HairyChest
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2012
- Messages
- 990
Edit: just want to add that we went to universal and disney again and the grand floridian is better then the portofino however the portofino is still beautiful. On our second trip which was supposed to be universal only, we did miss the disney magic alot and switched over. Do Disney first then 2-3 nights at the portofino bay and you should be relaxed and fulfilled. Below is my first trip to universal and since it was alll new it was amazing. But it doesnt have the same pull on repeated trips and variety as disney. Read on to the original review below :
Im a disney love, First time going to universal. We were 2 adults, went the end of august.
Wow
Video i made:
I struggled between booking the portofino or the royal pacific because that laid back island theme speaks to me from what ive read. So glad i chose the portofino!
I made a brief visit to the royal pacific and while it was beautiful, it wasnt as grand and spectacular and luxorious as the portofino.
Im a big fan of the polynesian and grand floridian resort and after this stay, the portofino is my preferance because of the pool, theming and most likely the amazing amazing themed lands and rides of harry potter
The beach pool. Wow! So beautiful. Loved the waterfall, the theming, watching harry potter on a projector. Didnt like how the pool was locked up by 11 since we love swimming really late.
The room: beautiful. Huuuuge bathroom, seemed like the same roomsize as the grand floridian, MOST COMFORTABLE BED AND PILLOWS IVE EVER SLEPT ON
Service: they had great service on the level of disney. Very curteous and ginuine.
Boat ride to the parks was 7 minutes and relaxing, walking was 15.
We had such a great time, we cut our disney trip short to go back to the portofino and harry potter. Make sure to do AT LEAST 3 NIGHTS. i want to do 6 nights nect time
Food: we only had sals because it was open late and the pizza was pretty good but the new italian kitchen in citywalk had pizza that was amazing!
In summary, i cant wait to go back! Thought id miss the disney magic but i didnt. I think thats due to the fact that universal was new to me, harry potter and the portofino was AMAZING(hogwarts express, diagon alley, hogsmeade, the rides, i was blown away), and i already went to disney earlier this year
Request the west wing to be close to the pool and boats. Already planning for next year at the portofino! Well done universal.
Im a disney love, First time going to universal. We were 2 adults, went the end of august.
Wow
Video i made:
I struggled between booking the portofino or the royal pacific because that laid back island theme speaks to me from what ive read. So glad i chose the portofino!
I made a brief visit to the royal pacific and while it was beautiful, it wasnt as grand and spectacular and luxorious as the portofino.
Im a big fan of the polynesian and grand floridian resort and after this stay, the portofino is my preferance because of the pool, theming and most likely the amazing amazing themed lands and rides of harry potter
The beach pool. Wow! So beautiful. Loved the waterfall, the theming, watching harry potter on a projector. Didnt like how the pool was locked up by 11 since we love swimming really late.
The room: beautiful. Huuuuge bathroom, seemed like the same roomsize as the grand floridian, MOST COMFORTABLE BED AND PILLOWS IVE EVER SLEPT ON
Service: they had great service on the level of disney. Very curteous and ginuine.
Boat ride to the parks was 7 minutes and relaxing, walking was 15.
We had such a great time, we cut our disney trip short to go back to the portofino and harry potter. Make sure to do AT LEAST 3 NIGHTS. i want to do 6 nights nect time
Food: we only had sals because it was open late and the pizza was pretty good but the new italian kitchen in citywalk had pizza that was amazing!
In summary, i cant wait to go back! Thought id miss the disney magic but i didnt. I think thats due to the fact that universal was new to me, harry potter and the portofino was AMAZING(hogwarts express, diagon alley, hogsmeade, the rides, i was blown away), and i already went to disney earlier this year
Request the west wing to be close to the pool and boats. Already planning for next year at the portofino! Well done universal.
Last edited:
So glad your trip was so great. We too love the Grand Floridian and we've been between choosing RPR and PBH. My husband really wants PBH after seeing all the pics we've found online (and now yours). We were originally going to do a split Disney / Universal, but we decided since we've never been to Universal, we would do our whole trip at Universal and skip Disney... the more I see, the more I think we made the right choice!! 
