I just updated the pricing at the top of this post!!!!
Volcano Bay Cabana and Premium Seating is now available!
I called Universal Orlando this morning ( 877-489-8068 ) and booked a Single Family Cabana in River Village on Opening Day, 5/25. The cost was $319.49. That is better pricing than I hoped. We CANNOT wait for opening day!
That's actually a very good deal for a Cabana that holds 16 guests!Saturday price for Family Suite cabana (up to 16 people) in August: $599. Sun->Fri price: $499. For the week starting Monday 8/28, take $100 off those prices. Also, there are only 2 Family Suite Cabanas, both are located in the River Village area. I booked one, super excited!
HEADS UP FOR THOSE BOOKING TODAY!!! MAKE SURE YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP KNOWS THAT THE PREMIUM SEATING IS BOOKED AS A PAIR OF SEATS FOR THE PRICE. I INITIALLY TOLD HER THAT WE WERE A PARTY OF 3, BUT ONLY WANTED TO SECURE SEATING FOR THE 2 ADULTS, WHICH SHE VERIFIED AGAIN BEFORE BOOKING. MY FIRST CSR BOOKED ME 2 SETS OF SEATS (total of 4 loungers), THINKING THAT THE PRICING WAS PER SEAT. A PAIR OF SEATS IS SOLD FOR THE GIVEN PRICE, PRICING IS NOT PER SEAT. HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE.
I was able to catch it quickly and have them cancel my initial reservation and process it quickly. Glad I chose print at home seating, or I would have been none the wiser. Also, read the small print. LOL.
Thanks for the heads up. Secured premium seating for DH and I...14 y/o kiddo will have to fend for himself, or share lounger space at the foot end with one of us.
Things I did find out: They don't have specs for the locker dimensions that are included. So, I'm hoping that it's big enough for a backpack in case we decide to bring changes of clothes with us. We'll see.
As far as pricing goes: We're going in mid to late June....single cabana pricing was $400...out of our budget. But the premium seating loungers were priced at $65/for a set of 2 , 69.22 with tax included. For guaranteed real estate in what is going to be an uber busy time, I'll glady pay that.
We are considering that dining plan, we don't do it at Disney World because it's always way more expensive than eating at the restaurants. Is it a better value at Universal/Volcano Bay? We will likely go to dinner at City Walk after our Day at the park and were thinking of doing Tchop Tchop. Would it still be worth it? Any suggestions for dinner if you think Tchop Tchop is no good lol
We booked a Rainforest single cabana for September 18 for 249 (266 after taxes). Yay!
I wanted a wave poole location, but my husband really wanted to be in the rainforest and he seemed to care more than I did, so Rainforest it is! It's going to be such a nice treat for our family and I think we'll love having a dedicated place to check in, rest, and eat.
I'm more worried that when we go to Typhoon Lagoon 2 days later our kids will be super disappointed. I tried to swap it so we went to TL first and VB second but I was having trouble adjusting dining reservations. I know we'll have fun at both but I worry that TL lagoon won't seem as cool after VB (especially because I don't think we'll be getting a cabana at both water parks).
I think that's a valid concern. Maybe if you tell the kids the difference and prepare them to view it as a totally different experience it might help?
Totally. We already talked to them about it at dinner last night. We were just like "Look, Volcano Bay is going to be way cooler than Typhoon Lagoon. We'll have fun at both, but it'll be a different experience and we're only getting the cabana at VB."
We're staying on Disney property so we don't really need a cabana. We don't have to take our wallets/purses/change of clothes. It probably won't be AS busy, and we can always just jam back to our room if we want to take a nap. At VB it will be SO NICE to just have a central location for hanging out, eating, etc.
We do wonder about the cabana benefit of modifying your place in line on Tapu Tapu. I'm super excited to hear more about how that works for people.
The quick service plan might be what you'd be interested in, as the choice of included table service restaurants is sort of limited and you seem more interested in other options. I'd say if you don't find the meal plan to be good value at Disney, you're likely to make the same decision about Universal's meal plan but you'll have to do the math for your own group and see how it falls out for you.
And personally, Tchoup Chop is my favorite restaurant on the Universal campus. I can't recommend that one highly enough.