Hi Everyone. This was our first extended trip staying inside Universal, our past trips included only one night onsite or stays outside at a condo or at Disney. We've stayed at Royal Pacific but I always wanted to stay at Portofino Bay. Good thing too because that's all that was available for our dates. Who went? Myself (Mom), DS18, DD11, and DS's GF16 (don't even go there - that's another thread
) -- let's just say that when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday/graduation he only wanted to take DGF to Universal because she had never been out of town before and by all accounts has not had a very happy childhood (she is in foster care). Okay, okay, but she sleeps with DD!
First, let me preface by saying that we have NEVER before gone during school vacation but this trip was for DS's 18th birthday and graduation gift and this is the only time he could go because of his sports schedule. It's also the reason he hasn't joined DS and myself for the last four years. I prefer low crowds, value prices, and a guarantee of at least 70 degrees -- none of which prevail during February school vacation so he's been left at home
So, off we go to Universal Wednesday 2/20-Monday 2/25.
Flight was uneventful and we hired a towncar for transportation between the airport and hotel. I don't think I can mention the company name and I'm just getting to the end of a 30-day filter violation punishment so I'm not going there....
Driver was there when we arrived. Unfortunately, we arrived 30 minutes late and then our luggage took at least another 30 minutes. I got the feeling that he had to be elsewhere but what could we do
Stopped for groceries, well really beer and wine and a few granola bars for breakfast, and off to PBH.
Stood in line for a few minutes while the two parties in front of us were told their rooms were NOT ready (it was only 1:30 or so). Up I go and voila! Our room is ready and we've been upgraded due to son's birthday which I noted when making the ressie. I booked the standard room and they told me we now had bayview. Off to our room we go and when I entered I'm thinking, No, this isn't bayview, this is Deluxe Bayview. YIPPEE
Now I don't have to sleep with DS, he can have the pullout! We had room #3559 with a huge balcony (probably 8x8) and overlooking the boat ramp!
While I was very pleased with the hotel and of course, the upgrade, I still don't think $300/night or more is worth paying unless FOTL is necessary and some time will be spent at the resort. We stayed here because I felt it would be easier for everyone to do their own thing and still be "together" IYKWIM. Had we stayed in a condo, I would have been going to the parks early with DD, going back to pick up DS at noon when his butt rolls out of bed, coming home with DD at dinnertime and heading back to Citwalk at midnight to get the teens -- so you see where staying onsite worked for us? And there was no way I was leaving the teens alone at a condo miles from the parks by themselves
What I don't know won't hurt me but I'm not gonna make it easy
Crowds at the parks were not bad at all. We went every day to one or both parks. While FOTL was great it really wasn't necessary except maybe for Spiderman and MIB but we could have managed them early in the am if we had to. We did go early the last day to have Cinnabons and ride Pteradon (sp) Flyers before the lines started. Let me just say this, do NOT wait in line for this ride. If you can get there early (and No, I would not go early just for this) great, ride it, but if you miss it, know that you are not missing one of Universal's Magical Moments.
The forecast online showed showers every day but we lucked out, we had heavy rain Thursday around dinnertime for an hour or so and again Saturday morning for an hour or two. It was mostly/partly cloudy most days, except of course the day we left which was glorious sunshine
But I would much prefer cloudy and high 70s to sunny and low 60s -- I paid for warmth and darnit, I want it! And I got it, it was high 70s, low 80s every day Actually, perfect park weather.
The teens went to see Blue Man Group and loved it. The tickets were a gift from my Mom and Dad for DS's birthday. They also went to Wet N Wild on Friday and had fun there. PBH provides complimentary transportation to both Seaworld and WnW -- I'm sure glad I read this just before the trip so I didn't spend $$ on a taxi for them.
