Pre/Post cruise Orlando... ever stay at the Portofino Bay Resort?

[Family of 14]

For those that have ever stayed at the Portofino Bay Resort Orlando pre/post cruise...

Did you like it? We are thinking of staying there pre cruise and then staying at the Gaylord Palms post cruise.

The Portofino stay will be for Friday and Saturday night (cruise on Sunday). We would be going to Universal's IOA on Saturday, so the Express Pass (front of the attraction line pass - unlimited rides) that comes with the stay will be very helpful.

The room per night will cost us $245 plus taxes and resort fees. We will be five in a standard room (with a rollaway - price included in the above). The cost includes the Express pass also, however, we will only be using that pass for one day. We will also have easy free access to IOA from the hotel.

We can stay at the Gaylord Palms for those two nights for $155 plus. If we do this, we would buy an Express Passes (front of the attraction line - just once for each ride) for $135 total. We would also have to get transportation to Universal.

Given the above choices, which would you choose for the pre cruise stay? These are the only two resorts we are interested in. We don't want to rent a condo or stay in a suites hotel. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

On our post cruise stay, we are going to stay at the Gaylord Palms. For some reason, the price will go up to $175 that Sunday night. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif We plan to get off the Mariner and rush to Orlando, check into hotel (or leave luggage) and head to Disney for a half day. We fly out the next morning.

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[DMorris]

I am actually partial to both hotels. They are both beautiful. You can't go wrong with either one. Would be a hard choice for me to pick between them. Portofino is obviously much closer to Universal. And Gaylord is much closer to Disney.

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[Family of 14]

Thank you! I guess the point is that we will save money on the second night by staying at the Gaylord Palms. The Portofino price would be fine for the first nights lodging because of the extra amenities we would get to help us with our IOA visit. We really don't need this for the second day. I mentioned to my husband that we could stay one night at Portofino and switch for the second night and he said that would be too much trouble with luggage.

I am glad you like both. Where did you stay at both places (buildings, type of rooms?)

I noticed there was a second vote from someone for Portofino...any comment?

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[quiltsnh]

We did this but stayed at Hard Rock... It was within walking distance to both parks and did not require a boat trip ... You walk out the pool area and you are basically right in the Universal front entrance... the hotel was gorgeous and the pool was to die for...slide and sandy beach. With the Express pass it was a very enjoyable stay

[cmjaffe]

Both are WONDERFUL hotels..
just a note about Portofinos.. did you ask for an Entertainment rate (the card w/costs $10 now, though they rarely ask to see it). Do know that they acept it for most days.. check it out. Also are you aware that I think Uni offers a 5 day for price of 2 day pass... might want to see about it.. esp. if you really enjoy the parks and want to go back after the cruise.
Happy planning.
Carolyn

[cmjaffe]

Oops, didn't read through your time frame... disregard the pass information.
BTW, have you checked out rates at Yacht & Beach at Disney w/discount codes, since I know that they can accomodate 5 in room. DH had stayed at Gaylord and he heard that if you don't have car, there busses weren't that convenient to WDW.. take taxi if your time's important (or taxi it to Downtown DIsney and then get on WDW bus)
Carolyn

[Family of 14]

cmjaffe - That 5/2 pass is a great deal. Wish we could take advantage of it. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

We did look at Dixie Landings because of space, and it just didn't appeal to us this time. I will look at the Yacht and Beach Club. What type of discount codes are you talking about?

We will take a taxi if there is not a shuttle to Disney when we need it. I also heard that it makes the rounds and we will drive for an hour before getting where we need to be. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I did ask for the Entertainment rate and was sort of brushed off. I then asked for the AAA rate and recieved the above.

quiltsnh - We can walk from Portofino as well (and preferable to the taxi -The walk way is near the water taxi, so I used that as a reference point. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif As for the Hard Rock, it is a little more expensive and the standard rooms are not as large as the Portofino. Of course, I am all for it if I can get a much better rate. Same goes for the Royal.

