HRH or Portofino for kids 5 & 2 years old

[luckytso]

I just bought the annual passes (never been to Universal besides the one on LA maybe 10 years ago) and booked the entertainment rate for Portofino for 2 stays - mid May and end of August.

The rate is $155 for garden view at Portofino in May and $170 Bay View for August. However, they still have the entertainment rate of $125 for HRH. Should I switch? Is Portofino worth the extra $?

My impression is that HRH is more suited for older kids, is that right?

Thanks for any input you can give

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Your children will enjoy wherever you like. The HRH has a nice pool for little ones. I've heard the the PBH pool is also nice. The HRH is closer to the parks, which is nice with young children. Personally, I'd try PBH for one of the trips and HRH for the other.

 

[lookingforward]

Tigger&Belle has a great idea to try both! I have stayed at both and I would recommend the HRH over the Portofino. The Portofino is beautiful but very quiet. The HRH is just so ALIVE and active. It has the greatest pool, great cabana's, a kids club, and is in walking distance to citywalk and the parks. I LOVE the HRH. Hope you have a lot of fun this summer! If you are there on Saturday don't forget the "dive in" pool party. They set up a huge screen and they play movies while you sit by the pool. Its a great time!

 

[CPM]

I would pick PBH, HRH is very crowded all the time. Not sure why quiet is bad while relaxing on vacation?? PBH's pool is just as nice if not nicer then HRH's they have a great kiddie pool are with a pirate ship play area right next to it. A nice slide and cave to swim under. They have a sandy play area also. They have their Dive In movies at the Villa pool, as well as the cabanas. My son loves the kids club at PBH and it really isn't that much farther to walk to the parks. they have a shuttle that will pick you up at the front entrance or the boat.

 

[lookingforward]

Quiet is definately not a bad thing! The Portofino is just a very different feel than the HRH. It is true that the HRH is crowded (as in at capacity) but it only seemed a big deal around the pool one time. That incident that was annoying..we were down at the pool at around 9 p.m. and there were about 100 20- somethings in the hot tub. (OKAY I exaggerate) They were really loud, drinking..and lets just say they were "enjoying" each other's company. Not a real family atomosphere! But in all my stays there that was the only uncomfortable moment. One GOOD thing about having lots of people there...there are kids to play with around the pool. My children have always met playmates there.

One thing to keep in mind..if you choose the more elegant and quiet surroundings of the Portofino you can still enjoy the HRH pool for a visit. I think they still allow resort guests to hop pools.

 

[Disney Debbie]

If your question is "Are the extra $$ worth it for MY KIDS?" then I'd say no. At 5 & 2 they'll enjoy either place. I personally would go for the less expensive one.

 

[JessicaR]

I would pick Portofino but thats because I have been to both and really prefer PBR over HRH.
You could book Portofino for the May trip and HRH end of august trip, people will be back to school or getting ready to go back by the end of August and it should be less busy.

That way next trip...you would know which "you" prefer! Although theres always the RP to try after that

Enjoy and have fun on your trips!

 

[luckytso]

Thanks for all of your tips and suggestions.

I decided to go for the price (agree with Disney Debbie, they will be happy with either one).

We will check out Portofino while we are there in May, if we like it, there will always be the next time. Thanks again

 

[Tigger&Belle]

That's the nice thing about little kids--they're pretty much happy (or unhappy-lol) if you are. They don't know the difference. I have little and big kids--3yo-15yo--and the bigger they get the more opinionated they get!