Anybody LOVE hotel Newport Bay Club?

[cherrymarzipan]

I know a lot of people don’t like it but I have always wanted to try it, well try all of the hotels really! Anyway, with the 50% offer I have just managed to book a three night stay there in April so we will now get our Easter fix after all. I accept it is going to be huge and just hope we will not be at one of the extremities but what are the advantages and special qualities to look out for at the NBC? What is the breakfast like? Where does it fit in between what you get at the Cheyenne and the HNY, both of which we have stayed in previously? What facilities are there in the rooms? All information welcome!

 

[jillrobinson]

I love the NPB and I think it's the most attractive of all the hotels. I love the exterior and colours of the interior and the decor.

We stayed there for my 40th birthday, so nearly 6 years ago, we stayed on the Admiral's Floor and were given VIP breakfasts. Our room was full of balloons on arrival as I had asked if they could do anything for my son who was celebrating his birthday too. All the children had free cuddly toys left on their beds and chocolate coins everyday. In addition Liam had an autograph book and pen and a card signed by the characters. We had a free upgrade to a Lake View rooms. Our room on the 6th floor was just around the corner from the lifts and had bunk beds which pleased my 2 boys. All of these things made our visit extra special and reinforced my love for the hotel.

Our stay at the HNY did knock the NPB from it's number 1 slot in my book, but only because of it's proximity to the park and the hot items and yoghurt selection at breakfast as standard. Standard breakfast at NPB has all the items available at the Cheyenne but with individual yoghurt and fromage frais pots and fresh fruit salad, not that awful tinned stuff. I understand that it gets busy at breakfast, I can't think if any reason why it would be any worse than the other hotels, and expecially not SF after our experience last week.

Hope someone can come along and give you some more uptodate info on the NPB, I would love to stay there again one day and would be interested to hear what those people who have stayed recently experiences have been.

 

[Ware Bears]

Congratulations on booking, cherrymarzipan!

Can't be any help but wanted to say we're staying at the Newport Bay for the first time this summer. Like Jill we've always liked the look of it and chose it over Sequoia Lodge as we tend to think of that as a cosy winter refuge plus we prefer the look of the outside pool (now watch it rain cats and dogs every day we're there!! ) We had originally planned to stay at the New York but it was more than we wanted to pay and to be honest, that hotel does nothing for us, it was purely the location that was tempting us.

You're already aware of the worst of the complaints which are the crowded breakfast and the size of the hotel. I have read complaints on Trip Adviser that the rooms are shabby but so long as mine are clean I can live with a bit of chipped paintwork.

We did consider Admirals Floor but as the perks for this don't seem to be what they used to be I'm going to use the difference for my cocktail fund!

I'll be looking forward to reading your thoughts when you get back.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Thank you both for replying. I love the “New England” style and colours and am really looking forward to experiencing the hotel now.

Like you, Elaine, as long as it is clean I can put up with a bit of shabbiness and in fact will be expecting it as the price was so good. We have not stayed at the Sequoia Lodge either but I too am waiting to sample this first time as a Christmas season treat. I will post on here how we find the NBC when we get back in April and I hope you have a great stay there in the summer.

Jill, are the rooms more spacious than the Cheyenne and Santa Fe? Can you remember if there are kettles provided in the room?

We haven’t stayed in a hotel with a pool for a while so that should be fun although I am not sure how much time we will have for it as we only have three nights.

Having read the sticky hotel thread I noticed that the NBC has one bedroomed rooms as well as two. Now I am worried as I booked the stay in just one name as we have APs and was going to add the other members of the family on checking in, just paying the taxes. Do you think I should email the hotel either now, or during the week before arrival, to tell them of our intentions?

One last question, would you say the walk back from the park is further than that to the Cheyenne and which is the quickest way back, past the HNY or around the back of the Earl of Sandwich?

 

[DLPdaft]

just call the hotel the week before you go, tell them you will be adding extra guests to the room when you arrive and so can you have a room for 4.

The rooms in the NBC are slightly larger than the Cheyenne or Santa Fe, there is a small dressing area with double sinks outside the toilet/shower room, this dressing area is also where the minibar is.

I wasn't overly impressed with either our rooms or the location of them at the NBC, but if you ask for and get a room near reception it won't be a trek to get to and from your room.

I do agree that the outside of this hotel definitely has the Wow factor, its closer to the parks (around the back of Earl of Sandwich) than the Cheyenne, and the public areas are lovely too.
Its huge though, which means it can be a good 10-minute walk along corridors to reach your room if you're out in the wings.

 

[tinks_1989]

There are some lovely elements to New Port Bay we stayed here in 2010 the theme I think is beautiful!

The only thing that really put me of was the size it meant a lot of people at breakfast we did get VIP breakfast one day which was lovely!

We had a view of TOT of our room which looks lovely in the evening!

 

[A Small World]

I think we had the same room as Jill when we went as it had bunkbeds and was close to the lifts on Admirals Floor.

We were lucky enough to go when they had lots of special incentives for Admirals floor - seperate breakfast room with hot items, free soft and hot drinks from 11-5 with cakes added from 3-5.
We had added DS room only and only paid a few Euros for him and he still had all the extras as well - it was definitely worth it.

I still prefer SL though as the public areas seem nicer and I liked the pool better as well (Im sure that had an outside bit as well as seem to remember swimming under the door to get from outside to inside)

 

[cherrymarzipan]

So glad there are people out there who DO like NBC! I do wonder if we should upgrade to Admiral’s Floor now though, might be a bit difficult considering the ultra-bargain price I got by choosing the cheapest room and only booking for one person. We have a second visit there planned for May though so if the breakfast crowds are too awful next month (I do love being able to say that! ) we may upgrade that stay.

One slight concern, I note the term, “Shower room” above, I do hope there is a bath as DS cannot manage a shower.

 

[jothp]

We stayed at the newport bay last year and didn't have any problems, the check in staff were really friendly and helpful, breakfast was absolutely fine (but we were there early every day) and we had the most gorgeous room (free upgrade) I would happily stay here again if the price was right.

 

[donna307]

me me me!! I LOVE NPB

The bathroom consists of a bath/shower so don't worry about that. I was last there in 2009 and our room was right next to the lifts so have not experienced the too big thing .You cold e-mail them and ask them to make sure you get a room near to the lifts (although maybe they wont be able to at this busy time of year) It has such a calm relaxing atmosphere and its nice and light and airy. The pool is fantastic! Esp if its nice enough weather to go outside. If I remember correctly, it only opens at about 3pm but that works in perfectly for coming home for a relaxing swim after a busy day at the parks and then get ready to go back for more or maybe for dinner.

I didnt think it was that 'shabby' and the room itself was perfectly clean. I always access the room as soon as I arrive and if there is anything dirty or that you want changing, speak to them as soon as you get there.

I would say the room is very spacious compared to Cheyenne (I cant comment on sante fe as I have not been there.

the walk back from the park is quicker than Cheyenne. You just have a short walk way onto the main walk way and your at the entrance to Disney village. HNY and NPB are probably of equal distance to the village.

When we were there in July 2009, they used the conference room (MASSIVE) for breakfast. They will probably do this when you are there. I think at low season, breakfast is in the cape cod or yachy club

 

[cherrymarzipan]

So glad to hear these recommendations, thank you. Now really looking forward to lovely theming, a shorter walk to the park, larger bedroom (and relief that there is a bath!) and a nicer breakfast - brilliant! Will let you all know how we enjoy it.