By the co-author of The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit 2020, the best-reviewed Disney World guidebook series ever.

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The Pools at Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal Orlando



By Dave Shute

(For the first page of this review of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, see this.)

THE POOLS AT UNIVERSAL’S CABANA BAY BEACH RESORT

Cabana Bay Beach Resort is divided into two courtyards, each of which has a pool complex. Preferences will vary, so try them both.  The Cabana Courtyard has a slide; the Lazy River Courtyard has a…lazy river!  But each area also has much more.

THE CABANA COURTYARD POOL COMPLEX

Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

The Cabana Courtyard is just outside the lobby and surrounded by the 600 family suites in this section of Cabana Bay.

Sand Play Area Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

Just outside the lobby you’ll find this sand play area.

Sand Play Area at Night Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

Here it is in the evening.

Pool Slide Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

The pool itself is dominated by the art-deco slide tower….

Zero Entry Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

…but there’s much more to it, including this zero-entry area…

Sand Chairs Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

…a sandy lounging area…

Water Play Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

…and a kid’s water play area.

Atomic Tonic Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

There’s also a pool bar and grill with a fairly extensive menu.

Pool Bar Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net

The same bar–“Atomic Tonic”–at night.

Cabana Courtyard Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourfirstvisit.net (2)

Unlike Disney’s moderate resorts, between the two pool complexes there’s plenty of seats for all the people this resort will hold.

THE LAZY RIVER COURTYARD POOL COMPLEX

Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net

The Lazy River Courtyard pool complex opens from the Bayside Diner and is between the family suites and four-person rooms in the Continental and Americana buildings. Rather than a slide, it has a lazy river; amenities otherwise are similar.  Different folk will prefer one or the other; I liked the Lazy River area pools much better–the theming, while sound, was a little more subtle.

Zero Entry Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net

It also has a zero-entry section…

Sand Chairs Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net

…large sand lounging area…

Water Play Area Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net

…kids play area…

Hideaway Bar and Grill Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net

…and bar and grille.

Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net (2)

There’s a game area near the Bayside Diner (center left in the photo), also with firepits (there’s firepits on the Cabana side as well.)

Hot Tub Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.netA hot tub…

Movies Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net

…and movies at night.

Lazy River Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net (2)

Then there’s the Lazy River–seen here from my window in the Continental building.

Lazy River  Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net

There’s not a lot to this lazy river–but  no Disney value or moderate has anything close to it.

Lazy River Lazy River Pool Cabana Bay Beach Resort from yourifrtsvisit.net

Tubes are optional–but if you want one, you can buy one for 12 bucks, or bring your own.

The Cabana Courtyard pool complex on its own is better than any Disney value resort pool; add the Lazy River side and you’ve got a total pool complex better than any Disney moderate as well!

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4 comments

1 Alice { 11.01.16 at 2:08 pm }

Do they have a compressor for blowing up tubes?

Thanks! Your reviews of this hotel and the Universal parks are fabulous. We’ll be there for our first time in December and can’t wait!!

Alice

2 Dave { 11.02.16 at 7:05 am }

Hi Alice, there was a compressor the last time I visited!

3 Jason { 05.12.17 at 6:15 pm }

Is there a height requirement for the water slide?

4 Dave { 05.13.17 at 9:42 am }

Jason, I believe there is one–36 inches–but can’t confirm it.

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