Portofino or Cabana Bay Family Suite

[tesslor]

I was just booking a stay in June at Portofino Bay for 4 days. (Love the Express Pass).
I just noticed that for about the same price I can book a family suite at Cabana Bay and add the Express Unlimited.
We have stayed at Portofino before and loved it, never stayed at Cabana Bay and wasn't even considering it due to the Express Pass. Now that I see you can buy the Unlimited I am not sure what I should do.

There are 4 of us, but we are just coming from 12 nights at Disney so I am sure that we will appreciate the room in either category!

Any opinions? Are the express Unlimited passes that I can buy the same thing I will get by staying at a Deluxe resort?

TIA

 

[DPCummerbund]

The 2-Park Unlimited Express Pass that you can buy from UO is the same as the Unlimited Express Pass that you get as a guest at Portofino. However, UO does sell other Express Passes that aren't unlimited, as well as single park Unlimted Express Passes.

However, I'm surprised that Unlimited Express Pass + Cabana Bay Family Suite is coming out to be the same as a room at Portofino (unless you're also looking at suites or multiple rooms at Portofino).

2-Park UEP for most days in June is currently $99 per person per day, so with 4 people in your party ($400) + Cabana Bay Family Suite (estimating $150 per night) you're looking at $550 per night.

The going rate at Portofino (for a standard 2-queen room) for most of June is about $330 per night, so with the EP added in it looks like you're spending almost $220 more per night at CBBR (compared to a standard 2-queen room at PBR).

 

[CPanther95]

You're comparing apples and orange seeds.

Generally speaking, for the amount of time you spend in your room, I'd never give up the deluxe amenities of the PBH - and the overall convenience - to gain a bit of extra room.

However in this case, if the square footage numbers are accurate - it looks like a family suite at the CBBR isn't even getting you any extra room. They list the CBBR family suite as 430 sf - at the Portofino even the standard rooms are 450 sf, deluxe are 490 sf.

If those numbers are accurate, the PBH would be a no-brainer.

 

[tesslor]

Hope I didn't do something wrong. Here are the numbers.


Total Price: $2,510.24
Hotel Package Price (includes certain taxes and Services)
Land Only to Orlando 6/14/2015 - 6/18/2015

Hotel - UNIVERSAL'S CABANA BAY BEACH RESORT - Sun, Jun 14 to Thu, Jun 18
Check in: 6/14/2015 Check out: 6/18/2015
Room 1: 3 Adults, 1 Child Room Type: TOWER FAMILY SUITE. SLEEPS 6, KITCHENETTE, 2 TVS, RETRO THEME, SLIDING

Add-on - 4-Day Park to Park + Universal Express Unlimited - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4 3 Adults 1 Junior
Add-on - CityWalk Party Pass - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4
Add-on - Early Park Admission - Sun, Jun 14


Total Price: $2,441.90
Hotel Package Price (includes certain taxes and Services)
Land Only to Orlando 6/14/2015 - 6/18/2015

Hotel - LOEWS PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO® - Sun, Jun 14 to Thu, Jun 18
Check in: 6/14/2015 Check out: 6/18/2015
Room 1: 3 Adults, 1 Child Room Type: GARDEN VIEW 2 QUEEN BEDS. BEAUTIFUL 450 SQ FT ROOM OVERLOOKING GARDEN AREA

Add-on - 4-Day Park-to-Park Ticket - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4 3 Adults 1 Junior
Add-on - CityWalk Party Pass - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4
Add-on - Early Park Admission - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4
Add-on - FREE Universal Express Unlimited ride access - Sun, Jun 14

Thanks for the input about Portofino and the room size comparison. I guess I just assumed the family suite would be bigger, more like the family suites at Portofino. While it would be nice to have that living room space, it does seem we aren't gaining much besides a little different set up. I have never stayed at Cabana Bay and have heard good things about it and just didn't know if the hotel itself was at all comparable to Portofino. thank you!

 

[HM]

Hope I didn't do something wrong. Here are the numbers.


