Staying onsite at an Orlando theme park is the most practical solution for theme park tourists. It’s also one of the costliest. The Walt Disney Company and NBC Universal (now a subsidiary of Comcast) have operated their vacation paradises for decades now. Each corporation has a sixth sense about how to maximize revenue, and the customer is the one who winds up paying for it.
Despite Orlando’s reputation as one of the most family-friendly travel destinations in the world, Disney and Universal designed their Orlando resorts to have widespread appeal. Each of them offers features and functionality that will satisfy any party from swinging singles (if you’re a time traveler from the 1960s) to massive family reunions. Independent of the size of your party, you can find a room or suite to fit your needs and your budgets. Today, let’s have some fun and focus on suites once again since everyone loves watching how the other half lives. Let’s see how Universal and Disney compare when it comes to providing the most decadent accommodations in Orlando.
Also, let’s decide a few things by comparison. Do the suites at Orlando theme parks match the perceptions of their accompanying theme parks? How much space do their rooms possess? And what are the amenities Disney and Universal sell in alignment with easy theme park access? When you book a room at one of these resorts, you’ll have plenty to consider. Alternately, when you look at the most expensive rooms and suites onsite, you’ll have plenty to dream about. That’s fun, too.
Let’s take this opportunity to forget about budgets and boundaries for a time and figure out how the major onsite resorts at Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World compare and contrast. In order to settle this debate, we only have to set a few ground rules. The first is that we’re only focusing on Universal and Disney resorts in the Orlando area. Since Sea World doesn’t have an official hotel and Busch Gardens is in Tampa, we’re leaving them off the list.
Also, the hotels must be owned by Universal and Disney. That excludes all outside corporations and their hotels, including Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort (actual, insanely redundant name) and Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan. Similarly, the partner hotels by Universal Resort Orlando aren’t eligible. Now that we know the rules, let’s have some fun. Here’s everything you need to know about the best Disney and Universal hotel suites in Orlando! We’ll get things started with the latter, beginning with the most recent hotel at the resort that opened just last year!
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Image: Universal
Image: Universal
Oddly, even though Sapphire Falls is listed in the same tier as Loews Royal Pacific, the latter hotel includes the Universal Express Unlimited Pass while the newest one does not. I would note that with the Universal Express Unlimited pass, you basically own both gates at Universal Resort Orlando. Most of the popular rides, save for a couple of Harry Potter attractions, participate. And the Universal version of the program doesn’t work like Disney’s FastPass+ system. When you have the Universal Express Unlimited Pass, the only people in line in front of you are others with these passes, meaning you’ll rarely have to wait more than a few minutes. For this reason, if you’re going to stay onsite at a Universal Studios suite, I would recommend the other three properties over Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls.
Having said that, the benefit of staying at Sapphire Falls in particular is that your room is extremely new. Having worked for several years in the hospitality industry, I stress that this is important. New facilities are almost always better in terms of functionality and amenities. Even when older properties renovate, they’re working at a disadvantage relative to newer facilities.
The two finest suites at the Universal Resort Orlando’s newest resort are the appropriately named Sapphire Suite and the Hospitality Suite. The latter room is “smaller”, with 851 square feet of space. The primary features are a massive King bed, one and a half baths with separate shower and tub, and a living room that includes a wet bar, should you want to create your own Sapphire Falls. There’s also an efficient kitchenette complete with ample counter space, plus a dining room sitting area overlooking the pool. For $450 per night, you get a lot of value with the Sapphire Suite.
The Hospitality Suite is a recurring concept at the various Universal hotels. The design of this suite emphasizes hosting capabilities. They’re all open spaces with a lot of square footage, allowing large groups of friends or family members to hang out in a larger seating area. The Sapphire Falls Hospitality Suite is 1,353 square feet, with a better kitchenette and a decadent bath tub. The dining table can seat eight, and another five can sit around the coffee table thanks to a spacious sofa and a couple of chairs. Again, the purpose of this suite is to hold gatherings, and that applies to the sleeping situation as well.
Despite its size, the Hospitality Suite only sleeps three, and that’s factoring in a rollaway as an option. Keep that in mind if you’re thinking about booking it. Since the room costs $650 per night, that could be a deal breaker for you.
