Photo Gallery: First look at Universal Orlando’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Welcome to 1962! The first phase of Cabana Bay Beach Resort opened on March 31, and we are bringing you a photographic peek at Universal Orlando Resort’s first moderately priced hotel. As you can see, the new resort is inspired by the mid-century modern motor lodges from Wildwood, New Jersey, to Miami Beach, which once defined the American family vacation. We’ll be back in the near future with a fully detailed review of the resort, but for now enjoy this pictorial guide to the newly launched property.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort Exterior
Cabana Bay Beach Resort Lobby
Cabana Bay Beach Resort Family Suite Guest Room
Swizzle Lounge Lobby Bar
Universal Gift Shop
Cabana Bay Starbucks Coffee
Cabana Bay North Courtyard Pool
Bayliner Diner Food Court
Galaxy Bowling Alley
Game-O-Rama Arcade
Jack LaLanne Fitness Center
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How did no hit the “NOPE” button on this resurrection of horrible style and architecture before it was constructed. Fantastic, your rooms look like they’re 40 years old and disgusting before they’ve even had a guest in them. This isn’t a troll comment, I love Universal, but the ball was dropped, down a well, and into an underground culture of sightless demi-humans when it comes to the design of this resort.
Oh come on now…what do you *really* think?
Wow! Really gorgeous! So Mad Men.
We just got back from a stay at HRH and loved the Express passes. Allowed us to wander around without a plan which is a different feeling than a TP at WDW. Not sure I’d give it up for a pretty hotel, which this sure is…
The new suites looks great. I much prefer their floor plan to those of the WDW family suites and 1-bedroom villas, and I think they’ll be much more convenient for the typical family to use. (E.g., split baths and multiple sinks are always a welcome addition, and with a separate bedroom that sleeps a family of 4, parents can actually put the kids to bed for the night and then hang out in the living/kitchenette area. Family suites where kids have no option but to to sleep in the common room has never made sense to me…)
I was excited about this resort until I found out it does not offer the front-of-the-line access. The other hotel rooms will not accommodate my family of 6, and two rooms is just too cost prohibitive.
Annie, the great thing about Touring Plans & Lines is that you can enjoy UOR even without Express 🙂
If you weren’t staying onsite previously, you were probably staying somewhere off Uni’s property that costs the same or more than Cabana Bay, and DOESN’T include Early Entry to the Wizarding World like you get here. With the new Potter rides not accepting express, we expect early entry to be even more valuable.
well yes. I know the price is cheaper…that is why I mentioned that I knew it was a value resort. However, the front of the line access makes the other resorts a much better deal especially at busy times. For less busy times, it looks like a fun place to stay!
Having a “suite” also has appeal. From the photos, they look like a smaller version of the AoA suites. Having stayed in those, it really makes these ones seem not so great.
You could also add front of the line to your tickets. If the cost of doing so would be equal to or less than the cost of a regular room at one of the other resorts, I might stay here for a suite.
Cool theme and well done….food, cocktails, and beer are pretty sad however.
Hi Keith!
I tried about a half dozen of the signature cocktails over the last 3 days (hiccup) and they were all tasty and strong. I’m no PBR fan but they have Yuengling, Blue Moon, Kronenbourg, Sam Adams seasonal, and a few other good brews on tap.
As for the food, I wish there was a full-serve restaurant, but for counter service the diner was as good or better than any quick service in the parks, and $10 for a dinner entree is a fair price. The churassco beef, chicken artichoke pasta, and tuna casserole were all really tasty, and nothing I had tasted bad. The biggest issue I had with food was that the staff hasn’t had enough training on the POS terminals so checking out took forever, but that is fixable.
Great photos! Is it wrong that I want those orange chairs in the lobby for my house?
I may have been caught trying to load one in my car… No worries, I told security my name was Len Testa. 😉
It looks like a beautiful resort and I know it is considered value, but I just don’t understand why anyone would want to stay there when it doesn’t offer the “front of the line” access like the other resorts.
The price. It is cheaper than the others.
Hi Linda! I agree the unlimited express is a great perk, but it would destroy its value if everyone staying at this ENORMOUS hotel (once finished) got express too!
The deluxe rooms are a great value with 4 people, but for 1 or 2 you may save $ by staying at Cabana Bay and buying express, depending on the season.
Besides, as someone who vacations in Wildwood NJ, I would stay here even if there wasn’t a theme park across the street. 😉
It looks awesome! I can’t wait to stay there at some point. Catie Universal and Disney copy each other all the time. It looks like they improved on the Disney model.
It seems to me like they took all the unique aspects of Disney resorts (refillable mugs, food courts, pool side movies) and copied them.
Thanks for the comment Catie. The refillable resort mugs were pioneered by Disney (at least locally), and I can see your argument with the food court (though other resorts outside Orlando had them long ago) but Universal’s other hotels have had “dive-in movies” for over a decade.
I would say though that from what you’ve presented Seth it creepily mirrors a Disney resort. In fact, I was convinced this was an April Fools joke about a new WDW property until I took a moment to read the title!
I think it shows great incentive for competition though. I guess we will see what happens.
Given that tons of resorts around the world do all of these things (many long before Disney), I wouldn’t call any of this copying Disney. More like meeting industry standards and consumer expectations for resort-hotels.
Great post, Seth. This resort looks incredible–far superior to the Disney Values. Universal/Loews did an excellent job.
Mental note: wait until 12:01 a.m. before activating souvenir beverage cup. 😉
I hear you, Mark! If you are staying more than 2 nights, the length of stay is your best value. I stick with free water personally, but with the Freestyle machine I was tempted 😉
Unfortunately the dispensers there aren’t compatible with refillable Freestyle cups sold in the parks, at least for now. They said they’d look at it but I wouldn’t hold my breath.