Isaiah4113
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- May 27, 2018
How does Hard Rock Hotel and Portifino Bay compare to Disney value and moderate resorts?
Any preference between those two? Why?
Any preference between those two? Why?
How does Hard Rock Hotel and Portifino Bay compare to Disney value and moderate resorts?
Any preference between those two? Why?
How does Hard Rock Hotel and Portifino Bay compare to Disney value and moderate resorts?
Let me put it to you this way. All the Universal resorts CRUSH the WDW resorts.
I know that's your opinion, but I personally wouldn't go that far. I have stayed at the Polynesian, Beach Club, Yacht Club and Contemporary and think those resorts are wonderful! I've only stayed at Royal Pacific at UO and it definitely was nice, but I can't say I noticed much, if any of a difference between it and any of the Disney resorts I just mentioned.
My daughter and I have stayed at Yacht Club twice (including once on club level), and we will be checking in at Portofino Bay this week for our first Universal trip. We LOVE Yacht Club, but I keep hearing how PB surpasses it. I'll let you know what we think once we get there, but the photos certainly look nicer!
I have not stayed at those two, but have stayed at Royal Pacific, which I think is in the same category. I believe Hard Rock, Portofino Bay and Royal Pacific are comparable to Disney deluxe resorts. I think Cabana Bay may be more like a value and Sapphire Falls a moderate.
My daughter and I have stayed at Yacht Club twice (including once on club level), and we will be checking in at Portofino Bay this week for our first Universal trip. We LOVE Yacht Club, but I keep hearing how PB surpasses it. I'll let you know what we think once we get there, but the photos certainly look nicer!
I know that's your opinion, but I personally wouldn't go that far. I have stayed at the Polynesian, Beach Club, Yacht Club and Contemporary and think those resorts are wonderful! I've only stayed at Royal Pacific at UO and it definitely was nice, but I can't say I noticed much, if any of a difference between it and any of the Disney resorts I just mentioned.
The biggest difference between the WDW resorts you mention and RPR (the only deluxe we've stayed at at UO) is a big one. Price. We are staying at RPR (very comparable to WDW deluxe resorts in both theming and quality IMO) for $250 a night and that includes EP. That's half to a third the cost of a Disney deluxe. So while I love the Disney resorts, I think UO resorts crush them on value.
I know that's your opinion, but I personally wouldn't go that far. I have stayed at the Polynesian, Beach Club, Yacht Club and Contemporary and think those resorts are wonderful! I've only stayed at Royal Pacific at UO and it definitely was nice, but I can't say I noticed much, if any of a difference between it and any of the Disney resorts I just mentioned.
Hard Rock, Portofino, and Royal Pacific are Deluxe (or better than Deluxe). Amazing pools, great rooms, and free unlimited express pass. At Disney Deluxe hotels, you get the same 3 Fast Passes per day as everyone else, unless you stay Club Level and pay extra in addition to that to get another 3 FPs per day.
Saphire Falls is Universal's "moderate" but it's above the Disney Moderates, might even be closer to a deluxe. Pools with waterslide, sand beach, hot tub, and caribbean theming. Has grab-and-go and table service restaurants, with character breakfasts on Saturdays. Park access via bus, water taxi, or walking trail.
Cabana Bay is somewhere between a value and moderate. The standard rooms are closer in size to a moderate (Cabana Bay 300 square feet, Port Orleans Riverside 314 square feet), but the suites are smaller than those at Art of Animation (Disney Value). Pools are above moderate with two pool courtyards, one with a slide and the other with a lazy river. I don't think ANY of the Disney resorts have lazy rivers, but Cabana Bay lacks some of the theming that defines the Disney Deluxe, and to an extent moderate, pool areas. Has a food court and bowling alley, but no fine dining options.
Although not open yet, I think the Aventura will be the closest to a Disney Value, as its rooms are the smallest (238 square feet for Aventura vs. 260 square feet for Pop), and it's pool looks to be fairly basic. I don't think there's a waterslide.
At Disney, the location is often key to appeal of Deluxes. At Universal, you can walk or take a water taxi from Portofino, Hard Rock, Royal Pacific, and Sapphire falls to the parks. Also, you can easily walk to Volcano Bay from both Cabana Bay and Aventura. It's also quite easy to cross the street between Cabana Bay and Sapphire falls to use the water taxis to the park or the walking trail. You can't do that from any of Disney's Value or Moderate hotels.