Cabana Bay Vs Endless Summer In 2022: Which One Is Better

With so many options, it can be extremely challenging to choose the ideal hotel for your trip to the Universal Orlando Resort. Both the Cabana Bay Beach Resort and the Endless Summer Resorts are reasonably priced choices for visitors to pick from. That’s why we’re going to compare Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer hotels to help you with your decision.

A quick look at Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer: Universal Orlando Resort offers 8 different hotels in 4 different tiers ranging from value to premier. Both Cabana Bay Beach Resort or Endless Summer Resorts fall into “value” categories which means these resorts are affordable, but don’t offer the nicest benefits and amenities. Endless Summer Resorts actually refer to two different sister hotels that exist on the same “campus”, but have separate buildings and rooms for guests to book. With the exception of minor thematic variations, they go by the names Dockside Inn & Suites and Surfside Inn & Suites.

When it comes to Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer resorts, we are going to compare all of the important details like room sizes, restaurants, pools and more!

For additional details, please keep reading.

Location: Endless Summer Vs Cabana Bay

One of the biggest distinctions between the two resorts—and, to be honest, one of their biggest drawbacks—is where they are situated. While there is free transportation from every single Universal Orlando hotel, this is the only Universal Resort that is located “off campus” and is across A mile or so from the parks is the I-4. Through transportation or the Garden Walkway, all of the additional Universal Orlando hotels are directly connected to CityWalk or other Universal hotels.

Therefore, when comparing the locations of Cabana Bay and Endless Summer Resort, Cabana Bay wins. There is a special entrance reserved only for Cabana Bay visitors that is only a 5-minute walk away, which is especially useful if you intend to visit Volcano Bay Water Park. Cabana Bay Beach Resort is better situated than Endless Summer, whether it’s for the theme parks or Volcano Bay.

Price: Cabana Bay Vs Endless Summer

Endless Summer and Cabana Bay are both in value tiers and, when compared to the other Universal hotels, are generally more affordable when it comes to price. Note that Endless Summer Resorts do not offer family suites if you’re looking for accommodations at Universal Orlando. The Cabana Bay family suite is comparable in size to the Endless Summer 2-bedroom suites, which we will talk about later in the “rooms” section.

Please be aware that all Universal room and ticket prices are date-based and thus vary depending on the time of year you visit.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort 2022 Room Pricing

• Standard Room – Starting at $132
• Universal Cabana Bay Family Suite – Starting at $172
• Volcano Bay 2 Bedroom Suite – Starting at $395

Endless Summer Resort 2022 Room Pricing

• Dockside Standard – Starting at $91
• Dockside 2 Bedroom Suite – Starting at $136
• Surfside Standard – Starting at $91
• Surfside 2 Bedroom Suite – Starting at $136

So, Cabana Bay or Universal Endless Summer Hotel is the more affordable option. Endless Summer is your best option if you’re looking for the least expensive Universal Orlando vacation package. Having said that, Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s pricing is not significantly more expensive, so we don’t view it as a deal-breaker. We will now discuss the difference in room quality between Cabana Bay and Endless Summer.

Rooms: Universal Cabana Bay Vs Endless Summer Resort

Taking the big picture into account, there isn’t much of a difference between the rooms at Cabana Bay and Endless Summer Resorts. 2,200 different guest rooms are available at Cabana Bay Beach Resort, 2,050 at Dockside Inn & Suites, and 750 at Surfside Inn & Suites. With the exception of Surfside Inn & Suites, which has a significantly lower room count, each resort has a large selection of rooms to choose from overall.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort Rooms

There are two queen beds, a flat-screen TV, and space for up to four people in the 300 square-foot standard rooms at Cabana Bay. There are a variety of standard rooms available, some of which have lovely views of Volcano Bay and are available indoors, outdoors, or poolside.

2-bedroom suites at With two full bedrooms, a second queen bedroom, and a full-sized pullout sofa bed, Cabana Bay are enormous, measuring 772 square feet. In addition to all of that space, there are two bathrooms, a kitchenette, and room for up to 8 guests.

It is significant to remember that Cabana Bay also offers 430 square foot family suite options with a 6-person maximum capacity for guests.

Endless Summer Resort Rooms

The sizes and layouts of the rooms and suites are the same throughout Endless Summer’s sister resorts, despite the slightly different theming. You should anticipate that the rooms in both options will be nearly identical whether you book with Dockside or Surfside.

