Cabana Bay, Do you feel it's worth it?

[NancyIL]

The 2 times I went to Universal for 2 days, I took a Mears shuttle from my WDW resort. This December I'd like to stay by Universal for my first 3 nights before I move to a WDW hotel, so I booked the Four Points Sheraton Studio City. After I saw the videos of Cabana Bay Resort last week and called the hotel to ask about a AAA discount (15%) - I booked it! The total price for 3 nights at CBR is only ~ $86 more than at the Four Points. I am an infrequent visitor to Universal Orlando, so I'm looking forward to staying here.

 

[Kathy427]

I stayed at Cabana Bay and absolutely LOVED it! I'll try to post a quick review.

Thank you very much.

 

[startingtopanic]

To Everyone who has stayed at Cabana Bay, your opinion matters to me.

Do you feel it's worth the price to stay there for (2 adults 1 junior) and get your Express Passes seperately for four days in the park to go to Universal?

We're planning to drive down (Mid-end September).
1.What do they charge for parking per day?
2.Do you have to pay for Wi-Fi?
3.Is there transportation from the hotel to Universal?
4. Is there a charge per person?
5. How would you rate your overall experience there?
6. How is the food quality, hospitality service there?
----------------------------------------------------------
OR> would you rather plan your trip for 5 nights and stay at the
Hard Rock Hotel; Bite the Bullet and get your Express Passes with your stay. We never stayed there either, so anything info about that hotel would be greatful.
Thanks so much.

We stayed at Cabana Bay and we really did LOVE it. We were already envisioning future trips... which we previously had no intention of doing!

However, if you are dead-set on getting the unlimited express passes, I would probably recommend another hotel. Especially with the annual passholder discount (which I would definitely recommend getting at least one annual pass, just for the hotel discount) -- at the time of our trip anyway, we could have gotten one of the other on-site hotels for just a little bit more money and had those unlimited passes.

We stuck with Cabana Bay because each room has refrigerator and microwave -- which we did use. We also needed room for all five of us, without having to mess with (and pay the extra charge for) rollaways or air mattresses.

In your case, with only three of you going... it sounds like your priorities may be different than ours were.

The first day we were there, at Islands of Adventure, the lines were not too bad at all -- 20-30 minutes, tops. The second day at Universal and the third day back at IoA, I will freely admit that the lines were pretty bad and the passes would have come in handy. We ended up missing things because we simply ran out of time.

To answer your questions:.

Parking is $10 per day.

You do not have to pay for wi-fi unless you need something fancy (that we didn't need) -- "fancy" was $15 per day.

Transportation was shuttle buses going back and forth between the hotel and the parks, and service was excellent. They are constantly running, every few minutes, from sometime in the wee hours of the morning until 2:30 AM (because City Walk is open late).

Charge per person? For transportation? No charge. No charge per person for anything I can think of.

Overall service, hospitality, cleanliness = all excellent. We have never stayed at any of the other on-site hotels, and this was our first resort. So I don't have much to compare it to. But everything we needed was promptly taken care of and the atmosphere of the entire place is just bright, cheery, and FUN.

Food is about what you would expect from a counter service food court. Lots to choose from... not a great value but not ridiculous, either. We didn't have anything that was bad, but we didn't have anything that was just Heavenly, either. During our entire stay, we ate there once for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's nice to know it is there if you need it. Starbucks in the hotel was downright awesome to have, too.

 

[Kathy427]

How did you like the food? Was there a variety to choose from? Were there any buffets?
please tell and show picture if you have any.

 

[JessicaR]

For those that have stayed already - is there bellman services/luggage storage?

 

[macraven]

How did you like the food? Was there a variety to choose from? Were there any buffets?
please tell and show picture if you have any.

if you go to the Cbay website, you'll read about the eateries there.
only buffets i am aware of are at the 3 deluxe hotels for the breakfast hour.
(those 3 also have the option of menu choices for bkft)

 

[Kathy427]

if you have younger children, ask AAA to mail you a kids coloring book from Universal and It has mazes and word searches.

 

[startingtopanic]

How did you like the food? Was there a variety to choose from? Were there any buffets?
please tell and show picture if you have any.

There are no buffets. I don't know what all the new sit-down restaurant will have when it opens.

There is a food court where you choose what you want from each place and then pay on your way out -- cafeteria-style.

