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Subscribe NowLast updated: September 27, 2024
Cabana Bay features 1950s and 1960s designs, two large pools with artificial beaches and zero entry sloping bottoms, and a lazy river. Cabana Bay is an excellent choice for price- and/or space-conscious families visiting Universal.
Cost Range
$164-$358
Lodging Area
Universal Orlando Area
Category
Value
Transportation
Bus, Walk
Pool: B
The best Value resort in Orlando
Midcentury theming is way beyond what you'd expect to get at a value resort
Pool complex includes a lazy river
On-site fitness center and bowling alley - both unusual for Value resorts
Exclusive entrance to Volcano Bay
Overnight parking fee
Family suites have only one bathroom
Noise from nearby Volcano Bay can reach some guest rooms
No short walking paths or water taxis to theme parks and CityWalk
Standard rooms are 300 square feet - about 40 square feet larger than Disney's Value resort rooms.
Retro theming even extends to the toiletries, which include the fondly remembered Zest and VO5 brands.
The bath is divided into three sections: toilet, sink area, and shower room with additional sink; all are separated by doors, so three people can theoretically get ready at once.
A bar area allows extra seating for quick meals, and a large closet has enough space to store everyone's luggage. Built-in USB charging outlets for your devices are a thoughtful touch.
Galaxy Bowl Some people enjoy the athleticism of basketball, while others admire the grace and skill of soccer, but we at TP favor bowling, as it’s the only one in which you can participate while eating chili-cheese fries. Galaxy Bowl has several tables where you can enjoy a meal, but you can also order snacks and drinks while enjoying a game of bowling. When the wait for a lane grows long (as it often does on rainy days), ask for a table, and order drinks and appetizers until your turn arrives. The limited menu offers fast-food selections similar to items served downstairs in the Bayliner Diner, and quality is about on par for greasy bowling alley grub. Draft beer is served in pitchers, and the list of specialty drinks is nearly as long as the food menu. There are two Coke Freestyle machines at Galaxy Bowl for your Sonic Fill mugs. If you want the alcohol without the ambience of falling pins, the hotel lobby’s Swizzle Lounge serves craft beers and classic cocktails.
Bayliner Diner Cabana Bay’s Bayliner Diner is a food court–style cafeteria with several different stations offering a wide range of food options. The preparations are a cut above the counter service found inside the parks. For breakfast, the diner serves up all the usual suspects. Get waffles or French toast, or wait for a made-to-order omelet, but avoid the precooked eggs on the combo platter and the croissant sandwich. The seating area, filled with booths and tables, is large. Large screens play retro commercials to evoke a feeling of nostalgia. The diner offers a considerable amount of usable outlets to charge your phones and tablets, including one outside every booth. If you prefer to dine poolside, the Hideaway Bar & Grill by the lazy river slings burgers, fish tacos, and Honolulu-style hot dogs, while Atomic Tonic near the waterslide serves kebabs and falafel wraps.
Shakes Malt Shoppe Located near Bayliner Diner, grab ice cream, shakes, smoothies, sundaes, baked goods, and breakfast sandwiches at Shakes Malt Shoppe.
Starbucks Coffee - Cabana Bay Beach Resort Starbucks at Cabana Bay was the first full-service onsite Starbucks location at any Disney or Universal hotel, and is still the most stylish in town. The mermaid imagery from Weeki Wachee Springs is used in large murals evoking the spirit of Old Florida while other artistic flourishes (including creative uses of coffee beans and even coffee cups) help create a relaxing atmosphere.