Endless Summer offers 313 square foot standard rooms with two queen beds, a separate bathroom, and vanities.

The 440 square foot suites at Endless Summer Resort have two bedrooms, a kitchenette, a dining area with a picnic table, and one bathroom with separate bath and vanity areas. Two queen beds are in the first bedroom, and a single queen bed is in the second bedroom. Endless Summer Resorts’ suites have room for up to six people.

Theming: Universal Cabana Bay Vs Endless Summer Resorts

Any Universal Orlando hotel’s theming has the potential to make or break the decision. Keep in mind that you’ll be staying at your hotel for a long time, and how your room and resort are decorated can have a big impact! Given that Cabana Bay is technically in a higher tier than Endless Summer Resorts, there are significant differences between the theming of the two resorts.

Cabana Bay Hotel Theming

The vibrant, striking retro-neon theming at Cabana Bay Beach Resort is like stepping back in time. At Cabana Bay, the stylish and retro design will transport you back to the 1950s. You’ll enjoy Cabana Bay if you like vivid blues, greens, and yellows and want to feel like you’re at a Florida beach resort.

Even the food court, which has a very distinctive and vibrant design, has the feeling that it was specifically designed to match Cabana Bay’s bold vintage aesthetic.

Endless Summer Hotel Theming

The theming in Endless Summer is a little more subdued, especially in the rooms, but there are still some really cool details all over the resorts. First off, both resorts carry an “ocean” and “beachy” vibe to them, but There is no doubt that Surfside Inn & Suites has a more overt theme.

Everything related to the sun, surf, and sand can be found throughout Surfside Inn & Suites, from the stunning open color scheme to the wooden waves carved over the concierge desks. The lobby’s chandeliers are designed to resemble ocean bubbles, which goes perfectly with the resort’s name sign and other stray surfboard decorations.

The lobby at Dockside Inn & Suites features a huge piece of driftwood as the focal point and has a more subdued sunset theme. In order to give visitors the impression that they are watching the sun set on an oceanside pier, Dockside has a lot more warm and natural colorations.

When comparing the theming of Cabana Bay and Endless Summer, we believe Cabana Bay has a more interesting and well-rounded theme overall.

Cabana Bay Room Types

• Standard Rooms: Includes a flat-screen television, small table, mini-refrigerator, and coffee/tea service in a 300 square foot room with two queen beds.
• Volcano Bay Standard Rooms: The rooms in this category are identical to the standard rooms but offer breathtaking views of Volcano Bay at Universal’s water theme park.
• Poolside Standard Rooms: These rooms are identical to the standard rooms but have views of the hotel’s courtyard and pool area.
• Family Suites (Exterior Entry): 430 square feet, two queen beds, and a pull-out sofa bed are included. A compartmentalized bathroom, kitchenette with a sink, microwave, and mini-refrigerator, as well as coffee and tea service, are additional features.
• Poolside Family Suites (Exterior Entry): These suites are comparable to the Family Suites, but they overlook the courtyard pool.
• Family Suites (Interior Entry): The Family Suites are comparable, but these suites can only be reached through an interior hallway.
• Poolside Family Suites (Interior Entry): These suites are comparable to the Family Suites but have a separate entrance and overlook the pool courtyard.
• Volcano Bay 2-Bedroom Suite: The two-bedroom suite at Cabana Bay is the largest room, measuring 772 square feet and accommodating up to 8 guests. A queen-size bed and a pull-out sofa are also present in the living room. One bedroom has two full beds, the other has a queen bed. There are also two full bathrooms, a kitchenette with a sink, microwave, and mini-refrigerator, as well as coffee and tea making facilities. The stunning view of Volcano Bay is the most significant aspect.

There are numerous hearing and mobility accessible rooms and suites with roll-in and transfer showers in addition to the previously mentioned room types. These rooms also include ADA tubs.

Universal On-site Hotel Benefits

Several advantages are available to guests who stay on-site at the Universal Orlando Resort, greatly enhancing their enjoyment of their trip.

