Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach resort family suites provide an accommodating space for families staying on property at the Universal Orlando theme parks. We have stayed at Cabana Bay numerous times and today I am sharing my review of Cabana Bay Beach resort and family suites at Universal.
Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort welcomes guest back to the 60’s with its retro themed lobby, resort, and rooms. There is a special feeling when you arrive and it is a great place to stay during your Universal Orlando trip.
With exterior courtyard and interior tower room options this hotel is very welcoming to guests of all ages. It has such a fun energy as soon as you arrive at the resort.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort
The minute you arrive at the resort you are transported to a different era. Vintage cars line the front entrance and the retro vibe is felt immediately. It is a really cool resort and probably my favorite when it comes to the overall theme.
Cabana Bay is in the Value Inns & Suites category of the Universal Hotels, but don’t let that fool you into thinking its not a great choice or it skips out on amenities. This resort gives you a big bang for your buck!
Overview of Cabana Bay Beach Resort
- Standard and Family Suites
- Interior and Exterior Room Options
- Pool area with water slide, lazy river, sand area, hot tub, and splash pad.
- Fire Pit
- Galaxy Bowling Alley
- Game-O-Rama (Arcade)
- Jack Lalanne Physical Fitness Studio
- Private Cabanas (For Rent)
- Poolside Activities- pool tables, hula hoops, ping pong, + more
- Dive-In Movies
- Starbucks
- Universal Gift Shop
- Casual Dining at Bayliner Diner
How Far is Cabana Bay from the Parks
Cabana Bay is actually across the street from the backend of Toon Lagoon at Islands of Adventure. I wish there was an entrance there but guests have to enter through CityWalk. This is a 7-10 minute bus ride or 20 minute walk.
Cabana Bay is about a 15 minute bus ride to Epic Universe.
Walking from Cabana Bay to Universal Theme Parks
There are walkways from Cabana Bay to Universal CityWalk and the Universal theme parks. They are easy paths and a very nice walk. The walk will take about 15-20 minutes depending on your traveling party.
If you don’t mind walking or your kids are older it can save you a little time. Especially when visiting Islands of Adventure because you will enter CityWalk near Margaritaville-close to the Islands of Adventure entrance.
Transportation & Parking
- Bus: Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, CityWalk
- Cabana Bay Parking Fee: $26.00/night
- Walking Path: Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and Universal CityWalk
Perks for Staying on Universal Property
- Early Park Admission to participating theme parks. Check latest info here.
- Complimentary shuttle bus transportation or walking path.
- Use room key for purchases across the Universal Orlando Resort
- Merchandise can be shipped to your hotel room free of charge at participating shopping retailers.
Tickets for the Park
Tickets to the Universal Parks are not included in your stay. Be sure to purchase tickets before you arrive to save time and money at the parks.
Family Suites at Cabana Bay Beach Resort
The family suites have two queen beds, a pull-out sofa, mini-fridge, coffee maker, microwave oven and one bathroom. There are two flat screen tv in each parts of the suite.
The living room area has the pull-out sofa and a partition wall to the main sleeping area and bathroom. The sleeper sofa is fine for little ones but may be uncomfortable for adults.
When making your reservation you can request a Tower Family Suite or Courtyard family suite.
If you are looking for more space you may want to consider the family suites at the Endless Summer Resorts. They offer 2 bedroom suites and cost less than Cabana Bay. As our kids are getting older the space is appreciated.
Cabana Bay Family Suite Layout
The basic layout of the family suites is you enter to a small kitchen area with bar seating for 2 in the same space as the living room area. Then there is the sleeping space, bathroom, and closet area. It is a typical layout for a 300 square feet hotel room.
Difference between Cabana Bay Family Suite Interior and Exterior Rooms
If you are looking for an interior entry family suite you will want to book accommodations in the towers. If you would like an exterior entry family suite you will want to book a room in the courtyards.
We have stayed at both the towers and courtyard family suites.
The Courtyards family suites are Motel style rooms. The entrance to the room is directly outside and the area is close to the water slide pool.
The Tower family suites are hotel style rooms. The entrance to the rooms go to the hotel hallway. The family suites are the same in both areas. It is more a personal preference on what works best for your family.
