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Universal Orlando has announced plans to built a new resort hotel called the Cabana Bay Beach Resort, themed to retro “driving vacations” to be completed by 2014. The new hotel will be operated by Loews Hotels & Resorts and feature both moderate and value-level accommodations in the forms of family suites and standard rooms.
Artwork released by Universal Orlando today shows a glimpse at what the Cabana Bay Beach Resort will look like, featuring a sleek ’50s style across its lobby, pool, and rooms. Across multiple buildings, Cabana Bay Beach Resort will include a total of 1,800 rooms: 900 family suites, capable of sleeping six, that include kitchen areas and 900 standard guest rooms
The hotel is said to “evoke the driving vacations so many Americans grew up enjoying with their families – spending time at sweeping motor courts just off the highway, where families relaxed and played after a long day’s drive.” Universal is calling the Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s look “hip” and “vintage” featuring with two themed pool areas.
The hotel will be built on a 37-acre site within Universal Orlando Resort and adjacent to Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park – just off Hollywood Way and Turkey Lake Road. The highlighted area of the map below is a 70.9 acre plot of land owned by Universal Orlando, some of which will be used for the new hotel. The plot to the right, directly next to the Royal Pacific Resort, is a 34.2 acre site, also owned by Universal.
“Our new hotel will give guests an affordable, incredibly themed on-site hotel experience unlike anything else at our resort,” said Tom Williams, chairman and chief executive officer, Universal Parks & Resorts. “Our new family suites and family-value pricing will give our guests on-site options they’ve never had before.”
Loews also operates the Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. Like those hotels, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort will provide early park admission, proximity to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios and resort-wide charging privileges – but will not offer complimentary Universal Express Unlimited Access.
Construction is said to begin soon with no pricing, on-sale dates, or specific opening dates available yet beyond a 2014 timeframe.
Universal’s Art of Animation Resort. haha
Really great for Uni. This is something they need to help round out their resort offerings.
Now, about that water park…
Universal owns Wet & Wild on International Drive they will ever build a water park on property
I meant to type “never” not ever
You should be ready to eat these words.
Will we still be able to get to Citywalk by boat (as with Royal Pacific and Portofino Bay)?
Unknown at this point, but the original Universal master plan called for the extension of the waterway to 2 new resorts.
There will be no water taxi nor fast passes.
Very interesting decision in terms of the look. I would love to see the focus group data that made them choose a 50s retro look. i wonder why that would appeal so strongly to the young families this resort is geared towards.
First thing I thought was “Mad Men in Miami”.
Then I -so- wanted to stay there.
This is GREAT! It makes perfect sense with the new Harry Potter expansion opening around the same time.
This is awesome. I always stay on-site for Disney trips, but the Universal hotels were a bit out of my range. I hope this hotel will be comparable to the “value” Disney hotels!
Universal needs a moderate price resort offering. I think this will get more people to consider staying on their property. Now they need to use some of those extra acres for an on-site water park (which they will need to better compete with Disney) and another moderate or even value resort. Then people will have a reason to stay for a week.
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