Fiance and I would like to stay a night at Cabana Bay OR Sapphire Falls.

[Nobody352]

I would be staying October 2nd and departing October 3rd while going to HHN on the night of the second.
Which Hotel do you think id get the MOST out of?

Id plan on getting there before 4pm and seeing if they could check us in early.
If not... no biggie..i can still check in at 4 and make my way to the park.
i want to get to the parks a bit before HHN starts... like maybe an hour or two so i can jump in a holding pen.

I am leaning towards Cabana Bay because it has the lazy river option that Sapphire Doesnt have.
BUT..I also am a big fan of Sapphire Falls being able to take the boat to and from Universal.
I suppose the boat tips Sapphire over the edge, but i HIGHLY doubt it will be running AFTER HHN right?
At that point i'd have to take a shuttle bus back and it would then give Cabana Bay the edge again.

From the surface it looks like cabana has the lazy river ride, a cool water slide, an arcade....
Im not sure on what advantages Sapphire would have... AND its more expensive.

What are all of your thoughts on both hotels?
which is better?
what are the pro's and con's?

 

[bumbershoot]

Uni resorts, just like WDW resorts, will do the checkin process as soon as their computers switch to the current day, which happens around 6am. Feel free to head over there, check in, leave your bags with luggage services (or if you're very lucky in your room), and enjoy the benefits of being a SF or CB guest from that moment on.

I haven't stayed at either of those resorts (we like express pass so we book Royal, Portofino, it Hard Rock) so I can't help you there. They do encourage pool hopping though!

 

[wookiebeck]

CBBR is not that far away from SF. We stayed CBBR and walked over to SF to take the boat several times over a week. For you, I would say stay at SF because the water taxi saves you more time/energy. Then walk to CBBR to pool hop. Less than 5 minute walk and CBBR has two pools that you can check out.

 

[schumigirl]

Sapphire Falls is beautiful........its a much better hotel than CB........rooms have a lovely warm feel about them and are classic in style.

We were shown around the whole hotel last week and the pool is lovely! Doesn't have a lazy river but it's so well done......

Last boat leaves Citywalk around 2am.

 

[Nobody352]

OK! excellent!
I didnt see the boat schedule anywhere.
Sounds like I may give sapphire a whirl and hit up the lazy river etc. at cabana bay during the day time.
I didnt know they would be that close to one another.
The more I thought about it yesterday the more i was leaning towards Sapphire.
thanks for the information.

 

[macraven]

The last boat leaves city walk to the hotels at 2:15 am each early morning

Once it is midnight, you have to show your hotel key to enter the boat

If you stay at Cbay, you can use the boat to SFalls
Will not be a problem

I stay at rpr and assume all the hotels operate the same

If rooms are available when you check in, you are good then

If they are not ready, check in And store your luggage with valet
It is free

Have the front desk to text you when your room is ready
You will be given The room number In That text

You can request that your belongings be placed in your room while you are in The park

You do not need to go to the lobby counter when you come back from Hhn to the hotel

Front desk can activate your room key once it is assigned

 

[Starshine]

And if you want to skip the boat and shuttle bus all together, there is a walking path to both hotels as well.

 

[John Robson]

cabana bay is themed like 60s and we loved it

back again next oct

 

[Nobody352]

I waited a day or two deciding and tried to get Sapphire, but all the rooms under $240 were booked.
So I went with Cabana Bay for $133.
Wish me luck!