Helios Grand Resort is the brand new lodge inside of Epic Universe, and it gives a ton of room sorts from essentially the most barebones of rooms with perspectives of not anything to fancy ‘Celestial’ suites overlooking the park. This evaluate covers the center floor possibility, one of the vital less expensive circle of relatives suites (that appears the phase!), and whether or not it’s value the price to improve.
As an entire, there’s so much to like about Helios Grand Resort, and nearly as a lot to dislike. The unfavorable is that the Helios Grand isn’t a luxurious resort or the rest drawing near that. The eye to element and themed design is most commonly superficial; the have compatibility and finishings are reasonable or underwhelming. The usual rooms are handiest marginally higher and bigger than Terra Luna and Stella Nova.
On the subject of Helios Grand, location is the large promoting level. It’s simple to put out of your mind so much when your room relatively actually overlooks Epic Universe. Or when you’ll input and go out in the course of the personal Epic Universe front, and be again for your room for a noon spoil or to flee the rain inside mins. It is extremely treasured, and Helios Grand Resort is ceaselessly priced accordingly.
Different instances, it very a lot isn’t! Helios Grand pricing is everywhere. There are occasions when it’s considerably dearer than budget-tier Terra Luna and Stella Nova, that are additionally inside strolling distance of Epic Universe.
Different instances, the price distinction is underneath $100 in step with evening. Even that is probably not “value it” in the event you’re on a good price range, as Terra Luna and Stella Nova arguably punch some distance above their weight, while Helios Grand underdelivers.
If you happen to’re searching for extra ideas at the new resort as an entire, take a look at our Common Helios Grand Resort Assessment. Suffice to mention, there’s numerous just right, dangerous & unsightly that applies to the lodge as an entire; this covers handiest the upsides and drawbacks of this one reserving class.
On the subject of the suites, pricing could also be everywhere. A few months in the past, we revealed Common Orlando Accommodations Are Most cost-effective We’ve Noticed in Years. That mentioned how, for some dates we had been making an allowance for, the park view rooms had been handiest $12 in step with evening dearer than the no-view rooms.
Neatly, it’s a equivalent tale with one of the suites, the cost of that are everywhere. There are occasions once they’re $200 dearer, and different instances when the surcharge is a lot more modest.
That’s exactly how those rooms changed into our best circle of relatives lodging possibility at Epic Universe. At the dates once they’re $50 to $100 dearer, the additional 170 sq. toes in measurement that they provide (495 sq. foot rooms for those suites as opposed to 325 sq. foot same old rooms) will also be completely value it.
King Suites at Helios Grand Resort Review
The circle of relatives suites we’re masking listed below are known as the “King Suite” at the Common Orlando reserving website.
Common describes those as being easiest for a circle of relatives that wishes just a little privateness, with each a residing area and bed room. This 495 sq. foot suite includes a king mattress, and separate tub and self-esteem spaces.
The residing area features a sleeper settee, eating desk, and kitchenette with a microwave, small refrigerator, and sink. Most occupancy of four visitors (3 adults most) with a rollaway (charges follow).
King Suite Room Facilities:
- Espresso/Tea Maker
- Hair Dryer
- Mini Fridge
- In-Room Protected
- Iron and Ironing Board
- Wi-fi Web Get right of entry to
- Tv Together with HD Channels
- In Room Pill Keep an eye on
Different options come with Julien Farel tub merchandise, and all kinds of retailers and USB ports.
All rooms at Helios Grand Resort boast 300-thread-count, 100% cotton mattress linens; versus a mattress runner, all of them have ornamental duvets that duvet the overall duration of the mattress. Convenience-wise, the bedding is plush and implausible. The sheets are relatively great. The bedding makes Helios Grand really feel like a luxury-tier resort.
Probably the most different upholstery could also be relatively great, and carpet underneath your toes now feels “sumptuous” because the resort trade strikes clear of it in choose of laminate flooring which can be more straightforward to scrub and supposedly extra sanitary. Individually, I want carpet and mattress runners or right kind ornamental duvets, so I suppose I’m unhygienic. Or oldschool.
At the new college entrance, there’s a pill for controlling the lighting, temperature, TV, and studying concerning the resort. There also are wall controls for the entire similar, even though I discovered them to be hit and miss. I had an overly tricky time opening and shutting the drapes, and I promise this wasn’t because of consumer error.
I’ve combined emotions concerning the visitor rooms at Helios Grand Resort. I really like the headboard, which conjures up a watercolor portray with its floral brushstrokes in comfortable crimson and blue tones. The furniture and furnishings are most commonly great, as are a number of accents that lift the room.
On the similar time, there also are numerous ways in which the visitor rooms at Helios Grand, just like the resort as an entire, really feel cheaply-done. The have compatibility and completing seem swiftly performed and sloppy. There’s so much that feels generic, thoughtlessly thrown in combination, and harking back to an bizarre chained-brand resort.
