🌴 Cabana Bay Beach Resort Review – A Couple’s Stay

🌋 A Room with a View – Volcano Bay in Sight!

🧴 Tip: If you need extra towels, toiletries, or trash removal on non-service days, you can request them from reception or housekeeping directly.

🛏️ Compare prices and find your perfect Cabana Bay room right here

🏖️ Pools, Lazy Rivers & Movie Nights Under the Stars

🛟 Tip: You’ll need a float to go into the Lazy River — you can rent one from the resort, or they’ll happily inflate your own if you bring one along.

💺 Want a little privacy while you chill by the pool? You can rent a private cabana, which includes shade, HDTV, Wi-Fi, a mini fridge stocked with water, an overhead fan, a safe, and comfy seating — ideal for families or just relaxing in peace between dips.

⛱️Pool Day Tips

✅ Bring your own float – You’ll need one for the lazy river! Rentals are available, but the resort will also inflate your own for free.
✅ Plenty of loungers – We never struggled to find a sunbed, and there was no sign of the usual towel-saving antics!
✅ Sun protection is a must – Don’t get caught out and pay theme park prices! Bring your own sun cream, hats, and cover-ups. Stores like Walmart, Target, or discount outlets often have great deals on high-SPF sunscreen and essentials before you arrive.

🍽️ Dining & Drinks at Cabana Bay

Here are your options and what we think is worth tyring:

All dining options are located on-site at Cabana Bay Beach Resort — no reservation needed!

🎟️ Perks

After our stay at Cabana Bay, we wanted to share just how many little perks came with booking this resort — especially if you’re planning to hit the Universal parks. While it’s known as one of the more budget-friendly options, we were pleasantly surprised by how many exclusive benefits we still received. From early park entry to convenient transport and extra touches like merchandise delivery, it made our whole trip run more smoothly and feel just that bit more special. You need to purchase tickets for the parks unless included in your package – we’ve found some amazing prices, click here to buy today.

Here are 10 reasons why staying at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is a brilliant choice for park-loving guests:

1. Early Park Admission
   Guests enjoy Early Park Admission to select attractions at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Volcano Bay, up to one hour before regular park opening. This benefit allows you to experience popular rides with shorter wait times. You need to purchase tickets for the parks unless included in your package – we’ve found some amazing prices, click here to buy today.
2. Complimentary Shuttle Service
   Cabana Bay provides free shuttle buses to Universal’s theme parks and CityWalk, operating from one hour before Early Park Admission until 2:00 AM daily. The ride typically takes about 5–8 minutes, making park access quick and convenient. Shuttle’s to Epic Universe take around 20 minutes and it is NOT RECOMMENDED you walk at the time of writing.
3. Proximity to Volcano Bay (with Private Entrance!)
   The resort is steps away from Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme park — and even better, Cabana Bay guests have access to a dedicated private entrance. This means you can skip the main gates and head straight into the action, making it super easy to pop back to your room for a break or a change of clothes. It’s a massive win if you’re planning to spend time at the water park!🌋 Want to use the private Volcano Bay entrance? Make sure you’ve got your park ticket sorted — Check prices for Volcano Bay here
4. Access to Galaxy Bowl
   Cabana Bay features its own 10-lane bowling alley, Galaxy Bowl, offering a unique recreational option right within the resort. It’s a great way to unwind after a day at the parks.
5. Resort-Wide Charging Privileges
   With your room key, you can charge purchases throughout the resort, including at Universal’s theme parks and CityWalk, simplifying transactions during your stay.
6. Complimentary Merchandise Delivery
   Enjoy free delivery of merchandise purchased in the parks directly to your hotel room, so you don’t have to carry bags around all day.
7. Fitness and Recreation Facilities
   Stay active with access to the Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio, a game room, and other on-site recreational activities, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

🧳 Things We Took (and Would Pack Again!)

🧴 Sun Protection Kit
Grab sunscreen, after-sun, and lip balm at Walmart or Target before you go, or even better before you fly — theme park prices sting!

🎒 Lightweight Day Bag
Great for carrying snacks, ponchos, and your refillable drink cup without being too bulky.
A small crossbody or sling bag is ideal — it’s easier to carry and more likely to fit into free ride lockers (available at most major attractions). Avoid bulky backpacks unless you’re fine using paid lockers. We love these:

💨 Cooling Towels & Fan
Game changers in the Florida heat — especially while queuing for rides or waiting for a poolside drink. I can’t cope without my fan in the Florida Heat!

👟 Comfy Walking Shoes
Trust us — your feet will thank you. Break them in before you go and bring blister plasters just in case. We love these shoes, we love Sketcher’s for pushing our feet to the limits, and they dry fast!

FAQ

🛏️ Mattress Firmness

Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort does not officially specify the firmness level of their mattresses. However, we’ve found you some guest reviews provide some insight.

