Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is one of Universal Orlando’s on-site hotels, opened in 2016 on the shores of the resort’s shared waterway between CityWalk and Universal’s Volcano Bay water park. It’s built around a Caribbean-island theme, with cascading waterfalls, stone-ruin details in the lobby, and around 1,000 rooms and suites finished in tropical blues and greens with shiplap-style headboards.
Sapphire Falls sits in Universal’s moderate price tier, meaning guests get most of the on-site perks — water taxi and shuttle access to CityWalk and the theme parks, plus Early Park Admission — without paying for the Unlimited Express Pass that’s bundled into Universal’s priciest hotels. That makes it a common pick for families who want the convenience of staying on Universal property without a deluxe-resort bill.
Stats at a Glance
- Resort: Universal Orlando Resort
- Location: Orlando, Florida, on Universal’s shared hotel waterway near CityWalk
- Opened: 2016
- Rooms: About 1,000 rooms, including suites
- Price tier: Moderate
- Park transport: Water taxi to CityWalk/Universal Studios Florida/Islands of Adventure; dedicated shuttle bus (or a short walk via Cabana Bay) to Volcano Bay
- Perks: Early Park Admission; Express Passes available for purchase (not included)
- Theme: Caribbean island / tropical resort
Rooms, Theming and Dining
Rooms lean into the island concept with ocean-toned palettes, natural wood furniture, and shiplap headboards; standard rooms run around 321 square feet, with suites starting near 595 square feet. The resort’s centerpiece is a landscaped, resort-style pool with a white-sand beach, waterslide, and the cascading waterfall the hotel is named for.
On-site dining runs to a handful of scenic restaurants and lounges with water views, serving Caribbean-inspired food and tropical cocktails, plus a food court-style option for quicker meals.
Getting to the Parks and Perks
Guests can reach Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure by scenic water taxi along the resort waterway, or by shuttle bus, both included with a stay, and it’s a walkable-to-short-ride distance to CityWalk. Volcano Bay isn’t a water taxi stop — Universal runs it on a dedicated shuttle bus route instead, with the trip taking roughly 10-15 minutes, and there’s also a short walking path via neighboring Cabana Bay Beach Resort for guests who’d rather stroll over. Staying here also unlocks Early Park Admission, letting guests into select attractions at Universal’s parks up to an hour before regular opening.
The main trade-off versus Universal’s Premier and Preferred hotels is Express Pass: it isn’t included at Sapphire Falls, so guests who want to skip standby lines need to buy Express Passes separately, which can add up for a family.
Who Should Stay Here
Sapphire Falls suits families and fans who want genuine on-site Universal perks — Early Park Admission and easy transportation to all three parks — at a lower nightly rate than the resort’s Express-Pass-included hotels. It’s a good middle-ground pick if the budget doesn’t stretch to Hard Rock, Portofino Bay, or Royal Pacific but a value-tier off-site hotel feels too far from the action.
Explore more: Compare more theme park hotels, Universal Studios Florida guide, Islands of Adventure guide, Volcano Bay guide.
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort FAQs
Does staying at Sapphire Falls include Express Pass?
No. Sapphire Falls is a moderate-tier Universal hotel, so Express Passes are not included and must be purchased separately if you want to skip standby lines.
How do you get from Sapphire Falls to the Universal parks, including Volcano Bay?
Complimentary water taxis run to CityWalk, Universal Studios Florida, and Islands of Adventure. Volcano Bay isn’t served by water taxi — instead, a dedicated shuttle bus takes guests there directly, or you can walk over via the path through neighboring Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Staying on-site also qualifies you for Early Park Admission up to an hour before official opening.
Is Sapphire Falls a good value compared to Universal’s other hotels?
It’s generally considered one of the better value picks on Universal property: it costs less per night than the Express-Pass-included resorts while still delivering on-site transportation and Early Park Admission.
Get More from Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Want the day’s theme park news in your inbox? Subscribe to ThrillZing Daily — free.
Photo: Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.