lodge and why we’ll most definitely go back as a circle of relatives if we will be able to rating a aggressive fee. (That, and Epic Universe no longer providing a lot for little toddlers, so two contributors of our celebration would get so much out of the living room.) There was once one thing to be mentioned for going to the living room and grabbing food and drink to take again to my room.
Sitting within the window, playing scrumptious sliders whilst decompressing all through a park spoil or a morning ‘get up’ espresso or overdue evening cakes whilst staring at on the glimmering lighting and fountains. The ones reports are all amongst my maximum memorable, and it’s difficult to position a value on that. Membership Stage is my new favourite technique to keep at Epic Universe, particularly because it provides a point of comfort, convenience, and simplicity to an enjoy that another way can also be missing the ones issues!
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Your Ideas
What do you recall to mind the Membership Stage at Epic Universe’s in-park lodge? Does this front room or its meals glance interesting or unappealing to you? Would you favor $100 spending cash for consuming at Epic Universe or limitless “loose” meals in the living room? Should you’ve already stayed at Membership Stage at Helios Grand Lodge, what do you recall to mind it? Do you settle or disagree with our overview? Any questions we will be able to will let you solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!
