The Holiday Inn & Suites Across from Universal Studios: A Hotel in Transition BUT with an Unbeatable Location

 

If you’re visiting Universal Studios Orlando and want a hotel that’s just steps away, The Holiday Inn & Suites Across from Universal Studios is one of the most convenient places to stay. The location highlight is a pedestrian bridge that crosses over the big, busy street and takes you straight to the park entrance. You can literally see the bridge from the hotel parking lot.

As for the accommodation itself, let me first note that it is currently under the process of extensive renovation.

First Impressions: This is a very large hotel, and you can tell it used to be quite grand. There’s a sense of “former glory” here, elegant bones and plenty of space, but also signs of age. Right now, the hotel is undergoing major renovations, and while that’s a good thing for its future, it does make things a bit less comfortable in the present. 

Walking through the halls, you may catch some unpleasant construction smells — adhesives, paint, and the like — but it’s clear that the work is necessary. You can see that this refurbish is long overdue, and honestly, it would be a shame to let such a prime property slide any further. 

The updates promise a brighter, fresher look that could restore the hotel to its former appeal. 

The Room: 

Spacious and Functional. We opted to upgrade to a one-bedroom suite, and it was a good choice. The suite had two beds in the bedroom, plus a living area with a pullout couch, perfect for extra guests or kids. 

The bathroom was split: 

The shower and commode were in one room, while the vanity sink and mirror were in an open area just outside; this was convenient for multiple people getting ready at once.

In the living area:
There was plenty of space to spread out. A TV, table and chairs, small refrigerator, microwave, and long counter space that stretched along the wall made it easy to feel at home. From our window, we could even see the iconic Universal sign that greets drivers heading into the park, a fun view for anyone excited about their upcoming adventures.

 

Dining and Amenities:   
The hotel has a TGI Fridays attached, which serves as the main dining option. There’s no complimentary breakfast, but you can purchase one at Fridays. We decided to skip it after trying dinner there the night before, which was not the best meal experience for us...but there are plenty of other restaurants within short driving distance.

Main Floor:
The lobby is spacious, with a ticket machine offering local attraction passes, further back there is a business center with computer access, fitness center, and pay laundry with mulitple washers and dryers.

Outside:
The pool area is the real highlight. It is large, tropical, and inviting. There’s an excellent outdoor seating area, just steps from the pool, perfect for relaxing in the Florida sunshine. Families will appreciate the fenced-in kid’s water play area located right next to the main pool.

Other conveniences include onsite parking (drive in and out freely), a shuttle to the parks, and even electric scooter rentals if you’d rather roll than walk over to Universal (the teen and 20-somethings in our group appreciated these) 

Event Space and Gatherings:

The hotel also hosts events...everything from business meetings to weddings. With over 11,000 square feet of event space, including a grand ballroom for up to 400 guests and a beautiful garden area for smaller gatherings, it’s easy to imagine this being a popular spot for both corporate and social occasions once the renovations are complete.

Insider Tip Here’s a practical tip you’ll thank me for later: When heading to your room, don’t use the elevators right by the front desk, they are sooooooo slow, even when no one else is waiting. Instead, walk past the front desk and use the other set of elevators that are just around that first corner on your left. T hey’re much faster and seem far more reliable.

Final Thoughts It’s easy to see that The Holiday Inn & Suites Across from Universal Studios was once a great hotel, and hopefully it’s on its way back there. The location is absolutely unbeatable, and with the current refurbishment underway, it’s exciting to imagine how polished and refreshed it will look once the work is complete.

If you don’t mind a little construction dust in exchange for convenience, space, and value, this is a solid choice for your Universal Orlando adventure.

Keep your eyes open, this place is evolving, and the best is likely yet to come.