Total Price: $2,510.24
Hotel Package Price (includes certain taxes and Services)
Land Only to Orlando 6/14/2015 - 6/18/2015

Hotel - UNIVERSAL'S CABANA BAY BEACH RESORT - Sun, Jun 14 to Thu, Jun 18
Check in: 6/14/2015 Check out: 6/18/2015
Room 1: 3 Adults, 1 Child Room Type: TOWER FAMILY SUITE. SLEEPS 6, KITCHENETTE, 2 TVS, RETRO THEME, SLIDING

Add-on - 4-Day Park to Park + Universal Express Unlimited - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4 3 Adults 1 Junior
Add-on - CityWalk Party Pass - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4
Add-on - Early Park Admission - Sun, Jun 14


Total Price: $2,441.90
Hotel Package Price (includes certain taxes and Services)
Land Only to Orlando 6/14/2015 - 6/18/2015

Hotel - LOEWS PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO® - Sun, Jun 14 to Thu, Jun 18
Check in: 6/14/2015 Check out: 6/18/2015
Room 1: 3 Adults, 1 Child Room Type: GARDEN VIEW 2 QUEEN BEDS. BEAUTIFUL 450 SQ FT ROOM OVERLOOKING GARDEN AREA

Add-on - 4-Day Park-to-Park Ticket - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4 3 Adults 1 Junior
Add-on - CityWalk Party Pass - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4
Add-on - Early Park Admission - Sun, Jun 14
Num of Tickets: 4
Add-on - FREE Universal Express Unlimited ride access - Sun, Jun 14

Thanks for the input about Portofino and the room size comparison. I guess I just assumed the family suite would be bigger, more like the family suites at Portofino. While it would be nice to have that living room space, it does seem we aren't gaining much besides a little different set up. I have never stayed at Cabana Bay and have heard good things about it and just didn't know if the hotel itself was at all comparable to Portofino. thank you!

I'm wondering if the unlimited express pass on the Cabana Bay is for all four nights (five days) or just one. You can't tell and it might make up the difference the others noted?

 

[disneysnob]

It looks like the express is only for 1 day-Sun, June 14.

 

[coastgirl]

We are doing three nights at Cabana Bay and one at RPR. For us, the family suite is very attractive, with five of us travelling. I really like the idea of a door that closes between, even if it isn't a "real" wall. Also the bathroom layout at CBBR looks good for a family. With a full room, one big undifferentiated space isn't much fun, and I wouldn't do it for very long. Have done up to two weeks in one room at Disney (CSR and CBR) with four, and I really appreciate a little more privacy. Also we are mostly going for the WWoHP, so the express pass doesn't help us much more than the early entry does (which we get with CBBR). We are also looking forward to the Lazy River at Cabana Bay, and the water slide. Do the deluxes have slides? The pools look pretty and relaxing at the deluxes, but maybe not as much fun, if that makes sense. A fridge and a microwave are also valuable to us, and I understand at the deluxes you have to rent a fridge separately, or depend on an ice bucket.

I decided to change our last night at CBBR for one night at RPR, so we can try out the express pass for two days. We aren't big thrill riders, but it'll be nice to use it for things like the water rides and the Minion ride. We also tend to take long vacations (this one is 10 days in Orlando, which is our shortest of 6 trips there--we have a week in a house after our four nights onsite), so we don't need to get everything done in a few days.

So...I think it's a case of YMMV. I think there are a lot of advocates for the deluxes, so I just wanted to speak up for some of the advantages we've identified for Cabana Bay. Take it from whence it comes, as we haven't stayed at either yet! And OP, you've said that you love the express pass, so if it's a balance of cost between the two, you've gotta do what you've gotta do.

 

[CPanther95]

We are doing three nights at Cabana Bay and one at RPR. For us, the family suite is very attractive, with five of us travelling. I really like the idea of a door that closes between, even if it isn't a "real" wall. Also the bathroom layout at CBBR looks good for a family. With a full room, one big undifferentiated space isn't much fun, and I wouldn't do it for very long. Have done up to two weeks in one room at Disney (CSR and CBR) with four, and I really appreciate a little more privacy. Also we are mostly going for the WWoHP, so the express pass doesn't help us much more than the early entry does (which we get with CBBR). We are also looking forward to the Lazy River at Cabana Bay, and the water slide. Do the deluxes have slides? The pools look pretty and relaxing at the deluxes, but maybe not as much fun, if that makes sense. A fridge and a microwave are also valuable to us, and I understand at the deluxes you have to rent a fridge separately, or depend on an ice bucket.

