Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort in Orlando, FL

Honestly the staff at this hotel were great! Even Starbucks I seen someone write they were rude. We went everyday and they were all super nice. We had one grumpy bartender at the lobby bar she was not very pleasant but the rest of the bartenders were sooo nice and amazing! Now the hotel itself. The lobby and outside is very well maintained and looks super nice. However the rooms were very disappointing. They were dated and definitely worn down I wish I would have booked one of the neighbouring hotels like I originally was going to they looked a little nicer. We had a volcano bay view which was neat but the room was small and there was a lot worn down. I would say if the price is right then book here. I will say our room was clean and I had a good sleep on the beds but for a hotel not being very old it needs some repairs in its rooms. The pizza was good we didn’t try anything else because there was better food elsewhere. Shuttle service was very good. We really enjoyed the pool and lazy river!! I would stay here again but not for the price we stayed.

There are many positives about this hotel ... the location, the pools, the lazy river, the variety of food options in the dining area, friendly staff, and the Starbucks. Unfortunately there were also things that tempered our experience: Although our room felt clean, the main hallways were stained, dirty, and often had an unpleasant odor. To get into your building you unlock an outside gate with your room key, and then walk through a small garden area to the door leading into your building. This could be a cute area, but we were there for a week and this area was always filled with tall (6 ft maybe?) laundry carts overflowing with laundry. It definitely cheapened the feel of the hotel.

Great resort, friendly staff, nice walk to universal studios. The heated (!) pool is magnificant. Only downside: poor housecleaning service. The resort is beautiful and absolutely worth the money. However in 3 days my rooms wasn’t cleaned. Policy appears to be that they clean every 2 days. Also towels are cleaned once every 2 days. Not even such a problem if they tell you on beforehand, allthough i like arriving in a clean room after spending a day at the park. Especiallly when traveling with children there’s a high turnover of towels. The last day I was given new towels but the used ones were left in the room. Considering the price and friendly staff in combination with the resort itself I would book again, but I would encourage staff to communicate properly so not to raise false expectations. And to act accordingly to their policy: clean once every 2 days.

Location, location, location. If your vacation to Universal Studios in Orlando includes a trip to the Volcano Bay Waterpark (and it should). Then this hotel is an excellent choice. It's located right next to the Waterpark, so it has its own short walkway and entrance into it. My wife, myself, and our nephew recently stayed at the Cabana Bay hotel (11/25 11/29/2024). We stayed in a family suite which has a bedroom area with 2 queen beds that has a partition to separate it from the living room. The living area has 2 chairs and a sofa that is a pullout bed. The living area is roomy enough. Each room has a television. The kitchenette has plenty of space. The dormer refrigerator has plenty of room. There is a microwave and a single cup coffee maker. There are plenty of shelves to place any snacks you brought along with you. Paper plates, bowls, and plastic utensils are provided. The bathroom is compartmentalized, so the vanity is 1 part the shower, and the toilet have their own rooms with separate doors. As for the restaurant area. It's like a food court. One station you can get pizza and spaghetti. Another burgers and a deli for select sandwiches. Breakfast also had a variety of options. They do have grab and go options. Overall, the quality of the food was decent. If you want more of a sit-down restaurant option, you can take a short walk on the garden walkway over to Sapphire Falls. Speaking of Sapphire Falls. That brings up your transportation options. As mentioned, Volcana Bay is just a short walk. To get to the other parks, you can take a shuttle bus. They run continously every 10 minutes starting at 7 AM. The con on taking the bus is that it takes you to the same security check point as the parking garage. So it can get quite crowded and slow your entry into the City Walk area that leads to either park studios and / or Islands of adventure. Another option is to head over to Sapphire Falls to take advantage of the water taxi, which has its own security check point and can expedite your travel to the parks. Or if you feel like it you can walk along the garden path that takes about 20 minutes. The cons. There are 2 pools which are nice. There also is a lazy river. The knock on this is they make you purchase the inner tube rather then just offering them for free use. You can bring your own and they will inflate it for you. Or you can forgo the the inner tube and use the free life vests or just hop in. It's also sprawled out so depending on where your room is located you may have a long walk to the dining area and to the bus stop. Overall. A very good value option when visiting Universal orlando. Another bonus because it's a universal hotel you get early entry to the park. But unlike the premire hotels you are not eligible for the complimentary express passes. So keep that in mind when choosing a hotel.

Dated, aged interior. Retro but in shabby condition. No privacy with regard for the bathroom amenities. Shower/tub, doors, surface areas all need to be cleaned. Nowhere to put more than one or two pieces of luggage. Staff was super friendly. The amenities outside of the room and the proximity to the park are positives. It’s definitely a motel not a hotel.