Universal Orlando is taking reservations for its new Cabana Bay Hotel
Universal Orlando announced today that it is now accepting reservations for its new Cabana Bay Beach Resort hotel.
Concept art courtesy Universal
The Cabana Bay, Universal's fourth on-site hotel in Orlando, won't actually be on the beach, but it will feature an extensive pool area, including a lazy river. Aimed at a lower price point than Universal Orlando's three other official hotels, the Cabana Bay will not offer the "front of the line" Universal Express benefit that guests at the other three hotels now get at no additional charge during their stays. Standard rooms on opening night are available starting at $164 a night, according to a search of the reservation website.
Universal's opened the family suites at the new hotel for stays beginning March 31, 2014. The rest of the hotel is open for bookings on and after July 1, 2014. Reservations are available on Universal's website.
Will the Cabana Bay be part of your future Orlando vacation plans? Please tell us in the comments.
Replies (12)
At $164 a night, it isn't a cheap place to stay.
That's an opening night price. I've seen prices considerably lower for non peak season along with multi night discounts. Some as low as $95 night standard.
I believe $164 is fiscally reasonable… Many Disney hotels are a lot higher than $164. And hotel prices are all about supply and demand. The prices will fluctuate from season to season, week to week..
"fiscally reasonable" is to the beholder. Comparing the prices to Disney isn't reasonable. Disney IS much more expensive except for the Value priced rooms that start at $139. The competition starts at low prices like $50.
Since we know the standard rates of park admission, airfare, and car rental prices, it is better to find better prices for hotel rooms, food, another other costs that are more variable.
I think resort prices are close to pricing out alot of travellers. We can barely afford to go to Disney any longer.
What do Beholders have to do with anything… Bee holders are only good for one thing - holding bees. Is you drunk?
I did not think it was germane to the conversation..
The GD Germans have nothing to do with it..
That sounds reasonable and much cheaper then the other universal resorts.. Since you don't get a fast pass your mainly paying for the convenience of staying on site which is plenty worth it to me.
Add an Express pass option (at a slightly higher price, of course) and I am game. Without it, I will never stay at this new resort. No way I am gonna give up the Royal Pacific (w/ complimentary express passes for my family of five) just to save $50 a night (the RP is about $175 a night in the off season, fyi).
Whats the point, the main reason to stay on-site is the free express pass, the coolest part is walking up showing your room key and entering the express entrance, and how far is the hotel from the water taxi, will it run right by the hotel becaause if not whats the benefit of staying here instead of off-site.
The water taxi waterway is being extended all the way to Cabana Bay, according to the 2007 rendering I posted a while back. You probably won't have to walk far from the new hotel to board it, but if they aren't running, it will be a hike. Ever walk from IOA to Portofino on the foot paths? Yikes.
That is why we stay at Hard Rock. Besides the cool factor and party atmosphere, you find it takes less time to walk to the CityWalk than it does to wait for the water taxis.
Royal Pacific isn't too bad, but the path curves all over adding a couple blocks to the walk.
To answer the question, we will always choose one of the other three just for the Express perk as we go at peak Summer every year.
I've been a loyal Royal Pacific guy for about 7yrs in a row. I have a wife and 3 kids and we fit kind of comfortably in a standard room. I would NEVER give up the Express pass benefit to save a few bucks. I'd rather rent a house in the vicinity for about $150 a night than stay at the Cabana for that price.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
Do they still charge you $15/night for parking at this hotel? I don't see it mentioned on the website, but they never really mentioned that about the other hotels, either.