I am a huge fan of everything Universal Orlando – the theme parks, Citywalk, Halloween Horror Nights and of course the Hotels. I went on an overnight staycation recently at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. It was my first time staying at Cabana Bay and it’s now the sixth of ten Universal on-site hotels under my belt.
Now that I live in central Florida experiencing everything Universal has to offer is much easier and more accessible. Theme park life as a local has its advantages. Not to mention the perks and discounts offered to FL residents – you just can’t beat it!
I chose Cabana Bay not only to add another notch in my belt of Universal Orlando Resort Hotel stays, but because Cabana Bay is hosting a special experience in the Fun in the Sun Rec center on the second floor of the lobby building. More about that later.
The retro 50’s/60’s themed resort literally makes you feel like you stepped back in time. As you enter the bright, wide open lobby you can’t help but notice the grand centerpiece palm trees and skylight.
The other side of the lobby leads directly out to the 10k square foot Cabana Courtyard pool. You can’t miss the decorative art deco tower. You can also access three guest buildings from this area as they flank the pool on three sides.
The property is huge with a total of 2,200 rooms & suites between eight buildings: The Castaway, The Thunderbird, The Starlight, the Americana (counts as two buildings), The Continental and the towers Beachside and Bayside. For the most stunning views of Volcano Bay’s Krakatau volcano, stay in the Bayside Tower.
There is a second pool between the Continental and Americana buildings. It’s not as large as the Courtyard pool but it’s just as nice and you can also access it from the Bayliner Diner.
Want a drink or a bite to eat while relaxing poolside? Place your order at the Hideaway Bar & Grill.
At the bottom of this spiraling staircase is a Starbucks Coffee, which is located between the main lobby and Bayliner Diner.
The retro style is carried throughout the entire resort from floor to ceiling and interior to exterior. The bright colors, art deco shapes, tasteful furniture and decor are period accurate. No matter where you go on property you’re bound to find a building, wall, room, corridor or staircase that serves as the perfect photo backdrop.
Make sure to bring comfortable walking shoes because depending on what building you stay in you can expect long walks from point a to point b. This is why I highly recommend becoming very familiar with the property map. You’ll get a paper map upon check-in.
Some of the guest buildings are farther away than others from common areas like the main lobby, fitness center and Bayliner Diner. You may want to take that into consideration when selecting a building and room that’s convenient to your needs and preferences.
We stayed in a standard room in building 4, The Continental which had double queen beds and a picture perfect pool view.
One of my favorite touches in the room was the old school plug-in analog clock, perfectly placed bedside on the nightstand. You can’t get more retro than that!
The room and bathroom was clean, comfortable, bright and cheery. Both were sized well with plenty of storage making it the perfect stay for up to four people.
If you’re the type to get your workout on while vacationing, you’ll find the Jack LaLane Fitness Studio on the second floor of the lobby building. Just next door is the Galaxy Bowl, a ten lane bowling alley with ample seating and a bar & grill serving all the typical delicious offerings you’d expect like quesadillas, burgers & fries, pizza and more. I immediately noticed the excellent mix of oldies music from the 50’s through 90’s playing through the overhead speakers.
The Bayliner Diner is located in the main lobby building and is the only dining option on property. The diner is open for breakfast lunch and dinner seven days a week from 7am to 11pm. You’ll find many food offerings including a salad bar, deli and grill stations, pizza, a wide variety of bottled and fountain beverages and more. They even offer multiple vegan options and can accommodate dietary needs so be sure to check the menu for specific details.
It’s HHN season at Universal Studios Orlando and this year Cabana Bay is offering a special Halloween experience called Chucky’s Twisted Playground. It’s located on the second floor of the lobby building in the Fun in the Sun Rec Center, between the Fitness Center and Galaxy Bowl.
This is a walkthrough photo op experience themed after one of the most notorious serial killers (fictional of course) of all time, Chucky. This experience is fitting because Chucky is a themed house at HHN Orlando this year. You’ve got to be more than just a fan of the popular IP to do the walkthrough. Chucky’s Twisted Playground is open to all Universal Orlando Resort guests and admission is your valid room key card.
I had lots of fun doing this walkthrough and I captured lots of cool selfies, vids and pics. If you’re a fan of Chucky and have reservations at one of the Universal Orlando Resort hotels during HHN this year, check out this awesome photo op experience.
Chucky’s Twisted Playground is open throughout HHN season from September 1, 2023 through November 4, 2023.
Although I am accustomed to the perks of staying at premier Universal Orlando Resort hotels, I had to keep reminding myself that Cabana Bay is not a premier hotel so it’s not fair to compare its amenities to a premier hotel like Hard Rock Hotel Orlando. For the amenities, location, theming, dining, room options and room rates, Cabana Bay is a solid, budget-friendly option for those wanting the onsite Universal Orlando resort experience without the Universal premier hotel price.
I really enjoyed my short stay at Cabana Bay and staying during HHN season was an added bonus. I’m always grateful for a relaxing, enjoyable staycation, especially at one of my favorite resorts. I’m looking forward to a future staycation at Cabana Bay, specifically a much longer one that includes clear, sunny skies, sipping margaritas poolside and floating along Volcano Bay’s Lazy River. Sounds good doesn’t it? Can’t wait to blog about it!
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