– One guest described the mattress as “very, very soft” with “no support at all,” noting that it “sunk in at the center”

– Conversely, another guest mentioned that the beds at Cabana Bay were more comfortable compared to those at other Universal hotels

These varying experiences suggest that the mattresses may lean towards a softer side, but perceptions of comfort can differ among guests.

🚪What room types can I get — and are there poolside or larger family options?

Absolutely! Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers a variety of rooms to suit different family sizes and budgets, all designed with retro flair and comfort in mind.

The standard 300-square-foot guest rooms sleep up to 4 guests with two queen beds, and come in three options: Standard, Poolside, or Volcano Bay View. Each includes a flat-screen TV, coffee maker, and mini refrigerator, making it a comfy retreat after a day in the parks.

Poolside rooms give you a great view of the pool courtyard, and some even come with exterior entry, so you can step straight out into the action — ideal for quick dips and easy access to the lazy river or movie nights.

If you need more space, Family Suites sleep up to 6 with two queen beds and a pull-out sofa. These 430-square-foot suites feature a kitchenette (with mini fridge, microwave, and sink), a compartmentalised bathroom, and a sliding privacy partition between the bedroom and living area. Poolside versions of these suites are also available!

Travelling as a large group? The Volcano Bay View 2-Bedroom Suites sleep up to 8 and offer breathtaking views of Universal’s Volcano Bay™ water theme park, with one queen bed, two full-size beds, and a pull-out sofa.

👉 See prices and availability at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

🛍️ Is there a shop at Cabana Bay?

Yes! Cabana Bay Beach Resort has its own gift shop — and it’s more than just souvenirs. You’ll find a great selection of Universal-branded merchandise, including t-shirts, toys, and keepsakes from the parks.

There’s also a fun range of Cabana Bay-themed items, like retro-style mugs, towels, and beachwear — perfect if you want something unique to remember your stay.

Forgot to pack something? No worries — the shop also stocks everyday essentials, like sunblock, snacks, batteries, toiletries, and other handy sundries.

🧳 Tip: It’s a good place to pick up last-minute gifts or grab something practical without leaving the resort.

🛗Are there accessible rooms and lifts at Cabana Bay?

Yes, Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is accessibility-friendly and offers several options for guests with mobility or hearing needs.

You can book Mobility Accessible Rooms with either roll-in showers or ADA tubs.

There are also Hearing Accessible Rooms equipped with visual alarms, doorbells, and TTY-compatible phones.

Need both? Mobility/Hearing Accessible Rooms are available too — across a variety of categories like Standard Rooms, Poolside Rooms, and Family Suites.

Each accessible room features 32” wide doorways, grab bars in the bathroom, and a handheld showerhead for ease of use.

All buildings are equipped with elevators, and resort common areas — including restaurants, pools, and recreation areas — are designed to be wheelchair accessible. Even better, pool lifts are available at every pool.

🚶‍♀️ Can I walk to the parks from Cabana Bay?

Yes, you can! Cabana Bay connects to Universal’s parks via the Garden Walkway, a scenic path that takes you past Sapphire Falls and Royal Pacific Resort, ending at the side entrance of CityWalk near Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.

The walk is just under a mile and takes around 12–15 minutes, depending on your pace.
If you’re heading to Islands of Adventure, you’re only about 2 minutes from the turnstiles once you reach CityWalk.
To reach Universal Studios Florida, add around 7 more minutes of walking.
To get to Epic Universe a dedicated shuttle bus runs from Cabana Bay Beach Resort, with a travel time of approximately 15 to 25 minutes. You can catch the bus at the hotel’s designated bus stop—just be sure to check the sign on the front of the bus to confirm it’s headed to Epic Universe. It is NOT RECOMMENDED to walk at the time of writing.

🚌 Shuttle buses are also available, but they drop off at the main parking rotunda, where you’ll go through the central security checkpoint — which is often busy.

🌴 Tip: The Garden Walkway entrance uses the hotel security checkpoint near Margaritaville, and there’s rarely a queue — making it a quicker and more relaxed way to enter CityWalk.

💧 Bonus for water park lovers: Cabana Bay also offers a private entrance to Universal’s Volcano Bay. To use it, you’ll need both a valid Volcano Bay ticket and your Cabana Bay room key — it’s incredibly convenient for quick returns to your room or poolside breaks!

⏰Does Cabana Bay offer early park admission?

Yes — including Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe

🚂Do Cabana Bay guests get Universal Express Passes?

No, only guests at Universal’s premier hotels like Loews Royal Pacific Resort or Hard Rock Hotel get Express Passes included with their stay. You can still purchase it separately — and we’ve found some amazing prices.

🥖Can I eat at other Universal hotels?

Yes! Cabana Bay guests can visit other resort hotels for dining, drinks, and entertainment.

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