Hello, Ona!
The trip before we were going to book Portofino, we checked it out after a nice lunch at Margaritaville. The boat dock is within easy access of both parks and City Walk. You will see signs for which resort you can travel to. We explained to the boat captain we wanted to check out Portofino and there was no problem. If it is not crowded, you may not even have to mention it to the boat employees. The boat ride is a lovely 10 minutes or less and the approach to the Portofino hotel is so picturesque.
We explored all the shops and checked out the Greenhouse Spa near the main pool. The resort is quite beautiful. It sells itself. If you time your inspection trip right, you might find open the gelato shop. This creamy Italian ice is a treat. Have fun and enjoy your day looking over these fine resorts
Moley