Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is one of the most budget friendly hotels at the Universal Orlando Resort. One of five Universal Orlando hotels, with two more coming soon, the hotel has a lot to offer and can make for some great family memories.
image credit Universal Orlando Resort
Review of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
The entire hotel’s decor has a funky 1950’s & 60’s era theme to it with lots of shapes and bright colours used in the design. The property also features a diner, bowling alley, hula hooping contests and even a Jack LaLanne Phyiscal Fitness studio instead of a “gym”. They truly stick to the era everywhere you look.
image credit Universal Orlando Resort
What are the Cabana Bay Beach Resort rooms like?
With over 2,000 rooms on property there are various room options and sizes available across the Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s five buildings and two towers. During my stay I was in a suite in the Starlight building which overlooked the main Cabana Courtyard and pool. My suite had a small kitchenette with microwave, mini fridge, sink and some basic plastic cutlery and plates. Alongside the kitchenette was a small counter top bar with stools which you can sit at as well.
Next to the kitchen is the lounge area with two chairs, a TV and a pull out sofa bed perfect for extra guests. The sofa bed allows for up to six people to comfortably share a suite. The lounge and kitchen are partitioned off from the rest of the room with a funky retro designed room divider.
The rest of the suite features two queen beds, a closet and split bathroom. The bathroom has a vanity and sink which is open to the room. Then on one side is the toilet with its own door and on the other side is the shower and a second sink with its own door as well. It is definitely convenient to have the bathroom this way especially with extra guests staying in your room. At least three people can get ready at once.
image credit Universal Orlando Resort
A room with a view from one of the new towers at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, overlooking Volcano Bay
The hotel property is really large so there are various benefits to different room locations. Some rooms are close to the lobby which means you are closer to the buses to the parks. Other rooms might be closer to the pools, or to your car if you are self driving, etc. If you are lucky you will get a room in one of the properties new towers overlooking Volcano Bay.
The Cabana Courtyard pool
What are the pools like?
The Cabana Bay Beach Resort has two pools, a lazy river and even a beach on property. The main pool is located off of the lobby in the Cabana Courtyard and features a dive tower themed waterslide. In the courtyard there is also a hot tub, picnic tables, a fire pit, a poolside bar and restaurant, cabanas and lots of lounge chairs.
Part of the lazy river with a view of Volcano Bay’s Krakatau Volcano
In the Lazy River Courtyard you can find another large pool and a gently flowing lazy river. There are many lounge chairs by this pool too and some are laid out on a man made soft white sand beach. Here you will also find more cabanas, the Hideaway Bar & Grill and a lovely view of the Krakatau Volcano at Volcano Bay.
**Note: You need to bring your own tube/pool floatie or buy one on property to use in the lazy river and pools. But bonus they will inflate them for you and also deflate them for traveling home with them. The prices range from $5 to $8USD. I have also heard of guests who are checking out often paying it forward to newly arriving guests and giving them their tubes. So be sure to make nice with everyone you see.
The Lazy River Courtyard pool
One downside about the pools at this property is that there isn’t food or drink service directly to the lounge chairs like at other Universal hotels. I think this might be in part because it is more of a budget hotel and the abundance of kids? Not sure.
What are the dining options like?
One of the things that makes the Cabana Bay Beach Resort more affordable is the Bayliner Diner which is a diner/food court. The Bayliner Diner has so many options and food choices to chose from deli sandwiches to pizza, burgers, a build your own salad bar, bacon, eggs and pancakes for breakfast and more. You can also come here to grab some frozen yogurt or various snacks to go.
As mentioned before there are also two pool side restaurants, the Hideaway Bar & Grill and Atomic Tonic so you grab a bite by the pool. Inside not far from the main lobby there is also a Starbucks serving all of the typical Starbucks drinks and eats. You can even order pizza right to your room or poolside cabana from Delizioso Pizza. Or if you are doing some bowling at Galaxy Bowl you can order food as you play.
the AMAZING milkshakes at Toothsomes
If you are looking for even more selection then I suggest grabbing a Universal shuttle bus and heading over to Universal’s CityWalk. My favorite restaurants at CityWalk are the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savoury Feast Kitchen for great meals and milk shakes and Antojito’s for some great Mexican food. There is also a Magaritaville, the NBC Sports Grill & Brew, Vivo Italian Kitchen, Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar and a lot more. All of the other hotels on property feature more great restaurants as well so your options are endless. There is even a hotel dining shuttle to get you to each property.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort hotel lobby
The Lobby & Entertainment
Most of the Universal hotels have inviting and relaxing lobbies, great for hanging out in. The Cabana Bay Beach Resort lobby takes it up a notch. Featuring funky architecture and amazingly high ceilings with a huge palm tree in the middle. It is also a place for entertainment. By night the lobby bar and lounge opens up where you can relax after a long day at the parks. Enjoy a drink or a bite to eat and even listen to some live music.
Live entertainment nightly in the lobby lounge
In the lobby you can also find car rental services, as well as the concierge to help you plan your stay at Universal and in Orlando. The lobby is also home to an awesome Universal Gift Shop for last minute presents to take home.
Bowling with my Universal Blogsquad Family!
Fun for the Whole Family
One of the great things about the Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal is that it is great no matter the weather. If its a rainy day or maybe you just need a break from the parks Cabana Bay has lots to keep you entertained.
Aside from the pools, lazy river and hula hooping competitions one of the highlights of Cabana Bay is it’s bowling alley. Located on the second floor between the lobby and Bayliner Diner is Galaxy Bowl. A ten lane ten-pin bowling alley that also serves food and drinks. Next door to the bowling alley you will also find an awesome arcade where you can play video games, skee ball, claw games and more and win prizes too.
Extra Amenities
If walking 20,000 steps a day in the parks isn’t enough for you and you still need a good workout then head to the Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio. Located on the second floor from the lobby they have every piece of fitness equipment imaginable. The locker rooms also feature showers which are perfect on days that you check out early but have a late flight. The hotel amenities are yours to use on your day of checkout until midnight that night. So hang out by the pools, go for a swim, then get freshened up in the fitness center.
Unlike other hotels at Universal, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort is not connected to the main waterways. This means you aren’t directly able to use the ferry service to get to the parks. However there are buses just outside of the main lobby that come and go frequently taking you to the main entrance to CityWalk, that connects you to Universal Studios and the Islands of Adventure. You can also walk to the Loew’s Sapphire Falls across the street and hop on their ferry too.
Volcano Bay is fun for everyone!
Probably the biggest bonus to staying at Cabana Bay though is that you are only a couple minutes walk from Volcano Bay. The hotel even has it’s own private entrance and gives guests early access into the park. #winning
After staying in the Cabana Bay Beach Resort myself I am pretty sure that there isn’t much more that you could ask for from a family and budget friendly hotel. Have you stayed here before? What did you love about it?
To book your stay right now click HERE.
Watch video highlights and my review of the Cabana Bay Beach Resort here:
I was a guest of the Universal Orlando Resort for my stay at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort. As always all opinions and views expressed are my own.
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