Helios Grand Lodge is the brand new resort inside Epic Universe, and considered one of 4 inns at Common Orlando that gives a Membership Degree. This overview options lounge & meals pictures, how this compares to different concierge tiers, professionals & cons of staying Membership Degree at Helios, and whether or not it’s well worth the splurge.

For starters, this focuses solely on the Membership Degree lounge. Should you’re searching for our ideas on the brand new lodge as a complete, try our Common Helios Grand Lodge Overview. Suffice to say, there’s a number of good, dangerous & ugly that applies to the resort as a complete; this covers solely the upsides and drawbacks of this one reserving class.

As primary background, Common Orlando provides Membership Degree lodging at 4 resorts in its Signature Assortment: Exhausting Rock Lodge, Loews Portofino Bay Lodge, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Helios Grand Lodge. The ultimate lodge within the new Signature Assortment (beforehand Premier) is Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, which doesn’t have a Membership Degree.

Previous to this keep at Helios Grand Lodge, we’ve solely achieved one different Membership Degree at Common Orlando–Portofino Bay Lodge a number of years in the past. Apparently, I forgot to do a standalone overview of that have, however we usually appreciated it. The meals was extra substantive and hearty than most Membership Ranges at Walt Disney World, with Common acknowledging the fact that many (most?) visitors need to do full dinner within the lounge.

That was most likely my greatest takeaway–much less subtle small bites and extra crowd-pleasing consolation meals for a correct dinner. That’s not essentially a price judgment in both route; there are professionals & cons of every strategy. In any other case, I discovered a number of overlap between Membership Degree at Portofino Bay Lodge and the Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World. Breakfast, lunch/afternoon snacks, dessert & drinks had been all related. The lounge at Portofino Bay is likewise pretty. If it had been a Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World, that Membership Degree would rank extremely.

To that time, we’ve stayed at virtually each Membership Degree at Walt Disney World, some a number of instances. (For extra basic ideas on concierge stage at WDW, try our Is Membership Degree at Walt Disney World Price It? information.) We even have achieved a lot of actual world Membership Degree stays at numerous Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott properties.

There’s actually not a lot sense evaluating Membership Ranges at Common or Disney to their actual world counterparts. Actual world resort concierges exit of their approach to make you are feeling particular and pampered. Their service could be very attentive and proactive. Service at theme park lodge Membership Ranges is extra reactionary; if you happen to want help, it’s there. This may be useful if you happen to’re a Disney or Common novice and want primary planning help upon arrival, nevertheless it’s not notably helpful to skilled theme park guests.

Don’t get me improper–if you make an effort to speak up Workforce or Forged Members, they are going to be conversational. Lots are long-tenured and beloved by visitors, nevertheless it simply isn’t the identical. It’s pleasant and acquainted service versus attentive and splendid, if that makes any sense. That is all what’s usually the case; there are exceptions at each Disney and Common.

All through the day, the Membership Degree lounge at Helios Grand Lodge serves the next:

• Breakfast: 7 to 11 a.m.
• Snack Service (Lunch-ish): Midday to three p.m.
• Night Hors d’oeuvres (Dinner): 5-7 p.m.
• One thing Candy (Desserts & Cordials): 8-10 p.m.

As with all different Membership Degree lounges, the hors d’oeuvres/dinner choices are the very best high quality and most substantive, adopted by breakfast, after which the ‘one thing candy’ service. Lunch or the snack service is, by far, the weakest.

With fundamentals out of the best way, let’s flip to the nice, dangerous & ugly of Common Helios Grand Lodge’s Membership Degree:

Good of Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge

The meals within the Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge is sweet to nice.

Particularly, the dinner service is a standout, with Mediterranean and Greek-inspired dishes which might be flavorful, prime quality, and different. Throughout my multi-night keep, there was at all times one thing completely different for dinner, and it was at all times well-rounded. Lighter and more healthy choices alongside heavier dishes.

The rooster & cheese skewers, sliders, and pork stomach had been all highlights, and higher than something I’ve had so far on the standalone eating places in Helios Grand Lodge. The hummus and salads had been refreshing, and equally flavorful. The dinner service at Helios is a standout amongst Orlando theme park inns, and much superior to what we had beforehand at Portofino Bay.

Breakfast can also be a superb, however not nice like dinner.

For me, this checked the appropriate containers. I used to be in a position to have high quality eggs, yogurt, pastries, and fruit. The espresso can also be wonderful.

There wasn’t actually a marquee breakfast dish throughout my keep, however this is much better than your common ‘free’ lodge continental breakfast served at some third occasion inns close to Common Orlando and Walt Disney World. It was sufficient to energy me by way of rope drop till lunch.

Talking of, the afternoon snack service (“lunch”) was ok.

Above is a mixture of the pre-packaged objects I grabbed for my bag to snack whereas caught in line when Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Insanity broke down.

None of that is something particular, clearly, nevertheless it avoids making “the dangerous” record as a result of that is par for the course with Membership Degree. Even most actual world inns have mild lunch choices.

Lastly, there’s dessert.

