Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort
Cabana Bay solves the two problems that break most Universal family trips: where six people sleep, and what happens on a day nobody wants to queue.
30-Second Verdict
Book Cabana Bay if your party is five or six, or if you want a hotel that can fill a non-park day. Skip it if you want to walk to Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure, because this hotel walks to Volcano Bay and shuttles to everything else.
Quick facts
- Area
- Universal Orlando
- Property type
- Universal on-site hotel
- Tier
- Prime Value
- Opened
- 2014
- Star classification
- 3 star
- Guest score
- 8.5 out of 10 from 6,040 reviews
- Room occupancy
- Standard room sleeps 4; Family suite sleeps 6
- Details checked
- August 2026
Best for
- Families of five or six who need one room rather than two
- Trips that include a Volcano Bay day
- Families who want a lazy river without leaving the resort
- Travelers who will not rent a car
Skip it if
- You want to walk to the two original parks
- You want the Express benefit, which this tier does not include
- You want a quiet, adult-leaning hotel
- You dislike very large resorts with long internal walks
Location and park fit
Cabana Bay sits in the middle of the Universal campus with a walking path to Volcano Bay. Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe are reached by Universal transport.
That middle position is useful on a three-park week, because it does not commit you to either end of the campus.
Rooms and family fit
The family suite is what people book this hotel for. It has two sleeping areas, a kitchenette and a published capacity of six, plus a divided bathroom so two people can get ready at once. That last detail matters more than the marketing suggests on the third morning of a park trip.
Standard rooms sleep four and are exactly what you would expect at a value tier: functional, clean and unremarkable.
Transport and mobility
Volcano Bay is a walk. Everything else is a Universal shuttle, which runs frequently and queues at park opening.
You do not need a car for a Universal trip from here. You will want one, or a rideshare budget, if the week also includes Walt Disney World.
Park benefits
Early park admission applies as an on-site guest, with the parks covered set by Universal. Cabana Bay is a Prime Value hotel and does not include Express.
Universal has long included Universal Express Unlimited for guests at its three Premier hotels, at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. It has not covered Volcano Bay, and how it applies at Epic Universe is set separately. Confirm the current terms with Universal before booking on that basis.
Pool and rest-day fit
This is where Cabana Bay separates itself from the other value hotels. There is a lazy river, two pools, a water slide and a bowling alley, which together can hold a family for a full day without a park ticket.
On a seven-night trip that is worth real money, because it removes a ticket day from the budget.
Cost beyond the room
No theme park parking, because you are not driving in. Confirm resort charges and any self-parking fee with the hotel directly.
You get the best family configuration on the Universal campus and a genuine rest-day pool, and you give up the walking paths to the two original parks that the Premier and Preferred hotels have.
Alternatives worth comparing
Book this hotel
Rates in Orlando move constantly and depend on your dates, so check the current price rather than working from any figure on a website. Confirm resort fees, parking charges and any theme park benefit directly with the hotel or the park before you book.
Hotel details and the guest scores on this page were checked in August 2026.
We earn a commission when you book through the links on this page. It never changes which hotels we select or how we rank them. Read the full disclosure.
Common questions
Do Cabana Bay family suites sleep 6?
Yes. The family suites are published for six people and include two sleeping areas and a kitchenette. Standard rooms are for four.
Can you walk to Universal from Cabana Bay?
You can walk to Volcano Bay. Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Epic Universe are reached by Universal transport.
Does Cabana Bay include Express Pass?
No. The Express benefit has applied at Universal's three Premier hotels. Cabana Bay is a Prime Value hotel, so Express would be bought separately.
Is Cabana Bay good for adults?
It is designed for families and it is loud. Two adults would have a better time at Aventura, Sapphire Falls or one of the Premier hotels.