Portofino Bay

[Mad Dog]

I always wondered why this is their top tier resort. IMO Hard Rock/Royal are far better options

No way....just my opinion though....based on over 100 nights at Portofino. I like RP, stayed there over 30 nights, but it's not in the same class. I can't take Hard Rock music 24 hours a day plus their rooms are smallish.

 

[Scott W.]

No way....just my opinion though....based on over 100 nights at Portofino. I like RP, stayed there over 30 nights, but it's not in the same class. I can't take Hard Rock music 24 hours a day plus their rooms are smallish.

I always got the impression that Portofino was just a more classy adult place. Hard Rock is for young adults and teenagers and RP was for families.

 

[Mad Dog]

I always got the impression that Portofino was just a more classy adult place. Hard Rock is for young adults and teenagers and RP was for families.

good breakdown. Hard Rock sure has good scenery, and I'm not talking about foliage, trees etc.

 

[Disneyhead]

These rooms need more/bigger art on the walls.

 

[Mad Dog]

Just showed the new room decor photos to Alene. Her response was, "I love it."

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Hard Rock is for young adults and teenagers

I find that hard to believe.

 

[HandsomePete]

To be honest, that’s an incredibly cheap rehab. Carpet, reupholstered the chair and headboard, and white paint on all the walls. Paint and a new mirror frame in the bathroom.

The bathroom is where things get expensive, but the current one really needed more than what it got. Ditto for the television.

 

[Scott W.]

I find that hard to believe.

In what way?

 

[Mad Dog]

In what way?

Your generalized point was well taken. Easiest way to categorize is to watch the tourists as they exit the boats. Falls nicely into your breakdown of the three resort hotels.

 

[Brian G.]

I always wondered why this is their top tier resort. IMO Hard Rock/Royal are far better options

Universal considers all those hotels to be a part of the same category, but tout Portofino as their flagship because of several reasons. Besides being the first one to open, it also has a view that no other Resort can offer; just like the Contemporary is a "Deluxe" because of its proximity and Monorail gimmick. Ultimately, Universal feels the amenities at Portofino are a bit more "refined" compared to the other 2. At the end of the day though, "better options" are just a matter of opinion depending on what you're looking for in a hotel.

 

[shiekra38]

Universal considers all those hotels to be a part of the same category, but tout Portofino as their flagship because of several reasons. Besides being the first one to open, it also has a view that no other Resort can offer; just like the Contemporary is a "Deluxe" because of its proximity and Monorail gimmick. Ultimately, Universal feels the amenities at Portofino are a bit more "refined" compared to the other 2. At the end of the day though, "better options" are just a matter of opinion depending on what you're looking for in a hotel.

I can see that, I suppose its the most visually pleasing and deluxe feeling. I've just never been particularly impressed with Portofino.

 

[HandsomePete]

Universal considers all those hotels to be a part of the same category, but tout Portofino as their flagship because of several reasons. Besides being the first one to open, it also has a view that no other Resort can offer; just like the Contemporary is a "Deluxe" because of its proximity and Monorail gimmick. Ultimately, Universal feels the amenities at Portofino are a bit more "refined" compared to the other 2. At the end of the day though, "better options" are just a matter of opinion depending on what you're looking for in a hotel.

Contemporary has the second largest standard rooms at WDW, and are actually closer to the first-placed Grand Floridian than third-placed Polynesian. Its faults re: being a deluxe are more a function of construction standards when it was built (low ceilings, tiny bathroom) than anything else. Let’s be honest: Aventura is more contemporary than the Contemporary. But a place like Bellagio suffers from the same issues - it is not a five star hotel but generally gets lumped in with the top tier of Vegas hotels just based on branding and consideration for being built 22 years ago.

There are also things that clearly differentiate Portofino from a traditional hotel star or key rating system. For instance, Portofino bathrooms have a two sink vanity while Hard Rock’s is that weird split setup while RPH has one. Someone scoring the hotels by the book would likely have half-star gaps between the three.


(And sometimes I wonder if the All-Stars would even make it to two stars if properly graded - certainly 5-10 years ago before the updates).

 

[Trumen882]

It's a nice room but it doesn't even look Italian now? Kind of a miss for me. Hopefully it looks better in person

 

[shiekra38]

K, the orange carpet is cray

 

[Nick]

K, the orange carpet is cray

It would look better, if maybe, ya know, they had put up some art work with similar colors and also not make the walls seem so bland.

 

[shiekra38]

It would look better, if maybe, ya know, they had put up some art work with similar colors and also not make the walls seem so bland.

I agree, the green accent wall helped add some colour...Perhaps it should have made its way to the floor instead

The busy design of the floor reminds me of Hard Rock if I'm being honest

 

[JoeCamel]

All I can think is they were going for this effect, why it didn't carry through to the soft goods I have no idea

Raku Pottery Glaze: Forbes Midnight Blue — Raku Pottery by Steven Forbes-deSoule

Midnight Blue is a rich cobalt blue with red streaks in post firing reduction. Stay tuned for this month's pot which features previous glazes of the month: Blue Moon , Lime Green and Sassy Fat White /Silver Slither, in addition to this month's Midnight Blue. &n

stevenforbesdesoule.com

 

[Trumen882]

Looking at it again, it would help a lot if they painted the molding between the wall and ceiling, so it wasn't just all white.

 

[UNIrd]

I made my reservation for December! I've always loved this resort, especially during the holidays. It's got an awesome feel when it's all decorated.

Any word on what restaurants will be re-opening with it? Hoping to dine at Mama Della's again.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Portofino has tons of convention space, a spa, and the most upscale dining options. Combine that with the most resort “feel”, that’s why Loews and Universal sells it as the star resort. As theme park fans there are better resorts for our needs.