Universal’s Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites
Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites is the newest, and most budget friendly, resort on Universal Orlando property. This hotel has everything you need to enjoy a Universal Orlando vacation. It’s just a hop, skip, and jump away from the parks!
Universal Orlando was so kind and generous to host me as part of their UO Travel Advisor program for a few nights at Universal’s Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites! All the thoughts and opinions in this post are my own.
My Overall Impression of Endless Summer Dockside inn and suites
I will be the first to admit, I am not a “value” resort kind of traveler. However, Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites has changed my perspective on that in terms of the Universal onsite hotels. Even though Endless Summer is technically “off site”, the amenities and overall feel of the resort make up for that.
Endless Summer Dockside definitely meets all my requirements of a “nice” resort. Interior halls for rooms, plentiful menu options in the QS location, pool bars, and good transportation.
We were assigned a 2-Queen Pool View room. This room was gorgeous. Hardwood floors, a split bathroom, calm and cooling blue/ocean colors, and plenty of storage. My first impressions were nothing short of fantastic.
What Amenities Can I expect at Endless Summer Dockside?
First, Endless Summer offers theme park and Volcano Bay transportation via motorcoach. Having stayed at Loews Sapphire Falls and Portofino Bay on past trips, I did miss the water taxi option. However, I cannot complain at all about the motorcoaches. Every time we left the resort, regardless of time of day, there was a bus there ready to take us to a park. I can say the same for when we were ready to return to the resort in the evening. The ride to Citywalk or Volcano Bay is very short, and efficient.
Endless Summer offers guests two pools. While there are no water slides at these pools, they do offer zero entry as well as a pool bar at each. The pools are very large, and there is A LOT of seating. Dockside is divided into two towers, and each has a large pool, splash pad, and pool bar. Universal’s pool bars are the best. They have a HUGE selection of drinks, and plenty of seating.
A very important amenity for me while traveling with my daughter is good quick service meal options. Pier 8 Market at Endless Summer did not disappoint, whatsover. We had such a huge variety of options from both the walk up, cafeteria style options to grab and go. Breakfast included pancakes, waffles, eggs, breakfast pizzas, pastries, and a huge grab and go section. Donuts, bagels, fresh fruit, and cereal as well. Lunch and dinner options had many options as well. They made to order sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, etc. Also, you could choose from grab and go salads, cold sandwiches, and snacks. I loved this because we did not end up eating the same thing over and over again.
As with all Universal resorts, there is a full service Starbucks housed in the lobby, which I visited extensively. Also, we did some shopping at the Universal Studios store. Which by the way, had an extensive selection of Harry Potter wands.
Rooms at Endless Summer Dockside inn and suites
Endless Summer Dockside offers several room categories for families.
First, they offer the standard 2-Queen Room, and you can book various views. We were assigned a Pool View, which was fantastic. But I think I’d be happy with any view. These rooms are pretty standard, with two queen beds, a nightstand, split bathroom, and decent storage.
For larger families, they offer 2-Bedroom Suites, in either standard or pool view. These have a queen bed in the master bedroom. Then there is a queen bed in a second bedroom, as well as two vanity areas. There is only one bathroom, but the two vanity areas is nice so multiple people can get ready at the same time.
Does Endless Summer Dockside offer all of the Universal Onsite Perks?
Yes! Guests of Endless Summer Dockside are entitled to all of the perks of the onsite Universal Resorts.
- Early Park Admission
- Complimentary Park Transportation
- Refillable Resort Mugs
- Charging Privileges
- Universal Studios Store
- Starbucks
- Vacation Planning Center in the Lobby
Would I stay at Endless Summer Dockside inn and suites again?
The short answer is yes, I would. However, I would add Express Pass to my tickets since it is not included at this resort.
I need a nice resort, and more importantly a nice room when I travel. Coupled with the dining options, pools, and great transportation, Endless Summer Dockside checks all the boxes.
Endless Summer Dockside is a great options for families on a budget, who need extra space, and want to have a really nice resort for their vacation.
Would your family like to take a trip to Universal Orlando? I’d love to help! Please email me at carrie@destinationsinflorida.com for more details!
