The Endless Summer resorts, Dockside Inn & Suites and Surfside Inn & Suites, at Universal might be the best value resorts in all of Orlando - so guests may be forgiven for thinking these are 'no frills' hotels, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Ok, so 100% these are resorts that are favoured by guests who prioritise time at the theme parks.
There are other nearby Universal hotels that have more facilities and more luxurious extras. But, in their own right, the Endless Summer resorts certainly have more than just the essential facilities.
Here, we will take a closer look at some of the 'top things to do' for guests staying at Endless Summer - Dockside.
Well, it IS a theme park hotel
If your ideal Universal Orlando holiday balances high‑octane park days with laid‑back, budget‑friendly downtime, Dockside Inn & Suites is hard to beat.
Complimentary shuttles depart every fifteen to twenty minutes, so you’ll move from the Dockside lobby to CityWalk easily and quickly.
Even better, Early Park Admission is built into the room key, meaning you can be casting spells in Diagon Alley or slipping down Krakatau Aqua Coaster an hour before the day‑guests arrive.
Spend time at the pool
Step out of either of the hotel's towers and you’ll find one of Dockside’s two zero‑entry lagoon pools.
Palm trees fringe the decks, and there are lots of loungers spread out between the pool, sand play areas and shady umbrellas.
Tower 1’s pool enjoys the morning sunlight, making it ideal for an early “resort day,” while
Tower 2 soaks up the warmer afternoon rays, perfect for that cooling swim after a marathon through the parks.
Wave Makers (the pool bar beside Tower 2) and Oasis Beach Bar (by Tower 1) shake up frozen mango margaritas and the signature Disco H2O cocktail (which is a nod to the late, great Wet ’n Wild waterpark which previously operated on this patch of Orlando).
During the day, the resort’s entertainment team floats from ping‑pong tournaments to trivia challenges, and on certain nights of the week there are pool side movie nights.
Workout
For guests who prefer to break a sweat and burn calories, between trips to restaurants and theme parks, the Endless Summer resort has its own fitness centre - a perk that’s quite uncommon among traditional ‘value’ resorts.
The fitness centre is home to treadmills, spin bikes, and free weights.
It overlooks the Tower 1 pool, so guests can feel the burn in the gym without missing the Florida sunshine.
Easy eats and sunset sips
Eating counts as something to do, right?
When hunger strikes, there’s no need to wander far.
Pier 8 Market, the resort’s bright, surfboard‑trimmed food hall, opens before sunrise and keeps the griddles hot until late evening.
Lines move quickly through five counters serving everything from chicken‑and‑waffle bowls and custom‑topped pizzas to build‑your‑own salads.
Its affordable with prices of around $12 for meals, so dinner for a family won’t torch the Butterbeer budget.
In the lobby, a full Starbucks caters to early birds from five o’clock, and by late afternoon the area transforms as Sunset Lounge pops corks on local craft beers and shakes fruit‑forward Mai Tais until midnight.
Guests craving a slice without leaving their lounger will appreciate the resort’s pizza delivery which can serve poolside tables, or to your room, until midnight.
If you’ve purchases refillable Freestyle mugs (which are found across Universal Orlando) can be topped up at both pool bars and inside Pier 8, four refills and the cup has paid for itself.
Family Playtime Beyond the Pools
Dockside isn’t all sunbeds and cocktails. Inside Tower 2, the Game Room Arcade buzzes from eight in the morning to eleven at night.
Modern VR racers sit cheek‑by‑joystick with nostalgic Pac‑Man cabinets, and a tap‑to‑pay card means no one is fumbling for quarters.
Just across the lobby, the cushioned Wake Zone Lounge offers beanbags, board games and enough charging ports to keep every teenager’s screen at 100%.
Guests chasing a quieter moment can follow the lakeside walkway behind Tower 2.
Exploring International Drive & Beyond
Guests can op the free shuttle or splash out on a short ride‑share and you’ll hit Universal CityWalk in about five minutes—ideal for Voodoo Doughnut runs, karaoke at Rising Star or a chocolate‑smothered shake at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.
As well as benefitting from easy access to the Universal parks and CityWalk, the Endless Summer resorts are conveniently located practically on International Drive, which puts a bunch of other dining and entertainment options nearby.
A 5‑minute stroll will bring you to Walgreens (ideal for late‑night snacks or essentials like sunscreen), or to the IHOP (International House of Pancakes) where you can demolish a tower of all‑night pancakes.
Around 10 minutes away, by roard, ICON Park is home to The Wheel ride, the SEA LIFE aquarium and Madame Tussauds. And, for shoppers and bargain hunters, the Orlando International Premium Outlets are right next door.
Also fairly close are SeaWorld Orlando and its water‑park sibling Aquatica - about 15 minutes down the freeway, or Pointe Orlando mixes dinner shows with after‑dark cocktails are on the same stretch.
Thoughts …
Dockside Inn & Suites is indeed labelled as a “value” resort, and it is easily one of the cheapest theme park hotel’s you’ll find anywhere, but that doesn’t mean its a boring, no-frills resort either.
It’s the sort of place where you can save some dollars to spend in the parks, on entertainment and on dining experiences - without sacrificing the resort ‘feel’, and without missing out on quality resort days.
