Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Liz Emery

I just got back from a 1 week stay with my daughter and grandchildren at Cabana Bay and we loved it. I did online check in while on the plane . This was important as when we arrived at the resort there was a huge check in line ( probably at least a 2 hour wait) and a small line with only 3 people in it who did online check in already. I only waited maybe 5 minutes when the most amazing staff member checked myself in and gave me an upgraded family suite ( I booked a standard suite ) for no additional cost. The room had everything we needed and was great for what we needed. There definitely was some wear and tear on the furniture but everything was clean and the beds were comfortable. The resort itself is huge but has great heated pools and a few hot tubs as well we used. The kids loved the water slide. The bayside diner has reasonable prices, and a wide variety of food. The shake place is terrific and made great milkshakes. The hotel has a great walking path to City Walk and the parks. We did the walk the first 2 days then we started to take the path to Sapphire Falls where we would use the boats to go to the parks for the day and then return. It was an easy 5 minute walk to the boats and back. Overall it’s a fantastic resort for the price point and has easy access to City Walk and UIA USO . The early park access was also an added bonus. I also used the laundry facilities which came in handy and I appreciated how cash could be used everywhere . I would definitely not hesitate to stay here again.

Chase Doney

GOOD stay, not exceptional, though. Cabana Bay is a great value for the price. I paid $134/night, and at that rate it’s worth it—but I wouldn’t pay much more. This is very much a ~$100-ish hotel, and expectations should be set accordingly. The location is excellent: close to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk. The theming is fun and well executed—love the retro 1950’s vibe, the malt bar, and the pool/hot tub areas. Service was strong throughout the stay, with a special shoutout to DJ at the pool bar. The room layout was a big plus. Two queen beds, a pull-out sofa, a small living room area, and a wet bar made the space functional despite the smaller footprint. Very soundproof which is a huge plus since there’s a lot of kids. It works well for spreading out. Comfort and maintenance were the main issues. The room and property alike showed visible wear and tear—tattered finishes, and signs of deferred upkeep around the property. We’re a little past the point of COVID-era budget cuts. The bed was rock hard, and the springs squeaked, making it uncomfortable to sleep. Like conditioner? Pack your own. None offered in the rooms. Overall, it’s a good property. It’s a bit beat up, but then again, you aren’t paying for pretty. Would return but would request a room that isn’t as worn out. Value: 5/5 Location: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Amenities: 5/5 Comfort: 1/5 Rooms: 2/5

Jordan

We stayed here for 8 nights this month and from start to finish had an amazing time. Check In was quick and easy, the rooms were spacious, clean and most importantly quiet. The diner was great for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the bar in reception was perfect for a quick drink after a busy day at the parks. The hotel pools were clean and had plenty of sun loungers, but with passes for volcano bay the 5 minute walk to there was also a great option. The bus service to city walk was quick and frequent which saved us lots of Ubers if we would have stayed at I-drive instead. All of the staff that we dealt with were really helpful and friendly, I can’t think of anything negative to say about our time here. We will definitely return. Thanks for a great stay!

C S

Always a wonderful time here! Rooms are clean and it’s a cool 50s style beach themed hotel. I’ve stayed in various different buildings/rooms here and it’s always been really nice and no issues. Nice friendly staff.It’s a big resort area so be prepared to walk a bit to your room, depending on which building you’re at. If you have extra money to spend, they have bowling, restaurants, lazy river(floats cost money I think). Really nice pool and bar area outside, and views of Volcano Bay, the pool, and the Universal dry parks! Other fun activities to do outside by the pool as well. I could go on, but this place is worth it and loads of fun. My friends and I always have a good time and never want to leave.

Markita Thomas

This was an overall decent hotel. I stayed here with my kids over christmas week and visited the parks at Universal. We stayed in a family suite. The staff was amazing, very kind and attentive. The rooms however were subpar to other "suites" I have stayed at. There weren't many amenities provided in the rooms, just your basic shampoo, conditioner, body bar and face bar. For a "family suite" I thought it would have more of a kitchenette but it only had a mini fridge and a microwave. Which ended up being fine for how much we were actually at the hotel. It did have a little living room area which was nice but the chairs were not comfortable. The beds and bedding were older and not very comfortable either, but it was fine for us. I booked through a travel agent and got a decent price for the season, but had I payed full price for this room I would have been extremely disappointed. All in all we had a good trip and the hotel served its purpose.