I decided to change our last night at CBBR for one night at RPR, so we can try out the express pass for two days. We aren't big thrill riders, but it'll be nice to use it for things like the water rides and the Minion ride. We also tend to take long vacations (this one is 10 days in Orlando, which is our shortest of 6 trips there--we have a week in a house after our four nights onsite), so we don't need to get everything done in a few days.

So...I think it's a case of YMMV. I think there are a lot of advocates for the deluxes, so I just wanted to speak up for some of the advantages we've identified for Cabana Bay. Take it from whence it comes, as we haven't stayed at either yet! And OP, you've said that you love the express pass, so if it's a balance of cost between the two, you've gotta do what you've gotta do.

That's definitely a consideration.

If you want a divided space so the kids are sleeping in a different area while you stay up to talk with a glass of wine - in a Portofino room, you'll either have to not mind having your wine while sitting on the toilet, or you'll have to convince the kids to fall asleep in the tub. The CBBR also mentions that the family suite bathrooms are setup so that 3 people can get ready at the same time. That and the divider may be enough to offset the larger space of the Portofino room.

But that has to be a huge personal advantage for one reason or another for it make sense to not only downgrade from the PBH to the CBBR, but to also downsize your room size - especially with 4 people (and at a higher cost).

 

[coastgirl]

That's definitely a consideration.

If you want a divided space so the kids are sleeping in a different area while you stay up to talk with a glass of wine - in a Portofino room, you'll either have to not mind having your wine while sitting on the toilet, or you'll have to convince the kids to fall asleep in the tub.

Uhhh...shudder. You just reminded me of our last stay onsite at Disney...CSR, lovely rooms newly reno'd--but I spent the latter part of the evening sitting on the floor outside the bathroom so I could use my laptop to write up trip notes! Yep, going to sleep the same time as the kids is not my idea of a good time. They are older now, so it won't be lights out at 8 pm, but it'll take me a while to forget!!

 

[DPCummerbund]

I'm not sure if the math is correct or not - it looks like they're giving you UEPs for all 4 days, but it only allows you to "choose" one day out of four. However, the increased price is much higher than a 1-day UEP pass, but much less than the $99 gate price for UEP - perhaps the package gives you UEP for basically half price? As a further convolution, it also mentions Standard and Peak tickets, and doesn't give dates for either one, so I have no idea which ones are needed in mid June. If I were you, I would call UO and confirm (and I'd love to hear the answer when you do).

(EDIT: WAIT, I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT! June 14th is a day when "Standard" UEPs are available. On June 15th through the rest of your trip you need to have the "Peak" (more expensive) UEPs. So, it's offering you both choices because you can't buy one ticket that covers all the nights of your particular stay. I have NO idea how you would book that, you'll definitely have to call them).

FYI, if you're interested in staying in a Deluxe in mid June in order to get the Express Passes, the AAA website has a GREAT deal on a "Standard (Water View)" room at RPR in June. I checked for your dates, & found RPR for $228 per night, tax included, for one room for 3 adults and 1 child.

If you price that out separately, it would be as follows:
Hotel ($228 x 4 nights) = $912
14 day, 2-Park tickets from Undercover Tourist (3 adults @ $201 each, 1 child @ $190) = $793
Total: $1705

I'm fairly certain you'd need to be a AAA member to get this rate, but AAA costs something like $50-$75 a year to join, so it might be worth doing just for that. Heck, you could book 2 rooms at RPR (it's only $198 per night with 2 in a room) for the same budget as the other two options (however, you'd have to book those two rooms separately - the secret low rates of $198/$228 per night are only available when booked one room at a time, I checked).

