PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL INFO...FAQ`s and more.......

[Minnie1222]

Our room is a club room and the windows are indeed covered. We don’t care because we’re not view people, but I get why others would.

Thanks for confirming this. I tried to look for other rooms but the premier hotels are fully booked during Christmas time (as expected). We don't need to be there that specific week anyway. I'm going to change our trip dates.

 

[Lewisc]

Does anyone know what is going to occupy the space vacated by Mandarin Spa? Another spa?

 

[macraven]

I don’t have an answer for you but will keep checking on it.

 

[barb969]

Here now, There is no construction around the water. I will check other areas later.
Indivual toiletries are not available. There 3 large pump bottles in the shower. Between Disney and Universal I haven’t bought shampoo for 20 years.

 

[cbonebt]

Any updates? Club level soon and don’t want to be too disappointed

 

[BunsenH]

Also soon to visit CL for the first time on 1/13/25. I would appreciate some info as well.

 

[barb969]

All the plastic is off all the windows facing the water.

 

[liamthompson]

I read through some of the more recent posts and wanted to double check my understanding: the majority of club level rooms are in the villa section but some are also located in the east or west wing?

And the only ongoing construction is in the villa section right now?

I found a good deal for club level over presidents day week (end of Feb) but am worried about noise - I have a small kid who needs mid-day nap.

 

[Minnie1222]

I read through some of the more recent posts and wanted to double check my understanding: the majority of club level rooms are in the villa section but some are also located in the east or west wing?

Our 2QB club rooms have always been in the villa wing. Those rooms are the same as the Deluxe rooms. I'm not sure if they have the deluxe (larger) rooms in the East or West wing.

As of mid-December, it was reported that the windows of these club rooms were still covered with tarp.

 

[CastAStone]

I read through some of the more recent posts and wanted to double check my understanding: the majority of club level rooms are in the villa section but some are also located in the east or west wing?

And the only ongoing construction is in the villa section right now?

I found a good deal for club level over presidents day week (end of Feb) but am worried about noise - I have a small kid who needs mid-day nap.

They’re very quiet; it’s 95% trim work and painting. We didn’t notice them when they were working right outside our windows except when they blocked the light coming in. But no sounds coming through.

 

[barb969]

Ask for a bay view. All construction was gone around the water before Christmas. They were only working on some of the hallway windows between west wing and villa wing.

 

[liamthompson]

They’re very quiet; it’s 95% trim work and painting. We didn’t notice them when they were working right outside our windows except when they blocked the light coming in. But no sounds coming through.

Thanks for this note, it puts me at ease. I don't mind the scaffolding, it's drilling and hammering I'm concerned about!

 

[weather_lady]

Our 2QB club rooms have always been in the villa wing. Those rooms are the same as the Deluxe rooms. I'm not sure if they have the deluxe (larger) rooms in the East or West wing.

I've been researching this a bit myself (first stay at PBR coming up on 1/18, in a Club 2Q).

My understanding is that although there are deluxe-size rooms throughout the resort, the deluxe-sized ones designated as "Club" 2Qs were originally just those in the Villa wing. At some point however, PBR decided to start upselling its deluxe-sized rooms in the East and West wings as Club Level too. The downside of these farther-flung rooms (besides the long walk to the Lounge) is that they evidently don't have the bathroom renovation that the Villa deluxes received a few years ago, wherein the toilet was enclosed behind a door. I know there are other bathroom variations between various deluxe 2Qs as well (extra shower or no, 1 sink or 2) but I haven't been able to pin down which of those are located where, or whether they tend to be Club or not. While there are many room tours online, the vloggers don't tend to specify the room location: some of them even present mobility accessible rooms and their associated features as if they think every other room will be identical to that.

It's been really frustrating: we're a party of 5 with 3 teens, and little things like an extra sink or a separated toilet will make an enormous difference in the usefulness of the space: not knowing what we can expect to get adds unnecessary stress... but this is what I get for pouncing on a good APH rate and taking a gamble.

 

[Minnie1222]

Has anyone been able to add Club access to a regular room at Portofino?

We stayed at Hard Rock this past May and December and were told that this option was no longer offered.

However, we were at Royal Pacific in July and the option was still available there.

 

[liamthompson]

I've been researching this a bit myself (first stay at PBR coming up on 1/18, in a Club 2Q).