But the highlight for me was getting to see HannahMontana 3D
DD had asked if I would take her to see this a couple of weeks ago during its "one week only timeframe" but the closest theatre was more than an hour away so it was easy to say NO, NO, NO Don't you know, the first thing she saw when we entered Citywalk Day1 was the AMC Theatres and oh, yes, hold onto your hats, HM was playing
You didn't think I was getting out of this did you? I told her if it rained we'd go and it rained, so we went. She was very disappointed and it wasn't what she expected but hey, it filled two rainy hours. We also went to see Spiderwick Chronicles which was great. AMC theatres has $5 shows before noon on Saturdays and Sundays, another tidbit to pass on...
Okay, on to the important stuff: Restaurant Reviews I originally wrote this trip report using the 1, 2, or 3 smilie system but there is a 25 image limit I guess so I'll use A for great, B for good, and C for just okay.
C- @ Splendido Pizzeria at PBH: I asked (and thought) this would be the same pizza as one would get at Sals but it is not, it was expensive and not very good. The guy behind the counter was very nice though and gave DD free gelato three days in a row.
A- @ Bubba Gumps: We always enjoy the food here. Two minor complaints -- mentioned DS's birthday to hostess and waiter but it was never acknowledged, although the table next to us was (which was embarrassing for me) and they delivered the caesar salad that I ordered after my dinner arrived and when I told them I no longer wanted it, the "runner" was not very pleased. Too bad, I really wanted it during the 20 minutes we waited for our food.
A+ @ Mythos for lunch. What can I say, we always go here, we always love it.
B @ Margaritaville: Long wait, just okay services and once again mentioned birthday to hostess and server. Server asked DS if it was his birthday and then still never acknowledged it with celebration, although the table next to us again got balloons and singing At this point, we just figured it wasn't meant to be
C @ Nascar: Service was subpar, waiter forgot numerous things, didn't know menu, took 10 minutes to bring ketchup and the food was just okay. The chicken soup was great though! It's more like a chicken/corn chowder and it is supposed to be served with a shot of tequila -- and while I didn't need this, it wasn't even offered until the soup was gone.
B @ Hard Rock Beach Club: Food was good, service was good. Prices were fair except for drinks, lemonade and ice tea refills were $3 each. We assumed they were free and had two refills each so drinks alone cost $20 -- live and learn!
C @ NBA City: Stopped in here when it was raining one afternoon, bad choice. We were seated upstairs in the bar area by ourselves, our waiter was the bartender, food was just okay, service was good though. Just no atmosphere and we almost felt out of place, like they were closed and we were imposing Maybe it's better at dinnertime.
A @ Confisco Grill: I've never noticed this place before but have recently read about it here on the boards so we gave it a shot. It was very good. I loved sitting outside watching everyone. I had nachos and wings and they were both excellent. Prices were good too.
B @ Mama Dellas: Ya I know, everyone loves this place. Well, I thought it was good but most probably would not go back. The food was excellent but I personally don't like to spend that kind of $$ and sit in a dining room filled with kids. I understand that it is family-friendly but for me, the prices didn't match the atmosphere. BTW, I had rack of lamb with garlic mashed and loved it. Also enjoyed the salad.
A @ Sals at PBH: Excellent pizza and salads, great prices. We ate here on our last day after checking out of the room and waiting for our towncar. Nice to sit outside in the square and enjoy our last hour
That's it for my restaurant reviews. Overall, everything was good. I also had a Nathans hot dog one day and really enjoyed the shrimp gumbo served during Mardi Gras ($4 with a hoagie roll). DD had the fried dough covered with sugar and chocolate and liked that, of course
Pools at PBH were nice, we used both the villa and the beach pool several times. We missed the Dive-In movies because they were at 6 pm each night which is not convenient for us (we are usually getting ready for dinner at that time). The movie at RPR starts at 7 each night and at 8:30 at HRH. Wish they had a later one at PBH. We used the HRH pool and had lunch the one day and had fun there and spent one late afternoon at RPR at the pool and enjoyed a few pool cocktails there. The boats were great, never waited more than a few minutes. We also hired the rickshaws a couple of times. I wasn't sure how much to tip but we gave them $4 to go to US and $5 to go to IA.
