Cabana Bay Beach Resort is one of the best Universal Orlando hotels and really one of the best resorts in all of Orlando. Cabana Bay is considered a “Value Inn and Suites” Universal hotel, making it one of the most affordable options. The large hotel has both standard rooms and family suites that sleep up to 6, with select rooms having stunning views of Volcano Bay. The hotel offers incredible value in terms of amenities – two large pools featuring a lazy river, water slide, zero-entry, hot tub, and splash pad. You can also bowl, watch poolside movies, enjoy a full-service Starbucks, malt shop, and immersive theming that takes you back to an Americana roadtrip to a mid-century beach resort.
There might not be a traditional sit-down restaurant but there are 7 unique dining locations. These include the Swizzle Lounge lobby bar, Starbucks, Bayliner Diner quick service with an extensive menu, Shakes Malt Shoppe milkshakes and hand-dipped ice cream, Galaxy Bowl dining, and Atomic Tonic and Hideaway Bar & Grill both featuring poolside bites. Here’s a look what all you can enjoy while staying at Cabana Bay!
Bayliner Diner
Bayliner Diner is the largest dining location open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 7:00 A.M. until 11:00 P.M. The menu is extensive with international items, a salad bar, and frozen yogurt station. There’s plenty of seating and views of large screens playing retro commercials and cartoon clips. The range of options and themed atmosphere makes Bayliner Diner a standout quick service restaurant.
Grab and go items include cereals, sandwiches, pastries, chips, candy (including some international items), microwavable meals, s’mores kits, and even family games available for purchase.
Cabana Bay has the cutest hotel refillable mugs! There are two Cabana Bay designs and one special for Halloween, exclusive to the hotel. The best part of all, this is the one resort you can use your refillable mug for ICEEs plus the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines found throughout the sprawling hotel. You can purchase one, three days, or length of stay refills.
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissant – served with choice of breakfast potato wedges or fresh fruit – $11.25
American Breakfast Platter – scrambled eggs, biscuit, potato wedges, and a choice of pork sausage patty or two slices of bacon – $14.50
Even though Bayliner Diner also has coffee, grabbing a Starbucks on the way to breakfast is a must!
Be sure to look for unique specials at Bayliner Diner like the margarita kit that includes margaritas and glasses for two plus a Halloween sand bucket to use at the pool area (did we mention both pools have a sandy beach area??)
If you’re staying at Cabana Bay during Halloween Horror Nights, part of Bayliner Diner is open until 3:00 A.M. on event nights. The select menu includes greasy deliciousness like a smash burger, chicken tenders, and a walking taco.
American Taco (aka walking taco) – Fritos Scoops , cheese sauce, beef chili, salsa – $14
Disney World could take a page out of Universal’s book – you can find recycled “plastic” straws at each dining location. No mushy paper straws here.
Shakes Malt Shoppe
Shakes Malt Shoppe is the newest addition to Cabana, opening back in 2022. You can get shakes, malts, sundaes, and hand-dipped ice cream. Look for seasonal shakes and unique ice cream flavors like orange blossom, salty caramel truffle, use, and banana pudding.
Shakes is also a great place to take a break in a cozier setting. You can also spot vintage cartoons like Gumby and Casper playing here.
Starbucks
The Cabana Bay lobby has a full-service Starbucks open daily from 6:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. There’s also plenty of seating to enjoy a breakfast pastry. Even though you can’t order ahead at this location, you can use your Starbucks app and rewards.
Swizzle Lounge
The Swizzle Lounge is located in the lobby and open 1:00 P.M. until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 5:00 P.M. until midnight Sunday through Thursday. During the Halloween season, the Swizzle Lounge transforms into Mr. Carver’s Pumpkin Patch with dozens of Jack-o’-lanterns and seasonal drinks like the Hallow-rita.
Galaxy Bowl
Galaxy Bowl is located on the second floor of the Cabana Bay lobby and offers 10 retro bowling lanes with the option to bowl or eat from noon to 11:00 P.M. The lanes fill-up quickly and you can make an advance reservation on Resy. Even if you’re not bowling, this is a great spot to enjoy a throw-back atmosphere and a unique menu. The food is a great value and quite tasty. Galaxy Bowl is technically a table service but you can walk-up to dine and the prices are more similar to Bayliner Diner downstairs. There’s also a full-service bar if the Swizzle Lounge downstairs is too crowded.
Loaded Fries – fries topped with cheese sauce, bacon, sour cream-ranch, and scallions – $12.50
Wings – 12 wings tossed in buffalo sauce and served with ranch and blue cheese (also available in BBQ, sweet chili, garlic parmesan, or plain) – $18.15
Galaxy Burger – double-stacked smash burgers on a brioche bun, with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and Galaxy sauce – $15.50
Fish & Chips – beer-battered, golden-fried cod fish served with fries and tartar sauce – $19
Kids’ Mac n’ Cheese – served with a small drink, apple slices, fries, and cookies – $12
The Hideaway Bar & Grill
There are two pool areas at Cabana Bay – the Cabana Courtyard Pool near the exterior buildings and the Lazy River Courtyard Pool near in the interior buildings closer to Volcano Bay. Each location has a slightly varied menu mostly consisting of sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. At both locations you can find food and a full bar – Atomic Tonic at the Cabana Courtyard and The Hideaway at the Lazy River Courtyard. Both have covered outdoor seating and Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. After ordering at the counter, you are given a buzzer to come back for your food ensuring no pool time is wasted.
Chicken Wings – 6 buffalo or BBQ bone-in chicken wings – $12.50
Buffalo Chicken Wrap – chicken tenders, buffalo sauce, bleu cheese, lettuce, and tomato – $16.50
Kids’ Smashburger with Cheese – served with a small drink and fries (or apple slices or carrots) – $10
Kids’ Chicken Tenders – 2 tenders served with a small drink and fries (or apple slices or carrots) – $10
