Here Right Now!!

[goodferry]

We arrived in Orlando last night and checked in to Portofino Bay at 6:30 this morning. Our room was not ready, we grabbed breakfast in the Club Level lounge. We walked to US and were in line at 7:30 am. Gates opened at 7:45 and we were in Diagon Alley by 8. When we got to Gringot's the wait time was an hour. By 8:40 we were getting into our car and we were out the doors by 8:50.
It appears that both sides were working while we were there and we never stayed in one place very long so it did not appear that the ride had any mechanical issues while we were there.
When we walked out of the ride the wait time was 2 hours.
We walked around a bit and had Butterbeer ice cream.
I will post a full report with pictures soon!
Questions?

 

[Lynne G]

Nice. thanks for the live report. We'll be there in 11 days. We like the Portofino.

Have a great time.

 

[HairyChest]

How do you like the hotel? Is that betteror the royal pacific? How many nights is a good amount there?

 

[glocon]

When you got there at 7:30 were there a lot of people in front of you? Do you think that it would have made a difference if you got there at say 7:15 or even 7:00? We will not be "runners" or speedwalkers, so just trying to make a plan.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

When you got there at 7:30 were there a lot of people in front of you? Do you think that it would have made a difference if you got there at say 7:15 or even 7:00? We will not be "runners" or speedwalkers, so just trying to make a plan.

The gates opened at 7:30 today and yesterday. We were at the very front of the line. It was past the ticket center way past where I could see.

Touringplans has U at an 8/10 and the UK goes back to school Mon. That will make a huge difference. American accents are rare here now.

When we stepped off the ride yesterday the wait time was 120 and that was before 8 AM.

Today we left Diagonal Alley at 9AM and they were holding people back from London.

 

[macraven]

goodferry, have a great time at the dark side!!!


is the butterbeer ice cream as yummy as the bb drink?



looking forward to your comments about your trip.

 

[wicket2005]

English schools not back until early September.

 

[goodferry]

Hello!!!
In response to your questions, earlier would have been better, but getting 6 people (3 teens) moving at that hour is tough and maybe not worth it lol. We got in the park at 7:45, waited 15 minutes to get in. We were in Diagon Alley by 8 and out of the ride by 8:50, not bad in my opinion. Today we rode again twice in the single rider line, less than 20 minutes each time from walking in to walking out. I agree with other reports that you should go through the regular line the first time to get the full experience.
Portofino, we continue to try to love it is the best I can say. We have had multiple issues, which happens, but the staff has been less than apologetic about our problems. We are here for three night, four days. I think five would be ideal. We LOVED RPR in February, for whatever reason the staff seemed much friendlie and anxious to make sure you were happy.

 

[Bluer101]

Hello!!! In response to your questions, earlier would have been better, but getting 6 people (3 teens) moving at that hour is tough and maybe not worth it lol. We got in the park at 7:45, waited 15 minutes to get in. We were in Diagon Alley by 8 and out of the ride by 8:50, not bad in my opinion. Today we rode again twice in the single rider line, less than 20 minutes each time from walking in to walking out. I agree with other reports that you should go through the regular line the first time to get the full experience. Portofino, we continue to try to love it is the best I can say. We have had multiple issues, which happens, but the staff has been less than apologetic about our problems. We are here for three night, four days. I think five would be ideal. We LOVED RPR in February, for whatever reason the staff seemed much friendlie and anxious to make sure you were happy.

I have had many issues in the past year or so with both hotels. But RPR is getting to be a real pain. From someone that is there monthly you would think they would not make the same mistakes over and over. Oh well, soon I will spend my money elsewhere.

 

[Blue32]

Can you both comment more on your issues with the on site hotels PB and RP?

 

[glocon]

EEEEEK

This will be our first stay at RPR.... what kind of issues are you having there?

 

[HairyChest]

What pros and cons have you run into? I have 3 nights booked at portofino bay in 2 weeks, should i switched it to royal pacific?

 

[Planogirl]

I'd like to hear more details too. I've never had or heard of any particular issues so I'm very curious.

 

[jon18uk]

English schools not back until early September.

Yep, UK schools always break up late July and go back early September. I suspect the confusion is between American convention makes 08/09/14 the 9th August, but to a Brit that is the 8th September!

