A family favorite resort at Universal Orlando is the Cabana Bay Beach Resort. We love how you splash back to the 1950’s and 60’s at this hotel. From the moment you arrive, you will be taken back to the iconic beach motels.
Remember those days where mom and pop would roadtrip in the car to the beach? This classic hotel brings back a lot of memories. You can go for a swim or relax in the lazy river, grab a burger and a milkshake or take the family for a game or two at the bowling alley. It is an amazing hotel experience at Universal Orlando Resort.
Driving to a Florida beach and staying the weekend at a motel are some of my favorite memories growing up. Cabana Bay Beach Resort reminds me of those beach motels and family experiences.
Before we jump into the amenities for Cabana Bay Beach Resort, I wanted to share some of the reasons you would want to stay at a Universal Orlando hotel during your vacation.
Why Stay at a Universal Orlando Hotel?
There are thousands of hotels in Orlando. So, why stay at a Universal Orlando hotel like Cabana Bay Beach Resort? Let’s jump into all of the reasons you should stay at this property during your family vacation.
Early Park Admission
One of the biggest benefits of staying at a Universal Orlando Hotel is the Early Park Admission. With Early Park Admission, you get into either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure an hour before the park opens to the general public. You are treated like a VIP! You just show your room key and you get to play an hour before everyone else. We love Early Park Admission!
Package Delivery
The next benefit of staying at a Universal Orlando Hotel is package delivery. As you are exploring the Universal Parks, you may find a souvenir or two. Do you want to carry souvenirs around with you all day? Of course not! You can actually have your purchase delivered to your Universal Orlando Hotel. All free of charge!
That way you can shop and then go play without having to lug around your merchandise all day long. I love this benefit at the Universal Orlando Hotels.
Priority Seating at Restaurants
Unlike other Orlando vacations (aka a certain mouse), you do not have to worry about booking all of your dining reservations before your trip. When you stay at the Premier Universal Orlando Hotels (like Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, and Royal Pacific) you can take advantage of priority seating at select Universal Restaurants. You just call an exclusive phone number to book your priority seating reservations.
Charge to Your Room Key
Once you arrive at your room, put your wallet in the safe. You will not need it again! You can charge everything during your Universal Orlando vacation to your room key. Once you check in, you can leave a credit card on file for incidentals. You can then just charge everything to your room key. Super simple!
Universal Orlando Merchandise
Another benefit of the Universal Orlando Hotels is the merchandise shops. All of the Universal Orlando Hotels have a merchandise shop. You can get all of the fun souvenirs that you can find at the theme parks a
From the moment you walk into the lobby to check in at the front desk, you will hear the tropical music, see the bright colors, and smell the flowers. You will feel like you took a cruise ship to the Caribbean islands!
Transportation
Another benefit we love with the Universal Orlando hotels is the transportation. You can hop on a shuttle bus to the parks. You can also walk along the Garden Walk to Universal CityWalk, Universal Studios, or Islands of Adventure.
Walking Distance to Volcano Bay
If you are visiting Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Park, you have a “secret entrance” to Volcano Bay. This secret entrance is only for guests staying at Cabana Bay Beach Resort since this resort backs right up to this new water park.
There are other benefits of staying at a Universal Orlando hotel, but these are our favorite perks.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort Hotel Amenities
There are so many family amenities at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. We love this resort if you are visiting the Universal Parks or just a staycation in Orlando. Let’s dive into some of the hotel amenities.
Pools at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
North Courtyard Pool
This pool is located in the middle of the exterior Family Suites in the North Courtyard. This pool features an iconic dive tower. This dive tower is exactly like the towers in the 50’s and 60’s with the Follies. It is so cool! You you will also find a water slide and splash park for the younger kids. There are plenty of lounge chairs and 17 Cabanas available for rental.
You can also pop over to ‘Atomic Tonic’ for a quick snack or signature frozen drink. For lunch or dinner, you can enjoy a hamburger, chicken tenders, salad, or even ice cream at the poolside snack bar.
You can also find a shady spot with picnic tables and grassy areas for the kids to run and play. Love this section for toddlers. In the evening hours, you can relax by the fire pit or buy a s’mores kit to roast some marshmallows.
