Are you trying to decide if the Cabana Bay Beach Resort is best for your trip to Orlando?
Universal Orlando is one of the most visited resorts around the world, giving guests the dream vacation of their choice.
Home to three theme parks and several hotels and resorts, Universal Orlando, is a vacation destination for many people offering comfortable lodging arrangements.
Still, none of them would provide you with the exciting stay that the Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers its guests. An on-property hotel at Universal Orlando, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort is ranked as one of Universal’s Prime Value category hotel.
For guests looking to visit Universal Orlando on a budget, then Cabana Bay is a great choice. It offers you a beachfront vibe and exciting amenities, all of which make your visit to Universal Orlando a memorable one.
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Think of this article as a guide to help you make the most out of your stay at the Cabana Bay Resort. It includes:
- What to expect at the resort
- Amenities
- Room options
- Tips for enjoying your stay at the resort
What to expect at the Universal Orlando Cabana Bay Beach Resort
If you love a great ’50s themed décor featuring bold colors, then the Cabana Bay Beach Resort is for you. Featuring a classical retro theme, the Cabana Beach Resort reminds you of the classic Florida beach hotels of the ’50s and ’60s with its mid-century colors and quirky shapes.
The resort’s retro interior features a quasi-motor hotel style complemented by its mid-century modern architecture, interior design, and styling. Its ’50s décor runs through the hotel from its entrance through its rooms, restaurants, shops, and even extends to the car park.
With Standard room prices starting from $116 a night and Family suites starting from $160 a night, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort is very budget-friendly.
A walking distance from the Universal theme parks, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort puts you right at the center of Universal Orlando. The resort also offers guests a one-hour early admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and other select attractions at the theme park.
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Amenities
The Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers you free internet services for the duration of your stay, keeping you in the loop with the world even while on vacation.
Its rooms are Wi-Fi enabled and feature cable programming allowing you full access to all your entertainment choices. Its bathrooms are equipped with bathtubs/shower as well as complimentary toiletries.
It also includes conveniences such as an ironing board/iron, hairdryers, coffee/tea makers.
You can choose to escape to the pool or lazy river for a day of relaxation or rejuvenate your body in the fitness center.
For any complaints or help, its 24-hour front desk is readily available for you and its staff are always at hand to meet your every need. Guests can choose to also self-park their cars at the resort’s car park for an added fee.
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Activities/Things to Do
When lodged at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, there are several fun activities you can spend your vacation doing rather than sleeping in all day.
1. Float In The Lazy River
The resort features 2 pools, one of which is a lazy river where you can take a quick swim to calm your nerves. While the pool is open, guests are advised to purchase a tube and float to go swimming in the pool.
2. Take A Walk
The resort features beautiful walking paths that provide fantastic views of the resort. Take some time each day for a slow relaxing walk around the resort to enjoy its beautiful sights. You can also head to the Volcano Bay water theme park for a day out in the sun.
3. Bowling
The hotel has a bowling alley where you can spend some quality time bowling. However, the bowling alley only features only ten lanes, so it is important that you make a reservation before you head out to bowl.
You can also grab drinks at the Galaxy Bowl Restaurant located in the bowling alley.
4. Watch A Movie
The theater located at the end of the Bayliner Diner shows some pretty interesting movies you should definitely not miss. On special occasions, you can sit on the lawn by the pool to watch a movie.
5. Go Gaming
The resort’s arcade room is fully equipped with modern games that produce a night of fun. At the end of each game night, be sure to turn in your tickets to claim your prize.
6. Make Some S’Mores
At the Baylinr Diner, you can also buy a s’mores kit and gather your family around the fire pit outside the diner to make s’ mores. This is an excellent ending to a fun-filled day.
7. Meet and Greet Universal Characters
On Friday evening, guests at the Cabana Bay Beach Resorts get special visits from some of Universal Orlando’s theme park special characters.
Hipster Power Tip: Some activities such as character meet-and-greets are suspended due to the 2020 global crisis.
Room options
The Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers visitors two room options:
- Standard Rooms
- Family Suites
These rooms provide you with all the relaxation you need and a home away from home experience at budget-friendly prices. The rooms are painted using bright colors and prints.
Standard Rooms
The standard rooms are about 300 square feet in size, and each of them features two queen beds, a flat-screen TV, mini-refrigerator, themed bedspreads, and exciting retro wall décor.
Each room also comes with a coffee pot brewer, ironing board, hairdryer, and an in-room safe, all of which makes the Cabana Bay Beach Resort the ideal vacation home.
Each standard room comes with its own bathrooms, which feature retro-themed toiletries, which testifies to the resort’s attention to details.
Family Suites
For family vacations, the family suite with 430 square feet of living area is your best bet. It features a large room separated by a sliding partition for full privacy.
It has a living area that features a pull-out sofa, a bedroom area with two queen beds, all of which sleeps up to six people.
The family suite comes with a compartmentalized bathroom allowing up to three users at once, saving you time. It also features a kitchenette, microwave, sink, and mini-refrigerator where you can cook and store your own meals.
At the Cabana Bay Beach resort, you can choose between the Courtyard suite or Tower suite.
The Courtyard Suites and rooms vary in size, offering a view of the pool while the tower suites and rooms are the same sizes and offer visitors a view overlooking the Volcano Bay Water Park.
Read: 5 Incredible Universal Orlando Packing List Tips (Ultimate Guide & Checklist)
Restaurants (Dining options)
When choosing vacation lodges, one major factor guests often consider is food. The Cabana Bay Beach Resort features a wide range of dining options for guests.
It includes a lobby bar, food court, bowling alley restaurant, and a lobby Starbucks. On a night in, you can also order for in-room pizza delivery.