The on-site benefits of staying at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort include:

• Early Park Admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: In order to give hotel guests more time to explore the Wizarding World, Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure typically open one hour earlier.
• Private Entrance to Volcano Bay: Just outside the Bayside tower at Cabana Bay is a private entrance to Volcano Bay. Bring your room key with you because it will be required to gain access.
• Complimentary Transportation: Theme parks and CityWalk are only a short distance away from Cabana Bay’s front entrance thanks to the free shuttle service.
• Room Key Charge Privileges and Purchase Delivery: Do you intend to buy a wand from Ollivanders? Using their room key, visitors can make purchases at select retailers, and Universal will deliver their packages right to their Cabana Bay room.
• Complimentary Universal CityWalk Club Access: Select live entertainment venues and clubs at Universal’s CityWalk are accessible to guests without charge.
• Character Appearances: Keep an eye out in the hotel lobby on Friday evenings as famous characters are known to appear at the Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

The Difference Between The Towers And The Courtyards At Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort

We’ve stayed at both, but the Continental Towers (any floor above 1) is my favorite. This is close to the Bay Line Diner, our preferred pool (the water slide pool), and guest transportation to the parks.

These motel-style rooms are called Courtyards. In addition to being close to the pool and water slide, the room’s entrance is directly outside.

The Towers have hotel-style accommodations. The hotel hallway is where the room entrance is located. Both areas have identical family suites. What is best for your family really depends more on your personal preferences.

Costs for the tower rooms are typically a bit higher. Additional rooms have views of Volcano Bay. Universal’s water park is called Volcano Bay. To enter, you need a ticket for admission.

The park is a short stroll away if you stay in a room with a view of Volcano Bay. Volcano Bay is a 5-minute stroll from Cabana Bay. To assist with visit planning, read our Volcano Bay advice.

A few questions to ask yourself:

• Which do you prefer: being close to the Lazy River or the Water Slide and Splash Pad?
• Do you prefer to be inside or are you fine with the motel setting?
• Do you have a spending limit that you must adhere to?
• Are you going to Volcano Bay?

Faqs

Where Are The Cabana Bay Family Suites Located?

At Cabana Bay, the towers and courtyards are home to the family suites. Each has benefits and drawbacks. You are closer to the courtyard walking path if you intend to walk to the theme parks. The towers are closer if you want to spend your days at the lazy river.

Once in the lobby, guests staying in the towers can go directly to their room without leaving the building. A trip outside is required to access the rooms for guests staying in the courtyard.

Can You Get Adjoining Rooms At Cabana Bay Beach Resort?

Yes, the family suites at the Cabana Bay Beach resort offer adjoining rooms.

Does Your Stay At Cabana Bay Beach Resort Include Admission To Universal Studios?

Your stay at Cabana Bay does not include tickets, unfortunately. Visit our partner Undercover Tourist to view the most recent ticket prices.

Can You Travel On Foot From Cabana Bay To Universal?

Yes, we entirely avoided using the bus for transportation during our most recent visit. To and from the parks, we took foot travel. From Cabana Bay to Universal CityWalk, there are walkways. These are simple paths that make for a lovely stroll.

When you have three young children, no stroller, and it’s 90 degrees outside, they are also a very challenging walk. Your willingness to walk a lot and the company you are with will both play a role in how much walking you do.

Once we entered the room, I will admit that our feet were drained.

It can save you a little time if you don’t mind walking or if your kids are older. Particularly when visiting Islands of Adventure since you’ll enter CityWalk close to Margaritaville—close to the Island of Adventure entrance. That will help if all of your children are in strollers. As it is close to the path, I also advise staying in the Courtyard area if you intend to walk.

Conclusion

So, which is better Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer? Despite the fact that Cabana Bay Beach Resort appears to be the clear winner based on our reviews, this does not necessarily mean that it is the best option for you. The Endless Summer is ideal if you want to travel to Universal quickly and have a great time while still saving money. Despite not being particularly special, the rooms at the resort are large, spotless, and even have great amenities. They are still superior to most standard hotels.

There are Cabana Bay family suites, which is perfect for those with a family, but could mean that there are more children at Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer. Which, for some, could be a deal-breaker. Additionally, Cabana Bay is frequently used by schools, which can result in a lot of commotion and noise.

The best option for you is yours to decide! Both resorts offer fantastic value as well as numerous benefits. If spending time in your hotel room and on hotel property is important enough for you to care about the specifics we’ve compared in this article, just make a plan and prioritize.

I appreciate you reading, a lot.