Well, I am back from my first ever stay on property at Universal Orlando Resort, and (it is a surprise to exactly no one) I have thoughts.
I stayed at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which is comparable to the Competition’s “Value” resorts. So, for the remainder of this review I will be using the hotels that fall into that particular category for any comparisons.
In full transparency and disclosure I must note at the outset that we are huge Disney fans (the Walt Disney World Resort, specifically.) We have been staying at WDW (Walt Disney World) resorts for the past 23 years. We have stayed in every resort category, we celebrated our engagement at one of the  WDW hotels (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge) after being engaged in Cinderella’s Royal Table (the restaurant inside the famous castle) during the fireworks. We also own DVC (Disney Vacation Club) and our only regret was not doing it sooner. So, we have a certain perspective.

Recent (post-covid) events have moved us to look at other vacation options that we had not really considered before. So, here we are.
Whew! With that out of the way, here we go.

I stayed at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort December 19 -21 (3 nights, 4 days) to celebrate my nieces’ birthdays. Because I know myself, and Myself likes to be able to sit in the room and relax after a day in the parks or a dip in the pool, I booked a poolside family suite. Family suites have two queen beds, a pull-out couch, two fairly comfortable chairs, (most rooms have) two stools at a little counter, a sink, a little refrigerator, a coffee maker (not one you can bring coffee for, however), and shelves for storing things. If you are a Disney fan, and are familiar with DVC, this room is comparable to a DVC studio. I am at an age when comforts like a couch or chairs, and a little kitchenette are welcome amenities. (For the rest of this review, I will be using DVC studios, and Family Suites at Art of Animation as my basic models for comparison.) Lastly, clearly not everything is for everyone. People have things that they love and swear by. I am not trying to change anyone’s mind. I’m just telling you what is on my mind.

The Lobby

The lobby is spacious and airy, filled with natural light. Your eye is drawn up towards the high ceilings by the live palm trees in the lobby’s center. There is a plethora of comfortable seating in the lobby area, making it a welcoming space. After (or before) checking in, you can have your first drink of your vacation at the very nice bar located right there in the lobby.
I have been to every Value Resort on Disney property, and we both agree that all of the lobbies are dark, cold, and remind us of bus terminals. These are very different experiences.
Cabana Bay lobby > literally any Value resort category lobby

Front Desk/Checking In/Texting Service
Checking in was quick and flawless. The Team members that helped me were kind, patient, and smiled. It was a very nice way to begin my stay. One team member, Jane, helped me several times and I am very thankful for her patience with me. One of the things that makes Universal Resorts a great experience is that, upon check-in, you are texted by the Front Desk. With that you can respond via text at any time throughout your stay. There is no need to go to the Front Desk for most things, nor is there a reason to telephone the front desk from your room. Have a question? Text them. Need another towel? Text them. All texts are answered by a real person in real time! In this feature they are lightyears ahead of WDW.
Cabana Bay check-in experience and continued care via text > literally any Value resort

Room Charges
Like WDW, you can use your room key to charge anything to your room literally anywhere on property. I did this for all of my expenses and it worked brilliantly. Unlike Disney, who will only charge your card when you have reached a certain amount that they have designated as a preset limit, Universal asks YOU how much you want the limit to be. You are in control of how they charge your card. You tell them how much you want the limit to be, and they charge your card for that amount right then. Any amount that you do not use is credited back to your account after checkout. I love this.
Cabana Bay room charging > literally any Value resort

Housekeeping
Another way that Universal resorts are ahead of WDW is in the housekeeping department. While Disney has cut back on daily housekeeping in all of their resorts, Universal still offers daily housekeeping. I was so nice to come back to a made bed and a clean room. I think sometimes we underestimate the psychological impact that can have after a long day.
Cabana Bay actually has daily housekeeping > Value Resorts, which do not

Pools
For some people, a pool is a pool. But people who like to hang out and use hotel pools feel differently. Cabana Bay has two pools. Both pools are heated.  Both pools have their own dedicated pool bar. And the biggest difference is that Cabana Bay pools have both a pool slide and a “lazy river!” Value Resorts have neither. Cabana Bay pools have white sand areas with lounge chairs. It’s a nice touch and certainly enhances the theming. Value resorts do not offer anything comparable. Lastly, Cabana Bay actually offers cabanas by the pool you can rent!
Cabana Bay pools > Value Resort pools

Recreation and Fitness
Cabana Bay has their own dedicated bowling alley! Value Resorts do not offer anything comparable.
Cabana Bay has a pretty impressive gym/fitness studio. And, I do not mean that it’s a few cardio machines squished into a guest room as an afterthought. This one is better than most Hiltons, Hyatts and even some of WDW Deluxe Resorts.
Both of these are “wins” for Cabana Bay.

Food
Cabana Bay has a full service Starbucks. No Value Resort has a dedicated Starbucks.
The food court (and the food) however, is comparable to the food courts in the Value Resorts.  (I had a seared Ahi-Tuna with mango salsa that was delicious!) Where Cabana Bay wins is in the seating. I never had to search for a seat or a table. And while you eat, the vibe is very much like eating at Disney’s Sci-Fi Drive-In Diner. Like Sci-Fi, they play videos of old commercials and clips of television programs from the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is a lot of fun. But, in this case  the room is full of natural light, has ample seating, you there are no “bad seats.”
Cabana Bay food court and seating area > Value Resorts

Theming

I read an article (I honestly forget where I read it. I will absolutely give credit to the author if I figure it out) that made the distinction between theming and decorating. The article described the Value Resorts as being basic motels with a bunch of decorations everywhere. I feel that’s accurate. Don’t get me wrong, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Many Disney fans, including myself, think that the decorations are whimsical and fun. But I think the article was right in making the distinction. Cabana Bay is well themed. The architecture, signage, and art is seamlessly thematic throughout the whole resort. It really does have the feeling of stepping though a portal to the past. Walking thought the front door of the resort or the door to your room, you are immersed in the theming and can’t help expecting to see Jack LaLanne or Annette Funicello walking by.

Busses
Unlike at ANY Disney resort, I never had to wait for a bus. I was there during Christmas Break – one of the busiest times of year. Universal had hired busses from Mears to step in and supplement their own busses. At one point there were three busses lined up – all for our resort! Very impressive.

The last thing that I want to address is Annual Passes. Universal actually has them. WDW discontinued their passes with no glimmer of hope of them returning in the near future. With my (very reasonably priced) AP from Universal I was able to come and go as I pleased from any of the parks at any time of day, with no blackout dates.
It is true that Universal Orlando is a smaller operation. But, it’s an operation that worked for me even as Disney has dropped the proverbial ball. In these post-Covid times, WDW  has introduced a bizarre “reservation system” for which the rules have changed a few times; trying to keep up with Disney’s reservation system, absence of annual passes, surge pricing, and – this is no small thing – charging an ever changing sum of money to stand in a shorter line for a (singular) specific ride. Or, you can pay a daily rate (also changeable) to have the privilege to stare at your phone all day trying to get into a shorter line. Universal parks are still fun to go to. I am a huge WDW fan, as I stated at the beginning. The Disney experience is grounded by Walt Disney, who is a singular cultural icon. Universal has no such grounding. WDW continues to be a magical place – the emotional memories formed through the lens of Disney movies, documentaries, and parks throughout my life continue to be deeply embedded in my psyche.
But. . . I had a better time at Universal Orlando Resort than I have had at WDW in a long time.  I’ll always be a Disney fan. But, Universal was simply more enjoyable in these Covid “after-times.” Does it have the same magic? No. At Universal I just felt like I was supposed to relax and have fun. It was a wonderfully welcome experience.