Bayliner Diner Food Court
If you love a good burger, pasta, milkshake, or salad, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort has something for you. Most popular among the Cabana Bay Beach Resorts is the Bayliner Diner food court, where you can purchase your breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals.
Make a quick stop at the Deli Station for freshly baked bread and visit the Burger Station for hot sandwiches, cold shakes, and tasty burgers. The Bayliner Food Court also features a Dessert Station where guests can satisfy their sweet tooth cravings.
At the “Grab and Go” area, you can easily pick up your snacks, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages to go without bothering about a long line or filled dining area.
Galaxy Bowl Restaurant
If you love to bowl, then you can grab a quick meal between frames at the Galaxy Bowl Restaurant in the hotel’s bowling alley. Featuring a casual table dining service area, you can grab any meal you want from the Galaxy Bowl Restaurant.
Pool-side Dining
For poolside snacks and refreshments, visit the Atomic Tonic and The Hideaway Bar &Grill, these restaurant feature signature cocktails, beer, snacks sandwiches, and grilled food. For kids, they also serve a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages, making sure everyone’s taste is satiated.
Starbucks
Start every day of your vacation with a cup of cappuccino or opt for a café latte to brighten up your afternoon all from the Starbucks café located in the resort’s lobby.
Read: Where to Find Butterbeer at Universal Studios + Recipe
Cabana Bay Beach Resort Review
Overall, I really enjoyed my 2-night stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. During my visit I was pleased with how good the Team Members were with keeping everything sanitized and making sure each guest had their temperature taken before roaming the property.
Guests of the resort were also mindful of keeping with the physical distancing, so I didn’t feel unsafe at anytime. Even during my visit out to the pool.
Pros
- The hotel has the convenience being close to the parks with free shuttles to get you there
- Early theme park access
- A super close walking pathway to Volcano Bay
- The bathroom was a perfect size with good water pressure and temperature in the shower is decent
- The pools are spacious so you don’t feel like you’re close to other people
- Check in was easy and straight to the point
- You can text message the front desk with any additional requests you may have
- Clean room
- Spacious room
- Convenient kitchenette to store food
Cons
- Poor food selection and taste
- Not enough on-site dining locations
- Beds feel a bit worn-out in the room with lumps in them
- Steep daily parking fee of $18
- Quite a walk in distance to Universal Studios (expect a 25-minute to 30-minute walk)
I do recommended the Cabana Bay Beach Resort for anyone looking for a budget friendly Orlando hotel on Universal property that’s affordable. I will say that the Team Members were so kind during this trip and made it easy for me to connect with them via text message.
Read: Why a Universal Orlando Annual Pass Should be Your Next Big Purchase!
What to Expect on Your Resort Stay
Does Universal Cabana Beach have breakfast?
Unlike popular assumptions, the Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort does not serve guests complimentary breakfast. However, its rooms all include a mini refrigerator where you can store your meals as well as a microwave to warm them up.
For coffee drinkers, they include a coffee maker in the room, although you have to make your own coffee.
For meal options, the hotel features a food court, which is open from as early as 7 a.m. on most days, where you can purchase anything you want to eat.
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How do you get from Cabana Beach Resort reach to Universal?
Just a short walk from the Universal Orlando theme parks, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort is a walking distance from Universal. It features clearly carved walking parts that allow for group strolls down to Universal.
The resort also provides complimentary shuttle buses every hour that moves guests down to Universal.
How do I check out of Cabana Beach?
Checking out of the Cabana Bay is just as easy as checking into the resort. You can choose to check out over the phone, at the express check-out box placed at the front desk. For those who prefer to check out the traditional way, you can easily walk up to the front desk and check out.
Does the Cabana Bay Beach Resort charge for parking?
Yes, the Cabana Bay charges for parking. Overnight guests are charged $18 plus tax a night to park at the Cabana Bay.
How long does walking from Cabana Bay to Universal Studios take?
The Cabana Bay Beach Resort is within walking distance from the Universal Studios theme park. The walk from Cabana Bay to Universal Studios is a 20-30 minute walk, but it depends on just how fast you can walk.
The resort features a walking path that takes you directly to the theme parks. There are also shuttles that move every day from the resort to the theme parks.
Does Cabana Bay Beach Resort have a shuttle to Disney?
No, the Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort does not have shuttles that go to Walt Disney World.
Your best bet would be to take advantage of a rideshare program such as Uber or Lyft.
What time does Cabana Bay pool close?
The main pool hours are between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. while the lazy river pool opens from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Hipster Power Tip: The pool hours have been adjusted due to the 2020 global pandemic.
3 Easy Tips for planning a stay at the resort
Before choosing to stay at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, there are certain tips to help you plan your visit, and we have listed some of them here.
- More than two people, opt for the family suite: the family suite is perfect for a family of up to five, so consider the size of your Family when picking rooms.
- Be sure to pick up snacks: Breakfast is not complimentary, and hotel meals could get expensive, so be sure to pick up some snacks on your to the resort.
- Plan for extra charges: For additional services like self-parking gaming, swimming and shuttles, there might be some extra charges attached to these services, so be readily prepared for them.
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Final Thoughts
A close second after Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort remains a choice vacation destination for both solo travelers and family travelers.
The beautiful retro décor and budget-friendliness of the Cabana Bay Beach Resort make it a choice hotel for many visitors to the Universal Orlando theme parks.
The resort boasts of premium living arrangements and amenities all at a mere twenty minutes walk from Universal Orlando.
Are you thinking about staying at this Universal Orlando resort? Let us know in the comments section below!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
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