PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL Information

[SandraLee]

Why is it necessary to fax a request to the hotel. Is it sufficient to have the request on your reservation?

 

[MastaMind]

Hey everyone,

I've been researching as much as I can for our upcoming trip to Universal Orlando (two nights PBH, three days park-2-park). I do have a few questions that I couldn't easily find answers to:

1. Where is the parking for guests staying at PBH? I was only able to find info about a general parking garage for universal studios guests.

2. Can we walk to the parks from PBH, or do we have to use the water taxis? If water taxis are the primary option, do they get overcrowded?

3. What is the best way to get to the Harry Potter section in IOA from PBH? We will be taking advantage of the early entry!

4. Anything else newbies should know about?

I'm typically the vacation planner, but this Universal trip is on such short notice that it's throwing me a curve ball. We're really looking forward to checking out PBH. Our favorite Disney resort is the Boardwalk Inn, and PBH looks to have some similarities. Thanks!

 

[housetomouse]

Hey everyone,

I've been researching as much as I can for our upcoming trip to Universal Orlando (two nights PBH, three days park-2-park). I do have a few questions that I couldn't easily find answers to:

1. Where is the parking for guests staying at PBH? I was only able to find info about a general parking garage for universal studios guests.

2. Can we walk to the parks from PBH, or do we have to use the water taxis? If water taxis are the primary option, do they get overcrowded?

3. What is the best way to get to the Harry Potter section in IOA from PBH? We will be taking advantage of the early entry!

4. Anything else newbies should know about?

I'm typically the vacation planner, but this Universal trip is on such short notice that it's throwing me a curve ball. We're really looking forward to checking out PBH. Our favorite Disney resort is the Boardwalk Inn, and PBH looks to have some similarities. Thanks!

We didn't have a car, so I can't help with the parking question. We took the boat from PBH to Citywalk, and from there entered IOA for HP early entry. We were at the boat launch by 6:30am and were walking into the park by about 6:50/6:55am. We might have had to wait for a boat once while we were there, but the next one came along quickly. It seemed like it would be too far to walk from PBH to Citywalk.

 

[MastaMind]

We didn't have a car, so I can't help with the parking question. We took the boat from PBH to Citywalk, and from there entered IOA for HP early entry. We were at the boat launch by 6:30am and were walking into the park by about 6:50/6:55am. We might have had to wait for a boat once while we were there, but the next one came along quickly. It seemed like it would be too far to walk from PBH to Citywalk.

Thank you, that's great information (I'm the kind of guy that appreciates the times )! It sounds like the boats are our only option for getting to the parks, then. I take it that Citiwalk is right outside of US and IOA, so it's kind of like the central hub for Universal.

I believe the park hours during our stay will be 9-8 (8am early entry), so I guess we'll aim to be at the boat dock around 7:15.

 

[damo]

We rarely take the boat from PBH. There is a very efficient way to walk that takes under 10 minutes to get to the Citywalk entrance right beside Universal. You simply walk past the boat and stay to the right instead of going along the walking path. Stay on the sidewalk along the road, cross the main street and head towards HRH. Walk to the right through the HRH parking lot, right to the end and you will almost be at the entrance to Universal. It is much quicker than taking the path.

There are maps of this route if you look back in this thread.

 

[MastaMind]

We rarely take the boat from PBH. There is a very efficient way to walk that takes under 10 minutes to get to the Citywalk entrance right beside Universal. You simply walk past the boat and stay to the right instead of going along the walking path. Stay on the sidewalk along the road, cross the main street and head towards HRH. Walk to the right through the HRH parking lot, right to the end and you will almost be at the entrance to Universal. It is much quicker than taking the path.

There are maps of this route if you look back in this thread.

Thanks for the info, damo. I tried searching the thread but nothing came up. I'll just go through the pages one by one when I have the free time.

Since you appear to be a guru on this stuff, any idea where I'll be parking while staying at PBH?

 

[damo]

Thanks for the info, damo. I tried searching the thread but nothing came up. I'll just go through the pages one by one when I have the free time.

Since you appear to be a guru on this stuff, any idea where I'll be parking while staying at PBH?

There is underground parking at PBH, so your car will stay nice and cool. When you drive in, just before you reach the hotel you will see the sign for parking on your right. You will go through the gate and curve down to a parking garage.

Here is my map. Bubba'smom has instructions and photos.

If you look at this aerial view, you can see where the real walking path is and you can see where the route that I have highlighted above is. http://www.bing.com/maps/default.as...&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=3909189

 

[nytimez]

There is underground parking at PBH, so your car will stay nice and cool. When you drive in, just before you reach the hotel you will see the sign for parking on your right. You will go through the gate and curve down to a parking garage.

Here is my map. Bubba'smom has instructions and photos.

If you look at this aerial view, you can see where the real walking path is and you can see where the route that I have highlighted above is. http://www.bing.com/maps/default.as...&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=3909189

Awesome map! I always took that meandering path along the water, this looks much shorter and more direct.

