Family Weekend at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
April 16, 2019
We have always been huge fans of staycations; living in the Orlando area, it’s hard not to be!
When you have young kids especially, there are so many options right down the road that it’s crazy to not take advantage of it.
That’s why I was so excited when, a couple weeks ago, we were invited to Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort for a weekend of family fun.
We packed up our bags, ready for adventure! And I’m so glad we did. This was our first time staying on property at Universal Orlando, and right away it was apparent how great this resort is for little kids!
The Property
We checked in Friday evening and the place was seriously rocking. There was music playing on the pool deck and tons of families were out enjoying the pools and waterslide even into the early evening.
The first thing I noticed–and loved–about Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort is the perfectly-executed retro, midcentury beach house theme. And it is there in every detail!
From the lobby to the rooms, the decor is retro-mod 50s and 60s.
And they seriously left no detail out when putting this place together. They even put V05 shampoo and conditioner and Zest soap in the shower! Ha! V05 was my jam growing up!
With every little design element attended to, you really feel transported when you’re on property to a retro Florida beach resort from the minute you check in til the time you leave the resort.
With every little design element attended to, you really feel transported when you’re on property to a retro Florida beach resort from the minute you check in til the time you leave the resort.
After checking this out, be sure to pop over to my Instagram page, where I have a whole Instagram Story highlight with tons more tips for Universal as well as a behind-the-scenes look at our time at Universal’s Cabana Bay Resort with the kids!
The Rooms
Gotta love a hotel room that’s designed for families!
We stayed a family suite, which had enough room for everyone. In the front room there is a pull-out couch, a couple chairs and a television. There’s also a kitchenette with a microwave and sink, as well as a little banquette with a barstool, so you can have dedicated eating space in the room. (HUGE when you have kids and are trying to keep crumbs out of the beds!)
As for the other room, it has two queen beds, a nightstand and its own television. It’s also worth mentioning that there is a divider between the front living space and the bedroom, so you can shut that while the kids are sleeping if you want to watch TV.
As for the bathroom space, this was proof of another great planning concept. There is a room with a shower and a sink, then the vanity area is in between (open to the bedroom area), and the toilet is in a separate water closet on the other side.
Here’s what I noticed right away: It feels like people who actually have young kids had a hand in the way this room was designed, and the room setup is super-functional as a result.
Here’s Why You Should Stay on Property if You’re Visiting Universal Orlando
This is something I never knew before staying on property, but there are some serious benefits to booking at a Universal Orlando Hotel!
- Early access to parts of the park: When you stay at a Universal Orlando hotel, you get to go into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Volcano Bay a full hour before other park guests are admitted. HUGE if you want to check out the whole place before the park gets packed!
- Resort-wide charging privileges: With your stay, you can charge all your goods and services right to your account with your hotel key!
- Free shuttles: Ride back and forth between your resort and the parks all day.
- Merchandise delivery: Buy as much as you want during the day at the Universal shops, and have it all delivered free to your room.
And one more thing!
If you’re a Florida resident, the deal is even sweeter. You can get amazing Florida resident rates that make your stay so affordable. Make sure to take advantage of this deal if you’re also looking for a great staycation!
Now, Let’s Get to the Fun Stuff!
What to Do At Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort
The Pool
There are actually two pools, but we hung out in the larger one for the most part. It has a giant waterslide as well as a zero-entry area, which is great for letting the toddlers splash around.
You’ll also notice the giant waterslide tower in the middle of the big pool, which is not only super fun, but also a really cool architectural element in the outdoor space.
I didn’t personally test out the slide (you know, #hairproblems and all), but Andrew did on behalf of our family and was happy to report that it was pretty great. 😉
There are also cabanas (heh!) available for rent alongside the pool, which is great if you’ve got little ones and want to get away from the crazy Florida sunshine for a little while. They’ve each got their own comfortable seating area, along with a television.
I also loved that they had life vests on property for the kids to wear, in case your kids aren’t swimmers. (We took advantage of them!)
The “Beach”
There’s a patch of sand right off the pool area where they have beach toys and a ping pong table, and the kids loved it! Something about kids and sand; they run to it every time!
It’s awesome that it’s right off the pool too; the kids can run back and forth and have a true beach resort experience!
The Splash Pad
Again, for kids who can’t swim yet, this was key! They have multiple areas and splash zones, and it’s also got a fence so you don’t have to worry about the kids running off.
The Lazy River
Can never go wrong with a lazy river! This always makes the kids–and adults–happy.
The Lawn Games
I think this might have been the kids’ favorite part of outdoor space!
There’s an area right off the pools with tons of lawn games. I’m talking standup Connect 4 (I think it’s actually connect 6, or 7 or 8… but you get the idea); cornhole; hula hoops and more.
The kids loved this area; we seriously spent tons of time here! I may or may not have even unearthed my elementary-school-era hula hoop talents, much to my family’s embarrassment.
But seriously, FUN. What a great addition to the resort entertainment options!
The Bowling Alley
We didn’t get a chance to check this out in person because we spent all of our times at the theme parks, but if we had more time on property we absolutely would have done this! But there are ten lanes, and they also serve food there, so it’s a great option if you want fun and food at once!
The Food
Cabana Bay offers several dining options. The big one is the Bayliner Diner, which is like a food court. The bowling alley, as I mentioned, also serves food. And there’s a Starbucks right off the lobby, which was where we grabbed all of our snacks while on the go.
Here is what else you can find on the resort:
Bayliner Diner: Get grab-and-go food on your way to and from the parks!
Galaxy Bowl Restaurant: This is the in-house restaurant at the bowling alley, with casual table dining.
Atomic Tonic: Eat sandwiches, salads, wraps and more poolside, and grab your adult beverages there too! Situated right alongside the Cabana Courtyard and pool deck.
The Hideaway Bar & Grill: Drinks, burgers and more. Located along the lazy river.
Swizzle Lounge: This lounge is in the lobby, and features cocktails and made-to-order specialties.
Starbucks: No explanation necessary. 😉 SO nice to have so you can grab a coffee before departing for the parks!
Delizioso Pizza: Classic, home-style pizza delivered to your room or other hotel locations (available during limited hours).
The Parks
Obviously this is the best part! We have been taking our kids to Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure since they were toddlers, so they love going back!
So let’s get to it… Here’s…
What to Do with Young Kids at Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Breakfast with the Minions!
Are your kids like mine and absolutely obsessed with the Minions?! This was a sit-down breakfast buffet at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort where the Minions and the rest of the Despicable Me crew wandered through, going table by table so you could get pictures.
What struck me most about this experience was how well organized it was. The characters go table by table, so there’s no rushing-the-people-in-costumes funny business, and every kid gets enough time for a snuggle (see above) as well as a photo. Highly recommend this experience! The food was good too! (Typical buffet fare–scrambled eggs, pancakes, fruit, baked goods, etc.)
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
There are SO many great things about this part of the parks, it’s hard to get it all down! But here are some of the things we do with the little kids when we go!
This was SUCH a fun weekend for us and for all the kids! We’re so happy to share a little of our adventure with you all.
A big thanks to Loews Hotels at Universal for the opportunity to stay on property! Definitely check out Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort if you’ve got plans to head to Universal Orlando with your family. It was a perfect match for us!