PortofinoBay Hotel

MrsPutnam · 07-09-2003

I was wondering if I could get some help. I am planning a trip for Sep. of 2004 and I am thinking about staying at Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Studios. I was hoping some one could give mesome advice on if that is a good idea or not. I was wanting to aybe see some pictuers of the rooms and maybe a little bit more info about the hotel. The Universal web site doesn't give you much info. Anything would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

**mickey** · 07-09-2003

I have heard that the Portofino is very nice, and if you are thinking about visiting Universal for a couple of days, it is a great option. For more information and pictures of the rooms and resort, you should look here:

Portofino Bay Hotel

MrsPutnam · 07-09-2003

Thank you for the help but I wias still wanting some more info on the rooms. None of the web sites show much on the rooms layout or the look of the rooms. If anybody can help me that would be great. Thank you so much.

**mickey** · 07-09-2003

On the site that I gave you, if you go to tour, there are some pictures of the rooms. Other than that, I am not aware of anywhere you can get the room layouts without calling the hotel directly.

wdwspider · 07-09-2003

Mickey, have you stayed at any of the Universal Hotels?

I know I must be careful saying this here, but I want to take a mini non-Disney trip someday in the future and stay at a Universal Resort. We are undecided on which we like so I would be curious to hear any Universal hotel experiences.

**mickey** · 07-09-2003

No, I have been in the lobbies though, if that counts for anything. I know several people here have stayed at Hard Rock, and enjoyed it. HR is closer to the parks, and a bit less expensive. Portofino is their Grand Floridian, but I have seen some good deals. They have water transfers to the parks. The Royal Pacific is also very nice, though I don't like it as much, it just doesn't appeal to me. Kind of a Poly theme, but it doesn't carry through to the rooms or the buildings real well. I have heard that all three are very nice, and compare favorably to Disney's deluxe resorts.

This might help:

Hotel Comparison

iluvwdw · 07-09-2003

I had a friend who stayed at the Portofino and absolutely loved it! Plus, since they stayed onsite, all they did was show their room key at all the rides at Universal and they got to go to the front of the line every time!

JOANN · 07-09-2003

Our family did spend 2 nights at Portofino Bay, it's a beautiful place. The only thing I do remember, we stayed there 2 months after 911. It was very quiet, and not much going on at the Hotel. I remember some of the restaurants were even closed.
One thing that sticks in my mind , is the boats they have anchored in the Bay. Being Italian, my DH noticed that all the boats had names on them, one of them had my maiden name on it. To me that was really great, because my maiden name isn't a common one. So , of course we took a picture to show my Mom, she did get a kick out of that.
You also have an option to walk to Universal, or take the boat. We did do both, but our family loved pulling into the Portofino Bay, because they would play Dean Martin's song Volare... Hope you know who Dean Martin is, or I should say was????:hmmm
One thing I do have to say, is the Hotel is expensive!!! Good luck!!! JoANN:)

MrsPutnam · 07-09-2003

Thank you for the info I am thinking i am just going to go for it and stay at the Portofino in a Delux room. They look great and I would think that it is a great place to stay for our annivsary. Do you think that GOL would decorate our room there? I saw that they have a seperate shower and tub. I think that would be nice to have a nice romantic room for our annivsary.

**mickey** · 07-09-2003

Please let us know how it is when you get back. Yes, GOAL will do rooms there. Make sure that you get ahold of them as soon as possible, since the often book up months in advance.

07-09-2003	#1 (permalink)
MrsPutnam Mouseketeer Intern Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 5	PortofinoBay Hotel I was wondering if I could get some help. I am planning a trip for Sep. of 2004 and I am thinking about staying at Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Studios. I was hoping some one could give mesome advice on if that is a good idea or not. I was wanting to aybe see some pictuers of the rooms and maybe a little bit more info about the hotel. The Universal web site doesn't give you much info. Anything would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. __________________ 1995-Off Site 1995/1996-Off Site 2004-Wilderness Lodge

07-09-2003	#2 (permalink)
mickey Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,232	I have heard that the Portofino is very nice, and if you are thinking about visiting Universal for a couple of days, it is a great option. For more information and pictures of the rooms and resort, you should look here: Portofino Bay Hotel __________________ Frank Costanza: You can drop a grand in Disney World, like that.

07-09-2003	#3 (permalink)
MrsPutnam Mouseketeer Intern Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 5	Thank you for the help but I wias still wanting some more info on the rooms. None of the web sites show much on the rooms layout or the look of the rooms. If anybody can help me that would be great. Thank you so much. __________________ 1995-Off Site 1995/1996-Off Site 2004-Wilderness Lodge

07-09-2003	#4 (permalink)
mickey Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,232	On the site that I gave you, if you go to tour, there are some pictures of the rooms. Other than that, I am not aware of anywhere you can get the room layouts without calling the hotel directly. __________________ Frank Costanza: You can drop a grand in Disney World, like that.

