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Introduction
Cabana Bay Beach Resort is themed to a 1950s beach resort, complete with retro furniture and classic cars. Located adjacent to Volcano Bay Water Park and with a walking path or bus service to CityWalk for the theme parks, this is a great choice for those looking to see and do everything on property.
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The general layout consists of a central lobby with check-in desks, concierge, and a lobby bar, with a hallway extending on one side to the gift shop, Starbucks, and food court with a large dining area. A second floor of the lobby is accessible from the staircase in front of the Starbucks, and it has the resort’s gym and a bowling alley with a restaurant.
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Guest rooms are located in three possible areas. The standard rooms are in two wings which face each other with a courtyard in between. This courtyard contains a pool, lazy river, and pool bar. At the end of each wing is a separate ten-story tower, with its own entrance. These rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. Finally, on the other side of the lobby is the motel-style area, with rooms accessed from exterior walkways. This area also has a courtyard with a pool and pool bar.
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These courtyards are directly linked via an elevated walkway which goes to the second floor of the lobby. Additionally, one courtyard area is right outside the main floor of the dining area/food court while the other is accessed directly from the lobby via the doors opposite the entrance.
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Just in case you weren’t counting, this adds up to two pools, a lazy river, a bowling alley, an arcade, and three bars! It might be worth it to take an extra day and just enjoy everything the resort has on offer.
Rooms
The resort has both standard rooms and suites. Standard guest rooms will have one king or two queen beds. They are fairly basic, with not too much ornamentation. However, they do have some cool tables and retro colors. All rooms have a flatscreen TV, coffee maker, and minifridge, and there is a good amount of storage space, too.
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The best rooms are the suites in the motel-style area. Not only are they much larger than the standard rooms, but they also have a separate sitting area and kitchen/storage area in the front of the room. They might cost a bit more, but I consider the extra cost to be well worth it. I happened to get an upgrade to a suite room on one of my visits, so you might get lucky too.
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Pros
Cabana Bay is the most balanced option of Universal Orlando’s resorts. It isn’t the most luxurious, but it is relaxing. It has three bars, two pools, a lazy river, and a bowling alley. There are plenty of parking spaces everywhere, and two garages in addition. The bright, retro theming throughout the resort, including in the guest rooms, really makes for a fun vibe that enhances a visit to the Universal parks.
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Another perk is that Cabana Bay guests have early access to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which means you can explore Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley before the rest of the guests arrive, so wait times will be shorter. Be sure to take advantage of this at least one morning of your trip!
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Cons
Cabana Bay Beach Resort has a lot of things going for it. However, I find that there are a few things I find frustrating. First, it is a very large resort with a lot of guest rooms. This means that, during busy times, there can be a long wait for just about everything from the food court and check-in to the bus to CityWalk. Consequently, it might be necessary to get a bit creative in high season. For example, have meals at off times or be willing to walk to the parks.
Another downside to Cabana Bay is how distant it is from CityWalk. There is a walking path, but it is quite a long walk (around 25 minutes). And if there is a long line for buses, it can come down to a long and potentially hot walk, or waiting it out for a bus.
Should you stay here?
Cabana Bay Beach Resort is a strong option for visitors to Universal Orlando, especially for families traveling with children. While all of the resorts on property have good amenities, Cabana Bay has the widest range of things to do. The lazy river, bowling alley, and two pools could take up an entire day away from the parks. And with an easy bus ride or footpath to CityWalk, staying here can save travel time, allowing for more time in the parks. Finally, the price is certainly right, with very competitive rates. I consider this resort to have the greatest value of any at Universal Orlando.
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If you would like to stay at Cabana Bay for your next Universal trip, click here. Be sure to check for Florida Resident or Annual Pass discounts before booking!
Not your style? Read another Universal Orlando resort review here.