April 2026 - Which Hotel?

[ray3127]

We are 6+ year DVC owners, used to staying at places where we can walk to parks (Beach Club, Bay Lake, Grand Cal).

DW and I have been to Universal twice. Stayed at Royal Pacific in 2016, Hard Rock in 2019. Bringing our kids for the first time next April. Dates are locked due to DW's spring break. Staying 5 nights.

Hotel-only prices below. They feel a bit pricey. Currently debating:

Cabana Bay, Family Suite (Interior): $2,019 ... or Poolside Interior for $90 more
Royal Pacific, Standard 2 Queens: $4,860 (this WAS $3,852 two months ago, but we didn't book...)
Hard Rock, Standard 2 Queens: $4,692

We are being pulled in all sorts of directions. The value of Express Pass can't be understated ... and it works just about everywhere (except a few new rides at Epic), right?

That said, we like the look/feel/vibe of Cabana Bay, and will likely go to VB a fair bit, especially if we stayed there.

Any thoughts/feedback would be appreciated.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Just making sure you know the Express Pass you get with a premier hotel stay does NOT apply to any rides at EPIC at all in case that factors into your decision.

ETA also doesn't apply to Volcano Bay.

 

[ray3127]

Just making sure you know the Express Pass you get with a premier hotel stay does NOT apply to any rides at EPIC at all in case that factors into your decision.

ETA also doesn't apply to Volcano Bay.

Aha, this was not 100% clear to me. I knew about VB, not but Epic.

So the Epic rides that have Express Pass ... you need to buy a separate Express Pass for those?

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Aha, this was not 100% clear to me. I knew about VB, not but Epic.

So the Epic rides that have Express Pass ... you need to buy a separate Express Pass for those?

Yes EPIC EPs are sold separately.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I really love Cabana Bay Preferred pool interior entry family suites and request close to food court elevators . The elevators are central to the food court so easiest location because there is another set of elevators further away.

 

[ray3127]

Thanks. Other things we've been considering:
- VIP Tour (non-private) at EPIC. This is our most likely course of action if we stay at Cabana Bay. This would eat some of our savings, but we'd still come out ahead.
- Buy an AP. But I don't think I can see 2026 AP hotel discounts yet.

Also, it seems like come 2026 the park hopper tickets will include EPIC, right?

So at this point, wait for 2026 AP Discount clarity?

Any thoughts on VIP tour for EPIC? I've read about them in a few threads.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thanks. Other things we've been considering:
- VIP Tour (non-private) at EPIC. This is our most likely course of action if we stay at Cabana Bay. This would eat some of our savings, but we'd still come out ahead.
- Buy an AP. But I don't think I can see 2026 AP hotel discounts yet.

Also, it seems like come 2026 the park hopper tickets will include EPIC, right?

So at this point, wait for 2026 AP Discount clarity?

Any thoughts on VIP tour for EPIC? I've read about them in a few threads.

You should be able to see April 2026 AP rates here - we booked for January several months ago:

https://reservations.universalorlan...promo=aph&iata=&group=&hotels=&ada=0&currid=0

From what I read, park tickets for 2026 will include Epic without the one day restriction per ticket. Universal has told me that APs including Epic will not be available for our January trip, so we are planning to buy one day Epic tickets.

I am watching for VIP tour (non-private) prices for January to determine if we do that or just buy express passes for Epic.

 

[ray3127]

You should be able to see April 2026 AP rates here - we booked for January several months ago:

https://reservations.universalorlan...promo=aph&iata=&group=&hotels=&ada=0&currid=0

From what I read, park tickets for 2026 will include Epic without the one day restriction per ticket. Universal has told me that APs including Epic will not be available for our January trip, so we are planning to buy one day Epic tickets.

I am watching for VIP tour (non-private) prices for January to determine if we do that or just buy express passes for Epic.

those AP rates are incredible. Thank you for that link!

So, it may be possible to buy an AP for April 2026 that includes Epic; we just don't know yet? Sounds like maybe I should ask Universal directly.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You might consider a split stay, at an EP resort for your Islands/Studios days, and at Cabana Bay for Volcano Bay/Epic.

Either way, you can book a good AP rate now on the theory that you get an AP. You can also book a non-AP rate so you've got that locked in as well, while waiting to hear what AP/ticket options Universal will offer come April. You can then hold the booking(s) and cancel up to 6 days out for a full refund.

 

[ray3127]

You might consider a split stay, at an EP resort for your Islands/Studios days, and at Cabana Bay for Volcano Bay/Epic.

Either way, you can book a good AP rate now on the theory that you get an AP. You can also book a non-AP rate so you've got that locked in as well, while waiting to hear what AP/ticket options Universal will offer come April. You can then hold the booking(s) and cancel up to 6 days out for a full refund.

I thought about a split stay. We've done them at WDW, 3/4 before. Splitting 5 nights doesn't sound as appealing, but I get the logic and will price that out.

So you can book an AP rate without being an AP holder? You just need to have an AP by the time you stay there?

This is all news to me, so much different than my usual mode of operation with DVC points. Thank you!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

So you can book an AP rate without being an AP holder? You just need to have an AP by the time you stay there?

Yes, you just need the AP by the time you check out (so you could pick it up during your trip, normally can pick it up at the hotel ticket desks).

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

those AP rates are incredible. Thank you for that link!

So, it may be possible to buy an AP for April 2026 that includes Epic; we just don't know yet? Sounds like maybe I should ask Universal directly.

Yes - Universal wouldn't tell me/didn't know when APs might include Epic. We haven't activated our APs yet and will upgrade to include Epic if we can, but I'm not counting on it. The only thing to be aware of is that tickets including Epic currently can't be upgraded to APs (you can't buy April tickets yet anyway), so if you buy multiday tickets with Epic for everyone, you won't be able to upgrade one of them unless APs start including Epic. We are planning to buy one day Epic tickets for those with APs unless the AP rules change before our trip.

