I am torn between HR and Portofino's - HELP!

[Suzanne74]

We are planning a 3 night stay at Universal following a 4 night Disney cruise in early October. It is myself, DH and DD7. We don't plan on doing anything but the 2 parks and relaxing by the pool the 3-4 days we are there. DH and I will probably do one night out if DD wants to go to the kids club.

I am thinking DH would want Hard Rock and I would want Portofino but this is just a total guess because we have never seen any of the hotels. DH and I did Citywalk and Universal about 9 years ago before DD and we had a blast. Now that we have a 7yr old daughter, we want something fun for all of us.

Suggestions as to why one vs the other might be better for our family would be much appreciated!

EDIT: We will probably stay at Club level too so the price difference is only $8 a night.

 

[KLAIT]

Personally, I would go with Portofino. We stayed at HRH last spring with the intent of hanging out with Pool time. We went at a time when it wasn't that busy and there were so many people at the pool (which isn't very big) and it was too chaotic for us. We walked over to the PBH hotel and it was so much more relaxed and comfy by that pool....have fun!

 

[paul436]

HRH is much closer to the parks than Portofino making for a much easier walk (especially with a 7-year old). But you can always use the water taxi. But access to the parks is easier and quicker from HRH.

The pool at Portofino seems more relaxed and laid back. But your 7-year old might like the added activity at the HRH. If you was just you and your husband I would recommend Portofino. But with a little one I would go with HRH.

 

[Suzanne74]

HRH is much closer to the parks than Portofino making for a much easier walk (especially with a 7-year old). But you can always use the water taxi. But access to the parks is easier and quicker from HRH.

The pool at Portofino seems more relaxed and laid back. But your 7-year old might like the added activity at the HRH. If you was just you and your husband I would recommend Portofino. But with a little one I would go with HRH.

How much of a walk difference are we talking? I didn't think about that.

 

[dsmom]

We are headed back to Portofino in two hours! This is our favorite place in the world! We have a nine year old son and he loves this place! The beach pool is incredible- it has a nice slide- the villa pool is beautiful but more for adults. Our son loves the pizza place by the pool and he also loves Sal's deli and the ice cream shop. We walk to the parks all the time. Walking very slowly with him we get there in about 12 minutes. I am sure you could walk it faster. Camp portofino is great for kids. The beach pool also has dive-in movies that are fun. The breakfast and dinner buffets are great at Trattoria. We have had some very nice special dinners at Bice and Mamma Della's is fun for the whole family. The club lounge is huge and the staff is wonderful.

I can't say enough about Portofino- we LOVE it!!

 

[goofy!]

We are headed back to Portofino in two hours!

I'm jealous!

 

[KLAIT]

Wanted to add that we did have DS (9) with us and he much preferred PBH to Hard Rock....which is funny as that was the only reason we booked the HRH was thinking he would be the one to enjoy it..

 

[goofy!]

If you want the best of both worlds, you can do what we have done.

You can stay at the Portofino (also our absolute favorite place), but one day rent a cabana at the Hard Rock.

Since the Hard Rock is so close to the parks we spend the day at the pool from opening until closing. And instead of pool breaks during the day, we do "ride breaks." We will swim and play the poolside games for a few hours and then take a "ride break" where we will run over to the parks and ride a few rides. Then back to the cabana for more pool and games.

 

[macraven]

HRH is much closer to the parks than Portofino making for a much easier walk (especially with a 7-year old). But you can always use the water taxi. But access to the parks is easier and quicker from HRH.

The pool at Portofino seems more relaxed and laid back. But your 7-year old might like the added activity at the HRH. If you was just you and your husband I would recommend Portofino. But with a little one I would go with HRH.

um, i stay at HRH and still take the water taxis............

both HRH and PBH have the kids club for child care services.
well, all three of the hotels provide that.

they also have a specific night a couple times a week for character dining at each hotel resturaunt. all have a kids activity at the pool also.

i know the HRH and RPH have a separate "kid" dining area in the main resturant, not sure about PBH but would assume they would. dsmom would know that one.

if you want a lot of space in the room, go with PBH.
if you want different pools and don't want to pool hop, do PBH.

no matter which hotel you stay at, you can pool hop. do try the one at HRH no matter which hotel you stay at.

HRH has less rooms than PBH does.

you will be happy with which ever one you decide on.

if you are doing club level, check out some of the older threads that show the items that are available for the times food is available if that would help you decide.

 

[goofy!]

i know the HRH and RPH have a separate "kid" dining area in the main resturant, not sure about PBH but would assume they would. dsmom would know that one..

Trattoria has a separate area for the kids with couches, tables and a big screen tv.

