PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL Information

[jimpossible87]

It is very easy to get a towncar at the portofino to take you to disney or if you like they will call you a cab. As far as I know there isnt a free shuttle. It usually costs us about $35 for a cab each way and $50 for a town car

This is only my 3rd stay with the Youfirst program so Im still the lowest level til I comlpete this one I believe. I stayed at the Potofino last year and hard rock the 2 years before that but I didnt join until my 2nd trip to the hard rock. It did say that an upgrade was one of the perks "when available" but when i go thtis time of year the place is dead so I dont see why there wouldnt be one available. We had the villa pool to ourselves the whole week last year. We were in the west wing which I did like so Im going to try for that again but I never stayed in a deluxe yet so I dont know what to expect. Do you think an upgrade would put us in concierge level or should I ask to upgrade myself to that? I can never decide if it seems worth it. Are the rooms better located?

 

[bubba's mom]

They won't upgrade you to club level...you will have to pay extra for that. As for better rooms, I believe they are located by the elevators.

Being the lowest level of YF (member), you really don't "get" anything.

If you have completed at least 2 stays on your membership, then you are Blue level and get: free interent, fitness center, late checkout (if available) and upgrade (if available). At that level, you are upgraded from standard to deluxe...which is just a bigger room & most times comes with a pullout sofa/large chair.

As for the room upgrades, this is how it works:

Blue members receive a room upgrade, if available, upon arrival.

Gold members receive an upgrade to a premium room, if available, guaranteed at time of reservation.
Gold members can also enjoy a suite upgrade for only $50 per night, if available upon arrival.

Platinum members receive a premium upgrade, if available, guaranteed at time of reservation.
Platinum members also receive a suite upgrade, if available at time of reservation, at no additional cost.

All of the details are outlined at their site: http://www.loewshotels.com/en/YouFirst/Benefits.aspx

 

[jimpossible87]

They won't upgrade you to club level...you will have to pay extra for that. As for better rooms, I believe they are located by the elevators.

Being the lowest level of YF (member), you really don't "get" anything.

If you have completed at least 2 stays on your membership, then you are Blue level and get: free interent, fitness center, late checkout (if available) and upgrade (if available). At that level, you are upgraded from standard to deluxe...which is just a bigger room & most times comes with a pullout sofa/large chair.

As for the room upgrades, this is how it works:

Blue members receive a room upgrade, if available, upon arrival.

Gold members receive an upgrade to a premium room, if available, guaranteed at time of reservation.
Gold members can also enjoy a suite upgrade for only $50 per night, if available upon arrival.

Platinum members receive a premium upgrade, if available, guaranteed at time of reservation.
Platinum members also receive a suite upgrade, if available at time of reservation, at no additional cost.

All of the details are outlined at their site: http://www.loewshotels.com/en/YouFirst/Benefits.aspx

Thanks you know your stuff...so if Im a blue member and i booked a deluxe already I shouldnt even bother trying to get any upgrades?

 

[damo]

Thanks you know your stuff...so if Im a blue member and i booked a deluxe already I shouldnt even bother trying to get any upgrades?

Are you going at a busy time? It might work to just book a standard room and hope to get upgraded to a deluxe at check-in. It would save you a few bucks anyways if that is important.

 

[bubba's mom]

At PBH, a standard room booking is garden view...with the upgrade to bay view for Blue members.

For Gold members, you book the standard and are upgraded to the Deluxe room.

Typically, you couldn't book the bay view and get the upgrade to deluxe...but you could try.

There is a sticky on the Loews hotels program upgrades...but it's outdated since Loews changed the program last summer

 

[alady89]

We just booked a standard room, as gold members. However, we were transferred to Universal to make reservations.

Also, we were told there were no more welcoming gifts. My son will be sad as he always liked his cookies and milk.

Also, was told there was no $50 upgrade available for suites at check in? Even as gold members, this did not apply for Lowes Orlando resorts.

We did receive free upgrade to deluxe room.

Is there a thread anywhere about these changes?

Thanks!

 

[bubba's mom]

Also, we were told there were no more welcoming gifts. My son will be sad as he always liked his cookies and milk.

Also, was told there was no $50 upgrade available for suites at check in? Even as gold members, this did not apply for Lowes Orlando resorts.

