Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Erica Chung

The front desk staff were genuinely friendly and welcoming, making check-in and interactions pleasant from the start. I was also extremely impressed with the staff who handled requests via text message. they were consistently polite, responsive, and professional. That level of service truly deserves recognition. Another highlight was the pool area. It was very well maintained, and my child absolutely loved it. The warm pool water made a big difference and allowed us to enjoy the pool comfortably, which was a huge plus. The hotel amenities were excellent overall. The complimentary shuttle service to Universal was very convenient, and the on-site facilities made the stay easy and enjoyable without needing to leave the property. We also rented a car in Fort Lauderdale, and being able to return it directly at the hotel at the on-site Avis location was incredibly convenient and stress-free. That said, there was one area that could be improved. When requesting towels, the wait time was quite long. On one occasion it took about an hour, and on another it took over an hour. After a long day, that delay was inconvenient and impacted our overall comfort. Overall, this is a great hotel with outstanding staff, family-friendly amenities, and excellent convenience. Improving response times for basic requests like towel delivery would make the experience even better.

Kelly Stowe

Cabana Bay is a good family vacation spot. You can get a relatively affordable family suite, with close poolside access. The resort has a diner with staple fast casual options (think chicken tenders, fries, pizza, burgers, etc.), as well as a full-service Starbucks, a gift shop, a milkshake bar, a bowling alley, and an arcade. The resort offers free, fairly frequent bus transportation to the Universal resorts (and early access to the parks for resort customers, which I'd highly recommend taking advantage of, especially for Epic). It's about a 5 minute ride to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure and about 20 minutes to Epic. The rooms at Cabana Bay are decent. Since the last time we stayed in 2023, they've definitely seen some wear and tear, and this time we had a slow drain in our sink (personal pet peeve), but otherwise it was in decent shape and it met our needs, as we were really only there to sleep. The mattresses were a little firm, but we adjusted quickly and managed to sleep pretty well there. The resort is close enough to the Disney parks to drive back and forth each day if you have a rental car. The only exception is during rush hour or construction. We did sit in traffic for almost 40 minutes one afternoon, but otherwise it was roughly a 20 minute drive there and back. If you are planning to Uber back and forth to the Disney parks, I'd consider doing the math in advance to determine whether a rental car would be more cost effective. Overall, I'd say Cabana Bay is a good value for the money. We've stayed there twice and we would probably stay again, especially if we were planning only to visit Universal parks.

Shelly Rose

This is both of my kid's favorite hotel of all time. We've stayed here several times and they still ask to return (age range 5-13). The hotel is HUGE and has lots to explore -- it may even be better than the theme parks! Our #1 favorite amenity is the lazy river. This may not be the longest lazy river in Orland (we've been to many - I should start a lazy river guide) but it is the most relaxed, with very attentive life guards (many hotels in Florida DO NOT have lifeguards) and you can bring your own flotation device (note: they provide free air to blow up your own and/or you can purchase several types on site). The cafeteria style restaurant is actually good! With healthy choices and a large enough menu to try new things over several days here. But if you do get bored, you can cross the street and try the restaurants at the other Universal hotels. And shout out to the front desk staff (hi Kate!) who were super helpful and friendly. We had a lot of requests (i.e. early check in, needed band-aids) and the staff went above and beyond to help us out. We also really appreciate the Florida resident discount :)

Tony Kim

The hotel itself is amazing! Both pool areas are all great. The food choices are all great and you get your money's worth for what you pay. We bought the unlimited soda cups and got our money back on day 1. The 10 min wait to refill the cups is a little long but I understand the reasoning behind it. The busses came regularly to take you to the park so you didn't have to wait long. The rooms were clean and spacious. The only negative was the fridge was very loud in the room. Would definitely stay here in the future!!!

Leonardo

Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers a delightful stay with several standout features. The staff are c praised for their friendliness and helpfulness, ensuring a welcoming experience. The Bayliner Diner provides convenient dining options, including grab-and-go meals, making it easy for families to enjoy quick and satisfying food without leaving the resort. The resort's pool facilities are impressive. Additionally, complimentary shuttle buses offer convenient access to Universal Studios and CityWalk, adding to the overall ease of getting around. This retro-themed resort combines affordability with excellent amenities, making it an ideal choice for families visiting Universal Orlando.