What is the Difference Between Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Resort?

What is the Difference Between Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Resort?

What is the Difference Between Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Resort?

Welcome to your ultimate guide to Cabana Bay vs. Endless Summer Resorts in 2024! Both Endless Summer Resorts and Cabana Bay Beach Resort offer budget-friendly accommodations. That’s why we’re going to compare Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer hotels to help you with your decision.

The biggest differences between Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer are the tier and the accommodations offered. Cabana Bay Beach Resort is slightly more expensive with a better location to theme parks and water parks. With that being said, the Endless Summer Resorts are incredible options for value.

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets and Universal Orlando vacation package deals which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for a Universal Early Park Admission calendar be sure to check out our Orlando crowd calendar which we include in all of this information! 

Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

2024 Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Overview

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. Cabana Bay is a Prime Value resort, which means it is slightly more expensive, but better amenities like a lazy river and more restaurants. 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. They are called Dockside Inn & Suites and Surfside Inn & Suites and basically have the same overall setup other than simple changes in theming.

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!

Cabana Bay Beach Resort vs Endless Summer Resorts – Main Differences

Resort Tiers:

• Endless Summer Resorts: Value category
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Prime Value, offering slightly better amenities and perks

Location:

• Endless Summer Resorts: Off-campus, about a mile, requiring transportation to parks by bus
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Closer to theme parks and Volcano Bay with walking paths to CityWalk

Pricing:

• Endless Summer Resorts: More budget-friendly with standard rooms starting at $96 and 2-bedroom suites at $144
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Higher priced, standard rooms start at $140, family suites at $180, and Volcano Bay 2 Bedroom Suite at $395

Room Comparison:

• Endless Summer Resorts: Offers standard and 2-bedroom suites with a basic beachy theme
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Features standard rooms, family suites, and Volcano Bay view rooms with a vibrant retro theme

Theme and Design:

• Endless Summer Resorts: Subtle ocean and sunset themes with a focus on comfort
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Bright, bold retro-neon theme reminiscent of the 1950s beach resorts

Pools:

• Endless Summer Resorts: Basic pool offerings without additional water features
• Cabana Bay Beach Resort: Features a lazy river and two pool areas, including a slide and more recreational activities

Related Post: Complete Guide to Universal Orlando Characters

Endless Summer vs Cabana Bay – Which Has a Better Location?

The location of these resorts is one of the biggest differences between the two, and honestly one of the biggest downfalls of either Endless Summer Resorts. 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 I-4 about a mile from the parks. All of the other Universal Orlando hotels are directly connected to CityWalk or other Universal hotels through transportation or the Garden Walkway.

For that reason, when it comes to Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Resort for location, Cabana Bay beats Endless Summer. Especially if you plan on visiting Volcano Bay Water Park, there is a separate entrance just for Cabana Bay guests which is only a 5-minute walk away. There is also a walking path from Cabana Bay to Universal that takes about 20-25 minutes to walk right into CityWalk. Whether it be for the theme parks or for Volcano Bay, all around, Cabana Bay Beach Resort beats Endless Summer for location.

Winner: Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Related Post: Guide to Hotels Near Universal Studios Orlando with Free Shuttle

 What is the Price Difference between Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer?

When considering price and choosing between Endless Summer vs Cabana Bay, both resorts fall within the value tier and offer affordable options compared to other Universal hotels. However, it’s important to note that if you’re in search of family suites at Universal Orlando, Endless Summer Resorts do not provide them. On the other hand, Cabana Bay offers family suites that are similar in size to the 2-bedroom suites available at Endless Summer, which we will discuss further in the “rooms” section.

