PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL Information

[bubba's mom]

Is staying on-site in July worth it with the FOTL or do too many people buy express passes? We will stay during the week, Mon-Thurs or Tues-Fri.

Yes...staying onsite in July is 100% absolutely worth it! You'll be glad you did.

There are people who BUY the Express Passes...but remember...they limit the number of them sold during the day AND they are only good once per ride ....whereas yours is unlimited!

 

[chelliet]

Okay, just found out that we need to go in August instead of July as DH has a conference smack dab in the middle. I made our reservations through AAA and got Club Level for $360 a night; we've never done Club Level and I really want to try it. Thanks for all of your advice and I know I'll be bugging you with more questions.

 

[MRS AR]

Loews will only honor status if it was gotten by actual number of stays at a hotel. I am gold with HH by use of the HH Amex. Loews would only give me gold not the platinum that is equal status to HH gold. But then any upgrade is good!

Does anyone know what the "local welcome" gift is for PBH? I saw pics of what they give on arrival to RPH loews first members. Just curious>

 

[sunshine1010]

I have a trip planned for Dec. 5-14 at the Portofino Bay Hotel. I'm excited, but since I've never stayed at a Universal resort, I feel lost.

If possible, I have a few questions that I need either answers or explanations to. I'd appreciate all the help I could get. Feel free to email me as well.

1. Does PBH have laundry facilities? I'm hoping that some have been added. I've never heard of ANY hotel NOT having laundry facilities. I saw the pics of the laundry facilities at HRH on another post, and there are only FOUR? So, that would mean that there are 4 washers/dryers for the thousands of people staying at HRH/PBH? I know RP has some too, but I would have to take a boat to City Walk, get off, grab another boat to RP --- JUST to do laundry?

2.We requested a bay view room with 2 queen beds. It seems as though most of the posts on this thread are all about Club rooms. Am I getting the 'runt' of the rooms?

3. For the bay view/2 queen bed rooms - are there ANY available with a window opening? (whether it's a window or a balcony)

4. I've read that people have gotten an Entertainment Rate. WHAT is this? HOW can I get it? The prices seem to be 1/2 of what I'm paying (224.00).

5. I've already booked through a travel agency. They got me the 224.00 rate. Is there any way I can get a better rate?

6. Does this room have an iron/ironing board?

7. Basically - what are the differences between the east wing and the west wing? And what would I get with the 2 queen bed/bay view?

8. How much do they charge to empty a fridge? I heard that they charge you to empty the fridge if you don't want to use the stuff they have, and you want to use the fridge for your stuff.

9. I have a Loew's card. I haven't received it yet, but I expect it in the next month. I'm a little confused......you can only get the 'perks' on what type of reservation? I've read that on other types of reservations (Entertainment rate), you can't.

I'd really appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[damo]

I have a trip planned for Dec. 5-14 at the Portofino Bay Hotel. I'm excited, but since I've never stayed at a Universal resort, I feel lost.

If possible, I have a few questions that I need either answers or explanations to. I'd appreciate all the help I could get. Feel free to email me as well.

1. Does PBH have laundry facilities? I'm hoping that some have been added. I've never heard of ANY hotel NOT having laundry facilities. I saw the pics of the laundry facilities at HRH on another post, and there are only FOUR? So, that would mean that there are 4 washers/dryers for the thousands of people staying at HRH/PBH? I know RP has some too, but I would have to take a boat to City Walk, get off, grab another boat to RP --- JUST to do laundry?

2.We requested a bay view room with 2 queen beds. It seems as though most of the posts on this thread are all about Club rooms. Am I getting the 'runt' of the rooms?

3. For the bay view/2 queen bed rooms - are there ANY available with a window opening? (whether it's a window or a balcony)

4. I've read that people have gotten an Entertainment Rate. WHAT is this? HOW can I get it? The prices seem to be 1/2 of what I'm paying (224.00).

5. I've already booked through a travel agency. They got me the 224.00 rate. Is there any way I can get a better rate?

6. Does this room have an iron/ironing board?

7. Basically - what are the differences between the east wing and the west wing? And what would I get with the 2 queen bed/bay view?

8. How much do they charge to empty a fridge? I heard that they charge you to empty the fridge if you don't want to use the stuff they have, and you want to use the fridge for your stuff.

9. I have a Loew's card. I haven't received it yet, but I expect it in the next month. I'm a little confused......you can only get the 'perks' on what type of reservation? I've read that on other types of reservations (Entertainment rate), you can't.

I'd really appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks in advance!

1. Not many people use laundry facilities, so don't worry too much about it.

2. Bay view with queen beds will be fine. Is it standard or deluxe? Deluxe is a bit bigger and has a shower stall as well as a tub in the bathroom.

3. You can ask for a first floor room. That will give you a walk out. I wouldn't want one of those rooms though since everyone will be walking right past your room. You can request a balcony, but it is unlikely you will get one since there are few.

4. Entertainment rates are no longer available. That was several years ago. The best rates now are AAA, annual pass and supersaver (which is available only if you stay 3 nights or more).

5. If you want a better rate, call reservations yourself and ask what rates are available for your stay. You may or may not have the best rate available.

6. Yes the room has an iron and ironing board in the closet. That is where the blowdryer is sometimes too.

7. West wing is closer to everything.

8. You can just rent a fridge instead of having them empty the mini bar.

9. Loews first perks are only available on AAA, rack and supersaver rates.


Hope that helped!

