PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL Information

[boomer626]

Trattoria del Porto has a breakfast buffet. Not sure about lunch or dinner - I don't think so.

 

[thedisneymom]

Yes, they also have a breakfast and lunch buffet. The Friday and Saturday buffets have meat dish selections whereas, the weekday is a pasta buffet only. The dessert table is great! Check if Friday is still character dinner-Scooby Doo and Woodywoodpecker.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, I booked our first ever Universal trip for March 23 - 26. (Just a quickie before heading to WDW for a week) In over 30 trips to WDW, we have never tried Universal.

Just wanted to subscribe to this thread as I have less than no idea about anything Universal. PBH was the only hotel available so I snagged it. Can't believe it, as it is so early!!!

The restaurants sound awesome!! Gotta try Mama Della's!

I have 3 kids and booked a club level deluxe room. It sounds like it is pretty large, but I am interested in a kid suite with club level priviliges. Any of those exist??

Also, I was reading the other threads and it sounds like there are lots of stairs and the resort is pretty spread out. I have a daughter that is vision impaired and uses a white cane. Steps/stairs are not good for her. Does anybody have a recommendation for a room or area of the hotel that is closest to elevators and the lounge maybe, too???? Is there a better resort choice for us if something opens up?

Thanks for any advice & info!!

Lives4Disney

 

[boomer626]

Just returned from Portafino, and discovered that many of the club/deluxe rooms now have pull-out sofas. We cancelled the roll-away we had ordered. I think these were added as part of the recent remodeling - in fact we had to have maintenance come in and remove the packing straps from the sofa bed because it had never beed used and wouldn't open. The front desk seemed to indicate that not all the rooms had them, so this should be a request if you have a party of five. The newly remodeled rooms in the Villa wing were really beautiful.

 

[littleEinsteins4]

Hello, I'm new to this thread, thanks for all the great info. just a few questions, What is the lowest $$$ season to go? What months? Also is there transport to dis? Is it kid friendly?
Ana

 

[dorisdvu]

Hi, I booked our first ever Universal trip for March 23 - 26. (Just a quickie before heading to WDW for a week) In over 30 trips to WDW, we have never tried Universal.

Just wanted to subscribe to this thread as I have less than no idea about anything Universal. PBH was the only hotel available so I snagged it. Can't believe it, as it is so early!!!

The restaurants sound awesome!! Gotta try Mama Della's!

I have 3 kids and booked a club level deluxe room. It sounds like it is pretty large, but I am interested in a kid suite with club level priviliges. Any of those exist??

Also, I was reading the other threads and it sounds like there are lots of stairs and the resort is pretty spread out. I have a daughter that is vision impaired and uses a white cane. Steps/stairs are not good for her. Does anybody have a recommendation for a room or area of the hotel that is closest to elevators and the lounge maybe, too???? Is there a better resort choice for us if something opens up?

Thanks for any advice & info!!

Lives4Disney

What rate did you get for PBH 3-23-3-26?

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

The hair dryers are new and okay, but not for very long or thick hair.

 

[Lives4Disney]

What rate did you get for PBH 3-23-3-26?

Doris - I am now getting an AP rate of $369/nt for a deluxe club level room. My rate started at $439, dropped to $395 with AP, and then I checked a couple of weeks ago and the AP rate dropped to my current rate. I will keep checking!

If you go to the Loews hotels website and put in the APH code when you check room rates, you can see availablity.

I bought the AP for the room discounts and other discounts - dining, shopping, parking etc.

Lives4Disney

 

[dorisdvu]

Doris - I am now getting an AP rate of $369/nt for a deluxe club level room. My rate started at $439, dropped to $395 with AP, and then I checked a couple of weeks ago and the AP rate dropped to my current rate. I will keep checking!

If you go to the Loews hotels website and put in the APH code when you check room rates, you can see availablity.

I bought the AP for the room discounts and other discounts - dining, shopping, parking etc.

Lives4Disney

Thanks for the info. I'm going to be there during that time as well. My rate is $344 per night for a Deluxe Queen room. This was the WinterLoews rate. I have AAA but this rate was cheaper. I found a cheaper price yesterday on several websites for $306 per night and completed the "Best Rate Pledge" info on the Loews website. So far I haven't heard anything. I had just made my reservations a few hours before, so I made the 24 hour window. The rates on the other websites have gone up today. Hopefully they will stand behind their "Best Rate Pledge". We'll see.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Just read in frommers' travel guide that one pool is only for suite and concierge guest? I thought they changed this, anyone know?

thanks, mky

 

[Fan2CSkr]

It used to be that only those guests you listed could use the Villa Pool. It hasnt been that way in years. The Villa Pool is also where they have their cabanas and all hotel guests may use this pool.

 

[Mommy Poppins]

Does anyone know how to check military rates on their website?

 

[lindalinda]

Code for military rates is MIL

 

[*Flower*]

Is the military rate only good for active duty personnel or can retired military use the rate also?

 

[Sashbear]

What is an AP rate? How do you get this? I have booked the PB for the first week of April. A club floor room for $409 a night gulp! (And the last night is actually $479 a night!) I am finding the rates a bit steep...can I do better?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much...

 

[lindalinda]

AP rate is for Annual Pass holders. You put in APH as the code. You can try it and see if it would get you a better rate, but thats spring break so I'm not sure if any would still be available by now (kinda doubt it). Anyway, for next time, you can find discounted rates with the AP that can make up for the cost of the pass, plus you get discount on merchandise and food.

 

[Sashbear]

So this would be an annual pass to Orlando Studios that I would need to buy to get a discount on their hotels?

 

[Fan2CSkr]

So this would be an annual pass to Orlando Studios that I would need to buy to get a discount on their hotels?

Its called a 2-Park Preferred Annual Pass and you can find it and all the discounts it provides here. http://www.universalorlando.com/annualpass/index.php.html

 

[Sashbear]

So does only the person booking the room need to have the pass then? (I am asking as we actually get 5 consecutive night of Universal passes for the stay)...

 

[minijaffacake]

Hi

I am trying to find the best deal at the moment for a deluxe room at the PBH in October. Virgin Holidays have run out of their deluxe room allocation and so am going to have to book direct if I want a deluxe. I have signed up for the Loews membership and will buy a Preferred Annual Pass to get the benefit of the discounts. I have been onto the Loews website and I wondered if anybody could tell me how much tax is payable on top of the daily room rate? The website states 2 amounts, 6.5% and 5% and then says more taxes apply!! I dont want to go ahead with the booking to find that the $296 room rate increases hugely with the amount of tax added on.

Thanks