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Image: Universal
When Universal originally announced Cabana Bay, it was a daring venture for them. All of their resorts on the Universal Resort Orlando campus were upscale in nature. With Cabana Bay, they targeted entry level consumers. Of course, they also learned from Disney, appreciating that one of the keys to a wonderful tourist hotel is the theming.
Out of the five current hotels Universal offers Orlando vacationers, Cabana Bay is the coolest in my opinion. It’s a throwback to the Jet Set days of the 1960s, a tribute to the Las Vegas lifestyle. There’s something about this style that’s engrained in our collective consciousness. Cabana Bay features plenty of pastels to build a sense of calm and relaxation throughout the resort. The two pools are the closest you can come to spending a day at the Sahara with the Brat Pack. The resort somehow achieves this effect while staying family friendly. Onsite amenities include a lazy river and bowling alley!
Beyond the theming, the positive about staying at Cabana Bay is the price. Rooms are generally $175 a night or less. Even the suites cost less than the rack rate of a night’s stay on the Concierge Floor of Hard Rock Hotel. The downside is that it’s the hotel that is least convenient to the parks; also, remember that you don’t receive the Universal Express Unlimited pass here unless you pay extra.
As far as the suites go, family suites are readily available. They’re also not that much more than regular hotel rooms. Many of the family suites cost $225 a night or less. Then again, all you’re getting for the extra money is a slightly larger bathroom and a better view. All of these suites allegedly sleep six, but that feels like a stretch. The good news is that these rooms will provide views of the gardens below, the adjacent pools, or – and this is the one worth consideration – a bird’s eye view of Volcano Bay, the new Universal water park introduced in 2017.
The “nicest” suite at Cabana Bay is the 2-Bedroom Suite. Unlike the others listed above, it’s spacious in size, providing 772 square feet of room for you to spread out and relax. Parents will be glad to know that it also includes two bathrooms, so mom and dad don’t have to share with the kids. There’s also a pullout sofa in the sitting area, stretching the number of potential guests to eight. Plus, all of the 2-Bedroom Suites come with a view of Volcano Bay. It’s not a bad deal and, at a price $360 per night, it’s the most affordable full suite at either Universal or Disney.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort
Image: Universal
Opened in 2002, this is the “newest” of the original Universal resorts. Over a three-year period, the company introduced a new deluxe hotel annually. After Royal Pacific, they didn’t build anything else for 13 years. So, it was the baby of the family for more than a decade before Cabana Bay came along. It’s also the resort that gets (possibly unfairly) criticized the most for its lack of originality. That’s because it’s unmistakably similar in nature to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Both properties celebrate the Pacific islands culture.
Loews Royal Pacific Resort introduces its theme as you approach the resort. You cross a bamboo bridge to reach the lobby. Here, you’ll feel embraced by the tropical setting as you see stylish Balinese umbrellas populated throughout the greeting space. It’s so serene that you’ll feel like you’re on vacation the moment you see the hotel up ahead.
One of the differences between the first three Universal resorts and the most recent two is the number of room types. If we only discuss suites, Royal Pacific has the King Suite, the Royal Club Level King Room, the Royal Club Level 2 Queen Room, the Royal Club King Suite, the Jurassic Park Kids’ Suite (Velociraptors not included), the Hospitality Parlor Suite, The Royal Hospitality Parlor Suite, and the Captain’s Presidential Suite. That’s…too much.
Let’s focus on the ultimate suites at Pacific Resort. Those are the Royal Hospitality Parlor Suite and the Captain’s Presidential Suite. If you’re wondering if there’s a difference between the non-royal and royal suites, there actually is. The “regular” Hospitality Parlor Suite is smaller, as it has 1,005 square feet of the space. Meanwhile, the Lorde-approved version is more than 30 percent bigger, with 1,340 square feet. More than half of that room is in the Parlor; it’s 670 square feet on its own, which is equal to or bigger than almost all the other suites listed above.
Image: Universal
Located on the Royal Club Lounge level, the seventh floor, the Royal Hospitality Parlor Suite is cleverly constructed for functionality. It has two and a half baths, one adjoining each of the bedrooms, plus a stand up shower in the common area of the suite. It also includes a dining room complete with eight-person conference table. Factoring in the work desk in the living room area, you can actually invite some co-workers up to this space and get actual work done. Of course, if you’re working while right down the street from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you’re doing it wrong.