Another note, we will probably not even have time to enjoy the pools as we will arrive late on Friday night, do Universal all day Saturday and evening and then take off early for the port on Sunday. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

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[Lil_Bit]

The Portofino is a beautiful resort and is closer and more convenient to Universal so I would say you are better there than at Gaylord.

I have stayed @ the Gaylord and it is not easy to get to Disney from there, but they DO have 2 fabulous restuarants and an incredible atmosphere (which you can enjoy without staying there).

For the BEST and most convenient short Disney experience, I would advise staying at one of the Resorts on the Mono-rail. (Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Polynesian)

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[cmjaffe]

Codes are BBY or ONZ for stays through 7/17 (I think but I may be wrong)... call disney CRO directly and try the codes. There may be new codes #.. my friend usually has all of them avail.
Carolyn

[Family of 14]

Where is the best site to book? the only deals I could find ended with 7/04/2004. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

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[cmjaffe]

don't know about sites but I DO know that if there are any codes yourmagicaljourneys.com (Nancy Rosetti) would have them, and if there aren't any yet or if rates drop before you step into the hotel she'll get a rate adjustment for you.
Carolyn

[pattiemax]

We stayed at the Royal Pacific and it was worth EVERY penny to get the front of the line pass.Plus, the hotel was wonderful.We got a special rate of $175 with a coupon on a carton of coke (purchased in Fl.) I found this special on the Universal website under Fla. resident promo. I called and asked the desk clerk how it worked as my husband has a Fl license and I have a Va. one and he wasn't going to be with us. She told me all I had to do was give her the code on the Coke box and no one had to show any ID. I had husband get the coke coupon, I phoned from Va and that was that.Maybe there is a similar promo now. Good luck and enjoy !
Pattie

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[Family of 14]

Thanks all for the great information. I will see what I can find tomorrow. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

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[ruttie]

Hubby and I stay at the portofina all the time for the front of the line pass. They have some 1st floor garden view rooms that are alot cheeper but you have to ask for them they are beutiful!!!! we love the huge 4 poster bed we get.. I would not recommend staying at the Gaylord palms if you are going to be going to universal it is a long ride in traffic (only abiut 15 miles but in traffic in morning could take up to an hour....) The Gaylord is VERY convienant to Disney just pull out of parking lot make a left and another left and the road you are on is the main entrance to disney. We go all the time so I would be happy to answer any questions. Also I would keep you room key to the portofino and see if you could use it on your return trip they almost never look at the date..... and it is so close in time they prob would never notice. We love the boat to universal that portofino has... enjoy

[Family of 14]

ruttie - I almost missed this post!

Thank you for the tips. Are the ground floor garden rooms doubles?

As for the Express pass, does everyone in the party get one or are all members of the party on one key? We can get a AAA rate of $215 if I don't disclose that two of my children are over 18. We never bat an eye when booking other hotels because they usually don't ask how many in the party and what the ages are. Take Priceline for instance. We book one price, and check in with our brood all the time. No questions asked. I would just feel funny doing this at Portofino. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

We do plan to go to the Gaylord and Disney on the return trip. We will also be getting a late start around noon, so hopefully with it being a Sunday and noon time, the crowds will be down. I think for a half day to Disney, Sunday is the best time to go.

Do you have any tips for getting a better price on rooms at the Gaylord? I still can't figure why the rate goes up on that Sunday. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif We were fine with the $155 rate, but $175 seems a bit steep!

