Calling Goofy! and all PB experts

[dsmom]

We are headed back to PB for a quick week-end and have the
Portifino Suite reserved. We are adding on club this time and I
have a question- which Port. suite would be closest to the lounge?
The resort has told me there are only 6 Port. suites and they are all
in the West wing? Is this correct? I still find that hard to believe.
I made my resevation though Loews and they told me club could not
be added on to the suite so I had to call back and get that
straightened out.
Thanks for any help!

 

[goofy!]

Certainly not the expert

We have only stayed in two and both of them were in the West Wing.

The one on the third floor was the easiest as you could stay indoors the whole time by taking the hallway that leads to Bice. You didn't have to negotiate any elevators.

Last week we were in 3250 and 3252. It was ok. It was right on the bend of the hallway - next to the ice machine/linen closet. That was a plus as there was nobody next to the bedroom on 3250 - so nice and quiet.

But to get to club, you had to add an extra step of either going down one flight, across the piazza and then back upstairs to the third floor. Or you had to take the elevator up one floor to the 3rd level to take the indoor corridor by Bice.

Both of them were quite a hike but still doable.

Both of them had views of the Beach pool.

And it was very easy, no questions asked, to add club to the Portofino suite at check-in. Glad you got that straightened out

 

[damo]

We've stayed in two different ones in the west wing. One had pool view and one had bay view.

 

[dsmom]

Thanks Goofy! and Damo! I wish they had a Portofino suite with a balcony.
Traveling with our son is a logistics nightmare. I think you remember how
I obsessed about the staircases in the different resorts.
Our son is severely autistic but also has severe allergies with epilepsy. We have to have a balcony or door to the outside with quick access to fresh air. Our son is also what is lovingly known as a "runner" in the autistic world. He can get out of anywhere! I have found with the Portofino suite on the ground floor we have to watch all three doors to the water side and also all three doors out to the hall! Watching six doors is not my idea of a relaxing vacation.
Do the Villa suites have balconies? Are there any close to the club lounge? That might be an option for us but I am sure there is a big jump in price between the two? Thanks for any help!

 

[damo]

Thanks Goofy! and Damo! I wish they had a Portofino suite with a balcony.
Traveling with our son is a logistics nightmare. I think you remember how
I obsessed about the staircases in the different resorts.
Our son is severely autistic but also has severe allergies with epilepsy. We have to have a balcony or door to the outside with quick access to fresh air. Our son is also what is lovingly known as a "runner" in the autistic world. He can get out of anywhere! I have found with the Portofino suite on the ground floor we have to watch all three doors to the water side and also all three doors out to the hall! Watching six doors is not my idea of a relaxing vacation.
Do the Villa suites have balconies? Are there any close to the club lounge? That might be an option for us but I am sure there is a big jump in price between the two? Thanks for any help!

The villa suite we were in last year had 4 balconies. It was relatively close to club. We could walk there indoors. Perhaps you should contact a manager and explain your situation and see what they can do for you.

 

[goofy!]

The two Villa Suites in the West Wing have huge balconies. The one closest to the elevators has the covered balcony off the queen bedroom, a huge double balcony off the living/dining room and a slightly smaller balcony off the king bedroom.

The one a few doors down, around the "bend" of the west wing, as Damo described, has 4 balconies.

The balconies labelled are the first Villa Suite. If you look to the left and see a large reddish "tower" with a covered balcony, that is the first balcony of the other Villa Suite in the West Wing.

There is also a Villa Suite almost next door to the club on the third floor. You go out the side door of the club, go past the public outside balcony, past the elevator and right there are a set of double doors. Can't really get any closer. However, it does not have any outdoor space. But you do have that big outdoor balcony right next door.

And, directly above the club lounge is a Villa Suite with just small step out balconies.

I do believe the Villa is quite a bit more expensive than the Portofino.

 

[calgarygary]

We are headed back to PB for a quick week-end and have the
Portifino Suite reserved. We are adding on club this time and I
have a question- which Port. suite would be closest to the lounge?
The resort has told me there are only 6 Port. suites and they are all
in the West wing? Is this correct? I still find that hard to believe.
I made my resevation though Loews and they told me club could not
be added on to the suite so I had to call back and get that
straightened out.
Thanks for any help!

dsmom, do not request a specific suite/area as I am a believer in letting the PBH staff surprise you at check in. If you request a specific room then you may have lost out on a villa/hospitality/or better suite upgrade.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Last year we were upgraded by Lowes first Plat to a suite. (Portofino suite, I think...It is the suite that is given as an upgrade...not sure of the official name). However, the room was on the ground level with french doors which opened to the outside and the walkway...the boat was right outside. You could walk thru the piazza outside and straight to the club room. Maybe this is the kind of room you need. It had 2 bathrooms and 2 seperate rooms, one with a king bed the other with a pull out. Two TV's...very nice and roomy

 

[dsmom]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply!