 

[tink20]

We are staying at PBH (first timers) So, I need to request the West Wing? And if we walk, we go past the boat launch, cross over Universal Blvd. (is this a busy street?), then go to HRH parking lot, then what? Is there a sidewalk or path? Will it be easy to see the entrance?


Or should we just take the boat? Do you really save alot of time walking?

 

[MastaMind]

There is underground parking at PBH, so your car will stay nice and cool. When you drive in, just before you reach the hotel you will see the sign for parking on your right. You will go through the gate and curve down to a parking garage.

Here is my map. Bubba'smom has instructions and photos.

If you look at this aerial view, you can see where the real walking path is and you can see where the route that I have highlighted above is. http://www.bing.com/maps/default.as...&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=3909189

That really helps, thanks! Good to know about the parking garage, too.

 

[tink20]

found these wonderful instructions post 7

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2482075&highlight=pedicab

 

[damo]

We need to sticky those instructions. They tend to get buried.

 

[tink20]

We need to sticky those instructions. They tend to get buried.

I know, I knew they existed and wanted to find them. I kinda found them by mistake. I need directions like this or I will definitely get lost.

 

[maryisme]

Hi,

I just booked a concierge room at the Portofino (2 queen beds) for 3 adults and 2 children ages 16 and 7. We normally don't squeeze into 1 room but really wanted to try concierge this trip and don't want the expense of a second room. Am I crazy or will we be ok? We are only there 2 nights after our cruise.

Thanks so much!
Mary

 

[damo]

Hi,

I just booked a concierge room at the Portofino (2 queen beds) for 3 adults and 2 children ages 16 and 7. We normally don't squeeze into 1 room but really wanted to try concierge this trip and don't want the expense of a second room. Am I crazy or will we be ok? We are only there 2 nights after our cruise.

Thanks so much!
Mary

It will be tight! Make sure that you realize that the bathroom is self contained. There is no external sink so that someone can be inside doing their stuff while others are outside doing their stuff.

There are two sinks inside the bathroom though, which makes it nice.

 

[nytimez]

Hi,

I just booked a concierge room at the Portofino (2 queen beds) for 3 adults and 2 children ages 16 and 7. We normally don't squeeze into 1 room but really wanted to try concierge this trip and don't want the expense of a second room. Am I crazy or will we be ok? We are only there 2 nights after our cruise.

Thanks so much!
Mary

Sounds loco to me -- I'd get two regular rooms over one concierge for that. Unless you're used to extremely close quarters -- and, as has been pointed out, real patience with the bathroom (and slower starts each day as a result).

That said, I think you can get a rollaway bed added to the room that will make it a little bit easier -- two adults in a bed, two kids in a bed, one adult in a rollaway -- but it would still be a tight squeeze, and wouldn't solve the bathroom issues.

 

[MastaMind]

We need to sticky those instructions. They tend to get buried.

It would be helpful to have them prominently displayed. If the mods don't want to sticky the info, maybe they could update the first post in this thread to display them.

 

[damo]

Sounds loco to me -- I'd get two regular rooms over one concierge for that. Unless you're used to extremely close quarters -- and, as has been pointed out, real patience with the bathroom (and slower starts each day as a result).

That said, I think you can get a rollaway bed added to the room that will make it a little bit easier -- two adults in a bed, two kids in a bed, one adult in a rollaway -- but it would still be a tight squeeze, and wouldn't solve the bathroom issues.

Club rooms are deluxe and it SHOULD have a small pullout sofa. However, there are a few deluxe rooms that don't have the small pullout.

If the room doesn't, then definitely get a cot in there. Make them comp it.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

There is underground parking at PBH, so your car will stay nice and cool. When you drive in, just before you reach the hotel you will see the sign for parking on your right. You will go through the gate and curve down to a parking garage.

Here is my map. Bubba'smom has instructions and photos.

If you look at this aerial view, you can see where the real walking path is and you can see where the route that I have highlighted above is. http://www.bing.com/maps/default.as...&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=3909189

found these wonderful instructions post 7

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2482075&highlight=pedicab

Thank you both for these!!!!

 

[maryisme]

Sounds loco to me -- I'd get two regular rooms over one concierge for that. Unless you're used to extremely close quarters -- and, as has been pointed out, real patience with the bathroom (and slower starts each day as a result).

That said, I think you can get a rollaway bed added to the room that will make it a little bit easier -- two adults in a bed, two kids in a bed, one adult in a rollaway -- but it would still be a tight squeeze, and wouldn't solve the bathroom issues.

It is crazy and it would not be the first time! It usually works out well as 2 of the occupants of the room pass out pretty quickly and sleep really deep .

If it were longer than 2 nights I would not do it. My girls want to see Harry Potter so this trip preceeds our DVC vacation (2 bedroom).

Thanks!

Club rooms are deluxe and it SHOULD have a small pullout sofa. However, there are a few deluxe rooms that don't have the small pullout.

If the room doesn't, then definitely get a cot in there. Make them comp it.

Thanks for the heads up. We are getting there early so will definitely request one with the pullout.

Mary