The incongruity about the Royal Hospitality Parlor Suite is that Universal lists a maximum occupancy of seven. By my count, ten is feasible, so their calculation must involve fire code laws or the like. One of the bedrooms features a king bed that Universal states can comfortably hold three guests (that sounds more fitting for the Hard Rock Hotel, right?) and a second bedroom with a pair of queen beds, so that’s five more by Universal’s own count. Then, the foldout sofa hosts two more guests. Also, with the large kitchen space, you can hold a major noshing session at your hospitality suite. It really is a wonderful option for a fun party or laid back business meeting. Hospitality Suites start at $800 per night, and the Royal version costs $1,150 on average.
Image: Universal
The Captain’s Presidential Suite is actually capable of transforming, apt for a place just down the road from Transformers the Ride. The smaller version of the suite is 1,340 square feet. Guests have the option of adding a second connecting bedroom. Should you choose to do so, that’ll expand the square footage to just over 2,000.
When you stay here, you’re technically visiting the home of Captain Jake McNally, whose backstory is the basis of the entire resort. Staying at his quarters will include a relaxing hot tub to recharge your body after a day of sailing the high seas. It also offers many of the same amenities as the Royal Hospitality Parlor Suite, including the same kitchen and dining room features plus a massive sitting area. There’s also a study where an adventurer can jot down the details of their journey before they’re forgotten. For a suite that costs $1,800 a night, it’s oddly silly in nature.
Hard Rock Hotel Orlando
Image: Universal
The Hard Rock Hotel is the momentous exception to the five-resort Universal lineup in Orlando. Unlike the other properties built exclusively as theme park accompaniments, the Hard Rock brand predates everything else by A LOT. The Universal Orlando theme park opened in 1990. Conversely, the first Hard Rock Café is more than 45 years old; the original opened Piccadilly, London, in 1971.
With an established and world-renowned brand already in existence, Universal simply had to build a hotel worthy of the Hard Rock name. What they created in 2000 is a majestic resort chock-full of musical sensibilities and an energetic atmosphere. As an infrequent guest of the hotel, my lone complaint is that the sheer volume of the music played at the Hard Rock Hotel toes the line between thematically perfect and eardrum-poppingly loud. It’s also inescapable. Speakers line the walls of the hotel lobby, the hallways, and even the rooms. For that matter, you can still hear music when you’re hanging out at the hotel’s best amenity, its 12,000 square feet pool area. The sound system even plays underwater! When they say HARD ROCK, they mean it.
Image: Universal
If money is no object for you, this is the place to stay. It’s located closest to the entry gates of Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. If you’re familiar with CityWalk, you understand that it’s also the closest to all the restaurants and shops there. One of them is, fittingly, a Hard Rock Café. While walking distance from the hotel is less than 10 minutes, the way that a billionaire would handle their travel is by using one of the readily available rickshaws. Burly men will gladly pull you along to the park gates, the closest modern society can come to the days when sweaty, shirtless gladiators rode their war chariots to glory. Why these are a transportation option at Hard Rock Hotel is a bit of a mystery, though.
As far as the finest rooms go, you should only consider the concierge floor or higher. That way, you’ll get to spend time in a spacious but blissfully quiet room on one of the hotel’s highest floors. This concierge seating area, the Club 7 Lounge, was the only respite of silence I got the last time I stayed there. You’ll enjoy “free” food and drinks throughout your time in the Concierge area, albeit at a cost of about $100-$150 more per night. Note that deals are available for early planners, and I do think that the service is worth upcharge consideration.
Image: Universal
The Hard Rock Hotel Hospitality Suites are 1,250 square feet, plenty of room for you and a few friends and/or groupies. The parlor area is especially impressive, and there’s also a kitchenette, presuming you’re not too rock ‘n’ roll to microwave a burrito. The kingliest space at Hard Rock Hotel Orlando isn’t a step above this level, though. It’s the Graceland Suite, a 2,000 square feet large social space featuring a bed large enough to hold Fat Elvis himself. It also has a hot tub and walk-in closet. It’s basically nicer than your house, although you’ll have to supply your own fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches when you stay here.
Staying on the concierge floor at the Hard Rock Hotel will cost about $500 per night. The Hospitality suites are at least triple that, while a night at faux-Graceland will cost $2,500 or more.
