829: Helios Grand, Good Eats, and Getting Trapped in the Upside Down

Main Street Magic - A Walt Disney World Podcast

Jeremy Stein

Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World, Disney Springs, Citywalk, Kids & Family, Disney World, Places & Travel, Disney Resorts, Society & Culture, Animal Kingdom, Wdw, Universal Studios, Disney Dining, Epcot, Islands Of Adventure, Universal Dining, Magic Kingdom, Disney, Universal Orlando, Walt Disney

4.6 • 782 Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2025

⏱️ 99 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We’re checking into Universal Helios Grand Hotel to see if this Celestial Park stunner truly lives up to the hype. From gorgeous views and modern rooms to breezy pool vibes and a rooftop bar that practically begs you to stay all night, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about Universal’s newest Signature resort. But before we get too relaxed, we do the exact opposite of relaxing… and launch ourselves straight into the Upside Down for the Sandbox VR Stranger Things experience. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be a freshly recruited Hawkins Lab test subject — complete with haptic vests, free-roam VR, and Vecna breathing down your digital neck — this one’s for you. We’ll walk you through the story, the scares, the teamwork chaos, the Demogorgon encounters, and of course… who on our team “carried the squad” (the after-action video never lies). From high-end luxury at Helios Grand to high-intensity thrills in Stranger Things VR, we’re covering food, vibes, gameplay, pricing, and whether these two experiences are worth adding to your next Universal vacation.

Transcript

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0:00.0	On this episode, we check into Universal's brand new Helius Grand Hotel to see if this resort really lives up to the hype, as well as jumping straight into the upside down for the sandbox VR Stranger Things Experience.
0:11.8	Today's December 8th, 2025.
0:14.2	This is episode 829 of the Main Street Magic podcast.
0:18.1	Jeremy and Rhonda are more than a little fond of Disney World, so they made this podcast to share
0:24.7	it all with you.
0:26.7	Reports and resorts, top ten lists of all sorts, Main Street Magic's bringing it home
0:32.5	for you.
0:35.9	Hello and welcome to another episode of Main Street Magic.
0:38.7	I'm your host, Jeremy Stein, and as always, I'm joined by my lovely wife, Rhonda.
0:42.2	Hey, guys.
0:43.0	If you want to be part of the community and join the conversation, get the latest theme park
0:46.7	news, as well as live streams from the parks and resorts, head to Facebook and search
0:50.9	for the Main Street Magic community and ask to join.
0:54.0	Make sure you check us out on the web at Mainstimagic.com as well as follow us on
0:58.0	Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at Maine ST Magic and on TikTok at MSM podcast.
1:03.4	Planning a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World can be overwhelming and at times just
1:07.3	downright frustrating. But don't worry because mouse dining removes the frustration
1:10.8	of booking Disney dining reservations, alerting you when they spot availability for your desired
1:15.4	restaurant, date, meal, and time. Visit MSMFriends.com to use this free service.
1:21.9	And don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you can get brand new episodes every Tuesday and
1:26.0	Friday. Are you ready for your bucket list trip? Our trusted partner, MEI Travel, will handle the planning so you can get brand new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Are you ready for your bucket list trip?
1:28.5	Our trusted partner, MEI Travel, will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories.
	...

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