Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort in Orlando, FL

Before I get to the pros and cons, let me start off by warning anyone who wants to book a volcano view. We booked a volcano view and I attached pictures of what we got. Our view was a crumb of the side of the volcano and mostly the back end of the park by the slide area where it looked like staff went to take breaks. The pictures I took were only able to be taken from the right aspect of the room. I had to really get at an angle to take the picture of the volcano. If you truly want to stay at this hotel and see the volcano, maybe call and book (we booked online) to make sure you are actually getting the view of the volcano. To be fair, we called the front desk because of the shock of the view to confirm it was truly a volcano view and they confirmed. They also called us back to see if we wanted to get another room the following day if it was available, but we were going to be in the parks all day and could not fit that into our schedule as we would have to be physically available in the hotel so we declined. They had mentioned the hotel was fully booked and it was crazy busy from a cheerleading/dancer competition going on so it was not a risk we were willing to take. Starting with the positives-the location and theming of the hotel is excellent. The staff was the best part of the stay. They were extremely friendly. The bayline diner and the market were pretty big and had plenty of options for everyone. We stayed at the Beachside tower so it was a little bit of a walk to the lobby but not bad. The walking area was very pretty. I would recommend to ask for a room closer to the lobby if anyone in the family has issues walking. The resort is BIG so it might not be a nice walk for everyone. The cons-As others have mentioned, housekeeping was never seen in the 3 days we were there. However they did come into the room to fix the bed on the second day. They do let you know that housekeeping is done every other day. I did not mind that but the carpets in the hallways were so dirty and smelly! Plenty of stains everywhere. It was kind of crazy. Although this is a value resort, we stayed during a very busy weekend. For the amount of surcharge they added to the room, you would expect them to be on top of the cleaning a little bit more. Where is all the extra money going to if not additional staff to accommodate the amount of people. Also, if you booked close to volcano bay, know that you will absolutely be able to hear the music from the park every morning at 8 am. The walls are very thin so you can also hear every crying baby in your vicinity. Overall, if this hotel fits your budget, cautiously go for it. However, I cannot recommend it.

Spent a week at Cabana Bay. Hotel was only ok average. Not much of an atmosphere very conference centre like. Checked in the first night and got to the room and the shower had suspicious looking hairs in it. Called the front desk to let them know they offered to send someone up to sort it but pointless they shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Towels left short also on one of the housekeeping days. Parking rates extortionate. Hotel in general looks tired and needs some TLC. Sapphire falls across the road looks much nicer.

**Review of Cabana Bay Beach Resort** This was our first stay at Cabana Bay, and it was an overall enjoyable experience with some notable highlights and a few concerning drawbacks. The room was spacious and comfortable, perfect for my kids and me. We especially loved the panoramic window with a stunning view of Volcano Bay—such a nice touch! The size of the room made it easy for us to spread out, which is always important when traveling with children. The resort's amenities were fantastic. The pool area, complete with a lazy river, was a huge hit with the kids. We also appreciated the convenience of having bowling available right on site—something fun to do after a long day at the parks. The food options at the hotel were good, though a bit pricey, but that’s pretty typical for any Universal hotel, so I wasn’t surprised. However, there were a few downsides. One of the biggest was the water pressure in the shower—it was disappointingly low, making it difficult to get a decent shower. Another serious issue was the black mold I found on the plastic of a drink ice dispenser in the food court. I was really taken aback by this, as it's a clear health hazard. I took photos because I was so concerned, and it honestly grossed me out. The fact that it was so visible on something related to food and drink made me question the cleanliness of other areas that might be harder to spot. Overall, if the resort could address these issues—especially the mold problem—this could easily become a 5-star destination for us. The kids loved it, and the location was perfect for park access. However, given the mold issue, I’m hesitant to consider returning unless I know it’s been properly dealt with. If there’s mold so easily visible on something we could potentially consume, it raises concerns about what might be lurking out of sight.

We stayed in adjoining suites in February. The space was great. The location was wonderful. Super easy to get to and from Universal Studios on the complimentary shuttle. There are very limited food options. No restaurants on site, just a food court with 4-5 different stations, a malt/ice cream shop and pool bars. That got old after 5 days. The staff were great...friendly, professional and helpful. My biggest disappointment was the room cleaning. They only serviced the rooms every other day and it seemed like all they did was make the bed. Old food was still on the counter when we returned. That was disappointing. They also didn't provide any lotion and only vo5 shampoo and conditioner. I understand staying with the 50s theme but modern toiltries would've been nice. Definitely bring your own and be prepared to clean your own room.

Quick 2-day staycation. Fantastic stay for the price. But it is what it is, a value based hotel. It’s 10 years old and shows as there are signs of wear and tear. Walls are paper thin and the doors are even thinner. You can hear everything from the hallways. Pros Value / price. Rooms are clean and beds are comfortable. Even the pullout couch though firm wasn’t that bad to sleep on. 50s mid century modern decor and terrazzo floors were neat. Heated Pool in Feb and lazy river were nice. Bowling and arcade were fun but be careful as the costs add up fast. Cons As mentioned before walls are paper thin and the doors are thin so you can hear the quietest of conversations in the hallway. But that is only if you’re sleeping in the living room close to the hallway if you’re in the bedroom, I’m sure the noise is less. Pool floats are $10 each to buy. Would be nice if they had a bunch of free ones floating around the river like every other hotel and resort. Bring your own. My biggest frustration and complaint is when it comes to Lost & Found…. My son left his backpack between the bed and the window. I called the evening we checked out and housekeeping, hadn’t found it yet. I asked if somebody could walk to the room to check and I kept getting the answer that “if and when it was found it would be given to security.” Plus they wouldn’t tell me if it was occupied or not. I drove back out there and checked for myself the next day. Imagine my frustration when I realize the room is not occupied because the entire hallway is under construction. Why not tell me that on the phone? Front desk said that they would have security check and call them back and to stay out in the lobby to wait. I didn’t trust them to send anyone as I kept getting the runaround so I ran to the room and stood in front of the hallway by the elevators and waited until I found a security guard to flag down. It took some convincing, but after showing my drivers license, he called to confirm that I was the previous guest and him, and I walked down the hallway into the room. The room had already been cleaned. All the linens stripped off the bed and there was the backpack, right where my son left it. Housekeeping must’ve missed it. So disappointing as somebody could have checked the night before when I called. To get anything done, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. You have to stand up and raise your voice and complain for anybody to follow through. When I called the night before the front desk should’ve told me that the room was not occupied and I could come the next day. Just disappointed in the service. Overall decent stay. But temper your expectations. It’s a budget hotel. You get what you pay for. Plus if it’s Disney/Universal it’s going to be expensive. $10 for a beer is the norm. Go into your stay with this in mind and you will have a great stay! Just don’t forget anything in the room! It will be hell getting it back!