 

[bubba's mom]

Great job damo!!

sunshine1010 welcome to the DIS!! We are a wealth of info here. Did you get the AAA rate? That or Supersaver will be your best rate.

Are you having a car service drop you off at the hotel? If so, you might want to buy a styrofoam cooler and ice (refillable at ice machine in hotel) to keep your cold stuff cold...cooler is about $5 at the grocery store....just some food for thought.

Also, don't forget to show your AAA card at the shops and restaurants to get your AAA discount

 

[sunshine1010]

About the laundry --- I'm gonna HAVE to do laundry. I'll be there 9 days.

I did NOT get a deluxe room. It was going to be about $400.00 more (or perhaps 600.00 more), and I didn't want to do that.

My travel agent got me the Super Saver special. I have AAA, but it was 11.00 more a night. So, I'm assuming I got the cheapest rate available (without having an AP)......?

Thanks for the tip about the AAA for dinner, etc. I'll have to remember that.

I have no idea how I'm getting from the airport to the hotel. I'm so used to using Magical Express at Disney. Now, it looks like I'm gonna have to pay over $100.00 to just get to the hotel. Ridiculous since I usually pay $79.00 to FLY to Florida (Southwest). Any suggestions on the cheapest way to get there.

P.S. thanks for the sweet "WELCOME"!

 

[leahjade]

great rate - we're paying $299. Which travel agency did you use - any special codes?

 

[sunshine1010]

I used MAGICAL JOURNEYS (via the internet). They're great.

 

[bubba's mom]

About the laundry --- I'm gonna HAVE to do laundry. I'll be there 9 days.

I did NOT get a deluxe room. It was going to be about $400.00 more (or perhaps 600.00 more), and I didn't want to do that.

My travel agent got me the Super Saver special. I have AAA, but it was 11.00 more a night. So, I'm assuming I got the cheapest rate available (without having an AP)......?

Thanks for the tip about the AAA for dinner, etc. I'll have to remember that.

I have no idea how I'm getting from the airport to the hotel. I'm so used to using Magical Express at Disney. Now, it looks like I'm gonna have to pay over $100.00 to just get to the hotel. Ridiculous since I usually pay $79.00 to FLY to Florida (Southwest). Any suggestions on the cheapest way to get there.

P.S. thanks for the sweet "WELCOME"!

Anybody can get the Supersaver rate...it's available to the public. If you ditch the TA, and make the res yourself, you'll be eligible for your Loews First benefits...and with 9 stays, you'd be gold level after your stay

ETA: Be thankful you're not parking a car at the hotel...that's at least an extra $12-$14/15 per nite!

 

[MRS AR]

I get kinda confused about the club level rooms. We have club level reserved for May. Does the west wing have club level rooms. It seems from a map that I've seen it is the most convenient to accessing the boat lauch. Any suggestions for a room number?

 

[shendley]

My reasons exactly for staying on site. I've been to Disney twice now the Tour Guide Mike way and I just couldn't stand the thought of all those lines.

That sounds about right. We used Tour Guide Mike for a 2006 Christmas trip and so we are spoiled about waiting in lines. Thanks

 

[damo]

I get kinda confused about the club level rooms. We have club level reserved for May. Does the west wing have club level rooms. It seems from a map that I've seen it is the most convenient to accessing the boat lauch. Any suggestions for a room number?

Yes, you should be in west wing or the villa wing. The rooms are all very convenient for boat launch. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[bubba's mom]

Yes, you should be in west wing or the villa wing. The rooms are all very convenient for boat launch. I wouldn't worry about it.

that's our damo....always SO very helpful

 

[bopper]

I have read many reviews with horror stories about the water taxis and buses - I will have a car, is it better to drive or is it close enough to walk to the parks?

We just went this past weekend.
We had a car, but we parked it when we checked in and picked it up when we checked out. The parking deck is probably as far away as the hotels are.

We used the following methods to get to the parks:
1) Boat - comes about every 20 minutes, but doesn't run in thunderstorms
2) Bus - runs in the rain
3) Walk - helps if you go the right way! We took the long route!
4) Pedicab- nice young men pedal you to the parks for a tip.

We had no problems with any of the transportation options.

 

[Boardwalk III]

Hi all,

Going to be staying at Portiofino next week - we've been before but have only taken the boat to parks...what is the walking time to the parks if we choose to do that instead?

Thanks!

 

[goofy!]

Hi all,

Going to be staying at Portiofino next week - we've been before but have only taken the boat to parks...what is the walking time to the parks if we choose to do that instead?

Thanks!

At an average stroll pace, it is about 15 minutes to Universal. Add a few more to go to the other end of City Walk for IOA.

We have done more it quickly walking briskly.

 

[bubba's mom]

Didn't damo say you could cut that 15 minute time in half if you cut thru HRH parking lot??

 

[goofy!]

Didn't damo say you could cut that 15 minute time in half if you cut thru HRH parking lot??

I am not sure. We have never done it that way. Actually, to be honest, we rarely walk. Even though the boats are supposed to be there every 20 minutes, it seems that whenever we go to the dock, there is a boat there or you see it coming. Consequently, we always have a great excuse for sitting on our butts instead of walking.

But when we do walk, the walk is so pretty along the path that we have never tried cutting through the parking lot.

Hopefully Damo will be here soon to confirm you can cut the walk shorter by cutting through the parking lot.

 

[FireandIce]

You can cut the walk in half. go out the PBH driveway, cross the street, walk down the HRH driveway , stay to the right through the parking lot, and Universal is right there. between 5-8 minutes.