We did receive free upgrade to deluxe room.

Is there a thread anywhere about these changes?

Thanks!

Correct...no more welcoming gifts. You get free internet now.

You got the correct upgrade to deluxe for a Gold member, however, IF there is a suite available at check-in, I do believe you can get it for the $50/nite extra.

The Loews website has the benefits listed on it.

http://www.loewshotels.com/en/YouFirst/Benefits.aspx

 

[damo]

Correct...no more welcoming gifts. You get free internet now.

You got the correct upgrade to deluxe for a Gold member, however, IF there is a suite available at check-in, I do believe you can get it for the $50/nite extra.

The Loews website has the benefits listed on it.

http://www.loewshotels.com/en/YouFirst/Benefits.aspx

We got a fruit basket when we were there end of August. Is that a new change? It is still listed on the website.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

We got only Fruit and Water in DC and Orlando this year.

 

[psac]

We booked Club Level, is it still good to ask for West Wing when we check in to avoid the long walk? Or is club level limited to one area? Thanks!!!

 

[damo]

We booked Club Level, is it still good to ask for West Wing when we check in to avoid the long walk? Or is club level limited to one area? Thanks!!!

I think they generally put you in Villa or West Wing with club.

 

[andee515]

Does anyone have any pics or info on the Dr Seuss Kids suite?

Thanks

 

[Babyboo]

Does anyone have any pics or info on the Dr Seuss Kids suite?

Thanks

 

[andee515]

thank you so much for the pics!

When you stayed there were the bathtub and shower seperate?

Is there a sofa or large chair in the adult room?

 

[ready4mouse]

I think they generally put you in Villa or West Wing with club.

I'm hijacking this question! I understand that the Club rooms are not necessarily on the same floor as the club room, but how far away might you possibly be? Should I request to be on the same floor?

Also, does anyone know how many club level rooms have balconies?

 

[Charger]

Hi,

First post - hoping you folks can help with a few questions about this hotel. The hotel looks lovely and just what we are looking for, but I have a few questions regarding it's location etc

My fiancee and I (from the UK) are looking to spend a week here in September for part of our honeymoon. We probably won't have a car.

- I see the I Trolley service stops fairly nearby. Is is easy enough for us to walk over to the nearest stop and use this service.

- Along with Universal we'd like to visit seaworld. Is there a complimentary shuttle service to this park? If so, whats it like?

- Is it walkable to prime outlets (it looks close on google map but that might be deceptive!).

Thanks

 

[rpbert1]

Hi,

First post - hoping you folks can help with a few questions about this hotel. The hotel looks lovely and just what we are looking for, but I have a few questions regarding it's location etc

My fiancee and I (from the UK) are looking to spend a week here in September for part of our honeymoon. We probably won't have a car.

- I see the I Trolley service stops fairly nearby. Is is easy enough for us to walk over to the nearest stop and use this service.

- Along with Universal we'd like to visit seaworld. Is there a complimentary shuttle service to this park? If so, whats it like?

- Is it walkable to prime outlets (it looks close on google map but that might be deceptive!).

Thanks

I Trolley, is not near by, you would have to get to I'Drive, which would be quite a walk , not to mention the roads you would have to cross. maybe a taxi to Wet & Wild on I'Drive and you could get the trolley from there.

There is a shuttle to Seaworld, but i have never used it, i think it goes in the morning around 9 to 10 o'clock, and returns around 5:30, you could always get a taxi back as it would not cost a lot.


Prime Outlets is not walkable, while it does not look to far ,it is quite a bit away.

PBH is a lovely resort which i am sure you will love.

 

[mtblujeans]

When we last stayed, they told us it was about a mile walk away. It looks much shorter on the maps they give out.

 

[crazy4dis]

We will be at PBH Jan 10-16 upgraded to a Portofino Suite. I called today to request a room near the boat and was told we have already been assigned to a 3rd floor suite. I was told the third floor is ground level but she couldn't tell me anything else.

Does anyone have any idea where that would be? Does this mean the room opens out to a patio area?

Has anyone been upgraded to Club Level?

Thanks

 

[macraven]

some of the ground level rooms have a patio.