Royal Pacific vs. Portofino Bay - opinions needed

[KayakDaddy]

After going to Disney twice a year for the past five years, our family is going to try a Universal centered trip for the first time. I've been to the Universal parks in the past (pre-kids), but have no experience with the resorts. (Newbie Alert!)

We initially focused our plans on the Royal Pacific based on affordability. After researching deals available, I've found I can book it for much less than I thought I'd be able to. This discount also brings Portofino Bay down to about the price that I thought we would originally pay for Royal Pacific.

The question now is:
Stick with Royal Pacific Resort and pay less than I thought I'd have to and spend the money elsewhere?
or:
Stick with spending what I originally thought but reserve the Portofino Bay instead?

Is the RPR almost as nice so that the price difference isn't justified, or do you really get a bump up in lodging and amenities with the extra dough? For the record we are nice pool junkies, so that is a big priority to us. I don't see that RPR has a waterslide, is the kids pool area just as fun for the kids (DS9 & DD5)? I saw Universal invites you to visit the sister resorts, does that include the use of the pools?

Is the RPR like a moderate and PBH comparable to a deluxe? I've stayed in every Disney moderate but one and about half of the Deluxes & DVC properties - what would you compare these two Universal hotels to?

Thanks for your help!

 

[yasuern]

Okay my opinions only


RPR - much better than the moderates at WDW minimally below the deluxe hotels at WDW - The rooms at RPR are smaller(about the same size as value and mods, I think at WDW) - but the hotel is beautiful and a short walk to the parks - The pathway brings you out next to Margaretivilles at citywalk - very close to IOA. There is no poolslide at RPR and believe only one pool but it has many nooks and a free form shape that lends to a sense of privacy around the pool. You can take a shuttle boat to any of the other resorts and use their pool - but I kinda find that inconvenient. If you choose this resort you would not be dis appointed.


that said


PBH - is IMHO BETTER THAN the deluxes at WDW - it is a gorgeous hotel inside and out the regular rooms have more room and they feel soo luxurious!.
In the summer they have an opera singer on the balcony facing the piazza(sp) and great restuarants - We actually love the CS Sals they have wonderfully fresh salads good pizza and great sandwiches - If you go to like art.com and search Portofino you will find paintings that look exactly like the outside courtyard(piazza). They have a large pool(think called aquaduct pool?) w/a poolslide and a quiet villa pool - no slide but very peaceful. It is a further walk to parks (pathway brings you out at US) - but there are boats, buses and working for tips the ricsaw??? folks who pedal you back to the hotel or to the park. all these forms of transport are also available at RPR too.



I have stayed at both and like both of them - I must say that we did have on one stay housekeeping issues at PBH - but they were rectified quickly when brought to the attention of management.


Either hotel is sure to give you a wonderful stay


Sue

 

[Safetyal]

If you can swing it, PPH has nicer amenities and a much larger room. When we go we usually opt to go with PBH due to the ambiance.

I agree with Sue.

RPR is a step above the moderates and perhaps a slight step below deluxes, but it would be a very small step.

PBH IMO is comparable to the more upscale resorts you find around the country.

 

[macraven]

when you stay on site at universal, you can use any of the hotel pools.

each has a pool/locker room to change clothes in.

you don't need to bring towels.
show your hotel card and you will be furnished with towels the entire time while there.

you can take the water taxi to city walk, then the water taxi to the hotel you want to go to for the pool.

no charge for any of that.

look at the universalorlando.com website.

pull up the hotels.
from there, you will get a description of all the hotel pools amenities

 

[bubba's mom]

I've stayed at both.

I say spend what you were planning to and stay at PBH...more room and pool slide.

We like it better than RPR....and we like RPR

 

[KayakDaddy]

Thank you everyone for the good and detailed advice.

I'm usually more decisive than this, but I'm still on the fence. The good reviews of PBH are tempting me, but my inherent cheapness is holding me back. Not having a slide at RPR is a HUGE drawback for my kids, but being able to visit the other resort pools kind of offsets this.