Please note that all Universal room and ticket prices are date-based and, therefore, change throughout the year depending on when you go.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort 2024 room pricing

• Standard Room – Starting at $140
• Universal Cabana Bay Family Suite – Starting at $180
• Volcano Bay 2 Bedroom Suite – Starting at $395

Endless Summer Resort 2024 room pricing

• Dockside Standard – Starting at $96
• Dockside 2 Bedroom Suite – Starting at $144
• Surfside Standard – Starting at $96
• Surfside 2 Bedroom Suite – Starting at $144

So which hotel is cheaper, Universal Endless Summer or Cabana Bay? If you’re looking for the cheapest option for your Universal Orlando vacation, then Endless Summer is the best choice for your needs. With that being said, Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s pricing is not too much higher, so we don’t consider the price to be a deal breaker. As for room quality for Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer, we are going to cover that next.

Winner: Endless Summer Resorts

Related Post: Shop Endless Summer Rooms

Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Resort – Which Has Better Rooms?

When it comes to comparing rooms for Cabana Bay and Endless Summer Resorts, there really isn’t much of a difference looking at the big picture. Cabana Bay Beach Resort offers 2,200 guest rooms, Dockside Inn & Suites has 2,050 and Surfside Inn & Suites has 750 different rooms. That means, overall each resort has plenty of rooms to choose from, with the exception of Surfside Inn & Suites, which has a significantly lower room count.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort Rooms

Standard rooms at Cabana Bay are 300 square feet with two queen beds, a flat-screen TV, and enough room for up to 4 guests. There are many different standard rooms to choose from with options indoors, outdoors, poolside access, and even a beautiful view of Volcano Bay. The Volcano Bay View rooms are our favorite at Universal, you literally wake up to the volcano!

2-bedroom suites at Cabana Bay are huge, coming in at 772 square feet with two full bedrooms, another queen bedroom, and a full-sized pull-out sofa bed. On top of all of that space, there are also two bathrooms, a kitchenette, and enough space for up to 8 guests.

It is important to note that Cabana Bay also has 430 square foot family suite options for guests, which has a maximum capacity of 6 guests.

Endless Summer vs Cabana Bay Beach Resort – Which Has Better Benefits?

Even though Cabana Bay Beach Resort is technically in a tier higher than Endless Summer Resort, you can expect the exact same benefits of staying in a Universal Orlando Hotel. The only tiers that have extra added benefits would be those in the Preferred and Premier tiers.

Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Benefits

Per the Universal Orlando Resort website, both hotels offer the following amenities:

• Early Park Admission: to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Universal’s Volcano Bay up to one hour before the park opens. (Valid theme park admission required. Select attractions.)
• Complimentary shuttle bus transportation or walking paths to the theme parks and Universal CityWalk
• Resort-wide charging privileges with your room key
• Complimentary delivery of merchandise purchased throughout the Resort to your hotel.

Related post: Universal Early Park Admission Guide

Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer – Which Has Better Pools?

If you’re looking to splash around during your Universal Orlando vacation, then we definitely will have to compare Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer for their aquatic fun. Cabana Bay Beach Resort is one of the best hotels on Universal property with what they offer for their pools especially since it has a lazy river!

Cabana Bay Beach Resort Pools

First off, not only is Cabana Bay Beach Resort only a 5-minute walk away from Volcano Bay, but it also has pretty amazing poolside offerings. There are two different pool areas at Cabana Bay, the Atomic Courtyard and the Lazy River Courtyard. The Atomic Courtyard features zero-entry pools, a sandy beach, a themed dive tower water slide, a poolside bar, and poolside activities (hula hoop contests, ping-pong, poolside movies). The Lazy River Courtyard has the same pool features, like zero-entry and a sand beach, but also a lazy river!

Endless Summer Resort Pools

For Endless Summer Resorts you’re going to find rather generic hotel pools, with nothing special. There are no hot tubs, fire pits, cabanas, or even really obvious theming for that matter.

Surfside Inn & Suites has a pool that is surfboard shaped and even has a part of the pool that is a little more shallow and has fewer jets for kiddos to enjoy. Surfside Inn & Suites also has a poolside bar named Sand Bar which has all of the fancy beachy drinks anyone could ask for. Surfside’s pool is perfectly enjoyable and large enough to accommodate many guests.

