Princess Mommy
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2005
- Messages
- 340
September 14th for 2 nights....
We landed and I was a bit puzzled b/c our town car company rep wasn't there right away to pick us up- it was a few minutes until after we had retrieved our bags- which is strange because they are usually right there when you get to the baggage claim. Anywhoo.. we drove up to the Portofino Bay and we both we in awe!
It was lovely... beautiful.. elegant...
totally exceeded my expectations (which granted were low b/c we weren't 7 miles down the road on WDW property )
Check in was easy- the bellman bought us to our room & I knew it wasn't the right one. Last minute I had upgraded t a deluxe room with a bay view andthis was a standard room (smoking too~ YUCK ) with a pool view. So, I piped up- the bellman called the front desk & they moved us... and WOW!
The room (#2343) was 100% better, the view was amazing... You could totally feel you were in Italy and not central Florida.
We then went to Sal's pizzeria for a quick bite & headed to the pool (GREAT choice- VERY good!). We went to the beach pool (family pool) that had 2 hot tubs and a pretty neat water slide & zero entry... the girls would have LOVED it. Just as we were missing our princesses we ordered pina colada's poolside & all was better
When we returned to our room the basket of goodies I ordered Mike from the girls was there and it sure was yummy!
Then we were off to Emeril's in City Walk. We waited no less then 5 minutes for the incredibly relaxing water taxi. City Walk was WILD. NOTHING like Downtown Disney like I had expected. They had a few family games, tons of shops & places to eat... huge video screens playing music videos and a DJ in the center of it all. We headed to Emeril's about 10 minutes early for our ressie which was fine- enough time to try a new wine & order a bottle with dinner Dinner was PHENOMINAL. Ok people- you go to Florida- you go to Emeril's... The place was loud was I wasn't expecting- but the staff was a well oiled machine- you had a team of 3 waiters instead of 1. I was a bit dissappointed b/c I mention when I made the ressie, confirmed the ressie & told our waiter it was Mike's b'day & when our slice of Chocolate mousse pie cames out there was no cheesey singing waiters and candle like we had seem a few before during our meal. Oh well, Mike was relieved though
After dinner we walked back to the Portofino. Very romantic- walking up to the hotel all lit up...
The next am we were at Islands of Adventure by 10am. We rode the Hulk first then Spiderman. AWESOME rides, though I did feel queezey b/c those rides we all done within 20 minutes of each other. I purposely didn't eat anything b/c I didn't want to get sick. We were able to jump to the front of the lines b/c we were staying onsite, which in IMHO if you are doing Universal- you should stay onsite. This is a HUGE perk. We then rode Jurrassic Park River ride (disappointing- really not as as we though it could be), Dueling Dragons, and The Cat in the Hat.
From there we headed to the Hard Rock for lunch. Easily located smack between the 2 parks...
In Universal things we spread out nicely- at IOA things seemed cramped.
We headed to Twister first (AWESOME!), The Mummy, Shrek, Men in Black, then Back to the Future. I had to stop riding at that point b/c I was dry heaving on Back to the Future. It freaked poor Mike out he has no idea how the ride ended- he just wanted to be sure I was ok. There was another rider with us who was yelling she was going to be sick so that didn't help either- at least I was quiet. Next time we'l be sure to try ET and T2 attractions.
It was before 5 at this point & we headed back to the hotel for a RELAXING snooze at the Villa Pool after checking in with the girls. LOVE that pool far more relaxing then the beach pool. Italian music- cushioned loungers... ahhh... no cushions at the family pool and they played pretty much Top 40 (anything from Britney Spears to James Taylor).
We then caught the Italian concerts from the balconies they don nightly from 7:45pm for about an hour.
We went up to shower & headed to one of the hotels 8 restaurants for dinner, Mama Della's We ate calamari & chicken parm family style- even though it was just the 2 of us. We ate all of it though!
From there we headed to City Walk again (walking again) and sat ourselves down at Pat O'Brien's for a few hours and 2 hurricanes. Before we left we sung along to Piano Man... who doesn't LOVE that song? We wanted to try Maragrittaville- but they were closed by the time we got there- maybe 1am? Oh well, we heaed back to the resort, walking again.
Boy did my legs hurt that am...
Got up early & heaed back to the Villa Pool for a few hours b/4 we checked out at noon.
The towncar was there right on time... so was our plane (after we grabbed Mc'D's for lunch).
It was a WONDERFUL trip and I HIGHLY recommened the Portofino Bay Hotel to ANYONE who has the chance to stay there.