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Image: Universal
Having opened in 1999, this was the first Universal resort, and they decided to compete with the big boys. Rather than make something modest, Universal constructed their direct response to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Their first thought was “viva l’Italia!” So, they built a credible tribute to Portofino, a seaside port on the Italian Riviera.
At the resort, you’ll discover many loving tributes to Italian culture. There’s a piazza by the artificial harbor, where you can sit and admire your surroundings. Then, you can visit the authentic bell tower. Afterward, you can enjoy a dip in the gorgeous pool, all the while appreciating the accompanying building ramparts. Universal constructed these battlements to set the tone for a swim. I find it a bit incongruous, but many people swear by it as the finest hotel pool at Universal (my pick’s Hard Rock Hotel). Independent of what you think of it, your kids will love exploring the region as you relax with a trusty boat drink.
Image: Universal
The two unique suite types at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel are Villa Parlor Suites and the Presidente Suite. The Italian theme permeates throughout the upper tier accommodations here. The Villa Parlor Suites are 1,110 square feet for the basic version. You also have the right to expand to a two-bedroom, adding more square footage while changing the potential number of guests from seven to ten. As is the case with Hospitality Suites, the Parlor comprises more than half the space in the suite. There’s also a kitchenette and a marvelous seating area. The best feature, especially if you’re staying in the west wing, is a huge balcony overlooking the surrounding landscape. Of course, you pay about a dollar per square for this suite, which generally costs at least $1,000 per night.
Image: Universal
At $1,400 as a base rack rate, the Presidente Suite is even pricier. It’s in the conversation for best room at any Universal Orlando hotel, though. With a massive 2,725 square feet, it’s a well-designed condominium more than it’s a hotel room. Amusingly, Universal lists the Presidente Suite as only sleeping three, which makes me wonder if they mean three clones of Andre the Giant. Whatever the explanation, it’s the type of Italian villa that you’d see in a romantic comedy. There’s a magnificent fireplace, a comfy couch and seating area, and a bedroom that would make Hugh Hefner envious. While Loews Portofino Bay Hotel as a whole isn’t on a par with Disney’s Grand Floridian, this suite might be. Of course, at a cost of $2,000 – $2,500 per night, it should be.
Now that you know the details of Universal’s finest onsite suites, let’s take a look at the comparable ones at Walt Disney World. We’ve evaluated five specific hotels at Universal, and what we want to do is contrast them with equivalent Disney properties. I’ll explain my rationale for each comparison before discussing the available suites.
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Image: Disney
Sapphire Falls Resort is the equivalent of a Moderate Resort at Disney. It’s also fairly new, which is problematic since most onsite Disney properties are older, especially the ones in the Moderate Resort range. I’m going to pick Coronado Springs for this one since it’s the closest in rack room price range. Sapphire Falls costs $220 per night as a baseline. Coronado Springs is about $250 per night.
Image: Disney
Coronado Springs opened in 1997, meaning that it’s almost 20 years older than Sapphire Falls. It’s also more expensive on two levels. Its basic rack rate is higher, and its nicest suites are much more expensive. This will be a recurring theme, as Disney can charge more than Universal right now…so they do. The theming for Coronado Springs is of the American Southwest. It has authentic architecture, plazas, and fountains. It also has one of the most attention-grabbing pools at Walt Disney World. It’s shaped like a Mayan pyramid, similar to the interior of San Angel Inn at Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion.
Image: Disney
The suites at Coronado Springs are much pricier. The cheaper of the nicest two is the Casitas – 1 Bedroom Suite. It costs a hefty $1,000 per night, give or take a bit depending on the season. Part of the expense is that you’re paying for location. Coronado Springs is massive in scope and labyrinthine to navigate. All of these suites guarantee placement in buildings 1, 2, or 3, the most desirable ones. It’s a fairly basic Disney suite with large living room/hosting area and kitchenette. This suite has a reputation as the conventioneer’s choice. A lot of upper management employees book regular rooms for their staff then sneak a Casitas into the budget for themselves.
