Newport Bay Club Hotel - a review!

[RoseBug]

Thought I would pop a quick review up, as I know this is one of those hotels that you either love or hate, and that it does sometimes get poor reviews!

Our experience couldn't have been better! We paid a little more to upgrade to Admirals Floor, Lake View (maybe £130 more in total) and were given a wonderful room with a balcony, looking directly out over the lake and with views of the Castle and parks to our left. Room number 8278, 8th floor, a few steps away from the lifts in a quiet corner.

The room was immaculate - yes there was a few little bits of peeling wallpaper (very little) and a few chips in the furniture. There was a little bit of mould on some of the tiles - but that is me being picky. I've stayed in many hotels worldwide, 2 days before we went to Disney we stayed in 5* hotel for our wedding anniversary, and tbh, it was only slightly better than the NPB.

The beds were comfortable and the aircon was more than adequate, and kept us cool, despite it being boiling outside!

The exterior of the hotel is gorgeous, it needs refurbed and spruced up, but it is still a lovely looking hotel.

The lobby is fab, so clean and spacious, and the white and blue theming is so airy!

There is only one lift from the lobby down to the restaurants and the exit to walk to the park. Many trip reports make this out to be a nightmare, but tbh it wasn't, 99% of the time we got in with no wait, and the other times it was no bother carrying the buggy up the stairs. There are 5 lifts up to the rooms so we never had to queue for those.

We ate in the Yacht Club for breakfast, it was very civilised, you queue at the door (for no more than a minute) and are shown to your table, and the buffet breakfast was split across 3 areas, which was great as it meant no big queues etc. Food was lovely and fresh, and was replenished constantly.

We only drank in the bar once, but again, it was a lovely experience, table service by very pleasant CM's and a lovely view!

Check-in was very quick at the Admirals Floor desk, and the CM was wonderful - giving Rosebug chocolate coins, balloons and a name badge.

It was busy at times, but no more busy than I remember New York or Cheyenne being, infact it was a lot less manic than Cheyenne and the character queues and breakfast queues were a lot less than I remember at the NY.

Swimming pool and changing rooms were excellent, immaculately clean and a lovely temperature.

However, it is big and I can imagine if you were in one of the wings it could be a nightmare!

I would like to try Sequoia and obviously DLH, but I much preferred this hotel to the New York (which to mewas just too conference like, with little atmosphere) and the Cheyenne and we will happily stay here again!

HTH!

Some photos:


DSC_0294 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0295 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0296 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0297 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0298 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0299 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0300 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0301 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0383 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0390 by rosebug09, on Flickr


DSC_0416 by rosebug09, on Flickr

 

[Bexx]

Glad you enjoyed the NPB so much. The view from your room is wonderful

I've also copied this post into the NPB thread

 

[maryr1oz]

Thanks so much for this review!!

We are staying here, Admiral's Floor, in 3 weeks. I have stayed at Santa Fe a long time ago, and nothing since. Reading some reviews i have been hesitant about staying but clearly there are very mixed reviews.

I can't wait to visit and explore this hotel

 

[theffaddict]

What a great review! I'm leaning toward Newport Bay in 2014 as of now. Could change before then, but I'm leaning there right now. Can't wait for that trip. I'm not too picky about hotel since I'm more in love with parks/pool, but New port Bay looks like an affordable very nice hotel. Thanks again for the review.

 

[micksn]

Thanks for review, we're staying at NPB in October and are really looking forward to it! Is the walkway to the village open now, I remember last year it was closed due to building work so would have had to go round by SL?

 

[erider]

Nice review. Glad to read the hotel is still a great place to stay.
I always get the feeling that the Admirals Floor rooms are in a better condition than the rest of the rooms, since I never read bad things about the rooms in the reviews of people who stay in Admirals Floor.

This hotel will be even better when the whole renovation project is done.

 

[MazdaUK]

Great review, thanks! We had a couple of drinks there in July and would be spoilt for choice between that and SL - I honestly don't think HNY is worth the extra until it gets a refurb (safe with a key? Mini bar? No thanks! Rather have a fridge!)

 

[donna307]

Brilliant! Thank you so much for writing this. Its about time somebody said something positive about my favourite hotel

I absaoutely love the NPB and can't wait to visit there in less than 4 weeks

In some ways, I hope i'm in one of the old non refurbished rooms because I like how light the décor is. Not sure if I'm a fan of the darker looking, new décor...

