Hey everyone, Chrissa here! Today, we’re exploring Universal’s Endless Summer Dockside Resort. In this blog, I’ll provide an in-depth tour of all the amenities and a detailed room walkthrough to help you determine if this resort is the perfect fit for your family vacation.
If you are ready to book your stay, click here to get the best rates!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Table of Contents:
What are the amenities at Universal’s Endless Summer Dockside Resort?
Endless Summer Dockside Inn and Suites opened in December 2020, joining its sister property, Surfside Inn and Suites, in the Value category for Universal Orlando Resort. Dockside Inn and Suites are Inspired by sand, sea, and breathtaking sunsets, and aims to make you feel like you’ve just escaped into the perfect sunset with the cool, calm feeling of a beach retreat in a hotel.
This resort features 2,050 guest rooms, and offers both standard rooms and a spacious 2-Bedroom Suites with exclusive theme park benefits like Early Park Admission. Dockside consists of two separate towers with the lobby located in the center between them.
How do you check in at Dockside Inn and Suites?
You can check in ahead of time online or upon arrival at the Guest Check-In Desk in the lobby. Upon check-in, you’ll receive a resort map and room keys, which are designed after some of your favorite Universal attractions. These cards can also be used to pay for things around the resort, with purchases delivered to your room free of charge.
Next to the check-in desk, there is a Universal Vacation Planning Center, Luggage Services, and a Car Rental Desk if you need to rent a car during your stay. Parking your own car costs $15 per night.
The lobby has plenty of space to hang out while waiting for your room, with numerous charging outlets to keep your devices charged. There’s also a Starbucks in the lobby for your morning caffeine fix and a Universal Studios Store where you can buy souvenirs, practical items like sunscreen, swimwear, over-the-counter medicine, and other hygiene items.
What types of rooms are available at Dockside Inn and Suites?
Dockside offers two room types: standard rooms with 2 queen size beds for up to 4 guests, and spacious 2-bedroom suites for up to 6 guests. We opted for the 2-bedroom suite. If you are interested in knowing what the current room rates are, click here to see the best deals.
What is the layout of the 2-bedroom suite?
Bedroom 1
The 2-bedroom suite has two bedrooms: one with 2 queen beds and the other with a single queen bed. The beach theme continues with a surfboard on the wall as soon as you walk in. To turn the lights on, you’ll need to insert your room key in the slot next to the door. The bedsheets are turquoise blue, and the headboard is a sandy tan color. The pillows and pillowtop mattress are both soft and comfortable, enhancing the beach house getaway feel.
Between the beds is a small shelf with an alarm clock and an outlet to charge your phones. There is a decorative pink chest that doesn’t open. Next to the TV is another nook with a phone and charging outlet with both USB type A & C ports. Under the TV are a few empty drawers and hooks to hang backpacks or other bags.
We requested a room on a higher floor and ended up on the 9th floor, overlooking the resort entrance and with a view of the Orlando Eye at Icon Park in the distance.
Bedroom 2
The second bedroom has one queen size bed with shelves on either side to charge your phone. Both bedrooms have their own television and window. This room also has a closet with hangers, an iron, and ironing board, and behind the door is the in-room safe. The room can be closed off with a door for extra privacy.
What amenities are in the kitchenette area?
The kitchenette area features a picnic table with chairs and a bench. There’s a mini fridge large enough for beverages and leftovers, a microwave, a small sink, a coffee maker, plastic utensils, condiments, regular and decaf coffee packs, single-use bowls and plates, and the standard ice bucket.
What does the bathroom include?
The bathroom has separate bath and vanity areas, allowing multiple people to get ready simultaneously. The vanity area includes a blow dryer, facial soap, tissues, and two side-by-side sinks. The bath area features a combined tub and shower with Surf & Sand travel-sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and a bar of bath soap.
Is there WiFi at Dockside Inn and Suites?
Wifi is available throughout the resort, including the pool areas. There are two service tiers: the free tier for web surfing, social media, and email. The premium tier for streaming, VPN connections, video conferencing, and large file transfers. We tested the free tier and got download speeds of 18.62 Mbps and upload speeds of 11.24 Mbps. The speed test triggered their network security system, quarantining my phone and prompting to close the app and try again in 5 minutes.
What dining options are available at Dockside Inn and Suites?
Pier 8 Market
Pier 8 Market is the main food court next to the lobby, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with five unique stations for every palate, including a self-serve salad bar. For those in a hurry, there’s a variety of Grab and Go items like sandwiches, snacks, and beverages. During our visit, we tried the Chicken & Waffles, Meat Lovers Scramble Bowl, and a pink donut for breakfast.
Everything we tried was delicious, and I loved the variety to choose from. You should have any issue finding something for everyone in your family.
Sunset Lounge
Located in the lobby, the Sunset Lounge serves specialty cocktails and is perfect for unwinding after a day at the theme parks.
Pizza Delivery to Room
If you don’t feel like going down to the Market, there’s an option for pizza delivery to your room until midnight, which you can order from your in-room phone.
What are the pool options at Dockside Inn and Suites?
There are two large pools at the resort, each with its own pool bar. The Tower 1 Pool has the Oasis Beach Bar, and the Tower 2 Pool has the Wave Makers Pool Bar. Both pools are beach-themed with sand areas for building sandcastles or just sinking your toes into. There are also ping pong tables and oversized Jenga games available at both pool areas.
What other amenities does Dockside Inn and Suites offer?
Fitness Center
The Fitness Center is on the first floor of Tower 1 and includes a variety of machines such as treadmills, ellipticals, bike machines, a dumbbell set with benches, and other resistance training machines. There’s also a water fountain with a bottle refill station.
Game Room
A small Game Room on the first floor of Tower 2 features video games, air hockey, basketball toss, claw machines, and VR games. You can purchase a game card at the machine with several options for credits.
Laundry Centers
Laundry Centers are available in both towers on floors 3, 6, and 9. The washers and dryers cost a small fee, and you can purchase laundry essentials at the vending machine.
How do you get around from Dockside Inn and Suites?
There is free bus transportation to CityWalk and Volcano Bay. From CityWalk, you have access to both theme parks—Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. The buses can be caught to the left of the lobby entrance and run every 15-20 minutes.
What are some tips and tricks for staying at Dockside Inn and Suites?
Early Entry
Staying at a Universal resort grants you early entry to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Volcano Bay up to one hour before the parks open. Valid theme park admission is required.
Dockside vs. Surfside
Endless Summer Resorts offer two hotel options—Dockside and Surfside, located across the street from each other. Both hotels have standard and 2-bedroom suites but differ in style. Dockside is inspired by sand, sea, and sunsets, while Surfside has a surf vibe. Dockside is larger with two towers and two large pools, while Surfside has one tower with a single surfboard-shaped pool. Dockside has a lobby bar (Sunset Lounge), but Surfside offers water views of the lake. Both hotels have similar amenities, including a Starbucks, fitness center, game room, Universal Studios Store, laundry centers, and free bus transportation. Pool hopping is allowed between Dockside and Surfside, but not to other Universal hotels.
Ready to book your stay? Click here for great deals on Dockside Inn and Suites!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
If you’re planning a visit to Orlando, check out my other blogs below to help you plan your trip!
댓글