Image: Disney
The nicest suite onsite is the Casitas – Executive Suite. It’s the room that the bosses of the upper management staff choose to lord over their underlings at the conventions. For around $1,400 a night, a VIP upgrades to deluxe appointments in each part of the suite. The finest furniture, leather seating, and tasteful decorations cover all the rooms. There’s also a wet bar if you want to have a drink with your boss/employee. One huge advantage that Coronado Springs offers over Sapphire Falls is that it provides a real kitchen rather than a kitchenette. Whether that’s worth spending more than double is up for debate.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Image: Disney
No direct comparison is available for Cabana Bay, as it seems Beach Club-ish in design, but its price is decidedly All-Star Resorts level. Even the nicest suites at that Universal resort are less than $400, which makes Art of Animation a perfect comparison. Its family suites are plentiful but prudently priced. For roughly $450 per night, fans of classic Disney cinema get their pick of themed rooms based on Cars, Finding Nemo, or The Lion King.
Image: Disney
I’ve discussed the pros and cons of Art of Animation suites in a previous piece. The same things still apply. The rooms are more than double normal ones at the hotel. For that matter, you do get a lot, though. It’s particularly worthwhile for parents seeking to isolate themselves from their children a bit. Plus, all of the theming is amazing.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Image: Disney
Since Loews Royal Pacific Resort is a shameless imitator, we’ll explore the obvious comparison here. I’m on record as saying that Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is my favorite hotel at Walt Disney World (or anywhere else in the world), so I have a bias here. Having said that, both properties do an amazing job of bringing the South Seas island vibe to life.
Since you already know the history of Polynesian Village Resort from my prior article, let’s focus on the suites. While the $2,500 a night bungalows receive all the hype, plenty of other suites are available here, too. In fact, if you’re ever interesting in celebrity stalking, err, sightings, hang out at the Tonga building. It’s here that the rich and famous spend at least $1,000 a night to book one of the exotic island suites at the Polynesian. That explains why Tonga has its own concierge desk.
Image: Disney
Tonga also offers the Concierge Suite aka Honeymoon Suite as a Club Level suite option. Disney’s Club Level operates on a schedule. You’ll have breakfast options from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., afternoon service from noon until 4 p.m., evening/dinner service from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and then after-hours service from 7 p.m. until midnight. During the after-hours hours, alcoholic beverages are included. The delicious Polynesian Sangria is one of the options…and it should be your choice. The hotel’s famous POG juice is also on the menu throughout the day. So, Club Level amenities here are pretty great, although at these prices, they should be.
After renovations in 2012, the Concierge Suite switched from a room with two queen beds to a more honeymoon appropriate single king bed. More importantly, it has the most romantic Jacuzzi tub at Walt Disney World. There’s also a Princess Suite on the first floor if you know someone who might enjoy that sort of thing.
Image: Disney
Of course, the most epic suite at the Polynesian (other than the bungalows) is the legendary King Kamehameha suite. It’s a two-floor facility right by the boat dock, so you have a wonderful view of lagoon from most of your windows. In fact, you’ll enjoy a seating area overlooking the water from your second floor balcony. The room also includes a stone exterior Jacuzzi tub and some torch-shaped lamps that are a nice touch. Ample seating is available throughout the suite, and while you may not feel like the famous Hawaiian king, you will feel quite pampered. Even among the elites at the Tonga longhouse, the current resident of the King Kamehameha suite is the power player. Of course, you’ll pay $3,000 a night for the privilege.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Image: Disney
No direct comparison exists for the Hard Rock Hotel Orlando. It’s unique due to its pre-Universal heritage. I’m choosing the Contemporary Resort as a parallel for two reasons. The first is proximity. What both hotels offer is the most convenient access to the primary theme park gates. Hard Rock Hotel is only a rickshaw ride away from Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. The Contemporary Resort is less than a thousand steps away from Magic Kingdom, the most trafficked theme park on Earth. So, the two resorts share similarities in terms of logistics. The second point is novelty. Like Hard Rock Hotel, nothing else at Walt Disney World has anything like the monorail station inside the Contemporary. So, the pieces fit well enough.
Image: Disney
Perhaps no resort is more inexorably linked with Walt Disney than the Contemporary Resort. While you might reflexively counter with Disneyland Hotel, remember that Uncle Walt didn’t build that one. For that matter, Disney didn’t buy it until long after his death. The Contemporary Resort, on the other hand, was something he’d always wanted, even if he didn’t live long enough to watch its amazing construction.
