We recently planned a Universal getaway for Eden and Xen’s 11th birthday. We considered staying at the high-end resorts at Universal, including Lowe’s Portofino Bay Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort, and Hard Rock Hotel. In the end, we decided that not only was Cabana Bay Resort far less expensive but the amenities and ambiance were exactly what we were seeking for celebrating 11-year-olds!
Upon arrival, Cabana Bay immediately reminded me of the Disney Budget Hotels with its well-thought-out design, theming, and amenities. Cabana Bay had it all!
I have to say that I loved well-themed resorts and hotels, and Universal’s Cabana Bay is no exception with the feel of a 1950’s and 1960’s Florida beach resort. They even have sandy beaches!
Location
For those who may be enjoying Universal’s water park, Volcano Bay, Cabana Bay Resort is the place to stay as it is mere steps away. Not only could we see Volcano Bay from our room, but we enjoyed the sounds of the drums and music that were our morning wake-up call. I have seen from other reviews that not everyone appreciates those morning wake-up calls, so keep that in mind if you plan a stay here.
We saw many people walking from the resort to the parks, and although there is a path that you can take, it is about a 30-minute walk, depending on your speed. I don’t recommend it in the Florida heat, especially since there is complimentary transportation.
Transportation
Speaking of transportation, the complimentary shuttles at Cabana Bay run to and from Universal City Walk and the parks about every 15 minutes.
If you have your vehicle and plan to drive, it is a short, direct 5-minute route. We opted to drive since we have parking included in our passes, but if you do not have that perk, the complimentary shuttles will save you some money as standard parking is currently $26 a day.
Cabana Bay Rooms
There are two room types at Cabana Bay Resort, the standard rooms, and the family suites.
We stayed in a family suite. Not only do I like the extra space of the family suites, but having a kitchenette with a small refrigerator, microwave, and sink that allows us to prepare light meals in our room and save some money is always a huge plus.
The suites at Cabana Bay Resort can sleep up to 6 people with two queen beds and a pull-out sofa. We loved having a sliding privacy partition between the bedroom and living area. Another detail that I feel families can appreciate is the compartmentalized bathroom. I loved how the shower, water closet, and large vanity sink were separated so multiple people can get ready at once.
For those not wanting or needing the features of a family suite, the standard rooms are a great option and are still relatively large with two queen beds and a flat-screen tv.
The Pools at Cabana Bay
We couldn’t get enough pool time on our recent stay at Cabana Bay Resort! The resort has two huge pools and lounge areas.
The Lazy River Courtyard and Pool was right outside our room. It boasts a swimming pool that features a lazy river, sand beach, and two fire pits. At night you can roast some smores by the fire. For convenience, you can purchase smores supplies in the food court. The Lazy River Courtyard has plenty of outdoor seating, so even though it was spring break and bustling, we never had an issue finding chairs.
I think Eden and Xen spent most of their time floating in the lazy river at the Lazy River Pool. Due to the pandemic, you will need your own floats for the lazy river. They allow you to bring your own or purchase one at the hut next to the lazy river. We bought souvenir tubes from the pool hut, and at the end of our stay, when we turned them in, they gave us new deflated packaged tubes to take home.
The Cabana Courtyard and Pool was a bit further for us. Of course, we had to go as this pool had a dive tower-themed water slide. The Courtyard also has a fire pit, shaded picnic tables, and you can rent cabanas at this pool area.
Dining at Cabana Bay
The Bayliner Diner food court is the main dining area at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Here you will find breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options. There is a Deli Station, an International Station with dishes changing seasonally, The Pizza Station, a Burger Station, Salad Station, and a Dessert Station.
Our favorite dish at The Bayliner Diner was The Ultimate Grilled Cheese with bacon! It was terrific, and now my family has challenged me to recreate it at home!
There is also the “Grab and Go” area where you can pick up snacks for cold sandwiches, pre-made salads, and more, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Hideaway Bar and Grill at The Lazy River Pool and Cabana and Atomic Tonic at the Cabana Courtyard and Pool are great poolside dining options. They include foods like hot dogs, burgers, pizza, and chicken fingers. All I can say is if you want something unique, you should try The Original Honolulu Hot Dog. Yum!
Are you looking for Starbucks? Don’t worry; Cabana Bay Beach Resort has one of those near the food court. There is also a bar in the lobby, Swizzle Lounge, although it appears to have limited hours of operation.
Bowling at Cabana Bay
One of the main reasons we stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort was because we wanted to play a game of birthday bowling! Galaxy Bowl, located on the second floor of the hotel lobby building, has ten lanes of ten-pin action. You must have a reservation to bowl. On the weekends, bowling opens at 4 pm (weekdays is 5 pm). Xen and I got in line at 3 pm to reserve our lane time. It was so worth it! Everyone had a great time.
The Galaxy Bowl restaurant inside the bowling alley offers your typical bowling alley food and a full bar but we waited until after we finished bowling to eat so we didn’t cut into our time.
Other Amenities
Other amenities to enjoy on your stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort include the arcade, fitness center, and Universal store for shopping, all located in the lobby building.
Other Things to Know
Many of the exclusive benefits of staying at any Universal resort were similar. Still, the high-end resorts do come with one perk that we wish we would have had since we caught the end of spring break, and that was the Universal Express Unlimited. This pass allows you to skip the regular lines at most of the popular attractions.
Your stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort does include the one-hour early park admission to Islands of Adventure; however, that did not prove as advantageous as we had hoped to ride the newest attraction, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure, easily.
In Conclusion
I have shared quite a few budget hotel/resort options for trips to Universal and Disney World, with all of the amenities for a family with kids; our family’s favorite budget resort so far is Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
There was a lot of fun to be had on-site, and the cost savings allowed us to spend the bulk of our budget on fun and adventure, not a room we were only sleeping in.
Has your family stayed at Cabana Bay Beach Resort? Share your experience in the comments below.