It’s now not precisely what you’d be expecting for a flagship resort overlooking a brand new $7 billion theme park. However, Helios Grand Resort isn’t priced as such, both, with rooms ceaselessly within the $200 vary.
Weaknesses of King Suite at Helios Grand
On the subject of the King Suite, there are much more perplexing design selections.
The eating house turns out particularly reasonable. The tile screams utilitarian design, and rings a bell in my memory of the cookie-cutter subdivisions we toured when searching for a house in Horizon West.
If truth be told, one of the atypical and barebones possible choices right here make me wonder if Common used Pulte for Helios Grand Resort. That might truthfully provide an explanation for so much. (IYKYK.)
There are noticeably naked partitions of the residing and eating rooms, and this entire part is window-less. There’s just one piece of artwork, which is equal to that present in the usual rooms. If truth be told, it’s as though the decor for the usual room is identical for the King Suite, simply unfold out into a bigger footprint.
The picnic-style desk rings a bell in my memory of one thing I had in my school dorm. The kitchenette appears like an afterthought, that includes the most cost effective home equipment. Calling this IKEA-caliber can be an insult to IKEA, and once more, that is the resort overlooking Epic Universe that are supposed to be a flagship.
If you happen to’re a stickler for themed design, it could be honest to name the King Suite unhappy. This room is undoubtedly now not for you. On paper, this describes us. I’m nearly embarrassed to be recommending this room given its stylistic shortcomings, however the sensible truth is that it really works in point of fact properly for us.
Why We Just like the King Suite In spite of Its Flaws
In case you are a circle of relatives serious about area, the King Suite could be very a lot for you. We’ve long past from a few sticklers for genre and well-themed ones to an overly “functionality-first” circle of relatives when touring with our daughter.
That’s the place the King Suite is a winner. It’s higher, and my largest drawback with the usual rooms at Helios Grand Resort is their measurement. My first time staying right here, I stayed at Common Terra Luna Lodge the nights prior to switching to Common Helios Grand Resort.
My room on the former, a ‘High Price Lodge’ costing not up to $150 in step with evening, used to be 315 sq. toes. My room at Helios Grand used to be handiest 325 sq. toes. Each rooms felt small, however the distinction is you in reality be expecting that with a budget-tier lodge.
The King Suite “fixes” that, increasing to make this a 495 sq. foot room. That’s clearly now not double the scale, nevertheless it nearly feels love it via distinctive feature of getting a wall and door to split the bed room from the residing area.
When touring as a circle of relatives, this separation of area is an enormous asset. This room doesn’t simply have a separate bed room, which is the most obvious upside, nevertheless it additionally has a kitchenette house that’s distinct from the lounge.
If you happen to’re spending numerous time within the room, it’s great to have 3 separate areas. One for dozing, one for lounging, and one for consuming. It may well be “handiest” 170 sq. toes in measurement higher, however the way in which the realm is split makes an international of distinction.
It’s nice if you need other spaces for folks and children to sleep, or for the adults as a way to do one thing after infant bedtime, or just for buying able within the morning. Simply generally, this suite feels some distance much less cramped than the usual room at Helios Grand Resort.
If there’s a park view possibility for the King Suites, I’ve but to peer it. Our room had what a Jungle Cruise Skipper may building up as the fantastic…the colossal…the stupendous…the 8th marvel of the Wizarding Global…the bottom of…Potter!!! (I’m right here all week, other people.)
Right through all my different remains, I’ve all the time paid further for a park view room at Helios Grand Resort (even though I’m hardly ever one to splurge on room perspectives, the improve price hasn’t ever been dangerous right here…knock on wooden).
I undoubtedly ignored the park view with this room, however on the similar time, seeing the behind the scenes goings on outdoor the Wizarding Global of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic used to be kinda cool. Now I’m curious concerning the similar of this view at the Darkish Universe facet.
Past that, I don’t in point of fact have the rest profound to mention concerning the King Suite at Helios Grand Resort. The footage just about discuss for themselves, and will have to provide you with a good suggestion of whether or not that is for you.
I believe this one goes to be polarizing, with folks both loving the practicality or hating how the flagship resort overlooking the $7 billion theme park appears so phoned-in; each thematically underdone and missing within the luxuriousness you’d be expecting at this sort of belongings.
Something I’d upload is that the King Suite at Helios Grand Resort undoubtedly provides a circle of relatives area to unfold out, nevertheless it doesn’t in point of fact use its footprint in the best manner conceivable. There’s numerous useless area, which will also be wonderful when the aim is extra respiring room, nevertheless it doesn’t optimize each and every inch of the distance.
