This was only my second ever trip to Universal Orlando so I am not a crusty Universal veteran (our first trip was in March 2019). We stayed in a Bay View room at Portofino Bay for the duration of the trip and primarily did the Universal parks with the exception of a day each at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.
Portofino Bay
- Was here with my entire family in 2019 in a Minions family suite but this trip was my just my son (13) and I so all we needed was the single room.
- Hotel is very nice but still looks sort of worn, even after the soft refurb that was recently completed.
- Beds and bedding were surprisingly good. I have chronic lower back pain (and pretty much everywhere else pain as I’m an exercise addict) – but had no issues with sleeping or bed-related aches.
- Needs a hard refurb – and they should completely re-do the bathrooms and make it a split layout with tub/shower and sink and toilet and sink – the bathrooms right now are so huge with mostly wasted space and the design looks every bit the 20+ years old that they are.
- The overall theme and look of the hotel still hits the “uncanny valley” of not looking quite right to me: much better than it could be, but not good enough to look authentic. Still, it has it’s charm and the landscaping/setting is extremely well done.
- Amenities are still great – pools, stores, and restaurant selection are all fantastic for a theme park hotel. Would be nice if they broke a bit from the Italian theme with one of their restaurants, but that’s a small complaint and I get why they don’t.
- Room service was very good – used it multiple times for both breakfast and dinner. Menu was clearly the same as the “Trattoria del Porto” menu – which was curiously light on pasta options (with all the pasta options being at Mama Della’s or Bice). Not a big deal, just sort of surprised you couldn’t get more pasta variety via room service. Delivery was always prompt and the staff very professional.
- Was somewhat concerned there might be issues with staffing – but they appeared fully staffed and every single staff member was exceedingly pleasant and helpful. Only quibble was maid service was hit or miss – didn’t get service at all one or two days and couldn’t be explained by timing issues with our being in the room. We didn’t absolutely require daily service so this was effectively a non-issue.
- Boat transportation was mostly great. Always easy going from Portofino to City Walk – getting back could be hit or miss depending on the crowd building up at the City Walk dock, especially near park closing times. Chose to walk back several times as opposed to wait for the second or third boat to arrive at City Walk.
- Do not disturb doorknob sign still flies off every time you open the door.
- Still don’t understand why Universal hasn’t figured out a better ticketing system or be better integrated with the hotel check-in process (and yes, I realize the hotels are contracted out and operated by Loews). We bought a vacation package and receiving virtual/mobile tickets isn’t an option? Given the otherwise fairly comprehensive nature of the Universal app, I don’t understand why this isn’t integrated better. Anyway, it seems like it should be relatively simple as the hotel has a Universal desk adjacent to the hotel front desk – but if you’re getting in late, you’re SOL until it opens the next morning. And what’s the point of having an automated ticket machine if they shut it off when the desk closes? It’s just dumb.
Volcano Bay
- First time ever at VB – a truly excellent water park!
- Tapu Tapu worked much, much better than I expected.
- The selection of slides and attractions is fantastic. The adventure river is an absolute winner.
- Purchased premium seating (the pair of loungers) and knew it would be sort of slow getting set up there, but still ridiculous that even though I was front and center and one of the first people to the concierge desk and then the premium seating check-in stand, it still ate up about 20 minutes of the 30 minute early entry time. The staff were simply in zero hurry to help out and get things done. That said, still enough time to get one ride in on Krakatau, which is about all I wanted to knock out anyway.
- Waiter service at the premium seats was excellent. Our waiter was an absolute character, super friendly, and always there within a few minutes. Orders came pretty quickly. Since you can’t have an open tab and must pay for each order I recommend tipping well early and you’ll get faster service.
- Very, very busy which lends to sort of a chaotic vibe, but it was Spring Break so not real surprising. The premium seating area was an extremely relaxed atmosphere and a world away from the general seating in that regard.
Random Thoughts
- Hagrid’s is a truly exceptional ride. Fun and exhilarating in all of the best ways, with story elements and several excellent surprises. It deserves all of the kudos it gets and the huge demand to ride is 100% justified.
- Velocicoaster is impossible to describe – equal parts terrifying and just flat out fun. It’s just non-stop madness from the first launch until the final brake run and it feels like your butt is barely on the seat.
- Forbidden Journey hasn’t aged well for me. I rode it a dozen times during my first visit with no issues. Each ride this time around was making me queasy – for sure the screen based portions. Maybe I’m just getting old (or maybe the video was a little out of sync).
