Day 4 - Helios Hotel

 

15 December 2025

 Sleep in day. Finally! Well it is if you are a teenager and can manage to do this. Steve and I, for some reason, not so much yet. We took our time packing everything up and headed over to the Helios Hotel. This new hotel, built into the new Epic Universal Park, would be our home for the next two days.

All shiny and new (less than 6 months old), the hotel was beautiful. Themed on the Greek Titan God of Sun and light, there are sky themed features throughout. The lobby overlooks the Epic, but at the moment is filled with a giant Christmas Tree with the appearance of an oversized star sitting on the top. Steve managed to swing a room upgrade so that we were overlooking the park - what a scene to behold. Isabelle, who has been closely studying the Epic portals (worlds) and all of its rides and inner workings, excitedly began identifying and explaining all the key elements that we would be coming across tomorrow. 

In the meant time, the kids opted to spend part of today at Disney Springs, shopping of course. We had lunch at the bowling ally where Joshua was shocked that the waitress could identify that we were Australian, and that we were generally identifiable as an Australian. I'm not sure if he thought that was a good or bad thing. Joshua managed to score a nice (somewhat chunky) jacket, and the white jumper he had been looking for. Sadly, the stylish young man was not able to obtain the chunky white scarf he desired. A bit of Christmas shopping for me. Some very expensive M&Ms for the kids. And finally, a famous Ghirardelli ice-cream sunday to see us through until dinner.

This little feature sits in the lift lobby. It changes colour throughout the day.
We think it is a clock, but I didn't quite take the time to work out how you 
check the time with it.

Family pic in front of the Helios Christmas Tree

Helios Christmas Tree

I know it just looks like a lot of lights, but each one of these lights is carefully choreographed and changes in response to the music.

Anyone who has heard me talk about theme park visits knows that I go in with a strategy. I aim to ensure that we achieve going on every ride each of us really wants to go on. Universal was easy, nothing has changed and we could call on previous strategies. Epic was brand new and the rules have changed about 4 times since I commenced researching this trip. We had a game plan, but even since we have arrived, new updates have influenced the game again. Unfortunately, I am too tired, congested and foggy to think about it any further. The fate of the day will just have to lie in the fast pass and crowds.