Need Suggestions on Booking Portofino or Royal Pacific

[DutchsMommy]

I am planning a trip to Disney and our first visit to Universal this December. We will be at Universal from Sat Dec 10 to Tues Dec 13. We plan on attending DISapalloza. But, the discount rates the DIS secured are from Dec 8-11 and cannot be applied to the dates we are staying.

So, my question is, what are my best options to get a good rate on either Portofino Bay or Royal Pacific for those dates? TIA!

 

[Melanie230]

If I were you I would buy an AP for just yourself. Use it for the discounts on the hotel and the other park tickets. I just looked at the RPR and you can get a room there for (2 adults and 2 children) for $480.38 including taxes. You will also get 15% off theme park tickets for the rest of the people in your group. You can also use the AP for dining discounts!

 

[macraven]

check AAA for their rates on that time period.

membership is cheap and the discounts are great.
same as the ap for food, merch and hotels at universal.


if you have military alliance, that too has discounts for hotel rooms.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Thanks! I will check out AAA (or CAA for us Northerners ) and also price out the AP. I did not know about the 15% discount for others tickets - do you purchase those ahead of time through Universal?

And, does anyone have any pros/cons on RPR via PB (how the acronyms are right )? We stay DVC at Disney and I do like to 'treat' the family when on vacation....having said that the theming at RPR looks really neat. So, I am feeling 50/50 on either choice and would appreciate any feedback. The price different is not a big deal as I am waitlisted for DVC at Animal Kingdom for 1 night and the cash rate is something like $380 (for 1 night!) so needless to say I am praying my points waitlist comes through!!!

 

[damo]

The rooms at the PBH are larger than the rooms at the RPR. The bathrooms are also way bigger, however everything is enclosed in the one room. There are two sinks in the bathroom which is very nice. It is about a 5 minute walk further than everything else but you still can take the shuttle boat or bus. Take a look at the photos on www.loewshotels.com to get a better idea of theming. It is really a person preference. The food is really good at both hotels but very different. Portofino, of course has an Italian flavour where RPR has an island flair.

To purchase your discounted AP tickets, you need to get your AP activated by going through the gates and then you can purchase the other tickets at the ticket window.

There are so many Canadians on this board lately! I think I used to be the only Canadian on here for quite a while! Hey from Oakville!!!!

 

[DutchsMommy]

There are so many Canadians on this board lately! I think I used to be the only Canadian on here for quite a while! Hey from Oakville!!!!

Thanks and Hey! from Ashburn - South of Uxbridge, North of Ajax...in the boonies

 

[macraven]

damo loves pbh the most and i love rph the most.

and we still are homies to each other....



i go solo so it does not concern me on the room size.
but, i only stay at king suites.

go figure


if i had 3 teens with me, i would go pbh in a heartbeat due to the room size.


the rph rooms are fine for a couple and two littles and not feeling confining.
suitcases can be stored in the closet for extra room space.

the queen/king deluxes at rph has an extra alcove with a mirror, closet and seat bench. (and it has more square footage.)


the reason i prefer rph is due to the convenience of restaurant/food locations and a short 7 minute walk to IOA or city walk.

i like the food places within the hotel very much.
shops are underneath the tower 3 that i browse in.


the lobby is equisite.
(you don't hear any echoing there.)

it is peaceful and the atrium is open at the top around the fountain.

i like the circular layout of the lobby.
shops, restrooms, stairwell to downstairs, orchard lounge for breakfast, sushi bar, sitting area, concierge section besides lobby counter.

i have been there so many times that i feel at home.

i don't know the 24 hour room service menu at pbh but the one at rph is really good with selections.
when i do a night at HHN, which closes at 2 in the morning, kind of hard to find a place to eat..........but room service fits in fine for my needs.

i have eaten at pbh when i have a taste for italian flair foods.
since i am on site for 9 days, i can't do italian that long.
one reason i prefer the rph for food.

we all have a favorite.
you really can not go wrong with any of them!

they all have their merits and you will be well pleased at any of them.

 

[Bluer101]

I vote for RPR, home away from home.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Thanks. How long is the walk from PBR? And would the shuttle or boat be faster? How would you compare the pools at each resort?

And to purchase an AP - do I just call Universal? Is that the best way? Then I would imagine they would mail it so when I check in at the hotel I can show the AP to confirm the discount rate? Do they have kids APs and adults or it is all just 1 price?

Thanks!!

 

[macraven]

always try to buy tickets and items on line.
save your self the long distance phone call.

if you can't, send an email and they can call youse.



it is a longer walk from pbh to the parks/city walk.
damo can give you a better estimate on that then i can.

pool hopping is allowed and encouraged.
you can go to any of the pools while you are an onsite guest.

take your room key card when you do this.
show it to the attendant and you will be issued towels.
you don't have to take towels with you if you go to one of the sister hotels.

 

[Dancind]

We have stayed at all three hotels, and really enjoyed our RPH stay in January. Didn't hurt that we were on floor 7 in a tower and had a perfect view of the Hulk!

Did not get to use the pool, but it's supposed to be very nice! Did eat at the restaurants, really liked the breakfast buffet. Tcoup Tcoup was not a success for us, too busy on a Thursday night in January!

 

[damo]

Thanks. How long is the walk from PBR? And would the shuttle or boat be faster? How would you compare the pools at each resort?

And to purchase an AP - do I just call Universal? Is that the best way? Then I would imagine they would mail it so when I check in at the hotel I can show the AP to confirm the discount rate? Do they have kids APs and adults or it is all just 1 price?

Thanks!!

We usually walk. It takes about 15 minutes to get to IOA from PBH. Before you are ready to go, check out the walking map in the Portofino Bay hotel thread. It is a good shortcut instead of following the pathways along the water.

I think Mac answered your other questions. We're a good team! She's always there to fix my mistakes and then tells everyone I'm always right!

 

[DutchsMommy]

I think Mac answered your other questions. We're a good team! She's always there to fix my mistakes and then tells everyone I'm always right!

Ah, the best kind of teamwork! We decided on Portofino and I booked with APH rate tonight...so I think we are good to go! Im quite excited to try something new and definately excited to attend our first DISapalloza!!!

Thanks to everyone for your help.

 

[macraven]

We usually walk. It takes about 15 minutes to get to IOA from PBH. Before you are ready to go, check out the walking map in the Portofino Bay hotel thread. It is a good shortcut instead of following the pathways along the water.

I think Mac answered your other questions. We're a good team! She's always there to fix my mistakes and then tells everyone I'm always right!