This Universal Studios Cabana Bay Beach Resort vacation was provided in exchange for sponsored content creation. All opinions are honest.
Universal Studios Cabana Bay Beach Resort combines modern luxury with a hip retro vibe to offer families a great vacation getaway in Orlando, Florida.
We had an awesome trip to Universal Studios Cabana Bay Beach Resort recently. Neither of the kids had ever been to any of the Universal Studios Parks, and Richard and I had never stayed in a Universal Studios Resort, so it was a new adventure for us! Check out all the fun we had at Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s Volcano Bay, a Hawaiian-themed water park. If you are looking for options to travel with in the United States, check out the hotels in Flagstaff.
Universal Studios Cabana Bay Beach Resort
We arrived at the hotel in Orlando, Florida early Friday evening, just in time to catch the sunset. We stayed in a family suite, which had a living area separate from the bedroom, which means after the kids went to bed {I crashed early, too}, Richard could watch TV in the other room without waking us. The retro vibe of the hotel is super cool! When we first moved from New York to Florida in 1984, we stayed briefly in the Miami Beach area, and it reminds me of the fun art deco style hotels down there. The colors, the fonts, the outdoor decor, the style of the suite itself – I really appreciated all of the details put into this classic 50s/60s retro look.
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The property itself has a large zero-entry pool swimming pool with a waterslide, waterfalls, and lazy river. There are also lounge chairs covering the deck and individual cabanas you can reserve. Enjoy table tennis, hula hoops, an indoor cafeteria-style restaurant, outdoor casual dining, indoor bar and poolside bar, Starbucks®, large gift shop, and bowling alley on the property. With so much to do on-site, I almost wanted to spend less time at the parks so I could spend more time at Cabana Bay Beach Resort!
Universal Studios Florida + Universal’s Islands of Adventure
We spent all day Saturday at Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Since my children had never been, they were extremely excited to check out all of the rides. Richard, Lydia, and Bryce love rollercoasters – the bigger, the better. We started the day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ at Universal Studios Florida, and made our way over to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, then back to Universal Studios Florida to catch a few more rides. Richard, of course, had to experience one of his favorite rides of all time, The Hulk. My favorite part of the experience was actually The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!™ at Universal’s Islands of Adventure because it gave you such a cool view of the entire park. The Jurassic Park Discovery Center™ was also fun to explore!
It’s rare that we can grab a family picture while traveling, so I was really excited when someone offered to take our photo in front of Jaws. It reminded me of the first time I visited Universal Studios Florida as a teenager and rode the Jaws ride with my parents and sister.
Since I’m not much of a thrill ride person, I have always loved the E.T. ride. I’m so glad it’s the same as it was when I visited for the first time about 25 years ago. I have a Polaroid picture of my sister and I sitting in this exact spot together, so it was super fun to recreate the image with my children. They really enjoyed the nostalgic feel of the E.T. ride.
Now through April 4th, 2019, enjoy Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Florida with live music, a parade, and New Orleans-style food. Enjoy the festivities with your family and friends!
That morning, we also enjoyed the character breakfast at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. The breakfast was served buffet style and included scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, pastries, and more! While dining, the Despicable Me characters rotated through the room, so families could capture tableside images with Gru, the Minions, and more! After breakfast, we took the water taxi back to the parks, which was a really fun family ride.
Universal’s Volcano Bay
The next day, we visited Universal’s newest addition, Volcano Bay. This water park features a variety of water slides that can be enjoyed individually, with a partner, and in groups. There’s even a water rollercoaster, which the kids loved! My favorite part? The lazy river, of course. Be sure to try some of the tropical-themed food and beverages as well. Lockers are available at the park to store all of your personal belongings so you can enjoy the day without having to worry about your shoes, keys, clothing, etc. I recommend bringing a small waterproof bag to hold your phone and credit card.
Are you planning a trip to Universal Studios with your family? I highly recommend staying at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort! When you stay at Cabana Bay, you receive early admission to Universal Studios and Volcano Bay and free shuttle between the hotel and parks, so you can really maximize your time spent enjoying the parks with your family!
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