- Weather moved in late Thursday morning/towards mid-day and all of the outdoor rides shut down so everyone scattered indoors and into restaurants for an early lunch. Managed to walk up to a 15 minute wait at Confisco. First time there and my impressions were: the BLT was absolutely next level. Fantastic sandwich! But the interior was strangely scattered with tables (as though they still had them spread out for COVID precautions) and the staff seemed like they’d rather be anywhere else. I’m guessing they were particularly understaffed for some reason, and the staff they did have almost seemed like they were moving around in some sort of fear-based fugue like state. Our waitress looked like she expected me to start yelling at her every time she visited our table. It was one of the strangest restaurant experiences I’ve ever had. But that BLT tho!
- I absolutely love what Universal is doing in terms of opening up new, and largely industry-leading, rides every year, and the massive investment into Epic Universe. But it’s absolutely embarrassing to have three large theaters sitting empty (Sinbad, Fear Factor, Toon Lagoon) and the Kid’s Zone area is terribly dated and looks like crap. It’s just an awful look, and given the giant crowds descending on Orlando would be wonderful to actually have operating attractions in those areas.
- I know everyone hates Fast and the Furious. And they are right. It’s truly, truly awful. But it’s also impossible to describe why it’s so bad. You have to experience it to understand. Please turn this into a Knight Bus ride. Or just tear it down and salt the earth.
- I also hate the Jimmy Fallon ride for reasons I find difficult to properly articulate.
- I may have eaten my weight in soft serve Butterbeer ice cream.
- While Diagon Alley is truly amazing, it really, really needs another attraction. Please get cracking with that Fear Factor theater replacement!
- Toon Lagoon is a conundrum. I actually think Ripsaw Falls and Bilge Rat barges are underrated and tons of fun. But kids have absolutely no idea what any of the IP is. Super nostalgic walking through the land, but there’s ZERO buzz. Seems like people just pass through without even looking around.
- I really love the theming in Lost Continent but they have to figure out what the long term plan is here, as well. Restaurants, shops, and Poseidon’s Fury make it little more than a pass through to figure out where the beginning of the Hagrid’s line is at the moment. Such a shame.
- Went to Toothsome in 2019 and it was horrible. My son asked to go back so I reluctantly acceded. Had a lovely meal this time around – flatbread and meatloaf were very good. I’m guessing it’s dish by dish and day by day as to quality here.
- Both Studios and IOA have a Starbuck’s problem. Waaaaay too small and understaffed locations for the demand (compare to Creature Comforts in Animal Kingdom which has like 10 stations taking orders and firing out drinks whereas the Universal locations are an infuriating mess).
- I WANT TO GO BACK RIGHT NOW!
Portofino Bay
- Was here with my entire family in 2019 in a Minions family suite but this trip was my just my son (13) and I so all we needed was the single room.
- Hotel is very nice but still looks sort of worn, even after the soft refurb that was recently completed.
- Beds and bedding were surprisingly good. I have chronic lower back pain (and pretty much everywhere else pain as I’m an exercise addict) – but had no issues with sleeping or bed-related aches.
- Needs a hard refurb – and they should completely re-do the bathrooms and make it a split layout with tub/shower and sink and toilet and sink – the bathrooms right now are so huge with mostly wasted space and the design looks every bit the 20+ years old that they are.
- The overall theme and look of the hotel still hits the “uncanny valley” of not looking quite right to me: much better than it could be, but not good enough to look authentic. Still, it has it’s charm and the landscaping/setting is extremely well done.
- Amenities are still great – pools, stores, and restaurant selection are all fantastic for a theme park hotel. Would be nice if they broke a bit from the Italian theme with one of their restaurants, but that’s a small complaint and I get why they don’t.
- Room service was very good – used it multiple times for both breakfast and dinner. Menu was clearly the same as the “Trattoria del Porto” menu – which was curiously light on pasta options (with all the pasta options being at Mama Della’s or Bice). Not a big deal, just sort of surprised you couldn’t get more pasta variety via room service. Delivery was always prompt and the staff very professional.
- Was somewhat concerned there might be issues with staffing – but they appeared fully staffed and every single staff member was exceedingly pleasant and helpful. Only quibble was maid service was hit or miss – didn’t get service at all one or two days and couldn’t be explained by timing issues with our being in the room. We didn’t absolutely require daily service so this was effectively a non-issue.
- Boat transportation was mostly great. Always easy going from Portofino to City Walk – getting back could be hit or miss depending on the crowd building up at the City Walk dock, especially near park closing times. Chose to walk back several times as opposed to wait for the second or third boat to arrive at City Walk.
- Do not disturb doorknob sign still flies off every time you open the door.