 

[Dopey1808]

We love Royal Pacific, never had any problems there. Rooms, service, sushi in the lobby. All great. Next week will be our 4 stay there. Really great resort.

 

[Bluer101]

Just to let people know most issues are minor but should not happen at all. Plus other people know me and my family we make many trips per year, at least once a month or more.

We are not the ones that arrive and everyone knows us. We tend to keep to ourselves and such. This also helps because just like someone visiting for their first time we are treated the same way. By this approach we can really get a feel for how on different occasions where they miss their mark. Loews hotel is a bigger chain that prides themselves on luxury and such.

So for the problems they can be minor to major and will not get into that here.

But I can assure anyone that both hotels are really great but with anything else there can be issues. Maybe because we are there so much our odds are better.

Some minor issues can be,

1 Missed turndown, this past weekend again. Sucks when you return late at night and turndown was not done and fresh towels replaced. So now wait for them to be delivered so you can get ready for bed and shower.
2 Missed cleaning
3 Items not working or broken
4 Air conditioner not functioning properly due to poor maintenance. (This past weekend again)
5 Door lock not working when returning to your room, locked out. Yes I now know when this will happen in the next day or so.
6 Simply light bulbs out or lamps unplugged. (For multiple days, so they are not checking)
8 Platinum welcome gift never shows up even though I remind them at checkin each time.
9 Turn down of the pull out couch for my son is 50/50 even after noted on the account.
The list goes on

Like I said these are the minor issues. But to their credit we have had many perfect visits.

For many years we were only loyal to RPR and never stayed at the others until this year. We started to try PBH to compare in service. I have to say that PBH has been pretty much flawless for us, very minor.

Like I said before, we can see the flaws but they should not happen. Everyone is paying good money for this environment and service. If not we would go stay offsite and save some money. They need to be more consistent will everyone that visits.

So once again don't worry and enjoy your stay. They are really great hotels as most will agree.

 

[damo]

Just to let people know most issues are minor but should not happen at all. Plus other people know me and my family we make many trips per year, at least once a month or more.

We are not the ones that arrive and everyone knows us. We tend to keep to ourselves and such. This also helps because just like someone visiting for their first time we are treated the same way. By this approach we can really get a feel for how on different occasions where they miss their mark. Loews hotel is a bigger chain that prides themselves on luxury and such.

So for the problems they can be minor to major and will not get into that here.

But I can assure anyone that both hotels are really great but with anything else there can be issues. Maybe because we are there so much our odds are better.

Some minor issues can be,

1 Missed turndown, this past weekend again. Sucks when you return late at night and turndown was not done and fresh towels replaced. So now wait for them to be delivered so you can get ready for bed and shower.
2 Missed cleaning
3 Items not working or broken
4 Air conditioner not functioning properly due to poor maintenance. (This past weekend again)
5 Door lock not working when returning to your room, locked out. Yes I now know when this will happen in the next day or so.
6 Simply light bulbs out or lamps unplugged. (For multiple days, so they are not checking)
8 Platinum welcome gift never shows up even though I remind them at checkin each time.
9 Turn down of the pull out couch for my son is 50/50 even after noted on the account.
The list goes on

Like I said these are the minor issues. But to their credit we have had many perfect visits.

For many years we were only loyal to RPR and never stayed at the others until this year. We started to try PBH to compare in service. I have to say that PBH has been pretty much flawless for us, very minor.

Like I said before, we can see the flaws but they should not happen. Everyone is paying good money for this environment and service. If not we would go stay offsite and save some money. They need to be more consistent will everyone that visits.

So once again don't worry and enjoy your stay. They are really great hotels as most will agree.

What is the platinum welcome gift these days? Is it still the little fruit basket?

 

[Bluer101]

What is the platinum welcome gift these days? Is it still the little fruit basket?

Yep, still the same. I enjoyed when we had the choice of a few things. But the fruit basket has turned into a plate with a red and green apple, 1 strawberry, one banana, lol.

 

[damo]

Yep, still the same. I enjoyed when we had the choice of a few things. But the fruit basket has turned into a plate with a red and green apple, 1 strawberry, one banana, lol.

I liked it when you could get cookies.

 

[RMulieri]

I am sorry you are having issues at PBH( make sure they know )..we have stayed there 2x ( and will again in Jan) and the employees have always been fantastic..even when I got hurt at the studios last August, the hotel employees went above and beyond were very helpful