We landed and I was a bit puzzled b/c our town car company rep wasn't there right away to pick us up- it was a few minutes until after we had retrieved our bags- which is strange because they are usually right there when you get to the baggage claim. Anywhoo.. we drove up to the Portofino Bay and we both we in awe!
It was lovely... beautiful.. elegant...
totally exceeded my expectations (which granted were low b/c we weren't 7 miles down the road on WDW property )
Check in was easy- the bellman bought us to our room & I knew it wasn't the right one. Last minute I had upgraded t a deluxe room with a bay view andthis was a standard room (smoking too~ YUCK ) with a pool view. So, I piped up- the bellman called the front desk & they moved us... and WOW!
The room (#2343) was 100% better, the view was amazing... You could totally feel you were in Italy and not central Florida.
We then went to Sal's pizzeria for a quick bite & headed to the pool (GREAT choice- VERY good!). We went to the beach pool (family pool) that had 2 hot tubs and a pretty neat water slide & zero entry... the girls would have LOVED it. Just as we were missing our princesses we ordered pina colada's poolside & all was better
When we returned to our room the basket of goodies I ordered Mike from the girls was there and it sure was yummy!
Then we were off to Emeril's in City Walk. We waited no less then 5 minutes for the incredibly relaxing water taxi. City Walk was WILD. NOTHING like Downtown Disney like I had expected. They had a few family games, tons of shops & places to eat... huge video screens playing music videos and a DJ in the center of it all. We headed to Emeril's about 10 minutes early for our ressie which was fine- enough time to try a new wine & order a bottle with dinner Dinner was PHENOMINAL. Ok people- you go to Florida- you go to Emeril's... The place was loud was I wasn't expecting- but the staff was a well oiled machine- you had a team of 3 waiters instead of 1. I was a bit dissappointed b/c I mention when I made the ressie, confirmed the ressie & told our waiter it was Mike's b'day & when our slice of Chocolate mousse pie cames out there was no cheesey singing waiters and candle like we had seem a few before during our meal. Oh well, Mike was relieved though
After dinner we walked back to the Portofino. Very romantic- walking up to the hotel all lit up...
The next am we were at Islands of Adventure by 10am. We rode the Hulk first then Spiderman. AWESOME rides, though I did feel queezey b/c those rides we all done within 20 minutes of each other. I purposely didn't eat anything b/c I didn't want to get sick. We were able to jump to the front of the lines b/c we were staying onsite, which in IMHO if you are doing Universal- you should stay onsite. This is a HUGE perk. We then rode Jurrassic Park River ride (disappointing- really not as as we though it could be), Dueling Dragons, and The Cat in the Hat.
From there we headed to the Hard Rock for lunch. Easily located smack between the 2 parks...
In Universal things we spread out nicely- at IOA things seemed cramped.
We headed to Twister first (AWESOME!), The Mummy, Shrek, Men in Black, then Back to the Future. I had to stop riding at that point b/c I was dry heaving on Back to the Future. It freaked poor Mike out he has no idea how the ride ended- he just wanted to be sure I was ok. There was another rider with us who was yelling she was going to be sick so that didn't help either- at least I was quiet. Next time we'l be sure to try ET and T2 attractions.
It was before 5 at this point & we headed back to the hotel for a RELAXING snooze at the Villa Pool after checking in with the girls. LOVE that pool far more relaxing then the beach pool. Italian music- cushioned loungers... ahhh... no cushions at the family pool and they played pretty much Top 40 (anything from Britney Spears to James Taylor).
We then caught the Italian concerts from the balconies they don nightly from 7:45pm for about an hour.
We went up to shower & headed to one of the hotels 8 restaurants for dinner, Mama Della's We ate calamari & chicken parm family style- even though it was just the 2 of us. We ate all of it though!
From there we headed to City Walk again (walking again) and sat ourselves down at Pat O'Brien's for a few hours and 2 hurricanes. Before we left we sung along to Piano Man... who doesn't LOVE that song? We wanted to try Maragrittaville- but they were closed by the time we got there- maybe 1am? Oh well, we heaed back to the resort, walking again.
Boy did my legs hurt that am...
Got up early & heaed back to the Villa Pool for a few hours b/4 we checked out at noon.
The towncar was there right on time... so was our plane (after we grabbed Mc'D's for lunch).
It was a WONDERFUL trip and I HIGHLY recommened the Portofino Bay Hotel to ANYONE who has the chance to stay there.