The macarons and creme brulee carried the day right here; all the pieces else was effective. Extra selection positively could be good, and I strongly suspect that’ll occur over time. The very first thing to do would be the comically small unfold of macarons.

Listed here are extra meals pictures from Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge:

One other spotlight of Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge is the Workforce Members.

Loews clearly pulled the perfect of the perfect for the launch of Helios Grand Lodge, because the service is top-notch throughout the board. I discovered the workers within the lounge to be pleasant, useful, and enthusiastic in regards to the lodge, lounge, and Epic Universe.

This expertise was simply essentially the most attentive Membership Degree keep I’ve had at Disney or Common. It most likely helped that I used to be doing a solo keep, so it wasn’t as in the event that they had been interrupting any dialog, and likewise that the resort is brand-new. It’ll be value monitoring this within the years to return, however as of proper now, I’m impressed by the polish of the visitor service at Helios Grand Lodge. It’s nice throughout the board, with Membership Degree being the spotlight.

Dangerous of Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge

Should you confirmed me the above photograph with out context and advised me this was the breakfast space at a Fairfield Inn in Des Moines or Grand Rapids, I wouldn’t bat a watch. It jogs my memory a good quantity of some areas on the third occasion inns close to Disneyland; perhaps with a bit extra pizzazz.

That is hardly any shock. Should you learn our full Common Helios Grand Lodge Overview, you’d know one of many greatest criticisms is that it’s boxy, bland, and underbaked from a thematic perspective. We emphasised how, if Helios Grand Lodge had been constructed to miss one of many Walt Disney World theme parks, it might be completely excoriated by followers.

Helios Grand Lodge is sort of a cut-rate Gran Destino Tower. That Reasonable Resort boasts extra consideration to element all through its frequent areas, with superior match and ending. The whole lot about Helios Grand Lodge feels prefer it was worth engineered, with the resort resting solely on its location and massive views of Epic Universe.

It’s no shock that the Membership Degree Lounge is rather like the remainder of Helios Grand Lodge from a thematic perspective. It’s a boring lounge in a boring lodge. It’s nonetheless removed from horrible–it’s simply effective. And for what it’s value, there are a number of lounges at Walt Disney World which might be solely “simply effective.”

Listed here are extra pictures of the Membership Degree lounge inside:

Ugly of Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge

Talking of location and massive views being the promoting level of Helios Grand Lodge, this lounge doesn’t have the latter.

In what’s sure to be a controversial choice, the Membership Degree lounge has a “skyline” view, which is to say that it overlooks close by roads and workplace parks, with a glimpse of taller buildings within the distance. On the plus aspect, not less than it’s not primarily a parking construction or backstage services view. I really had that in a unique keep at Helios Grand Lodge.

Right here’s a glance:

That is ugly when contrasted with my room view on the opposite aspect of the lodge, and is a deserved entry on this column, positive. However I also can perceive why Loews and Common made the choice to place the lounge on this aspect of the lodge.

Placing the lounge on the park aspect would trigger visitors to linger, and likewise encourage the ‘hack’ of downgrading on room view and upgrading to Membership Degree for the perfect of each worlds. That’s precisely the recommendation we’d’ve provided!

I’ve been to resorts with nice lounge views, and that’s precisely what occurs. And to make certain, I’ve been a part of the issue, so I’m not casting aspersions. It’s the logical factor to do, nevertheless it can also create frustrations to find tables as a result of identical visitors monopolizing the house.

I encountered no such points with the lounge at Helios Grand Lodge. Though admittedly, I took most of my meals again to my room to benefit from the view from there.

Different Membership Degree Issues

Membership Degree is situated on the ninth ground at Helios Grand Lodge, which applies to each the lounge and rooms. If you’d like a high-floor room, that is the simplest and most dependable method of getting it.

On different stays, I’ve made that room request and nonetheless ended up on the fifth ground or under. (Different associates had the identical expertise.) That is particularly worthwhile in order for you a chicken’s eye view of Epic Universe. Right here was my Park View from the ninth ground:

Moreover, Epic Universe is the #1 meals park in Orlando. Even after spending a number of days there, I’ve nonetheless solely scratched the floor of what its culinary scene has to supply. However what I did attempt was largely distinctive, a unbelievable combination of enjoyable, photogenic, scrumptious, and bold. (See My Favourite Meals at Epic Universe & Should-Eat Eating places.)

There’s something to be mentioned for rolling away from bed and having a simple and environment friendly breakfast earlier than rope drop. There’s additionally one thing to be mentioned for really having fun with the eating places within the #1 meals park at Common Orlando. If I had to decide on between ~$100 in spending cash every day for Epic Universe eating places or limitless meals within the Membership Degree lounge at Helios Grand, I’m selecting the previous each single time.

In a method, Membership Degree really felt prefer it diminished my Epic Universe expertise. Not breakfast–that was nice–however leaving for dinner whereas my associates dined within the park simply felt improper. Your mileage might differ on that, although. Epic Universe additionally has lengthy wait instances for counter service eating, so the comfort and lack of friction round this Membership Degree may very well be one other promoting level.

