I recently surprised my husband with a little staycation at Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort for his birthday. You may not immediately think of romance when you think of Cabana Bay, but stick with me – there's lots to love. I'm here to share with you what we loved about this unique place to stay in Orlando. From restaurants, to cutely decorated rooms, a lazy river, and easy access to the parks – here's what to expect at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort (what a name!).
Exploring Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Nostalgic Touches In Guest Rooms
When we returned from traveling overseas last year, we briefly stayed at the TWA Hotel in the JFK airport, which has a similar retro 1960s vibe. My husband said it was one of the coolest places he’s ever stayed, so I knew he’d love Cabana Bay too.
Just like the rest of the resort, the rooms are themed in the same retro-style. From an old school landline telephone to the funky floor tile in the bathroom and vibrant colors and artwork, it feels like you’ve transported back several decades.
The details go down to even the packaging of the Zest bars of soap! Each room comes with a coffee maker, fridge, ironing board, and small safe for valuables.
Retro Amenities
As Universal annual passholders, we were able to get a discounted rate that was very affordable just before the spring break crowd came in. Staying here during Universal's Mardi Gras festivities is a plus. And we might consider it for Halloween Horror Nights – which we love!
When we arrived, the hotel allowed us to check in several hours early so we could enjoy the amenities and explore before heading to Volcano Bay for the day. Even though check-out is at 11 a.m., you have access to all of the resort’s amenities until that evening when the pools close.
Cabana Bay Pools
Cabana Bay has two pool areas – one that’s right outside of the main lobby (Cabana Courtyard) and one that’s a little further down the property closer to Volcano Bay (Lazy River Courtyard). You don’t need to bring your own towel or guest room towels; there are plenty available poolside. And there are plenty of lifeguards on duty too, giving you extra peace of mind if you’ve got little ones with you.
Depending on the time of day you visit, there are lots of activities happening around the pools as well – from a hula hoop competition to live band performances.
The Cabana Courtyard side has tons of seating, a water slide, splash pad, sand areas, dining and bar options, a small hot tub, ping pong table and firepits for making smores. Here you can also rent a private cabana (annual pass discount applies) that includes a shade, TV, refrigerator, fan, food delivery service, safe, phone and a prime location for Cabana Bay’s movie on the lawn.
The Lazy River Courtyard has a much larger hot tub, dining and bar options and a slow current lazy river that goes around the pool deck. You can bring your own tube or rent the resort’s tubes for a fee. Life jackets are available for free.
Bowling at Cabana Bay
One unique and nostalgic feature about Cabana Bay is the bowling alley, Galaxy Bowl, located on the second floor of the main lobby. Here there are 10 lanes that can be illuminated so you can enjoy the fun until the late hours of the night.
Galaxy Bowl also features a full-service food and drink menu. In my opinion, the pricing is pretty reasonable for a resort, where adults can play for $17 and kids for $11 in parties of up to 8 people. And yes, you can use your annual pass discount here to save a few extra dollars!
This is the perfect activity for an evening when you’re exhausted from the sun and all the walking and want something fun to do inside the resort.
IMPORTANT TIP: Book your bowling reservation online. You usually need a party of 3 or more to find availability. And they are usually booked 2-3 days in advanced.
Nostalgic Cabana Bay Restaurants
Bayliner Diner
The most diverse restaurant at Cabana Bay is the Bayliner Diner, located on the first floor of the main building. This is quick-service style, with lots of options to choose from, including a full salad bar. You can also grab snacks and drinks here to take to the pool or the theme parks. If you let the front desk know it’s your birthday or anniversary, they’ll give you a coupon for a free piece of cake to redeem at Bayliner.
Bayliner has self-serve coffee in the mornings, or you can walk over to the resort’s full-service Starbucks.
Hideaway Bar + Grill
Located next to the lazy river, The Hideaway Bar + Grill serves lunch and dinner, snacks and a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Food options include hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, tacos and wraps.
Atomic Tonic
Located in the Cabana Courtyard pool deck, Atomic Tonic is a shaded restaurant that also serves lunch, dinner, snacks and a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Food options include gyros, pizza, sandwiches and salads. Make sure you try the signature Atomic Tonic, a fruity vodka cocktail.
Swizzle Lounge
As soon as you enter Cabana Bay Resort the retro decor can be seen all around. Inside the lobby sits a welcoming bar. Swizzles Lounge makes some great drinks, and during our stay we saw plenty of patrons here enjoying the libations.
Our Orlando Date Night Guide team loves Swizzles Lounge as an Orlando hotel date night idea.
Delizioso Pizza
You also have the option to get Delizioso Pizza delivered to your room, private cabana or wherever you’re seated by the pool. In addition to 10” pizzas, they also deliver salads, breadsticks, desserts and beer or wine.
In my opinion, the best deal for two people is the pizza combo, which includes an appetizer, pizza, dessert, and 2 sodas for $25.
For more dining recommendations, check out the best Universal Orlando restaurants for date night.
Getting to CityWalk and Theme Parks
If you want to head over to the “dry” theme parks (Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios) or want a night out at City Walk, Cabana Bay offers free shuttle bus service. The shuttle runs every 15 minutes so you won’t need to wait very long, and service begins an hour before the parks open. It ends shortly after CityWalk closes at 2 a.m.
You also have the option to walk over to the theme parks, but it’ll take about 30 minutes to get there. Unfortunately, there is no water taxi service to or from Cabana Bay, and while other resorts at Universal Orlando offer Express Passes for hotel guests, Cabana Bay is not one of them. That's part of what puts it into the Value category.
Walking to Volcano Bay
One of the biggest benefits of staying at Cabana Bay is its proximity to Volcano Bay. It’s less than a 10 minute walk from the resort, depending on which side you’re staying on. There’s a private resort-only entrance into Volcano Bay so you’ll get to skip the line at the main entrance. You will need to have your room key to gain access here.
Overall, Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort exceeded our expectations and left us with cherished memories. Whether you're seeking a romantic getaway or a fun-filled family vacation, Cabana Bay offers something for everyone. We can't wait to return and experience more of its retro charm and hospitality.
Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Website: Universal's Cabana Bay
Address: 6550 Adventure Wy, Orlando, FL 32819
Parking: Overnight Guest Parking, Self Parking: $21* plus tax, per vehicle