Cabana Bay! New Universal Hotel in 2014!!!

[DPCummerbund]

Quick question for the MODs...

Maybe it's just me, but every time I see this thread I think it's for Sapphire Falls, the recently announced resort that will be open in 2016. As we get closer to Sapphire Falls opening, things will just get more confusing. Perhaps the title of this thread could be changed to include Cabana Bay in the name?

 

[kellymarch]

Is there a "preferred" area to request at Cabana Bay if we want a poolside tower family suite?

 

[macraven]

Quick question for the MODs...

Maybe it's just me, but every time I see this thread I think it's for Sapphire Falls, the recently announced resort that will be open in 2016. As we get closer to Sapphire Falls opening, things will just get more confusing. Perhaps the title of this thread could be changed to include Cabana Bay in the name?

we have an existing thread for sapphire falls.
it's in the stickies.

this 'new hotel' cabana bay thread started in 2012.
it's up to 14 pages at this point.

 

[DPCummerbund]

we have an existing thread for sapphire falls.
it's in the stickies.

this 'new hotel' cabana bay thread started in 2012.
it's up to 14 pages at this point.

I am aware that there is an existing thread for Sapphire Falls, and that this thread is for Cabana Bay. My point is that Cabana Bay is no longer the "New Universal Hotel", Sapphire Falls is. If this thread was renamed to "New Universal Hotel - Cabana Bay!" or something like that, people who haven't necessarily followed this thread for two years won't get confused. If this thread keeps its name or doesn't get locked, there's a 100% chance that people will start posting questions about SF in it over the next year.

 

[macraven]

sapphire isn't opened yet.
got another year for that to happen.

mods can unlock the cabana bay thread and it would be sent to the general thread sections then.
threads alternate in positions based on the number of times peeps post on it.
cabana bay, new thread, has been kept a stickie for this time period as many have questions about it.

in 2016 when sapphire opens, it very possible that new hotel, Cbay will be a general thread.
if postings drop off, no sense in keeping it at the top of the forum page.

sapphire i can see being kept open until the questions drop off.

when HHN is closer, some threads, such as date you are attending, are made stickies so it is easier to find.
when the hhn season is over, it is removed from being a sticky and back to the regular thread section.
then it drops off as time goes back to later pages in the forum.

stickies come and go through out the years.

 

[schumigirl]

I think most people still think of Cabana Bay as the "new" hotel when referencing it.

That will change next year nearer the time SF is due to open, then yes stickies will usually change.

 

[damo]

I am aware that there is an existing thread for Sapphire Falls, and that this thread is for Cabana Bay. My point is that Cabana Bay is no longer the "New Universal Hotel", Sapphire Falls is. If this thread was renamed to "New Universal Hotel - Cabana Bay!" or something like that, people who haven't necessarily followed this thread for two years won't get confused. If this thread keeps its name or doesn't get locked, there's a 100% chance that people will start posting questions about SF in it over the next year.

I agree. We need a mod or the OP to fix that. I've gone to this thread a few times thinking it is for something else. Not sure why this thread was never renamed. I'm sure it was just an oversight.

 

[Donnask8pro]

Without reading all the back pages, does the new hotel have early entry?

 

[tricky1]

Yes it does.

 

[Donnask8pro]

TY so Much!!

 

[englishrose47]

Asking again here . Has anyone walked from RPR to Cabana , I would like to check out their Food Court!!!

 

[SanFranciscan]

Asking again here . Has anyone walked from RPR to Cabana , I would like to check out their Food Court!!!

I am sorry that no one has apparently been able to help you. I could have, but I have not been coming to this site much lately because failing the physical exam to return to work at Disney World from medical leave just totally broke my heart. I know that we are all going to be disabled unless we die young, but accepting that I was not so special that I was somehow going to be an exception to the rule to which there are no exceptions was not setting well with me. However, I can get you some information about Cabana Bay and the walk from Royal Pacific because I live across the street from Universal Orlando.

I have walked all over Universal Orlando because I worked there my first year of living in Orlando. I don't move very fast because I am an older woman so I can assure you that the walk is do-able on a nice-weather day. I don't have a really clear memory of the food court, but I do remember getting a snack at a bowling alley there. I will take a trip over there on Saturday and check out what is there for you. Do you want to know what is on the menu? Do you want to know their prices? If you don't want to walk because the weather is nasty, there is a bus which can take you there. The driver let me on once when the resort was new knowing that I wasn't a guest of Cabana Bay, and I had some lunch there that day. Perhaps because nostalgia is the goal of Cabana Bay, my lunch kind of reminded me of the old Stucky's diners which used to be off the Interstate Highways I think all across this nation. Do you remember Stucky's?

 

[damo]

Asking again here . Has anyone walked from RPR to Cabana , I would like to check out their Food Court!!!

Walk out past Tchoup Tchop and to the convention centre road. Turn right and then turn left to join up with the pathway. Should take you about 5 minutes or so to get to Cabana Bay.

 

[englishrose47]

I am sorry that no one has apparently been able to help you. I could have, but I have not been coming to this site much lately because failing the physical exam to return to work at Disney World from medical leave just totally broke my heart. I know that we are all going to be disabled unless we die young, but accepting that I was not so special that I was somehow going to be an exception to the rule to which there are no exceptions was not setting well with me. However, I can get you some information about Cabana Bay and the walk from Royal Pacific because I live across the street from Universal Orlando.