Have I missed anything? Ask away and I'll try to answer all your questions. Thanks for reading.
) -- let's just say that when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday/graduation he only wanted to take DGF to Universal because she had never been out of town before and by all accounts has not had a very happy childhood (she is in foster care). Okay, okay, but she sleeps with DD!First, let me preface by saying that we have NEVER before gone during school vacation but this trip was for DS's 18th birthday and graduation gift and this is the only time he could go because of his sports schedule. It's also the reason he hasn't joined DS and myself for the last four years. I prefer low crowds, value prices, and a guarantee of at least 70 degrees -- none of which prevail during February school vacation so he's been left at home
So, off we go to Universal Wednesday 2/20-Monday 2/25.Flight was uneventful and we hired a towncar for transportation between the airport and hotel. I don't think I can mention the company name and I'm just getting to the end of a 30-day filter violation punishment so I'm not going there....
Driver was there when we arrived. Unfortunately, we arrived 30 minutes late and then our luggage took at least another 30 minutes. I got the feeling that he had to be elsewhere but what could we do Stopped for groceries, well really beer and wine and a few granola bars for breakfast, and off to PBH.Stood in line for a few minutes while the two parties in front of us were told their rooms were NOT ready (it was only 1:30 or so). Up I go and voila! Our room is ready and we've been upgraded due to son's birthday which I noted when making the ressie. I booked the standard room and they told me we now had bayview. Off to our room we go and when I entered I'm thinking, No, this isn't bayview, this is Deluxe Bayview. YIPPEE
Now I don't have to sleep with DS, he can have the pullout! We had room #3559 with a huge balcony (probably 8x8) and overlooking the boat ramp!While I was very pleased with the hotel and of course, the upgrade, I still don't think $300/night or more is worth paying unless FOTL is necessary and some time will be spent at the resort. We stayed here because I felt it would be easier for everyone to do their own thing and still be "together" IYKWIM. Had we stayed in a condo, I would have been going to the parks early with DD, going back to pick up DS at noon when his butt rolls out of bed, coming home with DD at dinnertime and heading back to Citwalk at midnight to get the teens -- so you see where staying onsite worked for us? And there was no way I was leaving the teens alone at a condo miles from the parks by themselves
What I don't know won't hurt me but I'm not gonna make it easy Crowds at the parks were not bad at all. We went every day to one or both parks. While FOTL was great it really wasn't necessary except maybe for Spiderman and MIB but we could have managed them early in the am if we had to. We did go early the last day to have Cinnabons and ride Pteradon (sp) Flyers before the lines started. Let me just say this, do NOT wait in line for this ride. If you can get there early (and No, I would not go early just for this) great, ride it, but if you miss it, know that you are not missing one of Universal's Magical Moments.
The forecast online showed showers every day but we lucked out, we had heavy rain Thursday around dinnertime for an hour or so and again Saturday morning for an hour or two. It was mostly/partly cloudy most days, except of course the day we left which was glorious sunshine
But I would much prefer cloudy and high 70s to sunny and low 60s -- I paid for warmth and darnit, I want it! And I got it, it was high 70s, low 80s every day Actually, perfect park weather.The teens went to see Blue Man Group and loved it. The tickets were a gift from my Mom and Dad for DS's birthday. They also went to Wet N Wild on Friday and had fun there. PBH provides complimentary transportation to both Seaworld and WnW -- I'm sure glad I read this just before the trip so I didn't spend $$ on a taxi for them.