- Still don’t understand why Universal hasn’t figured out a better ticketing system or be better integrated with the hotel check-in process (and yes, I realize the hotels are contracted out and operated by Loews). We bought a vacation package and receiving virtual/mobile tickets isn’t an option? Given the otherwise fairly comprehensive nature of the Universal app, I don’t understand why this isn’t integrated better. Anyway, it seems like it should be relatively simple as the hotel has a Universal desk adjacent to the hotel front desk – but if you’re getting in late, you’re SOL until it opens the next morning. And what’s the point of having an automated ticket machine if they shut it off when the desk closes? It’s just dumb.
Volcano Bay
- First time ever at VB – a truly excellent water park!
- Tapu Tapu worked much, much better than I expected.
- The selection of slides and attractions is fantastic. The adventure river is an absolute winner.
- Purchased premium seating (the pair of loungers) and knew it would be sort of slow getting set up there, but still ridiculous that even though I was front and center and one of the first people to the concierge desk and then the premium seating check-in stand, it still ate up about 20 minutes of the 30 minute early entry time. The staff were simply in zero hurry to help out and get things done. That said, still enough time to get one ride in on Krakatau, which is about all I wanted to knock out anyway.
- Waiter service at the premium seats was excellent. Our waiter was an absolute character, super friendly, and always there within a few minutes. Orders came pretty quickly. Since you can’t have an open tab and must pay for each order I recommend tipping well early and you’ll get faster service.
- Very, very busy which lends to sort of a chaotic vibe, but it was Spring Break so not real surprising. The premium seating area was an extremely relaxed atmosphere and a world away from the general seating in that regard.
Random Thoughts
- Hagrid’s is a truly exceptional ride. Fun and exhilarating in all of the best ways, with story elements and several excellent surprises. It deserves all of the kudos it gets and the huge demand to ride is 100% justified.
- Velocicoaster is impossible to describe – equal parts terrifying and just flat out fun. It’s just non-stop madness from the first launch until the final brake run and it feels like your butt is barely on the seat.
- Forbidden Journey hasn’t aged well for me. I rode it a dozen times during my first visit with no issues. Each ride this time around was making me queasy – for sure the screen based portions. Maybe I’m just getting old (or maybe the video was a little out of sync).
- Weather moved in late Thursday morning/towards mid-day and all of the outdoor rides shut down so everyone scattered indoors and into restaurants for an early lunch. Managed to walk up to a 15 minute wait at Confisco. First time there and my impressions were: the BLT was absolutely next level. Fantastic sandwich! But the interior was strangely scattered with tables (as though they still had them spread out for COVID precautions) and the staff seemed like they’d rather be anywhere else. I’m guessing they were particularly understaffed for some reason, and the staff they did have almost seemed like they were moving around in some sort of fear-based fugue like state. Our waitress looked like she expected me to start yelling at her every time she visited our table. It was one of the strangest restaurant experiences I’ve ever had. But that BLT tho!
- I absolutely love what Universal is doing in terms of opening up new, and largely industry-leading, rides every year, and the massive investment into Epic Universe. But it’s absolutely embarrassing to have three large theaters sitting empty (Sinbad, Fear Factor, Toon Lagoon) and the Kid’s Zone area is terribly dated and looks like crap. It’s just an awful look, and given the giant crowds descending on Orlando would be wonderful to actually have operating attractions in those areas.
- I know everyone hates Fast and the Furious. And they are right. It’s truly, truly awful. But it’s also impossible to describe why it’s so bad. You have to experience it to understand. Please turn this into a Knight Bus ride. Or just tear it down and salt the earth.
- I also hate the Jimmy Fallon ride for reasons I find difficult to properly articulate.
- I may have eaten my weight in soft serve Butterbeer ice cream.
- While Diagon Alley is truly amazing, it really, really needs another attraction. Please get cracking with that Fear Factor theater replacement!
- Toon Lagoon is a conundrum. I actually think Ripsaw Falls and Bilge Rat barges are underrated and tons of fun. But kids have absolutely no idea what any of the IP is. Super nostalgic walking through the land, but there’s ZERO buzz. Seems like people just pass through without even looking around.
- I really love the theming in Lost Continent but they have to figure out what the long term plan is here, as well. Restaurants, shops, and Poseidon’s Fury make it little more than a pass through to figure out where the beginning of the Hagrid’s line is at the moment. Such a shame.
- Went to Toothsome in 2019 and it was horrible. My son asked to go back so I reluctantly acceded. Had a lovely meal this time around – flatbread and meatloaf were very good. I’m guessing it’s dish by dish and day by day as to quality here.
- Both Studios and IOA have a Starbuck’s problem. Waaaaay too small and understaffed locations for the demand (compare to Creature Comforts in Animal Kingdom which has like 10 stations taking orders and firing out drinks whereas the Universal locations are an infuriating mess).
- I WANT TO GO BACK RIGHT NOW!