Guests seeking an unforgettable stay at the Contemporary will have plenty of choices with regards to suites. One- and two-bedroom suites are plentiful enough that their prices are reasonable, at least compared to some of the other options listed here. For $1,500 a night, you can stay in a gorgeous 844-square foot villa, highlighted by an inimitable view of Magic Kingdom. Every suite at the Contemporary rests on the 14th floor, guaranteeing a panoramic view of the park. You’ll want to rush back to your room in time for the fireworks display rather than watch it from Main Street U.S.A. The view is that spectacular.
The best room at the hotel is one I’ve previously covered. That’s the Presidential Suite, and it’s where Richard Nixon was staying in the moments before his stubborn declaration, “I am not a crook.” So, you’re taking a journey into American history when you spend the $2,500 to book this particular room. It includes two bedrooms and three baths, with total space of just over 2,000 square feet. The amazing aspect of this particular suite is that there are five, count them, FIVE different balconies. All of your guests will get to watch Magic Kingdom…and at every possible angle.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Image: Disney
Since Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is a counter to the elegance and grace of Disney’s most expensive resort, contrasting the two is the obvious choice. Like the other monorail resorts above, I’ve covered the suites at Grand Floridian before. What I find interesting about this debate, however, is that Universal, unintentionally or not, mimicked Disney quite dramatically at the start of their theme park hotel empire. Their first three entries each followed the path laid out at Walt Disney World. They offer the perfect combination of luxury and logistics, gorgeous facilities only minutes away from the theme park.
Disney started this trend with their 1971 properties, the Polynesian and the Contemporary. The Grand Floridian wouldn’t arrive until 17 years later in 1988, but even as the youngest of the monorail resorts, it’s still 11 years older than the oldest Universal hotel. This statement explains why rumors of a new Walt Disney World hotel property won’t go away. Their newest facility is roughly three decades old.
Image: Disney
Still, the Grand Floridian has become the flagship of the impeccable Disney resorts fleet. With 18 current properties onsite, earning the title of the best of the best is an amazing feat. Grand Floridian deserves the hype for its masterful Victorian era themes and décor. The Grand Suite here is the most expensive on this list, costing roughly $3,500 a night during peak season.
What does a patrician get for their money? Well, if you thought the idea of staying in the same room where Nixon collapsed under the weight of Watergate was cool, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The Grand Floridian has a special history with royals. Princess Diana famously stayed here in the early ‘90s. Yes, she was the most famous royal in the world at the time, but she was also the mother of two young boys who wanted nothing more in life than to ride Splash Mountain. Diana is one of countless bluebloods, billionaires, and celebrities who have spent a few nights Grand Suite at the Grand Floridian.
This 2,220 square foot space is a two-bedroom exercise in refinement and taste. It’s like Tim Gunn as a hotel suite. Located on the fifth floor of the Grand Floridian, it too offers five balconies, providing guests with an above-it-all view of the little people down below. Whether your eye tends toward the Contemporary, the Polynesian, Seven Seas Lagoon, Cinderella Castle, or Space Mountain, you can see it all from your room. In fact, you can even catch a glimpse of Spaceship Earth at Epcot from one of the balconies. Lots of hotels on this list have wonderful views, but the Contemporary and the Grand Floridian are clearly the best two.
In terms of appointments and amenities, the Grand Suite should only be described via narration by Robin Leach of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. The suite’s hardwood flooring, crystal chandeliers, and elegant furnishings are all worthy of royal estates. You’ll never feel more like a peasant than when you look at these pictures and see how the other half lives. Spending a night in the Grand Suite is like discovering that you’re heir to the throne a la The Princess Diaries. It’ll change your life forever.
Image: Disney
So, there you have it. These are the best suites of any onsite hotel property at Universal Resort Orlando or Walt Disney World. While Disney had a head start on Universal, the latter company was able to learn from the best, adapting and evolving those construction principles into new undertakings. Over time, Universal altered their strategy somewhat, introducing a pair of mid-tier hotels to their line. They match up quite well with the longstanding Disney properties of similar pricing and amenities. Take a look at all the pictures and videos to decide which one is your dream vacation suite. Then, ponder which corporation is doing the better job of complimenting their theme park with upscale hotel rooms. It’s not easy to pick a winner, is it?
