ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s the year of Universal Epic Universe and just a few weeks into 2025, Universal Orlando is showing off its newest hotel that’s loosely tied into the storyline of its upcoming fourth theme park.
Reservations are now open for all Epic Universe hotels and on Thursday, News 6 got a first look at Universal Stella Nova Resort, a Loews hotel, set to open to the public on Jan. 21.
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Situated just steps from Epic Universe, Stella Nova and its sister hotel Universal Terra Luna Resort each have 750 guest rooms, resort-style amenities, and several food and drink options.
While related in concept, the two hotels will offer different experiences.
Celestial exterior & lobby
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Both Stella Nova and Terra Luna each have 144,000 tiles, each one laid up by hand.
Every shingle went through an acid bath which turned them into a dichroic panel. Each one is left in the acid bath for 10 seconds or more depending on how dark the color is.
“We used James Webb Telescope imagery and then used that as the inspiration for how to pixilate the galaxies and interpret that on the façade of these properties,” said Russ Dagon, senior vice president of Resort Development. “It’s a different experience, different times of the day. In the morning, it looks like one thing. In the evening, it looks like something else and then obviously in the night — amazing.”
In addition to all the tiles, the façade also has lights that create constellation patterns.
Eagle-eyed Epic Universe fans will also have to look for a Celestial Park Easter egg that Dagon said is in the façade.
As for the arrival, the porte-cochère is like a black hole and draws you into the building.
With no straight wall in sight, the lobby is the perfect place for gathering, consisting of terrazzo floors with the Nova Bar front and center.
All the touches are images from NASA throughout the hotel.
“Space”-cious rooms
Sleek and modern, Stella Nova’s guest rooms come equipped with double queen beds that comfortably sleep up to four guests and feature spaceship-styled windows that will provide either a view of Epic Universe or the pool.
Cosmic dining
Both Stella Luna and Terra Luna offer three dining options.
At Stella Nova’s Galaxy Bar and Galaxy Grill, guests can enjoy burgers, quesadillas, and salads at these walk-up service pool bars and grills. Guests 21 and older can purchase cocktails, beer, and wine (with a valid photo ID).
Made-to-order American classics for breakfast, lunch and dinner are available at Cosmos Cafe and Market
Stella Nova’s Nova Bar offers specialty cocktails curated with unique ingredients, along with the classics.
Amenities
Dedicated resort days are just as enjoyable as theme park days.
Poolside, Stella Nova Resort offers a nearly 10,000-square-foot pool with a relaxing hot tub, comfortable lounge and table-top seating in the pool area, a fire pit and more. The whole family can also look forward to recreational activities like poolside movies and outdoor games.
“It’s a great way to start and end your vacation. You check into the hotel and you’re on one level of high. There’s a buzz that comes with checking into a hotel that’s this stunning and tied to the theme park,” said Dagon.
Other amenities include a fitness center, game room, recreation room and Universal Orlando Resort stores.
Planning your stay
For guests staying at Stella Nova Resort, a shuttle bus offers complimentary transportation throughout Universal Orlando Resort. Guests can also get early park admission.
Universal Stella Nova Resort falls under the prime value hotel category at Universal Orlando Resort. Bookings for Stella Nova and Terra Luna (opening March 25) are open and rates currently begin at $147 per night.
Booking is also open for Universal Helios Grand Hotel, which is connected to Epic Universe.
Traffic circle timeline
Epic Universe won’t be the only eye-catching feature that can be seen from Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resorts.
As part of the Kirkman Road extension project — which is 1.7 miles from Carrier Drive through Sand Lake Road down to Universal Boulevard — an elevated traffic circle will purpose traffic flow and serve as a regional landmark.
In an update sent to News 6 on Tuesday, Orange County officials say they are targeting completion of the Kirkman Road extension and elevated traffic circle during the first quarter of this year.
Opening on May 22, Universal’s fourth theme park sits on 750 acres of land. Multi-day ticket packages are now on sale.
Epic Universe features five vivid worlds:
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Transporting visitors to a different era of the wizarding world, blending 1920s wizarding Paris from the “Fantastic Beasts” films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic.
- Super Nintendo World: Featuring beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong in an interactive gaming experience.
- Dark Universe: A realm of myth and mystery, where guests encounter the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein and traverse a shadowy landscape inhabited by monsters like Dracula and the Wolfman.
- How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: Discover an island where Vikings and fire-breathing dragons exist together in harmony.
- Celestial Park: Thrilling rides, entertainment, dining, shopping, plus the Universal Helios Grand Hotel, all come together to create an amazing world of discovery and excitement.
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