Cabanas
I know we talked about the cabanas at the North Courtyard. If you are spending a day at the pool, you may want to rent a cabana. We love these cabanas! You can share a cabana with up to six people. Located in the Cabana Courtyard, your poolside retreat comes complete with an armoire, table with four chairs, two cushioned lounge chairs (outside of the cabana), TV, a refrigerator stocked with four water bottles and a personal safe. This is a perfect spot to relax if you are planning a rest day by the pool.
South Courtyard Pool
The other pool at Cabana Bay Beach Resort is my personal favorite. This pool is located at the South Courtyard. This pool features a ton of lounge chairs in the sand. There is nothing like squishing your toes in the soft white sand.
This pool also has a tropical and relaxing lazy river. You can buy tubes at the pool or we like to bring our tubes from home. The team members at the pool will even blow up and deflate your tubes and floats for you for FREE. You just has to ask. Our favorite spot to pick up floats is 5 Below. You can find some fun tubes and floats for just $5.
The South Courtyard Pool also has a huge beach entry pool. You may even find a DJ playing some fun tunes by this pool.
This pool area has a lounge and a poolside fast food spot called Hideaway Bar & Grill. You can grab a burger, chicken wings, chicken tenders, salads, or ice cream. You can then pop over to the lounge (next door) for a tropical drink or beer.
In the evening hours, you can relax at the fire pit. You can even buy a s’mores kit to roast some marshmallows. This is always a fun family activity in the evening.
When you check in, you will receive an activities guide. Be sure you double check the fun activities throughout the resort. Many of these activities are during the day by one of the pools.
Recreation at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Game-O-Rama
One of the best game rooms at Universal Orlando is at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Take advantage of timeless arcade favorites or more modern videos games. This game room is located on the second floor next to the bowling alley.
Galaxy Bowl
Imagine a bowling alley in the hotel!!! This is always mind-blowing to me. I think this is the only hotel in Florida with a bowling alley actually in the hotel. This bowling alley features 10 lanes. You can bowl or enjoy lunch and dinner or both. With the Florida heat, this is one of our favorite activities in the middle of the day. It is nice and cool inside!
There is an extra fee to bowl. Be sure you also bring your own socks or you will have to buy a pair at Galaxy Bowl. A little tip, the afternoon bowling is less expensive than evening bowling. This is definately a must do during your stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio
The BEST fitness center in Orlando is the Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. This fitness center is HUGE!!! This gym is themed after the fitness icon Jack LaLanne. You will find a lot of his memorabilia in this studio.
This fitness center features treadmill, bicycles, elliptical machines, weight machines, stretching area, and locker room with showers. This is a perfect area for pre-arrival or post-departure changing and showers. If you like to work out, this is a must do at Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
Universal Studios Store
Are you looking for sunblock or Harry Potter wands? You can buy them both and so much more at the Universal Orlando merchandise shop at Sapphire Falls. There is a whole Harry Potter section to buy some of the top merchandise from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. You can also buy other fun merchandise from the Universal Parks like Minions, Jurassic Park, Simpsons, and more.
Dining at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Shakes Malt Shop
The newest dining spot at Cabana Bay Beach Resort is Shakes Malt Shop. You can get a smoothie, milkshake, ice cream, or item from the bakery. You can even get a gluten free ice cream cone OR top your ice cream with toppings like sprinkles, Oreos, peanuts, Kit Kats, and more. Such a fun treat during your stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
Bayliner Diner
Ready to get a quick meal before heading to the Universal Parks or after a busy day at Volcano Bay? Bayliner is a casual dining area with several stations and seating. While dining, you can enjoy commercials from the 50’s and 60’s on the big screens. It is a really fun restaurant. For lunch or dinner, you can find hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, flank steak, sandwiches, salads, or sandwiches. You can even grab a quick bite or s’mores kit from the refrigerated section.
Hideaway Bar & Grill
Getting hungry while enjoying the South Courtyard Pool and lazy river? The Hideaway Bar and Grill is a quick dining spot. You can find menu items like hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, french fries, ice cream, and more. There is also a full bar serving signature frozen and non-frozen drinks, smoothies, wine by the glass, and bottle & draft beer. You can enjoy lunch or dinner at the Hideaway Bar & Grill.