I plan on sending an e-mail 2 weeks before we go asking nicely for a room close to the lifts. Maybe we will get the nice little extras in the room you sometimes hear about

 

[Carrie_Cat]

In some ways, I hope i'm in one of the old non refurbished rooms because I like how light the décor is. Not sure if I'm a fan of the darker looking, new décor...

There's only 4 of them refurbished rooms until at least end of next year so you should be safe

 

[micksn]

Are there any pictures of refurbished rooms? Sounds exciting!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Are there any pictures of refurbished rooms? Sounds exciting!

Have a look at this thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2967982

 

[RoseBug]

I had totally intended on having a wander to find the refurbished area, but in the end never had time, and was worried I would get lost!

And yes, erider, I get the impression that Admiral's Floor rooms are in better nick than the other floors. There are now 4 AF's - I was under the impression there was originally only 2?

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

we are staying at NPB for Halloween and plan to eat in our hotel the day after attending the halloween party to have a quite night,

Did you notice the buffet meal at the hotel??

Has anyone eaten here|?

 

[RoseBug]

we are staying at NPB for Halloween and plan to eat in our hotel the day after attending the halloween party to have a quite night,

Did you notice the buffet meal at the hotel??

Has anyone eaten here|?

Sorry, we didn't go near during evening meal, although I did smell seafood!

 

[MJ_always]

Great post and LOVE the photos!! What an incredible view that is. Have to say, it's our fave hotel. We like the decor and how bright it is and the staff have always been amazing. We stay on the Admiral's floor too but never had a lake view room.
I love the reception area. And even the smell! You know which one I mean- it's so distinct and as soon as I arrive I smell that and think 'yep I'm here'. Ooh and I love the gift shop there too. It becomes my 2nd home when I'm there.

Has anyone ever been in the gym there before? This will be my third time there in just under 2 weeks- yay!! I'm very tempted to want to go in the gym- 6 days without is gonna be weird haha.

 

[RoseBug]

Great post and LOVE the photos!! What an incredible view that is. Have to say, it's our fave hotel. We like the decor and how bright it is and the staff have always been amazing. We stay on the Admiral's floor too but never had a lake view room.
I love the reception area. And even the smell! You know which one I mean- it's so distinct and as soon as I arrive I smell that and think 'yep I'm here'. Ooh and I love the gift shop there too. It becomes my 2nd home when I'm there.

Has anyone ever been in the gym there before? This will be my third time there in just under 2 weeks- yay!! I'm very tempted to want to go in the gym- 6 days without is gonna be weird haha.

I'd read trip reports saying the smell was like sick. All I could smell was sea air, honestly, it smelled like the sea! And I should know, I'm a seaman's daughter!

 

[MJ_always]

I'd read trip reports saying the smell was like sick. All I could smell was sea air, honestly, it smelled like the sea! And I should know, I'm a seaman's daughter!

haha!! wow yeah. your best to judge that then! I wouldn't of said sick either, I think it is like sea/fish which considering the theme- lol! At first I think ewww but then you get used to it so quick and its just part of being at that hotel. And the uniforms too- ooh nice!! How can you tell I'm excited.

 

[Ware Bears]

That was my DDs' room!! And we were next door in 8280 which is a connecting king! What a small world!

And I second everything you've said we loved everything about the hotel and would definitely stay here again.

Did you notice the buffet meal at the hotel??

Has anyone eaten here|?

We did and it was delicious. I'll post a proper review in the restaurant thread soon.

I love the reception area. And even the smell! You know which one I mean- it's so distinct and as soon as I arrive I smell that and think 'yep I'm here'.

Has anyone ever been in the gym there before? This will be my third time there in just under 2 weeks- yay!! I'm very tempted to want to go in the gym- 6 days without is gonna be weird haha.

We loved the smell too!!

DH went to the gym and was quite impressed for an hotel gym.

 

[RoseBug]

That was my DDs' room!! And we were next door in 8280 which is a connecting king! What a small world!

And I second everything you've said we loved everything about the hotel and would definitely stay here again.We did and it was delicious. I'll post a proper review in the restaurant thread soon.



We loved the smell too!!

DH went to the gym and was quite impressed for an hotel gym.

Haha! It is such a small world! All those rooms and you got those ones! When did you arrive? I hope they left Rosebug's balloon in the room for you!

Hope you had a wonderful stay, and so glad you felt the same about the hotel. I don't know why people hate it!

 

[MJ_always]

We loved the smell too!!

DH went to the gym and was quite impressed for an hotel gym.

Ah that's great thanks! Think I'll try and take my gym stuff with me then, hopefully have a chance to try it out.