 

[dsmom]

Yep, Trattoria has the kid's dining area. I have to say they also have the best server in the world. His name is Mohammad and he is a big reason we go there. My son is absolutely in love with him!

We ride the water taxis also. The nicest thing is to ride one back to the resort. When it enters under the last bridge the view is outstanding!

Goofy! We are headed out! We have the ground floor Portofino Suite again! I am still hoping one day for the Villa Suite! Thanksgiving will be here before we know it! Will let you know how it goes when we get back Monday night! Bye!

 

[goofy!]

Yep, Trattoria has the kid's dining area. I have to say they also have the best server in the world. His name is Mohammad and he is a big reason we go there. My son is absolutely in love with him!

We ride the water taxis also. The nicest thing is to ride one back to the resort. When it enters under the last bridge the view is outstanding!

Goofy! We are headed out! We have the ground floor Portofino Suite again! I am still hoping one day for the Villa Suite! Thanksgiving will be here before we know it! Will let you know how it goes when we get back Monday night! Bye!

Have a great time! And say hi to everyone for us!

 

[macraven]

send me a postcard............i know how to read now........

 

[paul436]

How much of a walk difference are we talking? I didn't think about that.

Portofino is at least twice as far away as HRH. Someone said it was a twelve minute walk to Portofino. I didn't time it when I was there but it seemed longer. Another thing I saw last year was the carriage bikes outside the parks. There is no set price but the bike drivers will take you back to your hotel for tips. You pay what you feel it is worth. My kids used it to go back to HRH a couple of times for fun. It wasn't necessary because it was so close. But I can see how it would be easier going to Portofini. Obviously not free like the water taxi but there's no wait.

 

[macraven]

if you will be staying on site sometime during the weekend in the beginning of october, make your ressie now.


during the HHN hard ticket event, the rooms at both hotels fill up early due to it.

if you will be at the Universal hotels on non HHN nights, don't worry about rooms filling up.

 

[marvel]

we absolutely loved HRH in May, and we did club level. my kids 7 and 10 cannot stop talking about it. Club level was great and the proximity to universal was really nice, a 10 minute stroll. it hurts thinking about how long it will be until we can go back. you cannot go wrong, they loved the pool as well and the constant music just gives the place a cool feel.

 

[Suzanne74]

Okay, I was leaning on HRH because I talked my husband into this trip (don't we all ) and he definitely wants to stay there and feel young again.

My only concern now is that we will be there the halloween nights. Our check in Thursday Oct 2nd and check-out is Sunday Oct 5th. Do you think HRH will be filled with tons of older teens/early twenties or families with just older kids/teens that weekend because of this event? It makes me think Portofino might be a better option just because of the date. Thoughts??

 

[macraven]

Okay, I was leaning on HRH because I talked my husband into this trip (don't we all ) and he definitely wants to stay there and feel young again.

My only concern now is that we will be there the halloween nights. Our check in Thursday Oct 2nd and check-out is Sunday Oct 5th. Do you think HRH will be filled with tons of older teens/early twenties or families with just older kids/teens that weekend because of this event? It makes me think Portofino might be a better option just because of the date. Thoughts??

loews requires the person who checks in with the ressie be 21 or older.
you don't have to worry about a group of teens alone having the ressies.

you will find all ages of people staying at the hrh.
not all do the hhn hard ticket event.

the park will be closing early on the dates hhn happens.
studios at 5 and ioa at 6.

you could spend the evening at the pool or pool hop to the other 2 hotels.
they should not be crowded when you go. take in the dive in movies if they are on when you stay there.

do the park during the day and spend your evening at city walk.
take in a movie and dinner.

you can buy the promo movie deal at the reservation/ticket booth at city walk.

 

[Suzanne74]

loews requires the person who checks in with the ressie be 21 or older.
you don't have to worry about a group of teens alone having the ressies.

you will find all ages of people staying at the hrh.
not all do the hhn hard ticket event.

the park will be closing early on the dates hhn happens.
studios at 5 and ioa at 6.

you could spend the evening at the pool or pool hop to the other 2 hotels.
they should not be crowded when you go. take in the dive in movies if they are on when you stay there.

do the park during the day and spend your evening at city walk.
take in a movie and dinner.

you can buy the promo movie deal at the reservation/ticket booth at city walk.

I checked online and studos closes at 5pm and IOA closes at 7pm all the nights we are there. The only difference I noticed is that studios closes at 6pm on non HHN nights so that isn't a big deal for me. Our plan was to do the pool one night, a night for just DH and I with dinner and citywalk while DH is at the kids club and then a family night at Citywalk with dinner and something else.... Hopefully the nights will be less crowded at Citywalk.

I think I will still book HRH. Thanks

 

[paul436]

I think I will still book HRH. Thanks

You won't be disappointed.