In truth, I don’t assume the King Suite at Helios Grand Resort is the rest particular. The carpet and the mattress are great, and are two ways in which this room feels upmarket from one thing like Gran Destino Tower at Walt Disney Global. In each and every different regard, it’s inferior.
Each and every grievance levied at Disney rooms (after which some) may well be made right here. The room is simply underbaked, with the lounge particularly feeling a little claustrophobic because of its tight area and naked, windowless partitions. If any person had been to say that the All Big name Song Circle of relatives Suites are nicer than this, I’d now not argue another way.
The only promoting level the King Suite at Helios Grand Resort has is its measurement and structure. Whilst I wouldn’t guide this room class for myself (I’d a lot moderately have a park view same old room), it’s nearly a will have to as a birthday party of three given the cramped quarters of the common rooms. So this isn’t in point of fact the rest even remotely particular…it’s simply extra spacious. That’s it. That’s the promoting level.
Circle of relatives Suites at Helios vs. Disney
For us, the gold same old for this sort of room is the Artwork of Animation Circle of relatives Suites. The ones rooms are higher nonetheless at 565 sq. toes, actually have a wall and door setting apart the lounge and master suite, but additionally upload every other toilet and mattress by way of convertible desk to the combination. I’m in reality a large fan of the Artwork of Animation Circle of relatives Suite structure. It’s my favourite higher, budget-friendly room possibility. (Automobiles Suites are the most productive.)
Just like the King Suite at Helios Grand Resort, costs for Artwork of Animation Circle of relatives Suites are everywhere. They’re ceaselessly a part of the Disney+ deep bargain for subscribers, which brings them right down to $249 in step with evening. That’s less than the bottom worth we’ve ever observed for the King Suites at Helios Grand, however now not via a lot.
Clearly, an apples to oranges comparability for the reason that this can be a quasi flagship resort overlooking Epic Universe. Each are nice selections if you wish to unfold out, however I’d put the Artwork of Animation Circle of relatives Suites over the King Suites at Helios Grand Resort if score or rating the rooms.
‘Caution’ About Common’s Dynamic Pricing
If you need help to find the most productive charges on Common Orlando resorts (as it may be very tough!), we’d suggest asking for a FREE no legal responsibility quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, an Approved Common and Disney Holiday Planner and having them guide for you. They’re going to feel free to help you with the making plans procedure, mean you can make a selection essentially the most economical dates, easiest add-ons, and so on.
One ultimate, extra generalized phrase of ‘caution’ is that Common Orlando and Loews Accommodations use dynamic pricing for his or her inns and holiday applications. This differs from date-based pricing, which is what Walt Disney Global makes use of for its park tickets, lodge charges, and extra.
We form of touched in this above when speaking concerning the rooms being vulnerable to wild worth swings, however we didn’t in point of fact provide an explanation for the why of that. Briefly, it’s as a result of Common’s dynamic style is very similar to airways, rideshare, resorts, or different shuttle trade choices.
What this will have to imply is that costs building up or lower as dictated via call for. Costs can differ on a daily and even hour-to-hour foundation as bookings are made.
In observe, we’ve observed pricing at Common is extra, ahem, vague. It may be like a veritable curler coaster journey, with spikes and sharp drops that I can’t consider have the rest to do with underlying occupancy metrics.
In different phrases, Common resort pricing is everywhere, and that’s simply the bottom costs prior to particular gives. Accordingly, the most productive observe is all the time reserving early at Common and rebooking later if costs do drop for some reason why.
We’ve heard from numerous readers who had been looking at costs at Common Orlando resorts, ready to guide for no matter reason why, after which noticed costs come with reference to doubling in a single day. Common’s dynamic pricing machine does now not appear finely-tuned; sharp spikes and deep drops aren’t unusual.
Given this, the optimum manner is to lock-in one thing at Common once shuttle dates. There’s little to no level in ready; reserving early is all upside. We’ve discussed this a number of instances in passing in other places, however we stay seeing it go back and forth up holiday planners, particularly the ones extra conversant in Walt Disney Global reservations, the place it may make sense to look ahead to reductions to be launched prior to reserving. That’s the unsuitable manner with Common.
Want go back and forth making plans pointers and complete recommendation in your consult with to Central Florida? Remember to learn our Common Orlando Making plans Information for the entirety about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally take a look at our Walt Disney Global Holiday Making plans Information for the entirety about the ones parks, inns, eating places, and so a lot more. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and a lot more, join our FREE e mail publication!
Your Ideas
What do you bring to mind the King Suite at Helios Grand Resort? Does this room glance befitting of the flagship resort overlooking a brand-new $7 billion theme park? Does it glance nicer than the Artwork of Animation Circle of relatives Suites and even All Big name Song? Do you settle or disagree with our evaluate? Any questions we will mean you can resolution? Listening to your comments–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas beneath within the feedback!
