Want to vacation like it’s 1959? Get ready to head to Florida and Universal Orlando next spring when Loew’s opens an all-new resort modeled after the famous 1950s and ’60s beach-side hotels and motels of Wildwood, New Jersey. Googies and color rule! We love it! Scheduled to open in early 2014, the Cabana Bay Beach Resort will feature mid century modern design inside and out, along with two spectacular pools, a “Galaxy Bowl” 10-lane bowling alley, hula hoop contests, and much more. To top it off: It’s aimed at the “value” crowd, so room rates are not out-of-this-world.
Video with Russ Dagon, executive project director:
Inspired by iconic beach resorts of the 1950’s and 60’s…Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort…will evoke the iconic driving holidays so many Americans grew up enjoying with their families – spending time at unique lodgings just off the motorway, where families relaxed and played after a long day’s drive, as often portrayed in American movies.
The new hotel’s hip, vintage look will be accented with bold design, dramatic, clean lines, bright, period colors and touches of neon.
For a limited time, the whole family can experience Cabana Bay Beach Resort’s new family suites with rates starting at $97 per night for a seven-night stay to $139 per night for a three-night stay. Offering up to 50 percent savings off regular prices, this introductory offer is available now for purchase for stays from March 31st to June 14th, 2014.
[The resort] will offer … 900 family suites… 430 s.f. each… capable of sleeping six, which include kitchen areas, and 900 standard guest rooms. It will be operated by Loews Hotels & Resorts and is scheduled to open in 2014. Combining affordability with convenience, the hotel’s location is within walking distance of both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Plus, hotel guests enjoy Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the theme park opens.
When complete, guests can enjoy a 10-lane “Galaxy Bowl” bowling alley, a Game-o-Rama game center, two massive pools with sand beaches, a lazy river, waterslide and more.
First to open, the North Courtyard and its 600 family suites will be inspired by the sweeping motor courts of the 1950s and 60s. Each of the 600, 430-square-foot suites will sleep up to six and include a fold-out foam bed, kitchenette, a sliding partition for privacy, two flat-screen TVs, and an extra-large bathroom with preparation spaces for three people at once. Cabanas will be available to guests for rent, and lounge chairs will ring the deck, backed by zones for sunning, game playing, picnicking and relaxing on the grass.
The South Courtyard (opening later in 2014) will feature a colorful, tropical resort design with serpentine, seven-story towers flowing like waves around a massive pool and lazy-river complex. In addition to 300 suites, the towers will feature 900 guest rooms that are each 300-square-feet and that sleep four and include two queen beds and mini-fridge.
On this site, we also saw that even poolside activities will be retro: Hula hoop contests, bingo, dive-in movies, ping pong, volleyball, pool tables. (Did you know: Pam is a hula hoop champion?)
Thanks to reader Doug for this tip. He spotted the story on the blog Yesterland. Hey, this may just be the ideal location for the first-ever Retro Renovation National Convention. What do you think?
To learn more or to make a reservation, call (888) 273-1311 or visit www.universalorlando.com.
Joe Felice says
Oh, Pam, I meant to say: A RR convention there would definitely be one trip I’d take, no question. Just think of the fun we’d all have! I’m giddy with delight at the thought of it. We could have special presentations, road trips, etc. I want to be on the planning committee! And we can have Nora and Cullen as our king and queen, just like we used to have in high school! Can you just imagine having the opportunity to chat with the two stars of RR?
Joe Felice says
I’m not big into touristy things, but I might like to go to Orlando just to see this place and hang out. I went to Disney World in 1982. That was enough for me.
Pencils says
Unless they get rid of it with the new jump in on-site guests, people staying at one of the Universal hotels get unlimited “Express” passes, which basically means you get to skip to the front of the line. It’s much better than the passes at Disney, where you mostly get to go on a shorter line, this has you on almost NO line–although it did when I was staying there, which was admittedly seven or eight years ago when there were fewer hotel rooms. Maybe there is more of a line now at peak times, but maybe not; I went on the Hulk roller coaster four or five times in a row, I just kept jumping back onto the line after the ride finished. I passed some of the same feckless people three or more times. It was a bit more money than it probably would have cost to stay somewhere nearby, but considering you could walk to the parks (or take a water taxi) and skip the driving and parking, and since we got to go on so many more rides than an “ordinary” person, it was worth every penny. And the room & the pool at the Bali hotel were quite nice. Especially the pool. So I would be very up for visiting this hotel the next time we go to Orlando!
Pat in PA says
OMG…I think I want to work here to just be surrounded in it every day… 🙂
Jeff says
From some of the photos, it looks as though they basically copied designs by the great Morris Lapidus…creator of Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau and Eden Roc hotels, which I frequented when living there for 15 years. The inverted cone like palm “vortex” in the one shot is a direct copy of the one at Lapidus’ Americana Bal Harbour hotel, which was a Sheraton until recently when it was demolished in favor of another concrete eyesore. And I just can’t let the term “googie” go…it’s not a favorite, sorry…it doesn’t seem serious enough to label such a unique, never before or since style…
DooWopper says
As a big fan of the Wildwoods its great to see that they are inspiring this wonderful project. I often feel the whole world sees how great “googie” (or as we call it here “Doo-Wop”) architecture is, but some of the powers that be in Wildwood just don’t “get it”. That being said, there have been many great neo Doo-Wop projects in the Wildwoods recently and fortunately its been several years since any further motels have been lost. I applaud the developers of this new hotel for seeing how great mid-century modern architecture and all that goes along with it is, and I hope Wildwood continues to learn to embrace its true colors and continue to preserve and build off of all that is still left.
Dianna says
The husband just said I’d have to pack all my vintage dresses if I go- DONE.
Cullen says
I hope they go for authentic, even if they have to reproduce things, as opposed to a modern interpretation.
Tina says
I would TOTALLY fly out for a Retro-vention! And since Walt Disney World has a Dapper Day – http://dapperday.com/ – March 3 it would be a complete retro-fun experience. I would want to go to the Universal I Love Lucy tribute and Mel’s Drive In…
Tina says
Edit – sorry, Dapper Day will be March 9 in Florida, Feb 23 at Disneyland
Kaye Tynan says
Love the idea of a convention. Brilliant