I have walked all over Universal Orlando because I worked there my first year of living in Orlando. I don't move very fast because I am an older woman so I can assure you that the walk is do-able on a nice-weather day. I don't have a really clear memory of the food court, but I do remember getting a snack at a bowling alley there. I will take a trip over there on Saturday and check out what is there for you. Do you want to know what is on the menu? Do you want to know their prices? If you don't want to walk because the weather is nasty, there is a bus which can take you there. The driver let me on once when the resort was new knowing that I wasn't a guest of Cabana Bay, and I had some lunch there that day. Perhaps because nostalgia is the goal of Cabana Bay, my lunch kind of reminded me of the old Stucky's diners which used to be off the Interstate Highways I think all across this nation. Do you remember Stucky's?

Well Thank you, I too am an older woman, I will be travelling with a co escort and 8 Developmentally Disabled individuals, I have seen the menus and it seems reasonable and good choices , as we are staying at RPR and if the walk is not to bad we may have lunch there on arrival day before heading to US, also may be a supper meal another , plus possibly a breakfast on our departure day. I would be very grateful to learn the time to walk. The individuals will be fine walking , it was just a matter of knowing how long to know if it was worthwhile . Plus I would like to check out y=the resort !!

 

[SanFranciscan]

Well Thank you, I too am an older woman, I will be travelling with a co escort and 8 Developmentally Disabled individuals, I have seen the menus and it seems reasonable and good choices , as we are staying at RPR and if the walk is not to bad we may have lunch there on arrival day before heading to US, also may be a supper meal another , plus possibly a breakfast on our departure day. I would be very grateful to learn the time to walk. The individuals will be fine walking , it was just a matter of knowing how long to know if it was worthwhile . Plus I would like to check out y=the resort !!

I had to renew my license for my Braille software for my Internet, but I am back online so maybe my reply isn't too late to help. I took a walk to the Cabana Bay area. I would estimate my time to be about 30 minutes. I knew where I was going because I have walked around here enough to have memorized just about every crack in the sidewalks so my timing is probably pretty good accurate.

 

[englishrose47]

Walk out past Tchoup Tchop and to the convention centre road. Turn right and then turn left to join up with the pathway. Should take you about 5 minutes or so to get to Cabana Bay.

Thank you I will have to write down those directions , I really want to try the food court at least once

 

[Planogirl]

I think that this resort looks so cute. I'm surprised that some others apparently don't. To each their own.

I've probably overlooked it but how much is the parking? Also does it make sense to walk to the Royal Pacific and take the launch or continue the walk from there? I can't quite tell how far the parks are.

 

[damo]

I think that this resort looks so cute. I'm surprised that some others apparently don't. To each their own.

I've probably overlooked it but how much is the parking? Also does it make sense to walk to the Royal Pacific and take the launch or continue the walk from there? I can't quite tell how far the parks are.

Taking the boat from RPR gets you close to Universal. Taking the bus gets you to Citywalk.

Parking is $12/night

 

[Planogirl]

We just got back and really, really loved this resort. There is so much to do there and the place is gorgeous. I can't recommend it enough.

 

[3darlings]

We spent a couple of days here last week and overall I would not stay here again. Granted we have always stayed at one of the other Universal hotels but I decided to try Cabana Bay based on the good reviews and the fact it was a slow time and hopefully we would not need Express Passes. First of all, the parking situation is terrible on the lazy river side of the hotel (where the standard rooms are). There is valet only parking on that side now due to the construction going on all around the hotel (Sapphire Falls and an addition onto Cabana Bay). We originally were told we would be in that end (when we arrived early to take advantage of early entry that day) and would need to valet park our car. When we came back later in the day to get our stuff, the woman at the valet desk told me it would take 15-20 minutes to get our car. I was hoping she was exaggerating - she wasn't. It took 15 minutes. When I asked why, they told me their valet garage has been moved further away (again due to construction) so it is now pretty far. Luckily we got upgraded to the Starlight Building and self park was available so we didn't have to valet park after that. But the whole valet only parking thing is terrible and the whole area in the front of the hotel is a zoo. Then we disliked the buses. Although they do come often, we always had to stand and they pickup and drop you off past City Walk and almost all the way to the parking garage. The location just seemed very inconvenient and a long walk before you even get the gate. And lastly, we will never go without the Express Pass option again. The crowd calendars said our days were slow days but it sure didn't feel like that. It was jammed - especially with large Brazilian and South American groups. I will be first to admit that we are spoiled after previous trips with EP, but I will not go without them again. The Early Entry for HP was good, but not nearly as helpful as I thought especially for IOA HP stuff (which did not have EE) which was already jammed by the time we arrived there via the train. Also, you need to account for quite a bit of time to take the bus, walk to the gate from the bus stop, walk out to the HP section, and then the long ride process to really take advantage of EE. You can't really get much in before the crowds descend unless you get there really early. We found the food court to be ok but really overpriced (I know but it was worse than Disney). The fitness center was great. The pool areas at Cabana Bay are great as well but it was cold when we were there so it wasn't as pleasant as it could be. I could maybe see it being worth it with nice weather and if you are concentrating on just staying there and enjoying the water area (as opposed to the parks). Anyway, just my two cents. Overall Cabana Bay is a nice hotel (definitely nicer than the Disney Values) but I would recommend paying a little more and staying in Royal Pacific to get the added perks.