Multiple guests have recently reported bed bugs at Universal Orlando’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, sparking concerns about pest infestations at the popular hotel.
Bed bugs in hotels have become a growing concern for travelers and the hospitality industry alike. These tiny pests can easily hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, or personal items, quickly spreading from one guest room to another. Infestations not only disrupt the guest experience but can also severely damage a hotel’s reputation–and yet even the cleanest hotels can fall foul sometimes.
Bed Bugs in Theme Park Hotels
Even though Disney and Universal pride themselves on maintaining high standards, bed bug issues are not unheard of at their resorts. Disneyland Paris faced its own bed bug crisis last year following a 65% increase in infestations in the city.
Visitors to the resort’s hotels, including Disney Newport Bay Club, Disney Hotel Santa Fe, and Disney Sequoia Lodge, reported bed bug bites. One guest said, “Just got back a day ago, and yes, we got bit by bedbugs. The hotel gave us a different room but said it was very common.”
To combat the issue, Disneyland Paris began seeking “Bedbug Detector Dog Masters” to enhance their pest control efforts by hiring handlers with dogs trained to sniff out bed bugs.
Across the Atlantic, Disneyland Resort in California hasn’t escaped bed bug issues either. In 2022, a guest was awarded $100,000 after an infestation at Disneyland Hotel in 2018. A family also filed (and won) a lawsuit claiming their son was traumatized by bed bug bites while staying at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort in 2018. Yet another guest claimed to have found bed bugs at Art of Animation in 2023.
Bed Bugs at Universal Orlando Resort
Now, attention has turned to Universal Orlando Resort. A recent guest at Cabana Bay Beach Resort shared their experience on Reddit after finding bed bugs in their room. After reporting the problem to management, they were moved to a different room and given a $100 credit, but the issues continued when they found more bed bugs the next morning. “I am terrified of bringing these home with me,” they wrote.
Other guests have also shared similar complaints about bed bugs at Cabana Bay in recent weeks. One guest said they were moved to another building after encountering the pests, only to experience the same problem in their new room. A month earlier, yet another visitor reported bed bugs in both beds in their room, commenting that Universal’s only compensation was an express pass for four rides.
Universal’s Expansion and Concerns
With Universal Orlando Resort preparing to open its third theme park, Epic Universe, in 2025, it’s more important than ever for the resort to address any pest issues. Along with new lands like SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and the third Wizarding World of Harry Potter, three new hotels are planned to open, including Universal Stella Nova Resort, Universal Terra Luna Resort, and Universal Helios Grand Hotel.
Hopefully, Universal will resolve these bed bug problems before they expand their offerings and welcome even more guests.
Have you ever experienced bed bugs during a stay at a theme park hotel?