Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

24844 reviews

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  Horrible go anywhere but here, customer service is dead

  Customer service is atrocious. I use a third-party to pay for my room and after I spent $6000 on this vacation while at epic they called and harassed me all day at the park. 5 different people wanting more money after I had already paid twice so they charge me a third time. Go anywhere but here!!!!!!!!!

  Sep 30, 2025
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  Fun family resort with excellent access to Volcano Bay and Universal

  We enjoyed our stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. The hotel delivers exactly what you see in the photos — the rooms aren’t very large, but they are comfortable, practical, and very clean. The location is fantastic, especially if you are planning to visit Volcano Bay. If you stay in one of the two newer towers at the back, you’re just a few steps away from a dedicated guest entrance to Volcano Bay. It’s not the main entrance that everyone uses, which makes access quick and convenient. From these towers, you can also see the volcano lit up at night, which creates a wonderful atmosphere. Dining options are varied, with multiple restaurants and food stations that stay open late. Breakfast choices are plentiful, and the refillable cups are a great deal since you can also use them in the parks. The pool area is fun, with a waterslide, and the fire pits lit at night add a cozy touch to the overall experience. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the amenities are solid. I tried the gym, which is well-equipped, and there is also a bowling alley (advance reservations required). The hotel also offers shuttles to the parks and early admission, which is a big advantage — we used this to make the most of Epic Universe. The only downside is the noise level in the dining and common areas. Because of the large number of guests (in our case, many were visiting for Halloween Horror Nights), the food court and communal spaces can feel very crowded, busy, and loud. For those looking for a calmer atmosphere, this might be frustrating. Overall, Cabana Bay is a fun, family-oriented hotel with great access to Volcano Bay and Universal, lots of amenities, and a lively atmosphere.

  Sep 29, 2025
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  Rude reception staff

  I have stayed at Universal hotels prior to this but the visit encountered a very passive aggressive receptionist. I emailed Universal as I was shocked that this was now the standard of their staff and having just stayed a night at Disney where the staff could not have been nicer the comparison was like night and day. I received an email from the deputy manager which ended with him asking me to reach out to him which I did and have had no reply since, so I guess this is the standard of their current staffing. Needless to say I will take my money elsewhere where in future as there are plenty of hotels in Orlando where staff welcome guests and are genuine in their approach

  Sep 27, 2025
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  Excellent choice for staying on property

  Exceptionally designed resort hotel with something for everyone. Rooms are laid out well, clean, comfortable and roomy for standard fare. Modern without removing the kitschy theming, this “value” resort is a good choice for an on property Universal resort. Amenities are nice, but bring your own tube for lazy river as the prices for rental are a bit ridiculous. No resort fee though, so there’s that. Prices for everything extra here are crazy high, but that seems to be everywhere. Wish food quality matched, but alas it does not. Check in needs a major improvement. Staggered arrival times maybe? Everyone shows up at once and line just to check in can be quite daunting. Fortunately, Universal characters (Alex from Madagascar, Johnny from Sing) flowed through and made the wait somewhat bearable. Transportation to and from resorts was quick and convenient. I give the resort a four out of five stars. I docked one star for high cost of the extras. Overall, a great choice for staying on property without the sticker shock at the higher-end Loews resorts.

  Sep 24, 2025
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  Dirty rooms and poor service

  Please do yourself a favor and don’t spend your vacation here. The halls and rooms smell moldy and are in dire need of deep cleaning and a refresh. The walls and furniture had spills on them that hadn’t been cleaned. My sheets were stained, as well as other parts of the room and bathroom. The carpets smell awful and need to be shampooed or replaced entirely. Like other reviewers mentioned, there are literal tears and holes in the bed covers/sheets. The mattresses were sagging and uncomfortable. If you have any kind of back, shoulder, or hip issues you will wake up in pain from the sagging mattresses. The rooms can get loud at night as well due to noise from the halls. Every time someone opens/closes the doors it will wake you. This hotel is clearly understaffed as well. The tables in the dining area were routinely dirty - no one cleaned them regularly. The pool area was messy as well - used towels left everywhere along with dirty tables with old food/sticky spills. The only way to get a hold of someone when there’s a problem is via text message. The messages are generic and it felt like I was talking to a robot until I was finally transferred to someone else. If you need any services downstairs be prepared to wait in long lines. Check in took about 40 minutes as there were only two people working the busy counters. Luggage services had only one person at the counter and took so long we missed breakfast waiting in line. Getting a package took nearly 30 minutes as well due to the lines. While the theming in the main area is cool - this hotel needs to be cleaned up, repaired, refreshed, and properly staffed. I’ve stayed in several Universal resorts and this was the worst experience I’ve had. Not once during my stay did I feel rested or recovered from long days in the park.

  Sep 22, 2025