WFTV tours Universal's new Cabana Bay Beach Resort

ORLANDO, Fla. — WFTV reporter Deneige Broom toured the new Cabana Bay Beach Resort, which she said had a throwback theme. Vintage buses rolled through from the time to time, and classic cars were parked in front of the hotel.

Creative director Russ Dagon said they searched through archives and talked to historic preservationists to try to piece the theme together.

"We expect to see grandparents walking through here with their kids and explaining things to them saying 'This is what it used to be like,'" Dagon said.

The hotel is now the largest resort on Universal property. Once everything is completed, there will be 1,800 rooms. Half of the rooms are suites and the other half are standard rooms.

Universal executives refer to the property as a moderately-priced one. The prices for the suites range between $134 to 174 a night, and the standard rooms will range from $93 to $119.

"This price point will allow many more guests to stay on site," Tom Roditus, with Loews Hotels, said.

The creative director said they picked the era as the theme because of the nostalgia they think it will trigger for guests.

"It's a throwback. It's a family time. It's family vacations. It's load everyone up in station wagon and make a trek down to Florida," said Dagon.

Monday is the first day guests have been able to check in to the hotel. Resort officials wouldn't say how many rooms have been booked so far, only that they were pleased with the response.

WFTV