Goofy! you are the greatest!! Thank you for taking the time to
post and label the picures( they are beautiful!)
I will be calling the resort and talking to management explaining our
situation. Any of the villa suites would be perfect. We have used that
public balcony next to the club lounge many times. I think most people
do not realize it is open to the public because I have never seen anyone
use it while we are there.
We have had the ground floor Portofino suite next to the boat dock twice
but it was just too much work with our son to watch all the doors to make
sure they were secure. Our son LOVES the water and it is hard to keep
him out of it. He is also a very light sleeper and good with locks. With a balcony it is easier to keep an eye on him.
We have tried so many hotels with no balcony but the recycled air just
got his allergies going horribly. I can honestly say the Universal resorts
are the cleanest we have ever stayed in.

Are you going back to PB for Thanksgiving this year Goofy? I made reservations last week. I am already looking forward to the Trattoria buffet!

Thanks again everyone!

 

[FireandIce]

Last year we were upgraded by Lowes first Plat to a suite. (Portofino suite, I think...It is the suite that is given as an upgrade...not sure of the official name). However, the room was on the ground level with french doors which opened to the outside and the walkway...the boat was right outside. You could walk thru the piazza outside and straight to the club room. Maybe this is the kind of room you need. It had 2 bathrooms and 2 seperate rooms, one with a king bed the other with a pull out. Two TV's...very nice and roomy

Do you remember the room number ?

 

[dsmom]

3137-two queens bedroom
3135- parlor with large bathroom
3133- king bedroom

 

[FireandIce]

3137-two queens bedroom
3135- parlor with large bathroom
3133- king bedroom

thanks

 

[goofy!]

Are you going back to PB for Thanksgiving this year Goofy? I made reservations last week. I am already looking forward to the Trattoria buffet!

Thanks again everyone!

Yup, just made reservations yesterday. We decided we missed it too much last year (flew out Thankgiving afternoon), so we just have to go back this year and do it again.

 

[dsmom]

Goofy! When do you arrive? We arrive on Wednesday before Thanksgiving and leave the next Sunday. I would love to meet while we are there. Are you getting a Portofino Suite or a Villa Suite this time? It looks like we will try the ground floor Port. Suite again. I would love an upgrade to Villa but doubt it since it is a busy time. I talked to the resort again and they confirmed there are six Portofino suites- two of them are on the ground floor. The other four are in the West wing also but on higher floors with no balconies.
We ate the Thanksgiving buffet at Trattoria last year at 6 p.m. and stayed until it closed- that worked out great. We had a full day in the parks and they were not busy at all.(It got much busier on friday and saturday). I found out they are having Harbor Nights the friday after Thanksgiving again so we might try that also. I just hate to get dressed up and feel underdressed with all the formal wear and furs there!

 

[goofy!]

Right now we are tentatively booked from Saturday through Sunday, although that might change once we secure flights.

When we ate at Trattoria 2 years ago, we did pretty much the same thing; did the parks during the day, ate at 6 or 6:30 and waddled out at closing.

We were bummed we missed Harbor Nights this last Thanksgiving, since we had so much fun the year before, despite being way, way underdressed We will definitely do it this year. Guess I better pack the furs and diamonds. Well, I would if I had them!

If we don't meet before then, we can grab a table at Harbor Nights.

I have no idea which suite we are in yet. I am guessing a Portofino again - although Thanksgiving 2006, we were upgraded to the Villa. I guess we will just wait and see.

When we have our plans firmed up a bit more, we can plan a meeting. I will pm you my e-mail address so we can keep in touch. I would definitely love to meet you and your family!

 

[dsmom]

You must be very special to get an upgrade at Thanksgiving!!
Maybe you could get the other ground floor Portofino suite and we could be neighbors! I am so looking forward to the Thanksgiving buffet! ( Have you met Mohammad at Trattoria? He is our favorite person there!) I know what you mean about waddling out- I must have had one of each dessert.
I'd love to get together for Harbor Nights- it's nice having the ground floor suite because you are right in the middle of it! We had so many people come up and join us on our patios last year- if anyone is a "people person" this is the room to get! I love sitting out and looking at the Christmas tree also. I can't wait!

We are heading down for a couple of nights in May and we might go for the 4th of July for the night- they are having a bar-b-que that night something like Harbor nights but much more kid friendly- I am looking forward to seeing what that is like.

Keep in touch- can't wait to meet you!

 

[goofy!]

I don't think special, but were lucky enough to receive an extra special upgrade

I will call the PBH and request the other bay view parlor. It would be fun to have patios!

 

[dsmom]

Why don't we just call and tell them we want to share the Presidental Suite?

 

[goofy!]

Why don't we just call and tell them we want to share the Presidental Suite?

They should go for that. 1 BIG platinum upgrade for two platinum families

Oh heck, I would settle for the two West Wing Villa Suites.

I tried to bring my parlor confirmation up online to see if I could add the bay view request, but it was booked through the PBH directly, so I can't retrieve it. I am going to have to call and ask to have it added. I will just mention that we want the Presidential suite.

Edited to add:
Oops - just reading the Date and Rate thread. Now how in the world are we going to get the presidential suite when you are coming in a week before us and leaving the day after we get there?

 

[dsmom]

Thanks for reminding me! We had origionally planned to go the week before Thanksgiving because of a better rate and lower crowds but realized we would miss the holidays too much ( we had such a great time last year!). I went in and edited my info. for the correct dates!

I guess I will call too and ask for the presidental suite - I REALLY want that fireplace! I'll tell them we will "settle" for the West wing Villas if that is not available