Summer is my absolute favorite season. I do not like being cold, but I love being outdoors. This can create a real problem for me with the colder months in Virginia. Universal’s Endless Summer Resort: Dockside Inn & Suites sounded like the perfect fit!
And it was!
The first decision to make was which “side” we should stay on. Universal’s Endless Summer Resort is split into two different communities: Dockside Inn & Suites and Surfside Inn & Suites. They are across the street from one another. Dockside is the larger of the two and has a bit more amenities and that’s where we ultimately landed.
The prices for both are comparable to off-site hotels, which was very appealing to us. Endless Summer Resort offers traditional rooms as well as suites. There were only two of us, so booking a traditional room made more sense than a suite.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort | Endless Summer: Surfside | Hard Rock Hotel
Checking In
I arrived at Endless Summer Dockside very early on check-in day, around 6:30AM. I was the only one in the check-in line and approached the desk to ask for assistance. It was hours before the posted check-in time and I was hoping to drop my luggage with bell services so that I could head to the parks.
Much to my surprise, I was able to check in right then! I was given a key to an open room and dropped off everything there instead.
I passed through the lobby at least a dozen times during our stay and never saw it as empty as I did the morning that I checked in. Most of the time, the line for checking in was quite long. I’d recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid a wait in the check-in line.
The Resort
I’ve never been to any Universal Resorts, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from Endless Summer Dockside. The complex is made up of two large U-shaped buildings connected by the main lobby, which is home to the food court, lounge, coffee shop, gift shop, and, of course, check-in.
The lobby was bright and open with clean, curved lines. The summer theme permeated the resort with beach-themed décor that went beyond the usual seashells and pastels. Bold colors and nods to the seaside were featured throughout the resort.
The Room
Our room was located on the first floor and while we had easy pool access, we were quite far from the main lobby. Our room seemed very tall, perhaps because it was on ground level, and it was spacious. A door separated the bathroom shower from the mirror and sink.
The room matched the rest of the resort: bright and sleek, yet still warm. The feel of the décor reminded me of midcentury California coast. I loved it!
I found one downside to the room. It did not have a coffee maker. (Luckily there were multiple places to purchase a cup in the lobby!) It did have a small refrigerator.
I was also pleased to find that there were several USB ports in our room.
The Pools
Both main towers at Dockside Inn & Suites are shaped like a hard-cornered letter U and surround an amoeba-shaped swimming pool. It was unseasonably cold during our visit, so we didn’t have a chance to use the pools or visit the pool bar (The Oasis Beach Bar).
What is unseasonably cold? Well, it didn’t quite reach 50° on most days of our visit. On those days, it also happened to be cloudy and rainy. Blech!
Dining
The lobby was home to three options for dining and drinks: Pier 8 Market, the Sunset Lounge, and Starbucks.
Endless Summer Dockside’s Pier 8 Market is a casual food court with five separate stations serving classic American favorites. Breakfast offerings include pastries, fruit, juice, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast pizza, and chicken and waffles. For lunch or dinner, enjoy something from the salad bar with one of the daily soups, a burger, the pizza of your choice, or chicken and waffles (if you missed them at breakfast).
The Sunset Lounge serves a variety of beer, wine, and cocktails, including the Endless Summer Lemonade. This signature cocktail is made of Grey Goose vodka and lemon.
The Starbucks in the lobby serves familiar favorites, though ordering ahead on the mobile app is not an option. The line for Starbucks usually snaked back and forth a couple times, sending me right back to Pier 8 Market for coffee.
Getting to the Parks
A shuttle is provided for access to Universal’s parks and CityWalk. Regardless of when I arrived at the stop, a bus was always available. The ride to the parks was under 10 minutes, though the walk to security probably took another 5 to 10 minutes. We visited when the CityWalk stop was under construction, which meant a slightly longer walk for Endless Summer guests.
[You may also enjoy reading about our two-park VIP Tour Experience!]
Overall Impression
I really enjoyed my time at Endless Summer: Dockside Inn & Suites. It was spacious and clean and the amenities were excellent amenities, even though we didn’t get a chance to access the pool. Perhaps best of all, this is an incredibly affordable resort!
Plan Your Visit
Universal’s Endless Summer Resort
Dockside Inn & Suites
7125 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, Florida 32819
888-273-1311
website