Atomic Tonic
If you are swimming on the other side of the hotel at the North Courtyard Pool and splash park, you can pop over to Atomic Tonic for a snack or drink. You can find menu items like hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, french fries, ice cream, and more. There is also a full bar serving signature frozen and non-frozen drinks, smoothies, wine by the glass, and bottle & draft beer. You can enjoy lunch or dinner at the Atomic Tonic.
Swizzle Lounge
Inside the lobby, you will find the Swizzle Lounge. You will find made-to-order cocktails and snacks in the hotel lobby’s retro-inspired lounge. We love the bar and chairs at this fun lounge.
Starbucks
One of our favorite amenities at the Universal Orlando hotels is the Starbucks coffee shops. You will find one in every Universal Orlando. The in room coffee is good, but is is so much easier to stop at Starbucks to grab a coffee and bagel to enjoy on your way to the Universal Parks. You can also find other quick service items like Panini’s, sandwiches and yogurt parfaits.
Delizioso Pizza
Sometimes you get home from the Universal Parks and your family is just craving a pizza! You can order Delizioso Pizza right from your resort room. You can order pizzas, salads and desserts and it will be delivered right to your room.
Accommodations at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
The Cabana Bay Beach Resort rooms will bring you back to the 50’s and 60’s with bright colors and theming. You may even find toiletries from the 50’s and 60’s in your bathroom. LOL!
This resort features Standard Rooms that sleep 4 people and Family Suites that keep 6 people. This resort does not have any rollaway beds. Let’s jump into the accommodations at Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
Standard Rooms
We love the Standard Rooms at Cabana Bay Beach Resort with (2) Queen Beds. We really like the floor to ceiling windows in this room. You can enjoy a resort view or upgrade to a pool view or Volcano Bay view. This room also features a flat screen TV, coffee maker, mini refrigerator, table/chairs, wall mounted hair dryer, iron/ironing board, in room safe, WIFI, and phone.
Family Suite
If you need a little more space, we love the Family Suites at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. These rooms sleep up to 6 people with (2) Queen Beds and a pull out sleeper sofa. There are (2) flat screen TV’s, kitchenette, mini refrigerator, microwave, sink, coffee maker, bar with bar stools, living room with couch, table, and chair, bathroom with wall mounted hair dryer, iron/ironing board, in room safe, WIFI, and two phones.
Rooms in Square Feet
Learn a bit more about the size of these rooms for your family vacation.
- Courtyard Family Suite 430 square feet
- Courtyard Family Suite Poolside 430 square feet
- Tower Family Suite 430 square feet
- Tower Family Suite Poolside 430 square feet
- Standard Room 300 square feet
- Poolside Room 300 square feet
Extra Cabana Bay Beach Resort Info
Here are a few extra details that may be helpful for your getaway to Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
- Check-in time is 4:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM
- No pets permitted at this property
- Address is 6550 Adventure Way
- Photo ID is required at check in
- Credit card or debit card is also required at check in for incidentals and parking (there is a nightly parking fee)
Money Saving Tips at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Since we are always traveling, we are always looking for ways to save money. Check out our money saving tips during your vacation at Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
Pre-Order Tickets
Let’s start with tickets. One of the easiest Universal Orlando money saving tips is pre-order your theme park tickets. The tickets are always more expensive at the Universal Parks.
Plus, you can save time waiting in line to purchase your tickets. Pre-order your tickets to save money and time.
Create a Packing List
You can waste a lot of money during your vacation on items you already own like camera batteries, chargers, umbrellas, sunblock, sunglasses, and shoes.
When you are planning your vacation, take a few minutes and create a packing list weeks before your vacation. You can then tweak it as you go. That way when it is time to actually pack, you will not forget anything and have to spend extra money at the gift shop at Universal Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.
Refillable Mug
Universal Parks have refillable mugs. For one price, you can purchase a mug and get unlimited beverages throughout the day at Coke Freestyle Machines. You can purchase a refillable mug to ONLY use at Cabana Bay Beach Resort OR you can purchase refillable mugs to ONLY use at the Universal Parks. They currently do not have an option for both.
To help carry your mug, bring a carabiner. You can then attach your cup right to your backpack
Bring a Water Bottle
Our next money saving tip is a huge one! Be sure you pack a water bottle or several water bottles for your days at the parks. Most of the year, it is warm or hot in Florida.