The tower rooms tend to cost a bit more. They also have Volcano Bay view rooms. If you stay at the Volcano Bay view rooms you are a very close to walk to the park. Cabana Bay is about a 5 minute walk to Universal’s Volcano Bay. Read our Volcano Bay tips to help plan your visit.
A few questions to ask yourself to help decide which is the better area to stay in:
- Do you want to be close to Water Slide and Splash Pad or Lazy River?
- Do you want to be inside or are you okay with the motel style?
- Are you trying to stay within a specific budget?
- Will you be visiting Volcano Bay?
Honestly I really like the Courtyards. I like being able to drink my coffee outside the room as my family sleeps and watch the sunrise over the resort. It is close to the walking trail to the theme parks and it is less expensive than the towers.
Cost of Cabana Bay Beach Resort Family Suite
The price of Cabana Bay Beach Resort family suite fluctuate depending on the time of year you visit. I found the rates to start around $270.00 and up.
If you are visiting during the holidays and school breaks you will pay more than during low season. Universal also offers discounts for longer stays so be sure to check their website.
Book Your Stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort!
Cabana Bay Water Slide & Pool
There are two main pools at Cabana Bay. One is located in the Courtyard area. There is a water slide, infinity pool, and a splash pad. We preferred this pool area because my kids loved the water slide. The splash pad was a nice addition but geared towards younger kids.
The second pool is located in the Tower area. There is a lazy river and a regular pool for swimming. The lazy river is nice but they do not provide inner tubes. You can purchase the Cabana Bay Lazy River tubes during your stay that you take back to your room or you can bring them from home.
Rentals range from $10.00-$20.00 depending on duration of stay. They will blow them up and inflate them for you. You can also go in the lazy river without the tubes if you want to skip them.
Amenities
One of the unique amenities is Cabana Bay Bowling at Galaxy Bowl. This is an additional charge but so much fun for families to have something to do at the resort.
There are also nightly movie nights, schedule given out at check-in, poolside activities, a fire pit, and an arcade.
Dining
Cabana Bay Beach Restaurants are all casual and counter service. There are a few dining options at Cabana Bay. The main dining area is a quick service restaurant called the Bay Line Diner. They offer grab and go snacks as well as meals. We have always been happy with the service and quality of meals.
- Shakes Malt Shoppe (milkshakes and sundaes)
- Starbucks
- The Hideaway Bar & Grill (Located at the Lazy River Courtyard)
- Galaxy Bowl Restaurant
- Swizzle Lounge(Bar)
- Atomic Tonic(Located at the Cabana Courtyard)
Our favorite on-site place is the room or poolside pizza delivery service, Deliziozo Pizza. The pizza is our favorite and we loved having it delivered to our room after a long day at the parks.
Final Thoughts
The Cabana Bay Beach Resort family suites are what attracted us to the resort, but we keep coming back because of the close proximity to the park, the on-site perks for guests, the pool, on-site amenities, and the comfortable rooms that work great for my family.
Things I Love about Cabana Bay Beach Resort Orlando
- Theme of the resort is great! Retro vibe is well done from the rooms to the lobby and guest areas.
- On-site amenities are top notch, especially in the price range. Guests can enjoy the Cabana Bay Water Slide, Lazy River, and bowling alley.
- Family-friendly hotel with food court in lobby, Starbucks, and gift shop.
- Exclusive theme park benefits like early access to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Things I Don’t Love about Cabana Bay Beach Resort
- The hotel room could use an update. The resort opened in 2014 and I believe it could use a room refresh.
- The family suite fits up to 6 people, but I think there are better options on property at Universal for a family of 5 or 6, like the Surfside or Dockside hotels.
Overall we do like staying at Cabana Bay Resort. It has such a fun vibe and we have stayed there multiple times.
I think the value in comparison to the price is fantastic. You get a family suite, with 2 amazing pools, on-site activities, and within walking distance to the parks for a moderate price.
Thank you for reading my post! This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date prices, we do not guarantee prices listed on our site. At times we are compensated or hosted by destination and brands. All opinions are honest and my own. If you would like to learn about how I work with affiliate partners you can read more here.
Leah has been planning and writing about Universal trips since 2016. She loves finding the best places to eat and stay during her visits to the park. Leah enjoys the little details that make visiting the parks so immersive and special, and sharing that with her readers.
