Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando
Sapphire Falls is the sensible middle of the Universal range: a resort pool, a walking path and a water taxi, without the Premier rate.
30-Second Verdict
Book Sapphire Falls if you want a proper resort pool and a walking connection to the parks without paying for Express you will not use. Skip it if your party is three or more and Express would otherwise be bought, because a Premier hotel may then be cheaper overall.
Quick facts
- Area
- Universal Orlando
- Property type
- Universal on-site hotel
- Tier
- Preferred
- Opened
- 2016
- Star classification
- 4 star
- Guest score
- 8.7 out of 10 from 2,187 reviews
- Room occupancy
- Standard room sleeps 4; Kids suite sleeps 5
- Details checked
- August 2026
Best for
- Families with younger children who want a zero-entry pool
- Travelers who want a resort feel at Universal without Premier pricing
- Guests who will use the water taxi to CityWalk in the evening
- Parties of four who want more room than Aventura offers
Skip it if
- Your party is three or more and you would buy Express anyway
- You need a room for six
- You want the shortest possible walk to a park gate
- You are visiting mostly Epic Universe
Location and park fit
Sapphire Falls sits between Aventura and the Premier hotels, with a walking path and a water taxi towards CityWalk, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.
Volcano Bay is close. Epic Universe is a Universal transport ride at the other end of the campus.
Rooms and family fit
Standard rooms sleep four, with kids suites available for five. Rooms are noticeably larger than Aventura's and more conventionally furnished than Cabana Bay's.
Transport and mobility
A walking path and a water taxi, plus Universal shuttle transport. In practice most guests take the water taxi in the evening and walk in the morning.
Park benefits
Early park admission as an on-site guest. Sapphire Falls is a Preferred hotel and does not include the Express benefit, which is the single biggest thing separating it from Royal Pacific next door.
Universal has long included Universal Express Unlimited for guests at its three Premier hotels, at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. It has not covered Volcano Bay, and how it applies at Epic Universe is set separately. Confirm the current terms with Universal before booking on that basis.
Pool and rest-day fit
The pool is the reason to book this hotel over Aventura. It has a sand beach entry, a water slide and enough space to hold a family for an afternoon, which the other Preferred and Value hotels cannot.
Cost beyond the room
No theme park parking. There is a full-service restaurant and a bar, which costs more than a food court and is more pleasant. Confirm resort charges with the hotel.
You get the best pool at Universal outside the Premier tier and you give up the Express benefit. For a couple that is usually the right trade. For a family of four on busy dates it often is not.
Alternatives worth comparing
Book this hotel
Rates in Orlando move constantly and depend on your dates, so check the current price rather than working from any figure on a website. Confirm resort fees, parking charges and any theme park benefit directly with the hotel or the park before you book.
Hotel details and the guest scores on this page were checked in August 2026.
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Common questions
Does Sapphire Falls include Express Pass?
No. It is a Preferred tier hotel, and the Express benefit has applied at the three Premier hotels only.
Can you walk to Universal from Sapphire Falls?
Yes, there is a walking path towards CityWalk and the two original parks, and a water taxi as an alternative.
Is Sapphire Falls good for toddlers?
The sand beach entry into the pool makes it one of the better Universal hotels for small children, and it is a shorter walk to the parks than Cabana Bay.