Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls or Aventura with teens ?

[sotagals]

Which would be best for teens to get to the Studios if DH and I have set off before they get up ?

[Hannah]

I take it you mean to Universal Studios (or Universal in general)? Sapphire Falls has a boat, the other 2 have buses, all well signposted. But you can walk from the other two to SF and get the baot too.

[sotagals]

Thanks, sorry I meant for them to get to IOA or US

Is it easy and safe to walk from CB to SF for the boat ? And with the water taxi you are through security already which you wouldn't be on the bus ?

I'm leaning towards SF for transport reasons but I think they would like Cabana Bay better.

[Derbydave4]

We stayed at Cabana in 2019 and was dead easy to go across the bridge to Sapphire and get the boat to US
You do the security check prior to getting on the boat and takes you right into City Walk
We have teenage daughters and they liked the fact that you can get a family suite so they did not have to share a bed and they loved the direct access to Volcano Bay as well as the on-site Bowling Alley
The only thing I am not sure of is if during Covid you can go into other hotels if not staying there I remember reading that you could not go to another Disney resort unless you had a dining reservation but not sure if this was ever implemented at Universal

[Rescuer]

Any of the 3 would be fine.

With teens though if you want more space have a look at the family suites in Cabana Bay, we booked one for the summer with BA for a really good price.

Aventura is great, my Ds loves it there, everything controlled by an iPad what more could he want. It’s just a cross from Sapphire Falls so probably easier than Cabana Bay for crossing for the boat.

Sapphire falls is beautiful.

You can also walk from by all 3, we walked past the boat deck at Sapphire and via Royal Pacific. There’s also a garden walk but I didn’t think that looked as nice. Both come out on citywalk beside margaritaville where you do security rather than the main city walk entrance.

As far as I know pool hopping and hotel visiting is all back at universal.

[DonnaD]

Pool hopping and visiting are as normal at Universal. My 15 year old preferred the retro feel of Cabana Bay and the layout of the family suites worked really well. I preferred the elegance and choice of restaurants at SF though.

It felt perfectly safe allowing her to get the boat to Citywalk by herself when we stayed at SF. I wouldn't have wanted her walking the path by herself after dark as it is a bit quiet in places but no issues at all with the boat (or bus from CB). As mentioned, the boat drop off point is past security and far more convenient than the bus drop off from CB. I would definitely have them walk across the street to SF if you stay at CB.

It is perfectly safe giving teens abit of freedom if you stay at Universal. DD15 has spent loads of time wandering around by herself while her disabled sister and I meet up with friends etc. She has never felt uncomfortable.

[sotagals]

Thanks for all the info. I have booked a family suite at Cabana Bay.

I booked with BA as their prices were way cheaper than the rest.

20% cancellation fee if we can't go but to be honest I'm so happy to be back planning I don't care.

Obviously if it gets to July 22 and we still can't go I'll be throwing myself into the canal anyway so happy days