Refrigeration

[itsfja]

Hello,
Does anyone know what the likely stance of staff at Portofino Bay Hotel would be if we cart in a Coleman® heating and cooling 40-qt thermo-electric cooler with a power supply? The taxi firm is willing to lease us one for the 14 night stay for $45, the hotel wants $210 to empty the mini bar over the same period, or give us a second unit, they wouldn't be pressed on the issue.

If you think it unlikely that this would be tolerated - how about a styrofoam carrier, come to that, are ice machines present at the hotel?

PS We don't have a car, is there anywhere walkable (paved 2 miiles?) to obtain such things as milk, soft drinks and beer? If so is this sensible or should I just bite the bullet and use taxis.

Thanks in advance.



Regards,

Francis.

 

[Antonia]

Without a car it would definitely be hard to obtain grocery items. Last year we drove to a grocery store, but it definitely would not have been walkable. There are ice machines, but it gets old dumping melted ice and refilling the cooler. I would definitely go with the electric one for $45. I don't know how much milk you want, but I know you can purchase it at the Croissant Moon Bakery at IOA in small cartons. RPR did not have it, but I don't know about PB.

 

[itsfja]

Without a car it would definitely be hard to obtain grocery items. Last year we drove to a grocery store, but it definitely would not have been walkable. There are ice machines, but it gets old dumping melted ice and refilling the cooler. I would definitely go with the electric one for $45. I don't know how much milk you want, but I know you can purchase it at the Croissant Moon Bakery at IOA in small cartons. RPR did not have it, but I don't know about PB.

Thanks for that Antonia,
I have two teenage children who will be responsible for the ice run, no ice no spending money. I'm expecting them to earn their keep, of course they don't know that yet ...

OK the milk was a bluff, my real fear is a major cost overrun on water and lemonade - we are going in the first two weeks in August and I suspect that we will need gallons in the Hotel, never mind the Parks.


So I suppose a two more questions -

Am I wrong in thinking that water/soft drinks will be rip off prices in the hotel?
and
What is the likelyHotel stance regarding customer coolers (mains or children powered)? Is this a daft question in the US? In the UK I think the hotel would be unhappy at best.


Regards,
Francis.

 

[Luv2Travel]

You won't have any trouble taking the cooler into the hotel. We have taken ours on just about every trip. The bellhops even unload it out of our car and take it in with the luggage (with the food already in it).

As far as the price of drinks at the hotel, we always pay $4.95 for a 32 ounce refillable cup in the park and then refill it for $1.25 each time before we leave the park and take it back to the room. Actually we get two and share them with the children.

As a side note, I think we only paid $90 for our cooler if you just wanted to buy one and have it for another trip.

 

[itsfja]

As a side note, I think we only paid $90 for our cooler if you just wanted to buy one and have it for another trip.

Cheers,
I'm glad to hear that this is perfectly normal, although I think I would feel happier with a non electrical solution, even if it isn't quite as convenient or probably as cool.

Regards,
Francis.

 

[Shawn Weldon]

You have a couple of solutions. You can buy a styrofoam cooler or two and use them. I have an insulated cooler with handles that we use as a suitcase. We fill it with clothes for the trip down and have an empty cooler to use during our stay. We fill it with clothes again for the trip home. I simply restock with fresh ice every morning. If you are coming from the airport by limo service many of them provide a grocery stop as part of their service. Have them stop at a Publix.

There are several places to buy food within easy walking distance of the Portofino. There is a Walgreens, a mini mart and another grocery store all located around the corner of Vineland and Kirkman. All have milk, bread, soda and other items. You can generally shop around and get slightly better prices on things like soda at one or another. The mini-mart had started selling lunch meat when I was there last summer. There is also a store that sells alcohol in the same building as Walgreens. There are also several fast food places along either Kirkman or Vineland. I've walked over for breakfast from McDonalds and to some of the other places when people wanted french fries.

If you go out the main entrance of the Portofino it will be about a 10-15 minute walk one way. I walked back from Walgreens to the Hard Rock Hotel last summer (a longer walk than the Portofino) with two cases of 24 bottles of water. I'm in good shape and enjoy walking but I'm no superman, so it can be done. My family jokes that I only go to Universal so I can walk around the area and see what stores are nearby.

If you go out the main entrance of the Portofino to Universal Boulevard you make a right. This will take you to Vineland. Make another right and walk to Kirkman. There is a short cut from the Portofino that is hard to describe if you aren't familiar with the grounds. Go by the Villa pool and walk up to the courtyard above it. Walk to the end of the courtyard and you will see a driveway that goes down into the parkin lot. Walk straight ahead to the last line of parking. There will be trees and bushes separating the parking lot from Vineland. Make a right and walk until you dead end (you will have to go to your right to keep walking). Instead of going right, look to your left. There is a small path through the shrubs that will drop you about 50 feet from Kirkman. I've gone to Walgreens and back using this route in about 10 minutes.

Basically, the parking lot of the Portofino is flanked by Kirkman and Vineland. There may be other paths through the bushes if you look.

Shawn

 

[Antonia]

How in the world did you carry the 2 cases of 24 bottles of water???? You must be a superman!!

 

[Shawn Weldon]

I carried them in bags holding one in each hand. If I knew beforehand how hard it would be I would not have done it.

Shawn

 

[itsfja]

Basically, the parking lot of the Portofino is flanked by Kirkman and Vineland. There may be other paths through the bushes if you look.

Shawn

Shawn,
Thanks for a VERY comprehensive response. I trust that the gardening staff don't plug the gaps before I get there. Cheers.

 

[aussiemickeys]

Francis,
Did the Portofino staff explain why the cost is so high to empty out the minibar. Our situation is a bit different (4 nights at the Royal Pacific) but we have arranged for the fridge to be emptied for a charge of $25. We have actually prepaid for our stay now & I have had written confirmation from the hotel on this price & it has also come out of my visa as a seperate charge as well. I can't imagine that the length of your stay would have any bearing on it - they still only have to empty the fridge & refill it once. Maybe it might be worth speaking to them again about it. Last time we were there (Jan 04) we also used the Walgreens quite a bit for our basic groceries. Another suggestion as well, if you are flying into Orlando & have a towncar service from the airport to hotel, some of these will stop for 1/2 hour grocery stop at a large supermarket for you. Hope this has helped!