Questioning the choices of a newbie - HRH?

[Trisha Guy]

Longtime Disney Fans - we are making the switch - Me, DH, DD(12) and DD(10) are going for first time April 8-12. Staying HRH Club level. I am having second thoughts because Portofino Club is slightly cheaper (for some strange reason) & reviews seem to indicate food/atmosphere is better in club, rooms are bigger, hotel is really nice. Only negative being club is not on it's own floor. Should I switch? I thought kids may like HRH better.
We arrive evening 4/8 and leave early 4/12 - giving us 3 full days in parks/citywalk. Is this enought time to do the parks and have some down time at the hotel or should I add a day? My kids love pool time and parents like to have a beer at cocktail hour in the club. Given flights, best I can do is morning checkout no matter which day we leave.

 

[damo]

PBH rooms are bigger and if you stay club, you'll get a deluxe room. Most deluxe rooms have a small pullout couch as well. In the large bathroom there is a separate shower as well as a tub. There is a large vanity with two sinks. There is no sink outside the bathroom though, it is self contained.

PBH is my favourite hotel of the three but every has a different personal favourite. PBH is a bit further away but still within walking distance.

It is impossible to make a bad choice, lol.

You're length of stay is great for that time of year when the parks are so busy. Make sure you take advantage of your early admission and get to IOA expecting to be let in 15 minutes earlier than the early admission time.

If you stay at the HRH, call and put in a request for a deluxe room. On club level, you can't book a deluxe room...they are just assigned. They are a much larger room with a big pullout sofa. There are only 4 of them on club level and I don't think most newbie people know to request them.

 

[RMulieri]

Haven't stayed HRH...But LOVED club level at PBH..Yes it is true, there is no dedicated club floor.The club lounge is located on the 3rd floor( lobby level).Club rooms are deluxe rooms which are very spacious and HUGE bathrooms.They are trying to keep club guests in the villa wing of pbh these days ( at least that is what the club level personnel was telling us) , but that may not be the case.Our room last trip was in the villas wing, 5th floor.So we had a slight hike to the lounge, but honestly it was no big deal and the hotel was so gorgeous and the lounge staff so wonderful ( the food was awesome too) we didn't mind it at all.Will definitely go back to PBH

 

[Trisha Guy]

Thanks for the feedback. I am always questioning my choices. Not sure - maybe I will switch to PBH - it looks so nice and we are trying to maximize the food at the Club since we are not hugh eaters and don't like to spend a lot of time in restaurants. If we go to one it may be at CityWalk ot Mythos. Do kids enjoy PBH there as much as HRH?

 

[Lynne G]

Thanks for the feedback. I am always questioning my choices. Not sure - maybe I will switch to PBH - it looks so nice and we are trying to maximize the food at the Club since we are not hugh eaters and don't like to spend a lot of time in restaurants. If we go to one it may be at CityWalk ot Mythos. Do kids enjoy PBH there as much as HRH?

I took my kids last August to PBH for 4 nights. We loved the hotel. While it was the furthest boat ride/walk to the parks, it was a beautiful hotel. My kids (DS14 and DD10) really liked the pool at PBH, I couldn't get them off the slides and resting in the big hot tub or jacuzzi or whatever it was.
The other thing my kids liked was that you can pool hop. We spent an afternoon in HRH's pool. Just show your room key. I thought the HRH was noiser than the PBH. While my kids may have been happier at the HRH, we all enjoyed the quietness and the hotel in general at PBH. I'd go with whichever is cheaper.

 

[RMulieri]

I have an 8 yr old an she LOVED PBH..She loved the pool ,the slide and the slide some more.The pool also has organized activites during the day for the kids.As mentioned though, POOL HOPPING IS ALLOWED at universal.We did walk over to HRH, and the pool is really nice, but it was really crowded too.