Dockside Inn & Suites has two different pools which, much like Surfside, aren’t disappointing, but definitely nothing to write home about. There are two different towers at Dockside Inn & Suites offer for guests, each with its own pool. Each pool has a pool bar where guests can order specialty drinks, but you will not find much more than a nice shady spot to sit in the sun.

As for Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer for pools, hands down, Cabana Bay Beach Resort is almost worth the pools alone to book!

Winner: Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Related Post: Cheap Hotels Near Universal 

Cabana Bay Beach Resort vs Endless Summer Resorts – Which has Better Dining?

We all know with a long day at the Universal Orlando Theme Park, you are bound to enjoy at least one meal at your resort. Trying to plan dining, especially for families, can be a nightmare if your hotel doesn’t have decent options to choose from. That is why we think it is important to know what you’re working with when it comes to Endless Summer Resorts vs Cabana Bay dining options.

Universal Cabana Bay Dining

• Bayliner Diner – Affordable grab-and-go options – like pizza, pasta, burgers, and more
• Galaxy Bowl – Dine-in bowling experience with a menu that includes appetizers, burgers, deli sandwiches, pizza, and hot dogs.
• Atomic Tonic – Bar food (wings, pizza, sandwiches, cocktails)
• Hideaway Bar and Grill – Quick, simple eats (nachos, salads, burgers, hot dogs, wraps)
• Swizzle Lounge – (beer, wine, cocktails)
• Starbucks

Universal Endless Summer Dining

• Pier 8 Market (Dockside) – Breakfast, lunch, and dinner food court with grab-and-go options like waffles, fried chicken, burgers, pizza, salad, and desserts.
• Beach Break Cafe (Surfside) – Casual food court with burritos, roasted chicken, burgers, salads and more!
• Sunset Lounge (Dockside) – Cocktails, beer, wine
• Oasis Beach Bar (Dockside) – Specialty cocktails, non-alcoholic smoothies
• Sand Bar (Surfside)- Specialty cocktails, non-alcoholic smoothies
• Starbucks

When it comes to Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer, we think that the dining options can go either way! Both resorts offer “cheaper” dining options and food courts, with the exception of Galaxy Bowl, which is a fun experience, but still rather generic food.

Winner: Draw

Related Post: Complete Guide to Universal Coke Freestyle Cups

Which is Better – Universal Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer Resorts?

So, which is better Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer? From our reviews, it does seem as if Cabana Bay Beach Resort is the hands-down winner, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is best for you. If you’re looking for a quick, fun Universal trip with the most savings, but still on Universal property, the Endless Summer is perfect for you. The rooms are spacious, and clean and even have great offerings throughout the resort, while are not special, are still better than most average 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 people, can be a deal breaker. Cabana Bay is also popular for schools to book through, which can cause a lot of chaos and noise. In our most recent experience at Cabana Bay, we were staying along with a cheerleading convention so there were a lot of younger guests around the hotel. Cabana Bay is one of the best family resorts to stay at but if you are looking for an adults-only Universal trip or have older children then you may enjoy Endless Summer. For an adults-only trip, our favorite value resort is Endless Summer Surfside because it is more quiet than Dockside.

You choose what is best for you! Both resorts have great value and have serious perks to them. Just plan ahead and prioritize if time in your hotel room and hotel property is important enough to care about the details we’ve compared in this article.

Related Post: 14 Hotels Within Walking Distance Of Universal Studios Orlando (30 Mins Or Less!)

Cabana Bay vs Endless Summer FAQS

Q: Can you walk from Cabana Bay to Universal?

A: Yes! With the Garden Walkway paths, the walk from Cabana Bay to Universal Orlando theme parks is about 15 – 20 minutes depending on pace.

Q: Is there a lazy river at Universal Endless Summer Resorts?

No, there is no lazy river at Universal Endless Summer Resorts. Surfside Inn & Suites offers one pool and Dockside Inn & Suites has two pools.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out our discounted multi-day Universal Orlando tickets and Universal Orlando vacation package deals which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!