Another New hotel - Loews Sapphire Falls Resort

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Just posted concept art to our facebook page

Uni tweeted:

Our family of on-site resorts is growing again! Loews Sapphire Falls scheduled to open summer 2016.


Nanc

[Melanie]

From Universal Orlando webpage:

Scheduled to open Summer 2016, the Caribbean-inspired Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando® will whisk you and your family away to an island state of mind. With picturesque rivers and waterfalls, you’ll feel like you’ve landed on your own tropical oasis in the heart of an unforgettable adventure.

While soaking up the sunny island vibe, you’ll enjoy a sparkling zero-entry pool complete with waterfalls, a white sand beach, a water slide, a children’s play area, and cabana rentals. Dining options will include a full-service restaurant with scenic water views, plus grab-and-go items from a Caribbean-style marketplace. The hotel will also offer a fitness center with wet sauna and Jacuzzi, a poolside bar and grill serving fresh fare and signature cocktails, a lobby bar where you can lounge amidst striking views of the water, and more. It's the perfect place to plan an unforgettable island escape.

HOTEL GUESTS ENJOY EXCLUSIVE THEME PARK BENEFITS, INCLUDING:

• Early Park Admission† to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, one hour before the theme park opens (valid theme park admission required)

• Complimentary shuttle buses and walking paths to both Universal Orlando® theme parks and Universal CityWalk®

And More!

[Melanie]

Concept art:

[mgmnut]

From Universal Orlando webpage:


HOTEL GUESTS ENJOY EXCLUSIVE THEME PARK BENEFITS, INCLUDING:

• Early Park Admission† to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, one hour before the theme park opens (valid theme park admission required)

• Complimentary shuttle buses and walking paths to both Universal Orlando® theme parks and Universal CityWalk®

And More!

No mention of Complimentary Express Pass. Does this mean it's not not going to be considered a Deluxe or is that covered in the "and More!"?

Sounds great, and the concept art looks nice, just by the pool description alone it sounds deluxe.

The concept art shows a waterway and boats, but the Benefits say Complimentary shuttle buses and walkways. Any Idea where this is slated to go? Near the 3 original hotels or someplace else?

[Melanie]

No mention of Complimentary Express Pass. Does this mean it's not not going to be considered a Deluxe or is that covered in the "and More!"?

I wondered the same thing. As mentioned many times here before, they can't continue to add hotels with the option of the Express Pass. Seems like Portofino Bay has been a success without the option.

[mgmnut]

I wondered the same thing. As mentioned many times here before, they can't continue to add hotels with the option of the Express Pass. Seems like Portofino Bay has been a success without the option.

Portofino has Express Pass, I think you mean the new Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which also look very nice, I really like the theme.

I hope they keep the complimentary Express Pass to the original 3 as well. I think it is a nice added perk for staying Deluxe.

I agree If you open it to all onsite hotels, and keep adding hotels, soon Express Pass Lines will be just as long as standby and not much of a benefit.

Looking at Google Maps it looks like Sapphire Falls could go just south of Royal Carribean Resort. Maybe just trench the waterway a bit further

Just Got below from the Lowes site. Also it's 1,000 guest rooms and 77 suites

"Loews Sapphire Falls Resort offers water taxi and shuttle bus service to and from the theme parks and Universal CityWalk® making it easy to access all of Universal Orlando® Resort."

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Blog post from Universal

http://blog.universalorlando.com/wha...re-falls-2016/

[Melanie]

Portofino has Express Pass, I think you mean the new Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which also look very nice, I really like the theme.

Yes! Thanks for correcting me.

[BrerGnat]

Looks like it will also have the boats. They are going to expand the waterway. If you look on Google maps satellite view, it is a current photo and you can already see it's a construction area between Cabana Bay and Royal Pacific. It actually looks about the same distance from the parks as Portofino Bay.

My guess is it will end up having Express Pass. This hotel looks much fancier than CB and it will have convention space so will likely attract a higher caliber of guests. Thus, it will likely be priced closer to Royal Pacific. If they didn't offer EP, what would be the incentive to stay there over RP? CB has the suites and "value" pricing in place to compensate for the loss of EP. Even still, I strongly suspect CB will start including EP as a perk eventually, even if only during slower seasons. Seems like they are already having occupancy problems there.

[NJGIRL]

If they start giving the Express Pass to CB guests then the deluxe may lose guests. I personally would stay at CB for the value rate if I would be getting the Express Pass.

If they are having a hard time filling CB then they should not be building yet another hotel. I think they made a mistake in not having the bridge done before opening the hotel. A great perk at Universal is actually being onsite and not taking a bus to the parks. I think the bridge will make a big difference in filling the hotel.

[mgmnut]

If they start giving the Express Pass to CB guests then the deluxe may lose guests. I personally would stay at CB for the value rate if I would be getting the Express Pass.

I can see that, I would definitely stay at Cabana Bay over a deluxe if they started offering Express pass at CB. I like the deluxe hotels but who doesn't want to save money?

I really like the look of CB, the only thing that kept me booking it in November is Express Pass

[BrerGnat]

They could also offer the limited EP to Sapphire Falls guests. Like the one they sell where you can access each ride ONCE per day using EP, rather than the unlimited one the deluxe guests get.

[joonyer]

They could also offer the limited EP to Sapphire Falls guests. Like the one they sell where you can access each ride ONCE per day using EP, rather than the unlimited one the deluxe guests get.

I think that's a very likely option. There's been a lot of speculation that Disney might adopt a "tiered" level of FP+ availability once the system is fully implemented, such as more FPs being made available to guests depending on how far up the scale (from Value to Moderate to Deluxe) you book your on-site stay. Although some are opposed to this idea, I think the market is there for both discount and deluxe vacations. People like options.

[Mfarquar]

They could also offer the limited EP to Sapphire Falls guests. Like the one they sell where you can access each ride ONCE per day using EP, rather than the unlimited one the deluxe guests get.

Agreed! I think that's a very good point and a very viable possibility.

It looks like a beautiful resort and I look forward to checking it out!