Volcano Bay View Room Review at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Those planning a trip to Universal Studios Orlando primarily to visit Volcano Bay water park might enjoy staying within a short walk of the water park. If so, you might consider a room with a water park view at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

We stayed at the resort to celebrate our first visit to the water park. To make things extra special, we reserved a tower room with a view of Volcano Bay. Spoiler: the view did not disappoint! As it turns out, Cabana Bay is an excellent resort for a mini-vacation, a water park-only trip, or a budget-friendly hotel stay. Admittedly, our experience with Universal Studios before this trip was limited.

At first, we planned to spend the day at Volcano Bay. But after thinking it over, I didn’t want to deal with parking and driving to the water park. While it wouldn’t have been a big deal, walking from the hotel to the park was more convenient. So, on a whim, I called my travel agent and had her reserve two nights in a volcano-view room at Cabana Bay. I think you will all agree the water park view from our room was worth it!

Volcano Bay hotel view from a tower room at Cabana Bay Universal Studios Orlando

Our room wasn’t too shabby either, especially for a prime value-category resort. The Volcano Bay view rooms are in the towers at Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

two queen beds in a room at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Standard rooms are in regular buildings and have exterior access, comparable to a value resort at Walt Disney World. We found the tower rooms, which have interior access like a hotel, comparable to a moderate resort.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort has retro theming that continues to the rooms. Our room featured two queen-size beds. An accent wall provided a bright blue backdrop for the bed area, while the other walls remained white.

two queen-size beds in the room at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

A large wall of floor-to-ceiling windows offers views of the water park. Long windows enhance the space, making it feel larger.

a view of the volcano at Volcano Bay from the bed

Orange-cushioned headboards came with reading lights on both sides. But it’s hard to read with such an incredible view close by.

the bed in proximity to the water park view at Universal's Cabana Bay Resort

Here’s another angle.

shows the blue accent wall with orange headboards in the room at Universal's Cabana Bay

I enjoyed the room’s minimalist look and feel. Less is more.

A retro chair sits in the corner by the window with a small table beside it.

and orange chair near the window that looked out to the water park view at Universal Orlando

However, you’d probably prefer to turn the chair to face the stunning view.

closeup of the orange chair with small table

A dresser offered a few storage drawers and amenities.

a dresser with a flatscreen TV at Universal's Cabana Bay Resort

A single-cup Cuisinart coffee maker sat on top of the dresser.

a Cuisinart Coffee Maker at Universal's Cabana Bay Resort

A cabinet on one side of the dresser opens to reveal a beverage cooler.

Here’s a look at the inside. It did get pretty cold, but I would hesitate to call it a mini-fridge. These days, the trendy term is “beverage cooler,” suggesting it might not get as cold as you or I would like.

the interior of the mini fridge at Universal's Cabana Bay Resort

Other in-room amenities include a remote, telephone, alarm clock, and a notepad. You could also cast from your mobile device to the television.

A closet holds the usual items like an extra blanket, pillow, iron, and ironing board.

A safe and a luggage rack were also neatly tucked inside the closet.

an in room safe in the tower room at Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Our room has a handicap-accessible layout. I’m not sure if this applies to all rooms. But we didn’t request any special room type other than the view.

the bathroom with vanity area in standard room at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Our vanity provided plenty of counter space and a few small storage drawers.

a closeup of a handicap accessible bath in a room at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

A hair dryer was mounted on the wall. All the items in the space, including the toiletries, were retro.

We had a standard bathtub with a shower combination.

a tile tub with bath shower combination with handicap accessible options

Standard and detachable showerheads were installed in the shower. Toiletries included V05 shampoo with conditioner along with Zest soap. I initially thought it would smell like my grandmother’s old house. Then, I realized it was part of the resort’s vintage vibe.

Regarding proximity to Volcano Bay, it took two minutes to walk from the front of the building to the water park entrance. Being so close to the park was a huge advantage. During the day, I could return to the room quickly. For instance, I took my camera to the park that morning. Then, after lunch, I returned it to the room. Of course, I could have rented a locker at the park for extra storage, but given how close our hotel room was, I didn’t really need it.

While I don’t always recommend a room view upgrade, I’ll make an exception for Cabana Bay Beach Resort. If you’re considering a water park view room, here are a few other things you’ll want to note.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort has two towers with water-park-view rooms.
Each tower has interior access to hotel rooms. (The other buildings have exterior room access and exterior elevators.)
Tower rooms and water park rooms are an upgrade.
Tower rooms have parking decks on each side. I was instructed to use the parking deck as a tower guest. Other buildings have regular parking lots.
It doesn’t matter which tower you are assigned. The towers sit almost immediately next to each other.
During operating hours, you might hear loud music and other noises from the water park. This could be a slight nuisance if you prefer to sleep late.
No luggage assistance was available, so you’ll need to handle your own luggage. (Luggage carts are available, but you have to find one.)
Request a higher floor for premium views.

Overall, we enjoyed the room. Our trip to the water park went smoothly. I was also happy to spend a few nights at the hotel instead of visiting as a day guest. Several times during our stay, I thought it would be nice to come for a 4-day, 3-night trip and only enjoy the hotel and water park.

If you wanted to do something extra, you could walk to the neighboring CityWalk and the other Universal Hotels. The Mall of Millenia and International Drive Premium Outlets are also approximately 10-15 minutes away. And you really can’t beat that view!

View of the volcano from our room at Universal's Cabanay Bay Resort.

Here’s the video tour of the room.

Final Thoughts

Overall, we enjoyed our stay, and I would definitely stay here again, especially if I were planning to visit Volcano Bay. If you’re interested in some of our other Universal Studios coverage, you might also like our review of Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. For more of our non-Disney hotel coverage, see our guide to off-site hotels near Disney World.

To learn more about Disney World, see our guide to the Disney World Hotels. You might also like our overview of dining at Disney World. Need to know how to get around? Our beginner’s guide to transportation options at Disney World is one of our top resources.

For touring the parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks. If you’re just getting started, you might like our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide. It brings together the resources you need to plan your visit. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.

In the Comments

We hope this review helped you decide whether a room at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort is right for you. What do you think of the resort? Have you ever stayed here? We love to hear your feedback, opinions, and any related questions you might have. Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.