Universal Orlando Resort is known for its incredible immersive adventures—from Springfield, home of America’s favorite animated family, to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley & Hogsmeade, from Seuss Landing to Marvel SuperHero Island—but its epic experiences stretch beyond the parks’ gates. At its themed on-site hotels, Universal has transported guests back in time to the 50’s and 60’s, to an exquisite Pacific island, to a rock star’s digs, and to the Italian Riviera. Universal Orlando Resort’s newest property, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, promises to take guests to a relaxing Caribbean hideaway when it opens this July.

“The theme resonates with our audience,” explains Russ Dagon, Vice President and Exclusive Project Director for Universal Creative. “We liked the idea of tying the Caribbean landscape to the nearby Balinese landscape of the Loews Royal Pacific Resort, which is just next door.”

The 1,000-room Preferred Resort lures guests with a Caribbean vibe, starting with the materials used for the project, such as “found” stone, grass baskets, and rum barrels, and continuing through the resort’s water features, says Dagon.

An Epic Waterscape

Like the Caribbean, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is a lush tropical paradise surrounded by sparkling water, which includes a resort-style pool, cascading waterfalls, and a meandering river.

Says Dagon, “In addition to incredible amenities across the hotel and the on-site benefits for guests staying at Universal Orlando, the incredible water features make Sapphire Falls an amazing and transformative experience. You’re greeted by a river upon arrival. Our restaurant and lobby bar both overlook our beautiful falls and lagoon, and our pool area is both relaxing for the adults and adventurous for our younger guests.”

But guests will be wowed by the resort’s “epic” pool—a 16,000-square-foot, zero-entry oasis with a white sand beach, water slide, fire pit, and an interactive play area for the little ones.

“Our guests love our immersive pools,” says Dagon. “They offer a great vacation respite for our guests and complement the balance of the offerings within the Universal Orlando Resort very well. Our zero-entry pool offers plenty of ‘wading water’ which is how the majority of our guests actually use our pools.”

Universal Orlando Resort even expanded the resort waterway to allow for more water taxi service to and from the parks, “which is very important to our guests,” says Dagon. “This experience is really the perfect end to a day in the theme parks.”

Related: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – A Guide for Nerds

Caribbean Flair and Fare

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort boasts a “best of” Caribbean flair, and with the Caribbean ambiance comes its recognizable culinary flavors. The resort hosts four unique restaurants, including the Amatista Cookhouse, Drhum Club Kantine, Strong Water Tavern, and the New Dutch Trading Co.

Amatista Cookhouse is the resort’s family restaurant with a tropical design that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with indoor and outdoor dining venues, and though the final menus are being refined for the resort’s opening, Dagon says, “Our chefs will take advantage of the myriad of spices that define the island cuisine.”

The poolside bar and restaurant is The Drhum Club, named for a spin on the original spelling of rum, and serves tropical food and specialty drinks as well as favorite poolside options.

But Dagon is most excited about the resort’s rum bar, Strong Water Tavern. The name “strong water” is a take on a local nickname for spirits and is the more adult lobby bar featuring a tapas-style menu, which includes ceviche, a popular Latin American seafood dish.

Finally, guests can stop by the New Dutch Trading Co. for quick service bites before returning to their room, continuing on to the pool, or heading out to the theme parks.

Related: Top Ten Treasures in Florida

Universal Favorites

When staying at Universal Orlando Resort, guests receive incredible benefits. At Loews Sapphire Falls Resorts, guests enjoy the following favorite amenities:

• Early theme park admission – one hour before the theme park opens to regular guests. (Use this time to enjoy The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!)
• Complimentary water taxi service and shuttle bus transportation to the theme parks and Universal CityWalk.
• Complimentary delivery of merchandise purchased throughout the resort to their hotel.
• And resort-wide charging privileges with their room key.

Get ready to discover epic experiences at Universal Orlando Resort this summer with the opening of Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, which is now accepting reservations for July 14 and beyond, and don’t miss the premiere of the resort’s newest attraction, Skull Island: Reign of Kong – an epic adventure opening at Universal’s Islands of Adventure this summer!