TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

We went on a family trip to Universal Studios and stayed at this resort for two nights. The rooms were extremely clean, I liked it that they provide shampoo and conditioner in dispensers. The bed was very comfortable. My favorite was that they give you a number to call if you need extra towels, coffee, pillows, etc. The pool and lazy river are heated and very comfortable for swimming in January. They sell floats but will also inflate the ones you bring from home. The restaurant was fun, we ate breakfast and dinner there. Not great food, but good and not too expensive for a resort. The repetitive 60's commercials they show in the lobby are fun the first day, after that you wish they had some variety. The Malt Shoppe is very good. There is a fire pit and you can purchase s'mores kits, or bring your own. The bars make very good, but very expensive drinks. There were a few glitches. My son's card never worked for the gates, my husbands was hit and miss. There is no way to call the lobby to ask a question which necessitated an unnecessary trip to the lobby only to find out that the desk we needed was closed. There is a retro phone and clock in the room, but they are for show only. Neither one worked although they tell you that you can order pizza from the phone? We ran out of time and did not go to the bowling alley. I would suggest staying an extra day just to enjoy the resort as the park will keep you busy all day.

We stayed at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort for 7 days with our family at the end of December and beginning of January, and overall we had a very positive experience. The hotel is very large, clean and well maintained. Rooms are bright, spacious and comfortable, and the whole resort has a nice retro style. The location is excellent, especially for Volcano Bay, which is within walking distance. Shuttle transportation to Universal parks is extremely well organized, with frequent buses. We also used the hotel as a base for visiting Disney parks and it worked perfectly fine. The reception area is usually busy, so sometimes you have to wait a bit for check-in or assistance, but overall we didn’t have any issues that really needed to be solved. Elevators are fast and efficient, which is important in such a large hotel. The resort has two pools and a lazy river, which the kids really enjoyed. The food court is more cafeteria-style. The food is mostly burgers, pizza and mac and cheese. There are also some ready-made salads and sandwiches, but nothing particularly special in terms of food quality. Therefore we did eat there only one day. Parking is large but paid separately, which is something to keep in mind. Overall, a very good and practical choice for families visiting Universal and Disney parks. We would definitely stay here again.

Terrible customer service! The employee aren't empowered to make decisions or make any decisions. It also can be a long walk to your room.

We booked a week here from Christmas Day. We usually stay at Hard Rock but this was a last minute getaway so decided on a cheaper hotel. We were not expecting much - just a place to sleep. We were proven wrong! It was great. We stayed in the Beachside Tower which I believe is newer than the main buildings. It was fabulous. Lovely clean rooms, great retro theming (but take shower gel if you don’t want to use a bar of soap). Food court has something for everyone. Has a small shop with essentials and some merch. Check in was streamlined. Great friendly staff. Buses will take you straight to CityWalk, or Epic. If going to Islands, or Studios, walking will only take you 10-15 minutes with quicker security checks. Path is straight forward and a pleasant walk. Huge benefit is the direct access to Volcano Bay - 5 minute walk. Will definitely stay here again!!

This was our third time in Orlando around the Disney or Universal bubble, and by far it was the best hotel we stayed at. Their customer service is exceptional, with every employee being eager to help and always very friendly and welcoming. The check-in process was fairly quick and very smooth. Something as simple as the attendant explaining to us where our room was located was a better experience than most other resorts. The rooms were very clean and everything worked perfectly. The beds were super comfortable as well. There was one night where the room next to us was pretty noisy which showed us how thin the walls really are. Luckily, it was just one night. The food at the cafeteria was actually pretty decent quality compared to most other hotels and resorts, and the service was fairly quick. Having a Starbucks on-site is very convenient as well. The hotel itself is in the perfect location, very close to all the parks except for Epic which is out of the way. The busses that take you to and from the parks are super convenient and are not normally a super long wait. I don't necessarily care too much for the retro theme but the overall atmosphere and vibe of the resort makes me look past that. Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort is great value for anyone wanting to stay at a nice family-friendly resort that's close to the Universal parks.