My understanding is that although there are deluxe-size rooms throughout the resort, the deluxe-sized ones designated as "Club" 2Qs were originally just those in the Villa wing. At some point however, PBR decided to start upselling its deluxe-sized rooms in the East and West wings as Club Level too. The downside of these farther-flung rooms (besides the long walk to the Lounge) is that they evidently don't have the bathroom renovation that the Villa deluxes received a few years ago, wherein the toilet was enclosed behind a door. I know there are other bathroom variations between various deluxe 2Qs as well (extra shower or no, 1 sink or 2) but I haven't been able to pin down which of those are located where, or whether they tend to be Club or not. While there are many room tours online, the vloggers don't tend to specify the room location: some of them even present mobility accessible rooms and their associated features as if they think every other room will be identical to that.

It's been really frustrating: we're a party of 5 with 3 teens, and little things like an extra sink or a separated toilet will make an enormous difference in the usefulness of the space: not knowing what we can expect to get adds unnecessary stress... but this is what I get for pouncing on a good APH rate and taking a gamble.

Thank you for sharing this! It clears up a lot of my confusion and explains why there are conflicting reports.

I could definitely see why you would want to know the toilet/sink situation with three teens!

Your dates are over MLK weekend, right? It's interesting that you're also seeing a good AP rate - we were originally booked for the week after presidents day because I figured lower crowds = cheaper hotels and was surprised to see a cheaper rate for holiday week instead. I thought it was because of the construction but now I'm wondering if it's because hotel occupancy numbers aren't where Loewes is hoping them to be (cross your fingers that the crowds won't be as bad as projected!)

 

[liamthompson]

Has anyone been able to add Club access to a regular room at Portofino?

We stayed at Hard Rock this past May and December and were told that this option was no longer offered.

However, we were at Royal Pacific in July and the option was still available there.

I called the main Loewes reservation line a few weeks ago and was told this was not an option.

But I see a few posts back on this thread where someone was able to do this by contacting the hotel directly and it was noted in their reservation as a request. If you're not dead set on having club access, then I think that's worth a shot.

 

[Minnie1222]

I thought it was because of the construction but now I'm wondering if it's because hotel occupancy numbers aren't where Loewes is hoping them to be (cross your fingers that the crowds won't be as bad as projected!)

We took 3 trips to Universal last year and I did notice a slight decrease in park attendance. I think people are waiting for the opening of Epic Universe, especially if they are not AP holders and are required to buy a 3-park ticket.

 

[weather_lady]

Your dates are over MLK weekend, right? It's interesting that you're also seeing a good AP rate - we were originally booked for the week after presidents day because I figured lower crowds = cheaper hotels and was surprised to see a cheaper rate for holiday week instead. I thought it was because of the construction but now I'm wondering if it's because hotel occupancy numbers aren't where Loewes is hoping them to be (cross your fingers that the crowds won't be as bad as projected!)

I only got a good AP rate because I bookmarked the search on the Universal website and checked it several times a day like a crazy person! The AP rates for that mid-January holiday weekend didn't come out until 11/14, when I grabbed a Portofino Club 2Q for $560/ night. (Not an objectively low price, but for that room and dates, by far the best possible deal).

I agree though that crowds seem to be lower than expected/usual, with plenty of hotel inventory still available - I think (as @Minnie1222 said) that will be true until Epic opens, as people hold off to wait for that. We'd be holding off too, if we didn't have Seasonal Annual Passes and tons of airline rewards miles greasing our wheels.

 

[weather_lady]

FWIW, I spoke on the phone today with a Portofino Assistant Manager about our stay next weekend (Club 2Q). She told me that virtually all of the Club/Villa rooms will still be tarped off during our visit. As she put it: "not a big deal unless, of course, you wanted to have light through your windows or be able to look out and see anything." (Seriously, her exact words.)

The consolation offer was they could move us to a standard room in another wing, but with Club access, for the same price we're already paying. (Such a deal!)

So I'm gonna grit my teeth and hope for the best. Room rates have shot up so far since we booked that I can't afford to do anything else. Hopefully the weather will be nice, so we'll just want to be outdoors soaking up the sunshine anyway.

 

[BunsenH]

We arrive there on Monday. I will "Hope for the best" also. Perhaps negotiating in person will be more fruitful.