Universal Orlando has a stellar lineup of on-site hotels, but no matter how solid it may be as a whole, one of those properties has to be considered the weakest of the bunch.
To me, that’s Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn & Suites.
Early morning view of one of Surfside’s two towers (Theme Park Tribune)
Debuting back in 2019, Surfside Inn & Suites was the first in the resort’s “value” category, preceding its larger Endless Summer sister, Dockside Inn & Suites. Surfside was also the first that was physically separated from the rest of Universal, being located on the former Wet ‘n Wild site at the corner of I-Drive and Universal Boulevard.
In some cosmetic ways, the hotel does not feel like a value resort. The two-tower complex is made up of all interior-entry rooms, rather than the sprawling buildings with motel-style entrances you’ll find in Disney World’s value category.
My two stays here, however, have shown enough flaws and rough edges that I don’t think I’ll pick this resort again.
The room
Surfside’s standard rooms clock in at 313 square feet, just barely beating Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s room size while featuring a similar layout with two queen beds and a separate bathroom and vanity.
Rather than a standalone shower, the room features a standard shower/tub combination, with serviceable water pressure — not quite as nice as the updated rooms at Disney’s values.
The beds and comforter felt less comfortable in 2024 than my 2019 visit, and even visually they look like they’ve been downgraded.
A standard room at Surfside in 2024 (Theme Park Tribune)
Surfside rooms in 2019 (Theme Park Tribune)
On the plus side, Surfside rooms also feature plenty of USB slots for charging, including a few USB-C ports (I joked back in 2019 that this was in case future iPhones switched to USB-C, which actually ended up happening!)
Check out more in my video room tour and review:
The food
Being a 750-room hotel, Surfside Inn & Suites doesn’t need the number of food options (or dining space) as larger resorts like Cabana Bay. You’re therefore limited to three options: the obligatory Starbucks in the lobby, drinks at the poolside Sand Bar and the hotel’s food court, the Beach Break Cafe.
Beach Break Cafe (Theme Park Tribune)
While I wasn’t about to try to eat the whole menu during my stay, what I did eat at Beach Break Cafe was underwhelming. Most of the hot food for breakfast, lunch and dinner appeared to have been sitting under heat lamps for quite a while, which may be why so many people were opting for one of the surprisingly tasty pizzas. At $12 for a whole cheese pizza, that’s probably your best option too for both quality and value. The rest of the menu is forgettable and sometimes downright unappetizing.
Pizza at Surfside is surprisingly good (Theme Park Tribune)
Universal would do well to remember that the I-Drive competition goes both ways; it would have been easy for me to leave Endless Summer and go grab some fast food across the street, so skimping on freshness at Beach Break Cafe won’t do them many favors.
Having a Starbucks in the lobby, however, remains one of my favorite features of Universal’s on-site hotels. It will undoubtedly save you from long lines at the CityWalk or in-park locations when you’re trying to rope drop and need your Starbucks fix.
Starbucks in the lobby (Theme Park Tribune)
The staff at the Surfside location never let the line grow too long thanks to fast service, or perhaps because there just aren’t as many guests to serve compared to Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls.
Amenities
The main draw of any theme park hotel is the pool. For Surfside, the center of attention is its spacious, supposedly surfboard-shaped pool (I say it’s more like a fish). Unlike other Universal hotels, there’s no water slide or many extras at all around the pool area besides lounge chairs.
The Surfside pool (Theme Park Tribune)
Surfside does feature a fitness center along with an arcade. If you’re used to the large arcades at Disney World’s values, prepare to be disappointed, as there’s only about a dozen games on hand.
Arcade at Surfside (Theme Park Tribune)
The lobby features the Universal Studios Store. Here you’ll find a selection of in-park merchandise along with a few racks of Endless Summer-specific items.
Endless Summer merch at Surfside (Theme Park Tribune)
Shortcomings
In other areas, however, the “value” brand is evident, and not in a good way. Surfside Inn was the first Universal hotel where guests are not allowed to use other resorts’ pools. The ability to stay at Cabana Bay, but freely enjoy the pool at Portofino Bay set Universal’s on-site hotel experience apart from Disney World — where pool access is a fiercely protected privilege for guests of that specific resort.
The distance from the rest of Universal Orlando Resort does make a difference. Like Cabana Bay, complimentary shuttle buses run consistently between the hotel and the guest drop-off area at CityWalk, near the large security checkpoint. The actual bus ride doesn’t take much longer (about 7-8 minutes), but the bigger issue is how far you have to walk to get inside the parks.
The trek from the drop-off point through CityWalk to the Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios Florida turnstiles usually takes another 10 minutes, perhaps longer if there’s a backup at security.
The biggest shortcoming, however, is when the price doesn’t match the experience. Universal has promoted the hotel with rates as low as $99 per night, that’s based on a four-night stay and the price can vary considerably based on demand.
My 2024 visit cost $156 per night on an annual passholder discount— which wasn’t bad, considering it was a busy holiday weekend, but it also happened to be more expensive than the superior Dockside Inn & Suites just across the street. Without a passholder discount, I would’ve paid around $220 per night, which is flirting with the low end of Disney World’s moderate resorts.
The verdict
Simply put, this hotel isn’t worth paying $200 per night. It’s probably not worth more than $120 for a standard room and if the rate is within $20 of Cabana Bay, pay more for the better amenities. If the choice is between this and its Dockside neighbor, pick Dockside every time. You’ll probably pay less!
Sursfide Inn and Suites still offers a step up from generic I-Drive resorts if you want dip your toe in the world of on-site theme park hotels — that is, if the nightly rate is close to what Universal promises.
Grade: C
DISCLOSURE: This review is based on my own opinion and perspective. I paid for my hotel room. Universal did not grant me any special access to the resort and I received no special treatment from hotel employees, who were not aware that I was conducting a review.