The food was okay. Bacon cheeseburgers there on the first day were memorable. But we were excited to be there and we were very hungry. We didn't have anything that was "excellent", but we also did not have anything that was "bad".

Basically, it is nice to know the food court is there if you need it. We stayed there 4 nights and we ate there 3 times, total:

We got free breakfast there due to a major laundry issue we had one night, but otherwise we would not have paid their prices for breakfast. We are just as happy with eating things in our room.

We had the lunch of bacon burgers & fries that I talked about above.

One night we ate dinner there after we got back from the parks. They are open until 10:00, so that is nice. I got the salad bar (you pay by the pound) and the rest of my family did burgers again, I think.

 

[Seeker615]

Just got back from a quick 3 night stay at Royal Pacific. We could see Cabana Bay from the elevators then drove by it. Personally, I think it's an absolute eye-sore on Universal property. You've got the beautifully landscaped 3 Deluxe Resorts, then this ugly as sin building in the distance. I get the theme, but this was the first hotel misfire by Universal. Seriously, it makes the Disney Value resorts look like 5 star resorts. Absolutely hideous.

My husband said the same thing! We were there in November and he at first thought it was an old hotel they were tearing down! From the Royal Pacific we could see it and it is not appealing to the eye!

 

[Kathy427]

Are you able to visit other hotels off site to use there pools or do you have to be guest there?

 

[damo]

My husband said the same thing! We were there in November and he at first thought it was an old hotel they were tearing down! From the Royal Pacific we could see it and it is not appealing to the eye!

There's going to be another hotel between Royal Pacific and Cabana Bay, so that may change the landscape somewhat instead of having the huge Cabana Bay in the middle of empty space. I've heard rumours of ground breaking this fall for that 5th hotel.

 

[Seeker615]

There's going to be another hotel between Royal Pacific and Cabana Bay, so that may change the landscape somewhat instead of having the huge Cabana Bay in the middle of empty space. I've heard rumours of ground breaking this fall for that 5th hotel.

Wow - another hotel? I don't want Universal to get more crowded. I love it the way it is! Any rumors on the theme though?

 

[Minniesgal]

For me the point of a universal hotel is the express pass so I don't get the point of this resort.

 

[Minniesgal]

but to my knowledge when you buy the express pass is only one ride per attraction. So I think it depends on your plan. For me it's not worth it since my small ones can't ride many big attractions but the small coasters or dr Seuss they want multiple rides. Once Dd6 rode woody woodpecker 10 times in a row in 2012. So unlimited express to alleviate longer waits is great for us. I remember one time I was a local at that time we went and had to wait 40 minutes for the fish in dr Seuss. Mainly because people in express kept coming and they took priority. Now when we go next year we are looking at hard rock.

You can buy the unlimited express pass

 

[JessicaR]

For me the point of a universal hotel is the express pass so I don't get the point of this resort.

It puts $ in Universal's pocket by pricing comparably to off-site properties. More people that would normally book off-site will now stay on-site, eat on-site, and basically spend more $ on property.

 

[JessicaR]

You can buy the unlimited express pass

Wow! I had no idea that ticket existed. When did they start offering that?

 

[damo]

Wow! I had no idea that ticket existed. When did they start offering that?

It's been available for years. It is normally available with the admission ticket included but you can upgrade your admission ticket to one with unlimited express included.

check the bottom of this page for pricing

https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Universal-Express/Express-Passes.aspx

 

[JessicaR]

It's been available for years. It is normally available with the admission ticket included but you can upgrade your admission ticket to one with unlimited express included.

check the bottom of this page for pricing

https://www.universalorlando.com/Theme-Park-Tickets/Universal-Express/Express-Passes.aspx

Thanks! I always stay on-site and have had an AP for so long I was clueless this was offered. Wonder if many people take advantage of it?

Our little Universal sure has grown up from the way things used to be.

 

[macraven]

Wow! I had no idea that ticket existed. When did they start offering that?

one of my friends bought it back in 08, or sometime around that.
i stay onsite, she doesn't and we meet up in the parks.

 

[damo]

Thanks! I always stay on-site and have had an AP for so long I was clueless this was offered. Wonder if many people take advantage of it?

Our little Universal sure has grown up from the way things used to be.

I know...it is sometimes bittersweet!