07-09-2003	#5 (permalink)
wdwspider Back in the Web! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NC Posts: 2,584	Mickey, have you stayed at any of the Universal Hotels? I know I must be careful saying this here, but I want to take a mini non-Disney trip someday in the future and stay at a Universal Resort. We are undecided on which we like so I would be curious to hear any Universal hotel experiences. __________________ Boy, It's been a while...

		MouseBuzz.com > Walt Disney World > Orlando Hotels and Attractions
PortofinoBay Hotel

07-09-2003	#6 (permalink)
mickey Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,232	No, I have been in the lobbies though, if that counts for anything. I know several people here have stayed at Hard Rock, and enjoyed it. HR is closer to the parks, and a bit less expensive. Portofino is their Grand Floridian, but I have seen some good deals. They have water transfers to the parks. The Royal Pacific is also very nice, though I don't like it as much, it just doesn't appeal to me. Kind of a Poly theme, but it doesn't carry through to the rooms or the buildings real well. I have heard that all three are very nice, and compare favorably to Disney's deluxe resorts. This might help: Hotel Comparison __________________ Frank Costanza: You can drop a grand in Disney World, like that.

07-09-2003	#7 (permalink)
iluvwdw BLT for me! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Floral Park Village (Long Island), NY Posts: 7,412	I had a friend who stayed at the Portofino and absolutely loved it! Plus, since they stayed onsite, all they did was show their room key at all the rides at Universal and they got to go to the front of the line every time! __________________ Kim LIFE IS JUST BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE A DISNEY TRIP PLANNED! 1997 Double Tree ~ 1998 Vistana ~ 1999 April Vistana ~ 1999 July Vistana ~ 1999 Sept All Star Movies ~ 2000 Vistana ~ 2001 Vistana ~ 2002 Vistana ~ 2003 Aug Vistana ~ 2003 Dec All Star Sports, Polynesian & OKW ~ 2004 Feb Vistana ~ 2004 Dec Vistana ~ 2005 Vistana/All Star Music 2006 SSR and Vistana Villages ~ 2007 Sheraton Safari, Vistana, POP Century ~ 2008 Vistana Villages, Animal Kingdom Villas My Disney Countdown Counting down to: Our First Stay at BLT as DVC Members - President's Week 2010! 82 days 8 hours 21 minutes

07-09-2003	#8 (permalink)
JOANN Mouse Meister Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: CRETE, Illinois Posts: 1,041	Our family did spend 2 nights at Portofino Bay, it's a beautiful place. The only thing I do remember, we stayed there 2 months after 911. It was very quiet, and not much going on at the Hotel. I remember some of the restaurants were even closed. One thing that sticks in my mind , is the boats they have anchored in the Bay. Being Italian, my DH noticed that all the boats had names on them, one of them had my maiden name on it. To me that was really great, because my maiden name isn't a common one. So , of course we took a picture to show my Mom, she did get a kick out of that. You also have an option to walk to Universal, or take the boat. We did do both, but our family loved pulling into the Portofino Bay, because they would play Dean Martin's song Volare... Hope you know who Dean Martin is, or I should say was????:hmmm One thing I do have to say, is the Hotel is expensive!!! Good luck!!! JoANN:) __________________ Been There, Done That, DID IT AGAIN!! Oct. 23-Nov. 6 2005! When You Wish Upon a Star! 1975 Contemporary, 1977 Royal Plaza, 1986-1991 CBR, 1993-1997 Dixie Landings, 1998 Wilderness Lodge, 1999(Twice)-2000(Twice) CSR, 2001(Twice)-2002(Twice)-2003(Twice) CSR & AKL, 2004 AKL & CSR 3 times, 2005(Twice) POFQ Going to Disneyland Sept. 9-12th!!!!!!

07-09-2003	#9 (permalink)
MrsPutnam Mouseketeer Intern Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 5	Thank you for the info I am thinking i am just going to go for it and stay at the Portofino in a Delux room. They look great and I would think that it is a great place to stay for our annivsary. Do you think that GOL would decorate our room there? I saw that they have a seperate shower and tub. I think that would be nice to have a nice romantic room for our annivsary. __________________ 1995-Off Site 1995/1996-Off Site 2004-Wilderness Lodge

07-09-2003	#10 (permalink)
mickey Administrator Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,232	Please let us know how it is when you get back. Yes, GOAL will do rooms there. Make sure that you get ahold of them as soon as possible, since the often book up months in advance. __________________ Frank Costanza: You can drop a grand in Disney World, like that.

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