The comfort of Helios Grand Lodge to Epic Universe can’t be overstated, and that is doubly advantageous when leaving the park for meals. That is one thing we battle to do when staying Membership Degree at Walt Disney World, because the commute time for the “free” meals is simply too nice of a value.

No less than in my expertise, doing meals within the Membership Degree lounge at Helios Grand was really a time-saver. As famous above, I’d half methods with my associates, who would eat wherever within the park, after which meet again up once we had been achieved.

Each single time, I met them at a counter service restaurant the place they had been nonetheless ending up meals. And I didn’t notably rush or something–I’d even cease again at my room to seize my tripod, change footwear, cost my cellphone, and so forth. (It “helps” that the most well-liked counter service eating places at Epic Universe get slammed at dinner.) The Membership Degree lounge really being time-neutral to time-saving is an underrated profit at Helios Grand Lodge.

Is Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge Definitely worth the Value?

It’s unattainable to make an throughout the board evaluation of whether or not Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge is “value it.”

It is because Common Orlando/Loews use dynamic pricing for his or her inns. What this usually means is that costs enhance as dates draw nearer. That’s not at all times true, however we’ve seen it occur not less than 80% of the time. Even through the low season. Common normally offsets this by providing discounted charges to Florida residents and Annual Passholders.

Regardless, demand-based pricing can produce quirks…equivalent to Skyline Membership Degree rooms costing the very same worth as normal rooms, or being actually $1 dearer. I’ve seen a 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 Degree is “value it” for $1 per night time. (Spoiler alert: it’s.)

These quirks principally emerge final minute. When looking additional upfront, it seems to me that Membership Degree pricing begins at about $75 to $175 dearer per night time. I received’t faux to be an professional on normal pricing at Common Orlando/Loews, however that strikes me as the typical worth disparity. The hole grows round peak season dates, and may shut within the low season with AP or FL resident reductions. All of this is kind of in step with Walt Disney World, minus the dynamic pricing half.

Cut up stays additionally work rather well with Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge. You possibly can do a few nights right here and a pair extra on the essential campus of Common Orlando to leverage Limitless Specific Go, and even cut up time between Epic Universe and Walt Disney World. There are a ton of various methods to leverage cut up stays and Membership Degree to cut back prices, optimize for location and meals, and so forth.

Reserving early is the optimum strategy for Helios Grand Lodge, after which circling again to see if any reductions drop later. Our expectation is that received’t occur till the ‘new lodge scent’ wears off, which might take years. Opinions have been relatively glowing of Helios Grand Lodge, so demand will seemingly stay robust.

Given all of that, we extremely suggest requesting a quote from Be Our Visitor Holidays, a no-fee Common Most well-liked Journey Company. They will help reserving Helios Grand Lodge for you, comparability procuring among the many numerous inns, serving to decide which packages will work finest for your loved ones, and discovering methods to optimize a Membership Degree keep at Helios Grand Lodge!

In the end, this is among the finest Membership Ranges we’ve achieved at Walt Disney World or Common Orlando. The meals at breakfast, dinner and dessert is sweet to nice, and lunch is adequate.

Service is one other excessive level, with Loews clearly pulling the perfect of the perfect to workers the brand new lodge; the staff I encountered all took delight and possession of their resort. The lounge is nothing particular thematically, however that’s par for the course with this lodge.

The one actual draw back is the view of the lounge, and that’s remedied by reserving a Park View room. Clearly, that comes with a value, however if you happen to’re taking a look at Membership Degree as a enjoyable splurge (which is basically the one approach to justify it–there worth proposition hardly ever pencils out except you win the $1 upcharge lotto reserving last-minute), then pairing it with Park View is totally the best way to go.

That’s what bought me on Membership Degree at Helio Grand Lodge and why we’ll most likely return as a household if we are able to rating a aggressive price. (That, and Epic Universe not providing a lot for toddlers, so two members of our occasion would get lots out of the lounge.) There was one thing to be mentioned for going to the lounge and grabbing meals and drinks to take again to my room.

Sitting within the window, having fun with scrumptious sliders whereas decompressing throughout a park break or a morning ‘get up’ espresso or late night time desserts whereas gazing on the glimmering lights and fountains. These experiences are all amongst my most memorable, and it’s powerful to place a worth on that. Membership Degree is my new favourite approach to keep at Epic Universe, particularly because it provides a level of comfort, consolation, and ease to an expertise that in any other case may be missing these issues!

Want journey planning suggestions and complete recommendation in your go to to Central Florida? Make certain to learn our Common Orlando Planning Information for all the pieces about Islands of Journey and Common Studios Florida. Additionally try our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information for all the pieces about these parks, resorts, eating places, and a lot extra. For normal updates, information & rumors, a heads up when reductions are launched, and rather more, join our FREE e-mail e-newsletter!

Your Ideas

What do you consider the Membership Degree at Epic Universe’s in-park lodge? Does this lounge or its meals look interesting or unappealing to you? Would you like $100 spending cash for consuming at Epic Universe or limitless “free” meals within the lounge? Should you’ve already stayed at Membership Degree at Helios Grand Lodge, what do you consider it? Do you agree or disagree with our overview? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!