Worried about staying at PBH

[tink20]

I know most people that post reviews are upset and therefore post bad experiences, but I was looking at Tripadvisor and there are quite a few bad reviews for PBH. Now I am getting a little concerned. A couple about A/C not working well and rude front desk, and bed bugs. I was wondering if I should switch to Hard Rock? I picked PBH, because we will have 5, and wanted the biggest room of the 3. We are not pickey, but would definitely want a working A/C, and no bugs. I can get over a rude employee.

Anyone stayed recently, and have a wonderful experience to share?

 

[damo]

I know most people that post reviews are upset and therefore post bad experiences, but I was looking at Tripadvisor and there are quite a few bad reviews for PBH. Now I am getting a little concerned. A couple about A/C not working well and rude front desk, and bed bugs. I was wondering if I should switch to Hard Rock? I picked PBH, because we will have 5, and wanted the biggest room of the 3. We are not pickey, but would definitely want a working A/C, and no bugs. I can get over a rude employee.

Anyone stayed recently, and have a wonderful experience to share?

Pfft. Every hotel gets bad reviews. Read the ones on the Contemporary at Disney. They are awful.

 

[Bluer101]

Don't let some reviews on trip advisor ruin your vacation.

 

[nytimez]

Two thoughts:

1) As you point out, reviews can bring out the worst in people. Don't stress it -- PBH is a fantastic hotel with excellent service, and it's rare to experience otherwise. I would put this hotel up against any of the Disney Deluxes.

2) Every major hotel in Orlando has probably had bed bugs at this point. The problem is not the bugs... it's how the hotel responds -- taking rooms out of service and treating it promptly. By all accounts, Universal does this at its hotels. Check your room when you check in, as you should at any hotel, but don't let this become a worry.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[tink20]

Don't let some reviews on trip advisor ruin your vacation.

I know, I shouldn't have went on there, but I was looking at pictures of PBH (getting excited about our trip) and then I started reading. I'll just stay on the DIS site.

and thanks damo and nytimez!

 

[Bluer101]

I know, I shouldn't have went on there, but I was looking at pictures of PBH (getting excited about our trip) and then I started reading. I'll just stay on the DIS site.

and thanks damo and nytimez!

I did the same thing about 4 years ago when we started to stay onsite. We booked RPR and were so excited. Then starting to read reviews from trip advisor also. We started to have second thought too. We got all worked up for nothing. We have now stayed there many times and have always had a great time. Anywhere you go there could be problems, but its up to you how big you make them.

A side note on the AC. We had and issue with our the first night 2 summers ago. It just would not get real cold and did not blow much, we like it COLD! I went to the front desk on the way to breakfast. On the way back, maybe 1 hour, the maintenance guys were just leaving our room with them just fixing it. It was a very clogged air filter stopping the air flow.

Another time we checked into a room and it smelled real strong like bleach and cleaners. We left and went right down to the front desk and they immediately gave us another room.

Last one, we got back from a day at the park and door would not open to our room. I noticed the lights on the door did not even light up. They sent a security guy first to see if it was just our keys. That did not work so he radioed the maintenance guy. He came up and used a hotel slim jim to basically break in. Once he got in about 5-10 minutes later another guy came with a replacement lock with a fully charged battery. Swapped it out and thats it.

These are things that would get some people really mad to write bad reviews but why. Things happen, but if you don't bring them to the attention of the staff, they can never try to make things right.

On a good note, one checkin they were behind on cleaning rooms. They kept saying our room would be ready, took about 3 hours past the 4 pm checkin. Right before they said it would be about another 10-15 minutes longer, they apologized and said they would give us a great room, you will love it. We ended being on an upper floor looking right at IOA. So it was worth the wait.

So if anything is wrong just ask the front desk, they will try make it right.

 

[tink20]

thanks bluer, I think I am just getting antsy, ready to go on this trip all ready I see you are going very soon, hope you guys have another great trip!

 

[damo]

I know, I shouldn't have went on there, but I was looking at pictures of PBH (getting excited about our trip) and then I started reading. I'll just stay on the DIS site.

and thanks damo and nytimez!

I find tripadvisor very interesting but you really have to look at the big picture. I find that the overall ratings of the hotels are more telling than the individual reports. I was going through the Contemporary a few weeks ago because we are staying there for a few days in early June. Some of the reports are just terrible bordering on horrific. We're going anyways, lol, since there are lots of really good reports too.

Then there are hotels that get really good reviews and we have had awful experiences at, like Wilderness Lodge. Our room was absolutely disgusting but the hotel gets rave reviews. Go figure! Just goes to show you that there can be bad experiences no matter where you stay.

