Off-Site Hotels Near Epic Universe

Ready for an Epic vacation but not sure where to stay? Universal Orlando’s hotels offer great accommodations, but sometimes folks need more options. In this article, we’ll cover three off-site hotels near Epic Universe along with the two closest Disney Vacation Club properties.

Universal Orlando On-Site Hotel or Off-Site Hotel?

We define off-site accommodations as hotels and resorts not operated by Universal or Loews, and do not receive the same benefits. On-site hotels come with many amenities such as early park admission, free bus transportation around the resort, and more, but there are also several downsides to staying on-site. Universal charges $26-$36 per night for onsite parking!  Guests who drive to Orlando would find this parking fee excessive for long stays. Offsite hotels also bring a huge variety of room types and prices that Universal just doesn’t serve – multi-room suites with kitchens, bunk beds, fold-out sofas, and the like. Some folks might have enough points banked through rewards programs to justify a vacation offsite, or already own Disney Vacation Club points.

Rosen Shingle Creek Resort

Distance: 1.5 miles, 5 minute drive
Price: Starting $149 per night
Rooms: Two queen and single king rooms,
Amenities: Onsite full service and counter service dining, bars, golf, spa, resort pool

For a full resort feel right next to Epic Universe, then consider the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Rosen is the name for hospitality education in the Orlando area, with the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. Predominantly a convention hotel, the Rosen Shingle Creek is a high-end tower resort featuring on-site restaurants, bars, an onsite spa, a golf course, and pools.

Home2 Orlando South Park

Distance: 1.4 miles, 5 minute drive
Price: Starting at $100 per night
Rooms: 1 king bed studio and suites, 2 queen bed studios and suites, and rooms with bunk beds
Amenities: Free parking, free breakfast, pool.

For fun and affordable accommodations for the whole family then consider the Home2 Orlando South Park. This is a standard hotel without resort amenities, just a small pool and free breakfast. Rooms include a couch and sitting area, fridge, and microwave. What sets Home2 apart from other hotels on this list is the fun room options, such as rooms with single and double bunk beds. Home2 is a Hilton brand, making this a good hotel if you’re in the Hilton rewards ecosystem.

Holiday Inn Express Orlando South Park

Distance: 1.4 miles, 5 minute drive
Price: Starting at $100 per night
Rooms: 1 king bed studio and suites, 2 queen bed studios and suites
Amenities: Free parking, free breakfast, on-site laundry, pool.

Sure, you planned out your full vacation months in advance on an Excel spreadsheet and are a TouringPlans reader. But are you really an expert if you didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express the night before? The Holiday Inn Express Orlando South Park is a small hotel that offers the basics at a low cost. Rooms are standard, with king and two queen bed studios and suite options, with a refurbished and modern lobby. We think the Home2 rooms are a better option for most families, but consider the Holiday Inn Express if you’re in the IHG Hotels rewards system.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs

Distance: 9.6 miles, 20-25 minute drive
Price: $468-$2269 from Disney (Rent DVC points through DVC Rental Store)
Rooms: Two queen bed studios, one-bedroom suites, two-bedroom suites, treehouse villas, and three-bedroom grand villas.
Amenities: Resort amenities, multiple pools, on-site dining, walkway to Disney Springs, and free parking.

It was a matter of time before we started recommending Disney resorts for a Universal vacation. There is a good reason to do so: Disney offers free on-site parking, more room options, world-class service, great on-site dining, wonderful pools, a golf course, and more. For travel to Epic Universe, we’re looking for hotels with quick access to I-4 North while avoiding the Disney Springs area (as much as possible). Saratoga Springs is our first recommendation: it’s a quick hop onto I-4, where it’s a 20-minute drive to Epic Universe.

Saratoga Springs offers several room options for home-away-from-home accommodations. Standard studio rooms include a queen bed and seating area with a pull-down queen bed, powder room and bathroom, and a small kitchenette area. The 1, 2, and 3-bedroom suites provide sleeping space for five to twelve guests with a full kitchen, and the Treehouse Villas are free-standing structures offering a woodsy aesthetic.

Disney’s Old Key West

Distance: 12 miles, 23-29 minutes
Price: $473-$1962 from Disney (Rent DVC points through DVC Rental Store)
Rooms: Two queen bed studios, one-bedroom suites, two-bedroom suites, and three-bedroom grand villas.
Amenities: Resort amenities, multiple pools, on-site dining, a boat ride to Disney Springs, and free parking.

The second DVC resort we recommend is the OG, the GOAT, the iconic Old Key West Resort, aka THE Disney Vacation Club. This resort’s large rooms offer lots of space and an affordable price point with on-site dining, resort pools, a golf course, sports courts, and a bright Key West theme. The drive to Epic Universe is 23 to 29 minutes long with guests bypassing the Disney Springs area entirely and getting on I-4 from Epcot Center Drive.

Old Key West’s rooms are large and spacious, with the studio rooms sleeping four with two queen beds at 390 square feet in size. The 1, 2, and 3-bedroom villas sleep five to twelve people and include a spacious kitchen with supplies, a large and bright living room, dining area, and a large covered outdoor seating area. I’m particularly biased towards Old Key West, as I remember several family trips during my childhood that included stays at Old Key West. Nothing quite like enjoying an afternoon storm on the covered porch.

Do you have a favorite hotel you stay at? Leave them in the comments below!