But the highlight for me was getting to see HannahMontana 3D
DD had asked if I would take her to see this a couple of weeks ago during its "one week only timeframe" but the closest theatre was more than an hour away so it was easy to say NO, NO, NO Don't you know, the first thing she saw when we entered Citywalk Day1 was the AMC Theatres and oh, yes, hold onto your hats, HM was playing You didn't think I was getting out of this did you? I told her if it rained we'd go and it rained, so we went. She was very disappointed and it wasn't what she expected but hey, it filled two rainy hours. We also went to see Spiderwick Chronicles which was great. AMC theatres has $5 shows before noon on Saturdays and Sundays, another tidbit to pass on...Okay, on to the important stuff: Restaurant Reviews
I originally wrote this trip report using the 1, 2, or 3 smilie system but there is a 25 image limit I guess so I'll use A for great, B for good, and C for just okay.C- @ Splendido Pizzeria at PBH: I asked (and thought) this would be the same pizza as one would get at Sals but it is not, it was expensive and not very good. The guy behind the counter was very nice though and gave DD free gelato three days in a row.
A- @ Bubba Gumps: We always enjoy the food here. Two minor complaints -- mentioned DS's birthday to hostess and waiter but it was never acknowledged, although the table next to us was (which was embarrassing for me) and they delivered the caesar salad that I ordered after my dinner arrived and when I told them I no longer wanted it, the "runner" was not very pleased. Too bad, I really wanted it during the 20 minutes we waited for our food.
A+ @ Mythos for lunch. What can I say, we always go here, we always love it.
B @ Margaritaville: Long wait, just okay services and once again mentioned birthday to hostess and server. Server asked DS if it was his birthday and then still never acknowledged it with celebration, although the table next to us again got balloons and singing
At this point, we just figured it wasn't meant to be C @ Nascar: Service was subpar, waiter forgot numerous things, didn't know menu, took 10 minutes to bring ketchup and the food was just okay. The chicken soup was great though! It's more like a chicken/corn chowder and it is supposed to be served with a shot of tequila -- and while I didn't need this, it wasn't even offered until the soup was gone.
B @ Hard Rock Beach Club: Food was good, service was good. Prices were fair except for drinks, lemonade and ice tea refills were $3 each. We assumed they were free and had two refills each so drinks alone cost $20 -- live and learn!
C @ NBA City: Stopped in here when it was raining one afternoon, bad choice. We were seated upstairs in the bar area by ourselves, our waiter was the bartender, food was just okay, service was good though. Just no atmosphere and we almost felt out of place, like they were closed and we were imposing
Maybe it's better at dinnertime.A @ Confisco Grill: I've never noticed this place before but have recently read about it here on the boards so we gave it a shot. It was very good. I loved sitting outside watching everyone. I had nachos and wings and they were both excellent. Prices were good too.
B @ Mama Dellas: Ya I know, everyone loves this place. Well, I thought it was good but most probably would not go back. The food was excellent but I personally don't like to spend that kind of $$ and sit in a dining room filled with kids. I understand that it is family-friendly but for me, the prices didn't match the atmosphere. BTW, I had rack of lamb with garlic mashed and loved it. Also enjoyed the salad.
A @ Sals at PBH: Excellent pizza and salads, great prices. We ate here on our last day after checking out of the room and waiting for our towncar. Nice to sit outside in the square and enjoy our last hour
That's it for my restaurant reviews. Overall, everything was good. I also had a Nathans hot dog one day and really enjoyed the shrimp gumbo served during Mardi Gras ($4 with a hoagie roll). DD had the fried dough covered with sugar and chocolate and liked that, of course
Pools at PBH were nice, we used both the villa and the beach pool several times. We missed the Dive-In movies because they were at 6 pm each night which is not convenient for us (we are usually getting ready for dinner at that time). The movie at RPR starts at 7 each night and at 8:30 at HRH. Wish they had a later one at PBH. We used the HRH pool and had lunch the one day and had fun there and spent one late afternoon at RPR at the pool and enjoyed a few pool cocktails there. The boats were great, never waited more than a few minutes. We also hired the rickshaws a couple of times. I wasn't sure how much to tip but we gave them $4 to go to US and $5 to go to IA.
Have I missed anything? Ask away and I'll try to answer all your questions. Thanks for reading.
If so, we use them all the time, whether they are banned from the DIS or not! 
was heavenly.