You'll just need one AP per room for the discounts.

Also - keep a check on the AP rates. They are subject to change, so keep checking once you book to see if the prices go down.

 

[ray3127]

This is such a game changer. Thanks for all of the help!

Upon further review, we are now considering a split stay. With AP discounts, options are:

5 nights at Hard Rock, $3,291
3 nights Cabana Bay / 3 nights Hard Rock, $2,842
3 nights Hard Rock / 3 nights Cabana Bay, $2,896

Hard Rock room is 2 Queens
Cabana Bay room is Family Suite Poolside Interior (I read somewhere on here that these are where we want to be?)

As suggested, we would do Epic/VB from Cabana Bay, and IOA/Studios from Hard Rock

With a split stay, we could do 6 nights instead of 5 for less money. If we did that, I'm not sure which direction to go (though my gut says start at Cabana Bay). Any thoughts?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

This is such a game changer. Thanks for all of the help!

Upon further review, we are now considering a split stay. With AP discounts, options are:

5 nights at Hard Rock, $3,291
3 nights Cabana Bay / 3 nights Hard Rock, $2,842
3 nights Hard Rock / 3 nights Cabana Bay, $2,896

Hard Rock room is 2 Queens
Cabana Bay room is Family Suite Poolside Interior (I read somewhere on here that these are where we want to be?)

As suggested, we would do Epic/VB from Cabana Bay, and IOA/Studios from Hard Rock

With a split stay, we could do 6 nights instead of 5 for less money. If we did that, I'm not sure which direction to go (though my gut says start at Cabana Bay). Any thoughts?

I would end with Hard Rock because you will be spoiled walking to the parks and with the unlimited express for IOA and US We haven't done Epic yet, but when we combine Disney and Universal, we always end at Universal because it is so much less stressful. The only caveat would be if a particular day proves to be better for Epic (weekday vs weekend, for example), but I expect everything to be busy around spring break.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

What @StitchandPooh'sMom said.

Might also depend on what your plans are on your travel days. You get EP on check-in through check-out days at Hard Rock. So, if you have a "sleep in and then early flight out" on the last day, the EP from Hard Rock is basically wasted.

 

[ray3127]

We are looking at Saturday-Friday, with Sunday being Easter (April 5). Not my first choice, but this is when DW's spring break is.

Sat: arrive Cabana Bay* ... VB/Epic
Sun: VB/Epic
Mon: VB/Epic
Tues: move to Hard Rock ... IOA/Studios
Wed: IOA/Studios
Thurs: IOA/Studios
Fri: fly home; may do some IOA/Studios, depends on flight time

*We may fly down on Friday night and stay at a hotel near the airport, then drive over early Saturday. Depends on flight times.

I am leaning towards the non-private VIP tour for Epic, probably Sunday. A bit concerned that it will probably be pricey.

I guess then we see what the 2026 ticket situation is. If we don't get annual passes for all, the most we can do are 5-day tickets? If that's the case, then I feel like we might have a bit too much time. I have 7 possible park days listed above.

Aside from that, this feels balanced to me, but I haven't been to Universal in 6 years and have never done a split stay there.

 

[Rory607]

We have never done a split stay at Universal, but have split between Universal and Disney. But as far as Universal hotels, we did Cabana Bay on our last trip and my kids absolutely loved it. They were 13 and 10. The theming is so much fun for kids and they just loved the whole vibe. I thought the food court was pretty decent. We took the bus sometimes, but we also walked across the street and took Sapphire Fall’s boat, which was nice. We had a standard room, so I can’t speak to the family suites.

That trip was our first without EP. We had previously stayed at RP and Portofino. We got up early and rope dropped most days, took an afternoon break and then went back to the parks. It worked well and we didn’t wait in any crazy long lines, although that was before the opening of Epic and that affect on crowds. Our upcoming trip will be our first trip to Epic and we have scheduled a private tour since we will only have one day. I’m a bit nervous rides will go down and we’ll be out of luck after paying all that money. So more than one Epic day would be nice.

 

[Skywalker3]

Hey good luck with the trip planning. We're DVC too, BWV! but we also LOVE Universal. Planning on Oct trip to HHN.
We've done several splits at Universal. Usually, a premier hotel for 1-3 nights and Aventura for the other nights, or similar. We always have a car, so moving stuff is not too bad. If you haven't been in a while, and trip will be in April, I'd totally recommend 2-3 nights premier, to get express. It'll be SOOO very appreciated.
All of my summer plans fizzled , so we haven't been to Epic yet, but hopefully in Oct. Can't wait to experience it. CB is where I was looking at staying this summer, with 1 night premier. A couple years back, I stayed one night at CB, and enjoyed it, although it was kinda loud. Not sure what to compare it to at Disney, maybe between like a moderate or Art/Animation/Pop. We also love to have the options to walk to parks (main reason BWV is our home at Disney) although buses are frequent at Universal, way more so than Disney. I was going to also try the family suites, so maybe in the future. We also love Sapphire falls, and Aventura, and Surfside, ok, ALL the hotels are good in their own way. Hard Rock is actually my favorite of the premiers.
Happy planning!! Lots of great info on the Universal boards.

 

[ray3127]

Alright, we are officially booked. First 3 nights at Cabana Bay (Family Suite Poolside Interior), next 3 nights at Hard Rock (Standard 2 Queens). Total of $2,820 for the 6 nights with the AP discount. Regular price is $4,075... seems like the AP will be well worth it!

We'll figure out the tickets once they release details for April 2026, but I feel great about all of this. Thanks to all for the help!