 

[vatmark]

Have you tried cheaptickets? Looks like you can get garden view queen room at PBH for 1331.30 for June 14th-18th and then get your tickets through undercover tourist. 4 adult 3 park unlimited tickets(allows 14 days unlimited park to park admission to US, IOA and wet and wild) and are actually cheaper then 4 day park to park tickets for $804 or $800 if you go through mousesavers link. Grand total of $2135.30 or $2131.30 if use link in mousesavers newsletter. I wasn't sure if child was under 10 so I just priced tickets as 4 adults. If child were under 10 it would be a little cheaper.

Ann

 

[vatmark]

Your math is wrong with the unlimited express. I believe that Is only with one day of unlimited. When you choose the unlimited express add on you have to choose the number of tickets you want it on and for how many days.

 

[damo]

AP rates aren't out yet for that time but you may be able to get a better rate if you purchase one Power Pass (which isn't much more expensive than the 4 day park to park ticket. Definitely another option for you.

 

[tesslor]

Wow! Lots of different options! I was just going to book it as a vacation package direct from Universal because that seemed like the easiest thing to do.
Thanks for all the work you put in to help me figure this out!!

I will definitely be checking into the AAA website. I had an agent book out a package for me a few weeks ago with tickets etc and it was in the same ball park as thru Universal, maybe $50 difference.

Does Undercover Tourist ever sell out of tickets? Is it something that I need to be worried about securing right away? I don't want to buy anything nonrefundable until I book the plane tickets which I assume will be closer to the end of the month.

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[tesslor]

I'm not sure if the math is correct or not - it looks like they're giving you UEPs for all 4 days, but it only allows you to "choose" one day out of four. However, the increased price is much higher than a 1-day UEP pass, but much less than the $99 gate price for UEP - perhaps the package gives you UEP for basically half price? As a further convolution, it also mentions Standard and Peak tickets, and doesn't give dates for either one, so I have no idea which ones are needed in mid June. If I were you, I would call UO and confirm (and I'd love to hear the answer when you do).

(EDIT: WAIT, I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT! June 14th is a day when "Standard" UEPs are available. On June 15th through the rest of your trip you need to have the "Peak" (more expensive) UEPs. So, it's offering you both choices because you can't buy one ticket that covers all the nights of your particular stay. I have NO idea how you would book that, you'll definitely have to call them).

FYI, if you're interested in staying in a Deluxe in mid June in order to get the Express Passes, the AAA website has a GREAT deal on a "Standard (Water View)" room at RPR in June. I checked for your dates, & found RPR for $228 per night, tax included, for one room for 3 adults and 1 child.

If you price that out separately, it would be as follows:
Hotel ($228 x 4 nights) = $912
14 day, 2-Park tickets from Undercover Tourist (3 adults @ $201 each, 1 child @ $190) = $793
Total: $1705

I'm fairly certain you'd need to be a AAA member to get this rate, but AAA costs something like $50-$75 a year to join, so it might be worth doing just for that. Heck, you could book 2 rooms at RPR (it's only $198 per night with 2 in a room) for the same budget as the other two options (however, you'd have to book those two rooms separately - the secret low rates of $198/$228 per night are only available when booked one room at a time, I checked).

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!
I just went to the AAA site and was able to get an advance purchase rate of $162 a night for Royal Pacific!!!! They said it is totally refundable if I cancel before June 9, I just had to pay up front. I got 2 rooms at Royal Pacific for $1296.00 including tax! That is $300 less than I was going to pay for 1 room at Portofino!

All deluxe rooms automatically come with the Unlimited Express correct? Even if I booked just the hotel separately thru AAA? I just need to buy the regular park to park tickets for the days we will be there?

Thank you!

 

[damo]

Yes, you just need to get your park tickets.

 

[keishashadow]

You're comparing apples and orange seeds.
.

lol

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!
I just went to the AAA site and was able to get an advance purchase rate of $162 a night for Royal Pacific!!!! They said it is totally refundable if I cancel before June 9, I just had to pay up front. I got 2 rooms at Royal Pacific for $1296.00 including tax! That is $300 less than I was going to pay for 1 room at Portofino!

All deluxe rooms automatically come with the Unlimited Express correct? Even if I booked just the hotel separately thru AAA? I just need to buy the regular park to park tickets for the days we will be there?

