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When I think about vacations, the word family always comes to mind. Yes, I must admit that sometimes I feel so tired when planning a family vacation that I’ve thought, “Maybe it was better to go alone with my husband” because it can be difficult to make everybody happy. But I enjoy traveling with everyone, and that’s why my ideal group always includes the whole family, from the kids to grandpa.
That’s why I always look for a resort that offers plenty of space for our group, gives good value for our money and last but not least, that has activities that people of all ages can enjoy.
When Universal Orlando Resort invited me to stay at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, I jumped at the chance. Their family suites, with capacity for up to six guests, are perfect for multigenerational families like mine.
If you’re planning to stay there, here are my top things to do:
1. Swim in the pools and relax!
The resort has two fabulous pools that are the perfect place to relax after a day in the parks. The pools are open at night too, which was perfect for us, as our group stayed late to enjoy the giant water slide at the Cabana Courtyard area pool. It was our favorite!
The next day, we got a private cabana and loved it. Each cabana has a table with four chairs, a mini fridge with bottle of waters, a TV and a fan. We also enjoyed the activities that are around the pool, including the ping pong table.
Make sure to check out the lazy river, with waterfalls and water cannons. The only problem was, once we got there, I couldn’t get anyone to leave!
Equipped with floaters, we spent hours playing until it was time to eat. For lunch, we went to the on-site Bayliner Diner, which has choices for everyone.
2. Enjoy the on-site bowling alley
The Galaxy Bowl is a 10-lane bowling alley with a full service restaurant. It turned out to be the favorite place for Arián Gabriel, who is 10. He was the youngest one in our family and has been traveling since he was very little. He has a good eye for the places we pick for our vacations, and said “I love this place. I want to come back soon.” We spent a night enjoying bowling, dinner and drinks.
3. Don’t sleep in!
Early park admission is one of the perks to staying on-site at Universal Orlando. It lets you into certain areas of the parks before the front gates open, which really maximizes your time. Everybody woke up early—if it was the same for school days, it would be fantastic—took the complimentary shuttle buses, and felt like a VIP with a nearly-empty theme park to play in. This is a great plus!
4. Relax in your suite
Take advantage of the great layout and space of the suites, complete with retro decoration. They have a room with two queen beds, plus an additional living area with a sofa bed and another TV (thankfully), along with a kitchenette.
We loved the bathroom with three separate spaces—one for the shower, another for the toilet and one area with the sinks—it’s like having three in one!
5. Explore the hotel
Don’t forget to include time to enjoy the hotel amenities. You can go for a walk, sip a cocktail in the poolside bars or in the lobby, go shopping, play volleyball, just sit and relax around the fire pits or enjoy looking at the awesome retro vibe decoration around the resort. Also not to be missed is taking a photo with the classic cars permanently parked in the driveway.
I hope these tips help you make the most of your stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Our whole family can’t wait to go back!