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[mike45orlando]

I live in orlando, stayed at the hard rock and portofino bay. portofino is more beautiful coming in and out of the bay on the water taxi to and from the parks. The hard rock has a better pool and is closer to the two parks, 5 minute walk. if you have a hotel key card you get express access for the rides at both parks - cool

[ruttie]

If you are gonna buy your tickets at the gate do not disclose heck I would not tell them anyway and buy there tickets at the gate.. your room key is your front of the line pass this is what we do when we go Hubby and I like to stay none of our friends want to pay the price since we ;live less than an hour away (hey any chance to be romantic and away from the little ones!!) so we stay and TELL the front desk can we have a couple extra keys...we have friends coming for the day and they are like no problem and give us an extra key that gave us 3 keys for our KING room which was great cause guys could go off girls could go off and the two pregnant ones went to universal studios instead of Island of adventure and had a blast themselves.... we recently kept our key and just as a fun thing when we went back the next week (we have passes) we showed them our room key and they never blinked an eye.. No i would prob never show them it if it had been more than a week or 2...... and we did nto even need it really there were no lines we just did it to see if we could.... Ithink your key lets up to 4 on with you...

[ruttie]

If you are gonna buy your tickets at the gate do not disclose heck I would not tell them anyway and buy there tickets at the gate.. your room key is your front of the line pass this is what we do when we go Hubby and I like to stay none of our friends want to pay the price since we ;live less than an hour away (hey any chance to be romantic and away from the little ones!!) so we stay and TELL the front desk can we ha

[Family of 14]

Having a little trouble understanding what you wrote.

We plan on booking all 5 of our Theme Park tickets online and picking them up at the gate. So, how do we go about the Express Pass(FOTL)/Room Key to get everyone on the rides if we just book a room for 3 of us?

BTW - I just went to the AAA web site like someone suggested. I put in all of our information correctly (4 adults and one child) and the room rate still came up as $215 plus tax. The same rate I got with just the 3 of us. No where on the site did it say that there would be an additional charge like the other sites I have gotten a quote from (except for the $25 rollaway charge - if needed). I am tempted to just go ahead and book...fain innocence!

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[ruttie]

If you stay at one of the Universal Hotels... your room key is your pass to get to the front of the line. they let up to 4 with each key (last time) but just ask them for another 1 when you check in tellthem you have some friends coming up for the day and they will give youas many keys to your room as you want just don't loose them as they are like on a cruise you can charge with them.
we have never had an extra charge for 4 in a room if we booked a room with 2 queen beds at portofino. The only time an extra charge should come in is if you are purchasing there package that includes tickets which I understand you are not doing . Usually the best rate is if you call hotel directly I would try that or do the AAA sound slike a good deal to me.
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[Family of 14]

ruttie - What happened? http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif Hope you are alright. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Have any of those 4 people been over the 18 age limit besides you and your spouse?

I called the hotel directly and asked for the AAA rate a while ago. After giving me the $215 rate, they then asked what the ages of my children were. That's when the price went up! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Last night, I got a Fan Club card off of Ebay. I checked with Loews online for the Fan Club rate and it was $202 for the room. When I added in the ages of the children, the rate went up to $239.

I think I will just book the $202 rate online and if we have to pay extra once we arrive, so be it. That's a great rate! We also will save almost $30 off of our IOA passes with the card.

ruttie - Since you have stayed in the Garden rooms, what is your opinion on 5 of us in that room. Is it do-able if we eliminate the rollaway and have my son sleep on the air mattress? Could you also tell me about the bathroom layout (sinks, enclosed tub, etc.)?

Since we will be staying at the Gaylord on Sunday night, post cruise...Do you have any tips for getting a better price on rooms at the Gaylord? I still can't figure why the rate goes up on that Sunday. We were fine with the $155 rate, but $175 seems a bit steep!

Thanks for all your help!

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[Liner]

Portofino Bay hotel is beautiful. I was so amazed that they had huge fluffy WHITE comforters on the beds! Wonderful. It's a great walk to Universal and you can check out the other 2 hotels along the way. Loved being able to walk to City Walk and the parks!

Have a great time...sounds like the pre/post cruise parts will be just as much fun as the cruise itself!

