With a Caribbean beach resort theme, the Sapphire Falls is under construction between the Royal Pacific and Cabana Bay Beach resorts, south of Hollywood Way across from the Islands of Adventure theme park. We wrote about the as-then-unnamed fifth hotel, Project 664, back in June. The new hotel will open in summer 2016, and Universal is positioning it as a convention hotel, promoting its 131,000 square-feet of meeting space.
But, let's face it, pleasure's the main draw here, not business. Cue the flowery PR-speak:
"From the moment you enter the lobby and look out through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you’ll feel immersed with picturesque water views including a lush, flowing river and towering waterfall. Then add in a really unique resort-style pool, waterslide, cabana rentals, a sand beach, and laid-back island flair."
From the public documents we reported in June, the new hotel will lie upon an extension of the resort's water-taxi canal. Its guests will receive resort benefits at least as extensive as those offered to guests at the Cabana Bay (early theme park entry, free on-site transportation, etc.), but probably will not get the free Universal Express benefit offered to guests at Universal Orlando's original three hotels. Therefore, we expect the price point to sit somewhere between the Royal Pacific and the Cabana Bay, with average rates somewhere between $100-$250 a night.
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If they do themed IP hotels they are going to be on the wet and wild land to convince people to stay a bit further away. This hotel is being built mainly so that Universal can host bigger conventions.
I'm happy to see Universal building yet another hotel waterfall instead of filling it in with concrete like Disney in the Polynesian lobby. The times sure are a changing
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Better Hotel Ideas:
Hogwarts Hotel
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Back To The Future Hotel