Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites Review

It’s time for an Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites review!

As Universal Orlando annual pass holders, staying onsite at Universal is a must. Even though we only live a couple of hours from Orlando, we love staying onsite whenever possible. Over the years, we’ve stayed at every single one—from the luxurious Signature Resorts (formerly Premier Resorts) to our favorite family and affordable option – Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

If you’re confused about what the different hotel types at Universal mean, check out All the Universal Orlando Hotel Types explained.

Even though we’d stayed at Dockside Inn and Suites twice, we’d never been to Surfside! Well, now we can say we’ve visited every single Universal hotel!

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Review of Endless Summer Surfside

Now, let’s get to the Endless Summer Surfside review.

First impressions of Endless Summer Surfside:

The check-in process was quick and easy thanks to awesome Universal Team Members. I always tell them we are Florida locals and annual pass holders, so they don’t have to explain too much! The team member asked about our preferences for where our room was, which is always a bonus! Fortunately, Surfside is small, so the location of the rooms doesn’t matter much. I did request a high floor which she gave us.

The lobby is large and welcoming. Although Surfside is very small (only 750 rooms), you’ll still find a Universal gift shop, Food Court, and, of course, Starbucks.

Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites Review

One thing that stood out to us right away was how compact the resort is compared to others like Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls. Surfside’s smaller footprint means shorter walks to your room, the pool, and the dining area. Our kids aren’t little (you can see them chatting with the Grinch on this trip below,) but this would be a huge plus for families with babies and toddlers.

Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites Review

Staying at the other value resorts (Endless Summer Dockside and Cabana Bay Beach Resort) can involve a lot of walking. For reference, Surfside has 750 rooms. Dockside has 2050, and Cabana Bay has 2200.

The rooms at Endless Summer Surfside

Endless Summer Surfside has two room types: a standard room and a 2-bedroom suite. We opted for the 2-bedroom suite to have a kitchenette and additional space.

The layout is incredibly functional, with one room featuring two queen beds and the other offering a single queen. The room setup is the same at Dockside. Cabana Bay, on the other hand, has family suites where there is no separation. Cabana Bay does have 2-bedroom suites, but they are much harder to get.

Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites Review

The suite includes a kitchenette with a mini-fridge, microwave, sink, and picnic-style table.

Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites Review

There were 4 of us on this trip, but there was plenty of room for five or even six guests.

We have a video of the 2-bedroom suite, so check it out below!

Endless Summer Dining and Amenities

One of Surfside’s biggest perks is how easy it is to navigate. The compact layout means you’re never far from the pool, dining options, or shuttle pickup for the parks. The surfboard-shaped pool is large, clean, and perfect for families. The pools at Endless Summer are simple and don’t have slides or pool activities, but they’re still lots of fun!

Every Universal hotel has a game room, and Surfside was no exception. While amenities are fewer here, the pool is still fun and it’s such a budget-friendly option!

For dining, the Beach Break Café offers casual, affordable options with something for everyone. Think egg bowls, pancakes, and grab-and-go options like muffins and fruit. Lunch and dinner choices include sandwiches, pizza (which can be delivered to your room), and a few healthier options. It’s not gourmet dining, but the convenience and reasonable prices make it a win for families.

Coffee lovers will appreciate having Starbucks in the lobby.

Transportation to Universal

Thanks to Universal’s complimentary shuttle service, getting to the parks from Surfside is easy. The buses are frequent, and we never waited more than a few minutes. While Endless Summer Dockside and Surfside are further from the parks, it doesn’t take long to get there with the shuttles.

Endless Summer Surfside Inn and Suites Review

Please note that while you CAN walk to Universal, I would not advise walking across I-4. The Garden Walk from all the other resorts is a perfect walk to Universal, but it’s not safe to try walking from Surfside or Dockside.

Who should stay at Surfside Inn and Suites?

Surfside Inn and Suites is perfect for any family on a budget, especially if you are a family of 4-6 people. The 2-bedroom suites are hard to beat, and pricing starts around $130/night. I would recommend Surfside to families with young children since there’s much less walking than any other Universal hotel (besides maybe Aventura.)

Overall Impression of Surfside Inn and Suites

We had stayed at Dockside twice and weren’t particularly impressed, but we were pleasantly surprised with Surfside! Of course, the downside is that the busses are the only type of Universal transportation. We have free parking at Universal, so it didn’t matter much to us.

The other downside of Surfside is that the pool is basic, and there are no other family amenities like the bowling alley at Cabana Bay. The upside to Surfside – other than the price – is that it’s in better shape overall vs. Cabana Bay since it’s a newer resort.

That said, if having a nice pool is important to your family, I would recommend Cabana Bay. If a basic pool is just fine, or you’re on a very tight budget, Surfside is the perfect choice, especially if you don’t want to do a lot of walking.

If you preview a video tour, we have one below!