Here's what I'm faced with:
Supersaver rates comparing standard rooms:
RPR - 147.68/night - 830.70 with tax for 5 nights
PBH - 180.68 - 1016.33 with tax for 5 nights

Is a $185 gap a small price to pay for the difference between the two? The theme of the Hard Rock doesn't really appeal to us, so we're only considering these two. Any more tips, help, or advice would be awesome.

 

[golfer1903]

I was in the same situation as you are back in jan when I was planning our trip. But after lots of sleepless nights we finally said for less than 200 bucks ( even though we are on a tight budget) lets stay at the one that we keep reading about that has the better pool and is more deluxe. We have 2 adults and 2 teens , so with that all said we picked PBH. Mostly for the pool and the larger room, it's suppossed to be more upper class, but we will see. If I was you I would do the same thing, and hope we are both right, but unless you go an alot of vacations in a year, you need to make them memerable for the family, and heck if under two hundred bucks brakes the bank then we moslt likely should not be going anyway. small price to pay for a life time of family memories, I think anyway. good luck

 

[JackieLand]

I was in the same situation as you are back in jan when I was planning our trip. But after lots of sleepless nights we finally said for less than 200 bucks ( even though we are on a tight budget) lets stay at the one that we keep reading about that has the better pool and is more deluxe. We have 2 adults and 2 teens , so with that all said we picked PBH. Mostly for the pool and the larger room, it's suppossed to be more upper class, but we will see. If I was you I would do the same thing, and hope we are both right, but unless you go an alot of vacations in a year, you need to make them memerable for the family, and heck if under two hundred bucks brakes the bank then we moslt likely should not be going anyway. small price to pay for a life time of family memories, I think anyway. good luck

After many restless nights too, I decided the plusher more relaxed look of RPR, I decided it was more us. For example at Disney, we stayed and Port Orleans Riverside, a moderate, and we saw the Polynesian and loved it. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness lodge and although we liked both of those deluxes, we decided the best place for us was Riverside or maybe some day, when we can afford it, the Poly.

I just found out that they have pet friendly rooms at RPR and they only allow pets in certain standard view rooms (which is what I booked). I am very allergic to cat dander. Now debating on doing the water view just in case.

What is everyones take on if the water view is worth it or not?

Edited ****OOPs, sorry I thought this was my thread on a similiar topic....****

 

[wen8jr]

From what I have read, I believe the pet friendly rooms are in their own section and you probably wouldn't be assigned one. I also think it is dogs only...no cats.

But, to be on the safe side, after you make your reservation, call guest services and tell them about your allergies and any other requests. I did that and they are more than accomodating.

Like you, I was sort of on the fence about PBH and RPR due to the price difference...you can get club level at RPR for the same price as a water view at PBH. We too loved POR at WDW and I liked the look of RPR. But, hubby wanted to do PBH out of the two after looking at them...to try something different and because it is more upscale, large rooms, etc. so thats what were going with. The reviews on the pizza at Sal's (located at PBH) lures us as well since pizza is a fav for us and our teenage son.

I think you'll be happy with either choice - they both look pretty awesome to me.

 

[Bluer101]

We have always stayed at RPR and love it. We have thought of trying PBH but I cannot see spending extra money for a room. I could see if you were spending weeks there and living in the room like at home, but cannot justify it. We normally use the room for sleep, shower and maybe for a little tv after the parks.

One thing we don't like is the distance to PBH. Yes I know the boats are there but we sometime walk, especially when it busy coming out of the parks and the line for the boat is too long. This summer while at RPR for a week, we are going to visit PBH to use the pool and have dinner there to see what it is all about.

Overall we enjoy RPR for the relaxing atmosphere while enjoying HRH pool and beach club for lunch.

 

[macraven]

Thank you everyone for the good and detailed advice.

I'm usually more decisive than this, but I'm still on the fence. The good reviews of PBH are tempting me, but my inherent cheapness is holding me back. Not having a slide at RPR is a HUGE drawback for my kids, but being able to visit the other resort pools kind of offsets this.