Thank you!

wow that's a great rate. is it a fully a refundable advance purchase rate? not sure which AAA branch you belong, maybe it differs, but mine often states they impose a cancellation fee for 'prepaid-book now, pay later' rates which are often the same rate I can get by calling universal and requesting. This is what pops up on 'my' AAA website when pricing out august 25:

To cancel this reservation, a $25 per room processing fee will be charged by this website. For the room type you've selected, you can cancel your reservation for a full refund up until noon on Thursday, August 20th (local hotel time). If you decide to cancel your reservation anytime between noon on Thursday, August 20th and noon on Tuesday, August 25th (local hotel time), the hotel requires payment for the first night's stay. You will be charged for the first night's stay including taxes and fees. Any remaining amount will be refunded to you. Refunds or cancellations are not available after noon local hotel time on your day of arrival (Tuesday, August 25th).

 

[tesslor]

lol





wow that's a great rate. is it a fully a refundable advance purchase rate? not sure which AAA branch you belong, maybe it differs, but mine often states they impose a cancellation fee for 'prepaid-book now, pay later' rates which are often the same rate I can get by calling universal and requesting. This is what pops up on 'my' AAA website when pricing out august 25:

To cancel this reservation, a $25 per room processing fee will be charged by this website. For the room type you've selected, you can cancel your reservation for a full refund up until noon on Thursday, August 20th (local hotel time). If you decide to cancel your reservation anytime between noon on Thursday, August 20th and noon on Tuesday, August 25th (local hotel time), the hotel requires payment for the first night's stay. You will be charged for the first night's stay including taxes and fees. Any remaining amount will be refunded to you. Refunds or cancellations are not available after noon local hotel time on your day of arrival (Tuesday, August 25th).

This is what mine says;
Cancellations prior to Tue, Jun 9, 2015 will be fully refunded unless otherwise noted. Cancellations received on or after Tue, Jun 9, 2015 will result in a cancellation penalty of one night’s room and tax plus any applicable charges.

I just booked on aaa.com. Didn't go to my specific state.

 

[DPCummerbund]

Wow, that is a great rate! In fact, it's WAY better than anything I've seen on the AAA site, and I've been watching those rates for a while (we're also going in June). I know some websites use cookies and give lower rates to first-time visitors, so perhaps I've been checking rates too often, or you got to the AAA site through a different route than I did (I had to go through my state's AAA site, so perhaps other states have better deals).

Anyway, as to park tickets... as others have mentioned, Undercover Tourist is one of the cheapest, most reliable places to get theme park tickets. They have good rates already, but you get an extra few dollars off if you subscribe to the MouseSavers e-mails and use the link to Undercover Tourist from their monthly newsletter. I the e-mail I got today from MouseSavers said that their newsletter will be out on February 15th, so if you do want to purchase tickets soon then you need to subscribe within the next few days. Of course, you have several months before your trip, so there's no hurry to buy tickets yet, but you never know if/when UO will raise their ticket prices.

 

[tesslor]

Wow, that is a great rate! In fact, it's WAY better than anything I've seen on the AAA site, and I've been watching those rates for a while (we're also going in June). I know some websites use cookies and give lower rates to first-time visitors, so perhaps I've been checking rates too often, or you got to the AAA site through a different route than I did (I had to go through my state's AAA site, so perhaps other states have better deals).

Anyway, as to park tickets... as others have mentioned, Undercover Tourist is one of the cheapest, most reliable places to get theme park tickets. They have good rates already, but you get an extra few dollars off if you subscribe to the MouseSavers e-mails and use the link to Undercover Tourist from their monthly newsletter. I the e-mail I got today from MouseSavers said that their newsletter will be out on February 15th, so if you do want to purchase tickets soon then you need to subscribe within the next few days. Of course, you have several months before your trip, so there's no hurry to buy tickets yet, but you never know if/when UO will raise their ticket prices.

I see now when I go to aaa.com from home it is the SD site. When I booked from work I did a search for Aaa and clicked on the general site and booked from there. Maybe clear your cookies and your history and try it thru a search engine? If not, come on over!

I will definitely subscribe to mouse savers for the Undercover Tourist link. Thanks for the tip!