 

[Bluer101]

thanks bluer, I think I am just getting antsy, ready to go on this trip all ready I see you are going very soon, hope you guys have another great trip!

Thanks, and you will enjoy yours.

 

[nytimez]

Things happen, but if you don't bring them to the attention of the staff, they can never try to make things right.

 

[tink20]

I find tripadvisor very interesting but you really have to look at the big picture. I find that the overall ratings of the hotels are more telling than the individual reports. I was going through the Contemporary a few weeks ago because we are staying there for a few days in early June. Some of the reports are just terrible bordering on horrific. We're going anyways, lol, since there are lots of really good reports too.

Then there are hotels that get really good reviews and we have had awful experiences at, like Wilderness Lodge. Our room was absolutely disgusting but the hotel gets rave reviews. Go figure! Just goes to show you that there can be bad experiences no matter where you stay.

Its funny you compare those two resorts, we "may" go back to WDW in Feb (always wanted to go off season, only been to WDW in June), but I was looking at CR and WL. I was leaning more toward CR. (mostly for the monorail) I guess I should stay away from tripadvisor. But, I understand what you're saying, I've stayed at 4 different WDW resorts, and had no issues and had a wonderful time, but have heard others complain about the same places. We've only stayed at moderates and values, so I guess I am really expecting more from PBH. I'm not going to worry about it anymore.

 

[kirbsam]

havae stayed at portofino about 6 times. only hotel we stay at when we go to universal. have never had a bad experience. you will love it.

 

[thedisneymom]

same here-its fabulous!

 

[Disneyhappy]

We stay at PBH at least twice a year for multiple days. I travel quite a bit for business and pleasure so I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly tenfold. PBH is our favorite resort hands down (and we are also Disney fanantics!). Problems can occur with any stay and PBH as well as all Loews hotels I have stayed at nationwide are very responsive and eager to serve. We love all UO resorts but PBH won our heart over several years ago and we haven't looked back. If I believed Trip Advisor, I would have cancelled a trip I won to Riviera Maya a few years back. After I came home from that wonderful trip, I vowed never to check Trip Advisor again because the reviews were so off base. (Keep in mind that I think I am a pretty tough critic!) Keep your reservation and breath easy. Hopefully, you will find it to be a perfect fit for your family as we did!

 

[nhrenee]

We just returned from the PBH and it was wonderful (as always). Have a great trip.

 

[Brynnie]

DH and I were here for part of our Honeymoon March 7-11 (beginning of Spring Break). The hotel was at capacity, but it felt EMPTY! We had excellent service from the maids, front desk, pool servers, and all restaurants. They upgraded us to a nice bay view and we loved it! We also got lucky and got a balcony! The villa pool is AWESOME! you will love it! I was very hesistant too...I almost cancelled our ressie, but I am so glad we went! The only cons might be that it is VERY big and spread out but we liked that (we are walkers) and we had 1 boat captain who was very rude (the rest were awesome!). DO NOT miss the opera singers...we watched them 3 times, it was wicked awesome. Also, we took advice and went to WWOHP at night an hour before closing and one day when it was rainy and THIS WAS AWESOME! I have been so busy, but I will post a TR soon with pics...I will post a link so you can see it. Also, the bed was very comfy and we LOVED our room! DH was very sick for most of the trip, so we spent a lot of time in there and we were happy. On our last day, DH got sick again and they gave me a very late checkout so that he could rest before we had to go to the airport. They took very good care of us, and I hope you get the same treatment! PBH is wonderful!
Also, look at posts from Bubbasmom....she has wonderful pictures and a map of a shortcut to the parks if you go thru the HRH parking lot! HAVE FUN!!!

 

[Brynnie]

Oh geeze...i just looked at the date and you already went, I hope it went well and this post helps others!

 

[maggiew]

We stayed at Portofino several years ago. So this is not a recent review. However, the front desk person was very rude. But the beautiful room and beautiful hotel made up for it. The bathroom alone was bigger than my DH & my first apartment!!! I'm not sure if we had some kind of special room or if all the bathrooms were like that. But it was really nice!!

Maggie

 

[tink20]

Oh geeze...i just looked at the date and you already went, I hope it went well and this post helps others!

We have not went yet, we leave Sat morning. Thanks for the info.

 

[Bluer101]

Just to let you know we had a problem with the AC filter again. It looked like it was not changed in a long time. They ended up fixing it right away. If you have any problems just go to the front desk of call star service from the phone. They are very fast and want to make you happy.