Atomic Tonic Casual pool bar at the Cabana Courtyard featuring signature frozen and non-frozen drinks, beer and wine. There are two large flat screen TVs to watch while enjoying a beverage and you can't miss the gigantic rocket ship in the middle of the bar. Chips and small snacks are available and from 4PM-Midnight you can have items delivered from Delicioso Pizza including salads, pizzas, and breadsticks. The drinks are strong and the signature Atomic Tonic is worth trying. We particularly enjoyed the Starlight Express for the amount of fresh fruit that was mixed into the drink and the Castaway Mai Tai. Most of the cocktails are $9 but for $13 you can get them served in the 20oz Cabana Bay Cup (with refills for $11.) There are beers on draft, bottled beer and even Pabst Blue Ribbon in a can (be sure to ask for the brown paper bag Pabst beer doozie.)
The Hideaway Bar & Grill Tropical pool bar at the Lazy River Courtyard serving simple grill menu, signature frozen and non-frozen drinks, smoothies, beer, and wine.
Swizzle Lounge This casual bar sits in the main lobby area, directly across from the check-in desk. There is plenty of seating at the bar itself and tables nearby. Theme-appropriate music plays as guest sip away on drinks that pack a wallop like the Blood Orange Side Car or classics such as a Tom Collins or a Manhattan.
Cabana Bay Pizza Delivery Pizzas and salads delivered to your room.
Amenities
SWIPE TO EXPLORE
Cabana Bay has the best pool complex of any Value resort in Orlando. The Cabana Courtyard and Pool has a towering waterslide, picnic tables, and fire pit. The Lazy River Courtyard has a zero-entry pool and lazy river. It's like a mini water park at your hotel.
The Ace The Arcade is on the second floor of the hotel, off the main lobby, and features relatively recent video games of all kinds.
The Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio is on-site and has weights, treadmills, and other equipment for your workout.
Galaxy Bowl is the resort's own bowling alley. We've done it and it's a hoot. Also has a bar and restaurant.
Guests staying at Cabana Bay get priority seating at many Universal park and CityWalk restaurants. Check with the front desk for options.
Guests staying at Cabana Bay get in up to one hour early to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Practical Matters
Check-in is 4:00pm
Check-out is 11:00am
Hotel mobile check-in lets guests perform several check-in tasks before leaving for their visit, leading to a smoother and shorter process once they arrive at the hotel. Check your email about 24 hours in advance for an invitation to do mobile check-in.
Park tickets are best purchased online in advance either directly through Universal Orlando or from a trusted reseller. However, if you arrive without park tickets, head to the Vacation Planning desk in the hotel lobby.
Table service dining reservations can be made via Universal Orlando's Dining Reservations website or app.
Washers and dryers are availabile in laundry facilities at each Universal Orlando hotel. Only credit/debit cards can be used for payment. A small selection of soap, fabric softener, and dryer sheets is sold in vending machines in the laundry rooms.
If you lose something during your stay, visit Universal's Lost and Found website or call (407) 224-4233.
Universal hotels have gifts shops near their lobbies with a decent collection of souvenirs. You will also find basic pharmacy items such as sunscreen, aspirin, allergy and cold medicine, baby diapers and formula, shampoo, and the like.
Universal recommends a third party company, Kid's Nite Out, to provide babysitting services at the resort hotels.
Transportation
The resort is located inside the Universal Orlando Resort. All modern GPS apps, and Google Maps, will have clear driving directions to it.
Destination | Bus | Car | Walk |
---|---|---|---|
Universal Studios Florida | 17 min | – | 24 min |
Islands of Adventure | 17 min | – | 20 min |
Volcano Bay | – | – | 3 min |
Bus service is available to the theme parks, Volcano Bay water park, and CityWalk.
It's faster to take a bus or walk to the theme parks, Volcano Bay, and CityWalk.
You can walk to the theme parks and CityWalk from the resort. It's probably faster to take the bus. Cabana Bay has a direct walking path to Volcano Bay.
You can take shuttle buses to the Royal Pacific, the Hard Rock Hotel, and the Portofino, or follow the walking path.
Driving to the Resort
Getting to the Parks
and Universal CityWalk
Getting to Another Hotel
from Cabana Bay
The resort is located inside the Universal Orlando Resort. All modern GPS apps, and Google Maps, will have clear driving directions to it.
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