Has anyone stayed at the Portofino?

[visitingapril09]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on the DIS boards. We are coming to Disneyland in April 09!!! We went on a MAW trip to DW in 2004 when our son was 5. Then this past April I took two of our other children down to DW to watch our eldest perform with his school band at DL! It was a whirlwind 3 day trip. Now this April we are returning for 7 days with our very special son, who is now 10, and our three other teens. We hope to make this trip very special for A. our son who has a terminal disease. He doesn't remember his wish trip when he was 5 so we want to take him to Disney again. We stayed at the HOJO this past April but there suite options for 6 are very limited. We have looked at the Portofino and the price is great for a three room suite. I have a few questions:

1)Was it a nice place to stay?

2) Does anyone know how different the walk would be from the Portofino to the parks compared to the walk from the Hojo?

Thanks everyone. I look forward to exploring the boards more!

 

[WendyT]

I stayed at the Portofino a couple of years ago. The rooms and property were getting a little old and run down. The walk is MUCH longer than HOJO's walk. You go right out of the exit, past Candy Cane Inn and keep on going through the traffic lights. Maybe 20 minutes at the end of a long day?
When we go with our big family we much prefer Marriott Residence Inn maingate and take ART or drive and park. When you look at their prices, remember to calculate that you will have a kitchen and they have a complimentary hot/cold breakfast each day.

 

[visitingapril09]

I stayed at the Portofino a couple of years ago. The rooms and property were getting a little old and run down. The walk is MUCH longer than HOJO's walk. You go right out of the exit, past Candy Cane Inn and keep on going through the traffic lights. Maybe 20 minutes at the end of a long day?
When we go with our big family we much prefer Marriott Residence Inn maingate and take ART or drive and park. When you look at their prices, remember to calculate that you will have a kitchen and they have a complimentary hot/cold breakfast each day.

Thank you so much for your insight. I wish someone would just pick somewhere for me.......I hate having to decide.