Honestly, the first time you step onto the harbor at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando, you might forget you’re in Florida. That’s the point. It’s designed to mimic Portofino, Italy—the real one, with the cobblestones and the sun-drenched facades. Most people think theme park hotels are just places to crash between roller coaster rides. They’re wrong. This place is a beast of its own.
It’s expensive. Let's get that out of the way. But there is a very specific reason why savvy Universal visitors book this over the cheaper options, and it isn't just the fancy soaps.
The Unlimited Express Pass Secret
This is the big one. If you stay at Portofino Bay, you get Universal Express Unlimited passes for everyone in your room. For free. Well, "free" in the sense that it’s included in the price of the room. If you were to buy these passes separately at the gate for a family of four, you’d easily drop $600 to $800 a day depending on the season.
Do the math.
Suddenly, that $500 or $600 room rate looks like a bargain. You wake up, walk to the water taxi, and breeze past the two-hour wait for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (okay, wait—Hagrid’s usually doesn't take Express, but basically every other major ride does). You save hours. You don't sweat in lines. It changes the entire vibe of the vacation from a "survival mission" to an actual holiday.
It’s Not Just a Pretty Face
The architecture here isn't just some cheap movie set facade. The hotel was designed in collaboration with Steven Spielberg, and it shows in the details. You've got the classic Italian cars parked in the piazza. You've got the "faded" paint on the walls that looks exactly like centuries-old plaster in Liguria.
The rooms are massive. We’re talking 450 square feet for a standard garden view. That is significantly larger than what you’ll find at Disney’s comparable "Deluxe" resorts or even the other Universal premiers like Hard Rock Hotel. If you have kids who like to spread their LEGOs across the entire floor, you’ll appreciate the breathing room.
✨ Don't miss: Historic Sears Building LA: What Really Happened to This Boyle Heights Icon
The Pool Situation
There are three pools. Most families gravitate toward the Beach Pool because it has the Roman aqueduct-themed slide and a sandy beach. It’s loud. It’s fun. It’s exactly what you expect.
But here’s the pro tip: go to the Villa Pool.
It’s quieter. More refined. It feels like you’ve sneaked into a private estate. If you’re trying to recover from a morning of being blasted by water on Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges, this is where you go to reclaim your sanity. There’s also the Hillside Pool, which is basically a secret. It’s tucked away and usually empty. It’s perfect if you just want to read a book without a stray beach ball hitting your cocktail.
Eating Your Way Through the Piazza
Mama Della’s Ristorante is the heart of the food scene here. It’s not "theme park Italian." It’s "grandma is in the kitchen and she’s mad you haven't eaten enough" Italian. They have wandering musicians who play accordion and sing opera. It’s kitschy, sure, but in a way that actually feels authentic and warm.
- Trattoria del Porto: Great for a massive breakfast buffet.
- The Thirsty Fish: The best spot for a sunset drink overlooking the harbor.
- Bice Ristorante: This is the upscale option. If you want a white-tablecloth experience with high-end northern Italian cuisine, this is it. Don't show up in your "I survived the VelociCoaster" t-shirt; maybe put on a polo.
- Sal’s Market Deli: Grab a pizza here. Seriously. It’s one of the few places in the resort where you can get a relatively affordable, high-quality meal to take back to your room.
The Logistics Most People Mess Up
The water taxi is the soul of the Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando. It’s a boat that runs every 15 minutes or so, taking you directly to CityWalk. It’s charming. It’s breezy.
However, everyone tries to get on the boat right at park opening.
🔗 Read more: Why the Nutty Putty Cave Seal is Permanent: What Most People Get Wrong About the John Jones Site
If you see a massive line at the dock, don’t stand there. There is a walking path. It’s beautiful, lined with flowers, and it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get to the parks. Usually, you’ll beat the boat if the line is long enough. Plus, it’s a great way to walk off those extra carbs from Mama Della’s.
Another thing: the Despicable Me themed suites. If you have kids, these are legendary. The kids' room is separated by a door that looks like a vault, and the beds are shaped like missiles. The parents' room is a standard, elegant Portofino room. It’s the best of both worlds. You get your luxury; they get to live inside a Minion movie.
What No One Tells You About the Noise
Because of the stone piazzas and the way the buildings are shaped, sound carries. Every night, they have "Musica della Notte"—live singers performing on the balcony overlooking the harbor. It’s beautiful. Truly. But if you have a "Bay View" room and you’re trying to put a toddler to sleep at 7:00 PM, you’re going to hear "O Sole Mio" whether you want to or not.
If you want absolute silence, ask for a garden view room in the West Wing. It’s further from the action, but it’s much quieter.
Is It Better Than Hard Rock or Royal Pacific?
This is the eternal debate.
Hard Rock is closer—you can walk to Universal Studios in five minutes. It’s louder and has a "party" vibe. Royal Pacific is usually a bit cheaper and has a gorgeous tropical theme.
💡 You might also like: Atlantic Puffin Fratercula Arctica: Why These Clown-Faced Birds Are Way Tougher Than They Look
But Portofino Bay is the flagship. It’s the one that feels the most like a true "escape." When you’re at Hard Rock, you still feel like you’re at a theme park. When you’re at Portofino, you feel like you’ve left Orlando entirely. For some people, that’s a downside. They want to be in the middle of the neon and the noise. For others, the ability to retreat to a quiet Italian harbor after a day of sensory overload is priceless.
Managing Your Expectations
Don’t expect lightning-fast service during peak check-in times. This is a massive hotel with 750 rooms. The lobby can get chaotic around 4:00 PM.
Also, the Mandara Spa is legit. It’s one of the best in Orlando. If you’re doing a "split stay" (staying at a cheap hotel for part of the trip and Portofino for the rest), save the spa day for when you’re here.
Actionable Strategy for Your Stay
- Check in early. Even if your room isn't ready at 8:00 AM, you can get your room keys. These keys ARE your Express Passes. Leave your bags with bell services and head straight to the parks.
- Download the Loews app. You can text the front desk for extra towels or coffee pods. They are surprisingly responsive to texts.
- Book Mama Della’s in advance. It fills up fast, especially on weekends. Use OpenTable or call the concierge.
- Use the "Secret" Entrance. When taking the walking path back from Islands of Adventure, there is an entrance near the fitness center that saves you a few hundred steps if you’re staying in the West Wing.
- Watch the Sunset. The way the light hits the colored buildings around the harbor is genuinely stunning. It’s the one time you’ll feel like you got every penny’s worth of that room rate.
Portofino Bay isn't for everyone. If you’re on a tight budget, Endless Summer is a better bet. If you want to be as close to the coasters as possible, pick Hard Rock. But if you want the best rooms, the best perks, and a sense of actual relaxation in the middle of the theme park madness, this is the only real choice. It's the crown jewel of the Universal property for a reason.
Stay here once, use the Express Pass to skip a 120-minute line in the Florida humidity, and you'll find it very hard to ever go back to a standard hotel.