Here's what I'm faced with:
Supersaver rates comparing standard rooms:
RPR - 147.68/night - 830.70 with tax for 5 nights
PBH - 180.68 - 1016.33 with tax for 5 nights

Is a $185 gap a small price to pay for the difference between the two? The theme of the Hard Rock doesn't really appeal to us, so we're only considering these two. Any more tips, help, or advice would be awesome.

i would go for saving the $185 and spending it on a nice dinner or two at city walk, mythos or the hotel.
i was in the same boat as you and i am going with RPH.

in case you don't take the water taxi to the parks, it is a shorter walk to the parks from royal pacific than from the pbh.

that is what swayed me and the fact that city walk restaurants were much closer to rph than pbh.

From what I have read, I believe the pet friendly rooms are in their own section and you probably wouldn't be assigned one. I also think it is dogs only...no cats.

But, to be on the safe side, after you make your reservation, call guest services and tell them about your allergies and any other requests. I did that and they are more than accomodating.

i have stayed at all 3 hotels. the pet rooms are always on the lower floors.
they do allow cats and other animals.
as long as the pet is not an exotic one, you can bring it.
you do need documentation from the vet and a shots record to have your pet in your room at the hotel.

i have allergies so i will be in tower 1 or 2 at rph.
tower 2 is where the pets and smokers are allowed.

call and have your ressie be noted of your allergies so you won't be near a pet room.

We have always stayed at RPR and love it. We have thought of trying PBH but I cannot see spending extra money for a room. I could see if you were spending weeks there and living in the room like at home, but cannot justify it. We normally use the room for sleep, shower and maybe for a little tv after the parks.

One thing we don't like is the distance to PBH. Yes I know the boats are there but we sometime walk, especially when it busy coming out of the parks and the line for the boat is too long. This summer while at RPR for a week, we are going to visit PBH to use the pool and have dinner there to see what it is all about.

Overall we enjoy RPR for the relaxing atmosphere while enjoying HRH pool and beach club for lunch.

Blue, me too.
being closer to the park and city walk is what swayed me.

pool hopping is great.
always have your room key and you are good to go at any of the hotels to use their pools.

if i want to eat at pbh, i take the water taxi to city walk and then the water taxi to pbh. it works out fine to get there.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

We've stayed at Portofino Bay and it is a lovely resort. I've never stayed at Royal Pacific, though, so all I can do is promote Portofino (the Hard Rock does not appeal to me, either).

In many aspects, we find it better than the Grand Floridian at WDW (the bathroom is much larger).

The resort is well-themed and luxurious, yet relaxed. The Italian theme is very realistic and visible throughout the entire resort. The zero-entry theme pool has a slide (a perk over Royal Pacific) and a waterfall hot tub. The quiet pool has two hot tubs (GF only had one). The chaise lounges are padded (it might've been because it had rained earlier in the day, but there were no pads on the lounge chairs at the GF), and it's in a lovely courtyard setting (the GF has a lot of pavement). There's also a quiet pool on the other side of the resort that's handy for guests staying in that wing (it's not nearly as elaborate as the other two pools, though).

Transportation is also great. You can take a bus or boat to CityWalk, or you can walk (beware of the biker guys) or get a biker guy (be sure to tip).

It is the furthest resort from CityWalk. Royal Pacific is a bit closer.

We have had a few housekeeping issues, as well. We walked in one afternoon to find that our beds had not been made - we had to call housekeeping, and they quickly came and made them up for us.

I'm sure Royal Pacific is a lovely resort.

 

[bubba's mom]

Tower 2 at RPR is the pet section. Towers 1 & 3 won't have pets.

i would go for saving the $185 and spending it on a nice dinner or two at city walk, mythos or the hotel.
i was in the same boat as you and i am going with RPR.

in case you don't take the water taxi to the parks, it is a shorter walk to the parks from royal pacific than from the pbh.

