Portofino Bay Tips?

[jsmla]

I prefer to walk to the parks and always stay at Royal Pacific, it’s one of my favorite hotels in Orlando. Unfortunately Portofino Bay is the only Premier resort that works for the budget for my September trip ($214 at PBR vs $369 at RPR). I’m checking daily but it looks like I will be at Portofino.

I’ve only stayed at Portofino once and that was over ten years ago. The decor is definitely not my cup of tea but the main downside then was all of the walking and stairs we had to navigate to get to the parks and pool. I was looking at the map and am thinking the West Wing would be best for me.

I’m a little disappointed about skipping RPR. Any Portofino fans out there to help me get excited about a stay there?

Thanks!

 

[davper]

West is a good idea. The pool is better and you are closer to the boat and the walkway to the park. I like to walk and didn't find it to far. Except for the day I had to walk it 3 times within the hour because my wife lost her diamond tennis bracelet that I gave her the xmas before.

One thing to consider if you are a dedicated Starbucks drinker, that is on the East side.

 

[jolene63]

I agree, ask for a room in the West wing. We have stayed there twice and it was so close to the main pool, boats, and walking path.

 

[jeni1072]

We had to stay there in March when HRH was full. The first day I felt like we walked ten miles just back and forth in transit. Then we found a cut through that shaved a large amount of time off. Let me try and find a map.

 

[Magical2017]

The short cut we found was the butterfly garden. It is a lovely walk and we preferred it to the boats.

 

[damo]

Portofino is our favourite hotel. We take a short cut walk, which is through the HRH parking lot. You just avoid the normal walking path, follow the signs toward the HRH, go across the road, down the HRH driveway and cut right through the parking lot until you get to the entrance of the parks.

 

[mamapenguin]

Portofino is our favourite hotel. We take a short cut walk, which is through the HRH parking lot. You just avoid the normal walking path, follow the signs toward the HRH, go across the road, down the HRH driveway and cut right through the parking lot until you get to the entrance of the parks.

How long did the walk take? I have walked from HRH, but not Portofino.

 

[hawktalksl]

We've stayed at Portofino a few times. I seem to think the walk was around 15 minutes. Here's a map someone else posted of the short cut through the HRH parking lot.

 

[damo]

We've stayed at Portofino a few times. I seem to think the walk was around 15 minutes. Here's a map someone else posted of the short cut through the HRH parking lot.

View attachment 587592

That is a map I posted many years ago. That is the route we still take today. Takes about 10 minutes to walk depending on your speed.

 

[jsmla]

Thanks so much for the shortcut!

 

[ForceofWill]

Took that shortcut yesterday. Worked great but you need to keep faith lol. You walk through the service parking lot and at the back it looks blocked until you see a little cut in the bushes with a sidewalk.

 

[ForceofWill]

Timed the HRH parking lot shortcut from the East Wing path. Took me 13:01 at a moderate walking pace.

 

[Disney Ron]

Timed the HRH parking lot shortcut from the East Wing path. Took me 13:01 at a moderate waking pace.

How about at a moderate sleeping pace? This way I could get some more rest before entering the parks.

 

[ForceofWill]

How about at a moderate sleeping pace? This way I could get some more rest before entering the parks.

Lol, sleeping pace better suited for the boats.

 

[ForceofWill]

Did a test with the normal path by water with the butterfly garden cut through and it was 13:06. I was a little surprised. It's a much nicer walk too.

 

[ForceofWill]

For the east wing, those are basically the choices. You pick one where the lines split basically where the west wing would come from.

 

[wdwrule]

Will be coming to UO for first time soon and staying at PBH. Thanks so much for these walking shortcuts!! With the shortcuts, are you still able to use security checkpoints that are apparently along walkways, or will we need to use the main security with the crowds of people?

 

[ForceofWill]

Will be coming to UO for first time soon and staying at PBH. Thanks so much for these walking shortcuts!! With the shortcuts, are you still able to use security checkpoints that are apparently along walkways, or will we need to use the main security with the crowds of people?

There's a separate small checkpoint for just the hard rock and PBH where I ended the lines. It's right at the Studios entrance. You get to avoid the crowds at citywalk entrance entirely, it's great.

 

[wdwrule]

There's a separate small checkpoint for just the hard rock and PBH where I ended the lines. It's right at the Studios entrance. You get to avoid the crowds at citywalk entrance entirely, it's great.

Oh wonderful!!! Thank you!

 

[KrzyKtty101]

How do you go about requesting one wing or the other?