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[ruttie]

We have always had a king room but have seen the coubles and you should have no problem from what I remember there is a space next to the window that you could use the entry way is also pretty big from what i remeber it would be in froont of bathroom but..... Th ebathroom was very large from what i remeber but it is all in one no seperate space with sink befoe you go into the bath it is all in one room that has a door to close. CAn't help with gaylord palms but i will tell you that sundays are early entry for disney resort guests to MAgic Kingdom Not animal or epcot just Magic Kingdom so it gets VERY busy there early on sunday if Magic kingdom is where you plan on going I would suggest anoither park that day....
Thanks for asking I am doing well I had ovarian cancer but am on the road to recovery.

[Family of 14]

ruttie - I am so sorry you have been sick. I will pray for you if that is alright????

I didn't think the baths in the standard Garden View room were all one room. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif They did just have the tub and no shower...correct? I feel better about the size of the room now. I know the Deluxe rooms have the large all-in-one bath w/tub and shower, plus two sinks.

Yes, we are planning on going to the Magic Kingdom park on Sunday after lunch. I was hoping it would clear out by then. My 23 year old (today is her birthday http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif) requested that we go there. She missed our last trip and to her, Magic Kingdom is the ONLY Disney. I will ask her if she might be willing to change to MGM though.

"Have a great time...sounds like the pre/post cruise parts will be just as much fun as the cruise itself!"

Liner - The planning of the pre and post cruise is much more work than the cruise itself...for sure! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

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[ruttie]

Yep they had tub with shower inside of tub cannot rememebr aboiut whether there was 1 or 2 sinks i think only 1 but it was a really nice bathroom. The whole King garden view room is awesome Huge bed white comforter etc.. hope your room is the same if your family is anything like mine someone will make do on the floor or crowd onto the bed side ways http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif If you go to MGM don't forget to go on the rocking roller coaster it is awesome. It will prob be ok in may at Magic Kingdom though we like to go in may and it is usually not too crowded so you should be fine after lunch if you fast pass a few things....
I can always use a few more prayers thats what got me through it.......

[Family of 14]

Prayers are a done deal then! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

We are going in mid July, not May. We have two queens, so my son can just sleep on the floor or maybe a chair and ottoman. I have heard conflicting reports as to how many sinks are in the Standard Garden room. One site I found said that they have two. That would be nice!

We have been at MGM and on the Rockin Roller Coaster before. The first coaster that I ever liked because it was indoors. I am not sure about the coasters at IOA. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Rest up and God Bless YOU!

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[ruttie]

Try this link
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=30
hope it works ther eis some great info there. hope it helps....

[KeepOnCruzin]

Stay at the Portofino, way better than the Hard Rock or the Royal Pacific (have stayed at all of them).. The Portofino is one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed in, and Loews Hotels are the nicest Hotels I have ever stayed in. We are loews first platnium members and get upgraded to a suite each time we stay at a loews hotel. The suites are extremely nice, but the regular rooms are awsome too.
If you stay at the Portofino, I would get a bay view, or a villa.

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[Family of 14]

ruttie - I am on the Dis board more than I am on this board lately.


KeepOnCruzin - We may have to get the Bay room because that is all that is showing right now for 2 queen beds in the standard room. What is a villa? Haven't seen them. Cost?

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[KeepOnCruzin]

On our 1st trip there we purchased a regular room at regular rate.. When we got to the room it said Villa 205. It looked at the nice pool, with all the cabanas. I dont know if we were upgraded or not, because we were not platium members yet. I'm not sure if there is a special rate for them...

15 Cruises since 1999

Jewel of the Seas.. Scandanavia/Russia
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[Family of 14]

OK, thanks! I will have to do some research on them. Maybe the pool rooms are just called Villas. Was it larger than normal or just the bedroom, bath, closet and hallway?

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[Family of 14]

I am having problems finding a Garden View Standard room with 2 queen beds. Nothing available. It has been two weeks and I have been checking with the FAN and AAA rates.
Do hotel rooms open up nearer the check-in like cruise shiop staterooms do after final payment?

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