You want to stay hydrated, so drinking a lot of water is important. There are plenty of water stations to fill up your water bottle for free. This tip can save you around $210 during a week vacation!
Pack Ponchos or Umbrellas
Over the summer months, it rains almost every afternoon in Orlando. An easy way to continue with the fun and save money is packing ponchos, rain jackets, rain type shoes (like Sanuks), and umbrellas. You can throw these in your backpack to continue to play during the rain and afterwards. For a family of 4, this will save you about $40.
One extra tip, wait out the rain storm. One of our favorite times to play at the Universal Parks is after it rains. The parks clear out, so you can jump on your favorite rides without a wait.
Buy Gift Cards
We love giving our kids Gift Cards to use for their souvenirs. We add a set amount, so they know how much they can spend during their Universal Orlando vacation.
If you have a Target nearby, you can purchase Visa, Mastercard, or American Express Gift Cards at 5% off using Red. This is a rewards program for Target when you use a debit or credit card.
Ask for Discounts
You never know what discount you may find at Universal Orlando. Always ask if they offer any discounts.
Many of the stores and restaurants are not owned by Universal Orlando, so you may be able to take advantage of a military, first responder, Annual Passholder, or Florida Resident discount.
Pack Snacks
Eating is always one of our favorite things to do on vacation! However, eating at Universal Orlando can get quite expensive. We recommend packing snacks to enjoy in your hotel room and while at the parks. You can still spend the money on a Butterbeer or special treats.
However, you will save money on snacks while waiting in line or right before a meal. We also like packing one suitcase filled with snacks for our trip. You will eat all of the snacks during your vacation and then you have an empty suitcase for souvenirs on your way home.
Try out Linner
Do you eat linner? This is a regular meal in our family. This is a late lunch/early dinner – right around 3-4. Eating this late, you can combine your lunch and dinner. This is such a great way to save money during your vacation, especially at the Galaxy Bowl. You are eating late, so it can last you through dinner but you are still paying lunch prices.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort Review
We attended the grand opening of Cabana Bay Beach Resort years ago with the Beach Boys. It was quite the grand opening party! This resort has been a family favorite in Orlando ever since. We have stayed at this hotel over 30 times.
The rooms are getting a wee bit dated and could use a refresh. However, we still love the Standard Rooms with the floor to ceiling windows, especially the pool and Volcano Bay views. A huge plus is the secret entrance into Volcano Bay from the hotel. Another perk is the Garden Walk to Universal CityWalk and Parks.
This resort also has amazing resort amenities like the two themed pools, lazy river, bowling alley, Starbucks, fitness center, and Bayliner Diner. We also love the price tag of this resort. You get a lot of resort amenities for a value price tag. It is still one of our top hotels in Orlando!
FAQ at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Does Cabana Bay Beach Resort have Free Breakfast?
None of the Universal Orlando hotels offer free breakfast. This includes Cabana Bay Beach Resort. You can pick up breakfast at Starbucks or Bayliner Diner before heading off to the Universal Parks.
Can you Walk from Cabana Bay?
Yes. This is actually one of our favorite ways to get from Cabana Bay to Universal CityWalk, Universal Studios, and Islands of Adventure. The walkway is called the Garden Walk. It is a bit of a walk taking about 10 minutes at a leisure pace.
Is the Water at Cabana Bay Heated?
Yes. Most of the pools in Orlando are heated. Both pools and lazy river are heated at Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
How Much is the Lazy River at Cabana Bay?
It is free. We love this feature at Cabana Bay Beach Resort! You can bring your own tubes, buy them at the hotel, or just float along the lazy river.
Do you get Towels at Cabana Bay?
You will have towels in your room at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. You can leave these in your room. You will also find towels at both pool areas.
Can you Bring a Cooler to the Pool at Cabana Bay?
You cannot bring glass or outside alcohol to the pool areas. We have packed a bag cooler with can drinks, water, and even lunch before.
Does Cabana Bay have Fridges in Rooms?
Yes, all of the rooms have mini refrigerators in the rooms.
Does Cabana Bay have a Lazy River?
Yes, this is one of our favorite resort features of Cabana Bay Beach Resort. We love the lazy river! You can bring your own tubes, buy them at the hotel, or just float along the lazy river.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort is one of our family favorites at Universal Orlando Resort. What do you think of this value resort at Universal Orlando?