See...I think differently than mac. I think this way: I know we're going back. I HAVE the extra money this year and I want to stay at PBH and check it out. The next time I come, I may NOT have that extra money and I will end up staying at RPR anyway. I say, for the $37/nite extra, stay at PBH. Like mac said, you'd have more money for eating and shopping, but I'm sure you'd find that money somewhere anyway

(and, btw...my DH never wanted to stay at PBH and we did last year (had Mom along...needed more space....now, it's his favorite resort of the 3..including RPR which he loves!)

Also, we used the shortcut from PBH to the parks last summer, and it was only a few minutes longer of a walk than RPR to the parks.

If you really are undecided, split your stay and stay at both...2 nites at 1, 3 nites at the other....ya can't go wrong then

 

[shuNick]

After staying at both, I can assure you that the Royal Pacific is the better experience. The Portofino Bay is a nice place in and of itself, but the atmosphere feels, in short, phony; the food is overpriced and not especially good, the balconies are painted on. Pulling off the Italian thing is hard to do, and especially if you come from an Italian area of the U.S. (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania) you will not really appreciate the atmosphere. There are also not very many trees, which makes it feel more like a hotel than a resort.

Other than these small gripes, the hotel was very nice.

The Royal Pacific has a much nicer atmosphere. The rooms are slightly smaller, but you do not notice this at all. I found the quality of the amenities to be just the same as the other hotels (I also VISITED the Hard Rock). It's easier to pull off the Polynesian resort thing, and it shows. The pool area at the Royal Pacific easily beats the Portofino Bay's, although the latter hotel has 2.

In terms of the restaurants, the Royal Pacific provides Americanized Southeast Asian food plus American staples and the Portofino Bay provides Americanized Italian food plus American staples. The Royal Pacific has cheaper food, but it's also better - the Italian food at the Portofino Bay, especially their pizza, is bland and really not good at all.

I'd stick with the RPR.

 

[ky07]

I don't want to sound mean and forgive me if I do.
But the way I see it you are on vacation and you have to live with the choice you make and if you think you will like PBH but you have to pay a little more $$$ then you I say go for it and have fun.
But if you want to save money and stay onsite in a nice hotel then pick RPR and have fun cause its a vacation and you are there to relax and have fun and the way we look at it is that this could be our last vacation for awhile and we are going to make it fun no matter where we stay or how much we pay

 

[La2kw]

We have stayed at all three and we prefer the RPH, regardless of cost. We enjoy the tropical feel of the resort and the quick walk to Citywalk and IOA. Hard Rock is even closer to the parks and Citywalk, but we still prefer RPH. PBH is too far for our tastes and is also just not as nice looking, IMO. I agree with the other poster who said it has a "fake" feel to it. The rooms are very, very nice, but the grounds just seem odd to us. We also love the dining options at RPH. Islands, Jakes, and Tchoup Tchop are three of our favorite places to eat. We also enjoy the pool. The water play deck was much more fun for our kids when they were smaller than the lame slide at HRH and the beach pool at PBH.

 

[damo]

It is tough to give opinions on favourite hotels. In our family, I prefer PBH, my son prefers RPR and my daughter prefers HRH. It is such a personal decision. You'll just have to try all three!

 

[bubba's mom]

It is tough to give opinions on favourite hotels. In our family, I prefer PBH, my son prefers RPR and my daughter prefers HRH. It is such a personal decision. You'll just have to try all three!

That was my point. The OP is finding himself with the extra money (coming in under budget) and can afford the PBH this year. It's usually the most expensive, so I vote for him to try it this year while he does have the extra money...because in the future, RPR may be the only hotel in his budget. Then, he and the family can form their own opinion...because that's what all of this is...personal opinion (like ya said).

 

[damo]

That was my point. The OP is finding himself with the extra money (coming in under budget) and can afford the PBH this year. It's usually the most expensive, so I vote for him to try it this year while he does have the extra money...because in the future, RPR may be the only hotel in his budget. Then, he and the family can form their own opinion...because that's what all of this is...personal opinion (like ya said).

That's a good idea. Sometimes PBH is a lot more expensive than the other hotels. We always thought it was too expensive but when we had the chance we gave it a try and I am really glad we did.