|
|
05-31-2010, 01:25 PM
|
#1 |
|
Mouseketeer
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lewes, Delaware
Posts: 271
|
How to use priceline??
We are driving to Disney at the end of July. We don't check-in to Disney until the 25th, but we will arrive on the 24th. I want a hotel extremely close to Disney, but don't want to pay $100+ for a place to sleep for an evening. My only problem is that DH is a little of a hotel snob, so I have seen many posts of people getting great deals at great hotels near Disney. But when I went to Priceline, I wasn't quite sure what I need to do to guarantee a nice hotel at a great price. Any suggestions or tips extremely appreciated!
__________________
DH (47)
 Me (36)  DS (11)   |
|
|
| Sponsored Links | |
|
|
|
|
05-31-2010, 02:50 PM
|
#2 | |
|
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,062
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
|
05-31-2010, 03:08 PM
|
#3 |
|
Earning My Ears
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 29
|
A few things to know about Priceline:
1. Reservations are non-refundable when you use Name Your Own Price. 2. Rooms are only guaranteed to accommodate a maximum of 2 people. 3. No guarantee which amenities your hotel will have. (e.g., shuttle, pool). If #2 or 3 above is important, I suggest you use Hotwire instead. You will pay a bit more but still get a great deal. Plus you can book rooms for up to 4 people and you know what amenities the hotel has before you book. HotelDealsRevealed.com is another good Priceline and Hotwire 'helper' website. |
|
|
|
|
05-31-2010, 03:38 PM
|
#4 |
|
DIS Veteran
Join Date: May 2000
Location: 148 miles SW of the world
Posts: 9,640
|
If you have your mind set on something "extremely close to Disney" forget Priceline. They have zones but that doesn't mean you will get "extremely close", just means that you will get somewhere in that zone.
__________________
 RIP Lightning 9/20/2007 |
|
|
|
|
10-14-2010, 09:10 PM
|
#5 | |
|
Earning My Ears
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 37
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-15-2010, 08:51 AM
|
#6 | |
|
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,029
|
Quote:
Priceline does not have an occupancy LIMIT of only 2 people per room. Rather, Priceline GUARANTEES occupancy for 2 people per room. That generally means that some hotels have a single king or queen bed rather than two doubles or queens. In my dozen or so years of using Priceline (at least 30 hotel stays), I've gotten a hotel that would accommodate only 2 people just once. While it's a risk, I'd suggest that it's a rather small risk. I always recommend that Priceline users check hotel bedroom configuration online after they've won a Priceline bid and call the hotel to make a request if there are rooms with a single bed and rooms with two beds available. I've never been disappointed when I've done that. Dick Taylor
__________________
1961 New Years - The Disneyland Hotel, 1977 February - someplace on I-Drive that doesn't exist anymore, 1997 March - Sheraton Vistana Resort, 1998 February - Cypress Pointe, 1999 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2000 February - Vacation Villas at Fantasy World, 2001 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2002 March - Hilton Grand VacationClub at Sea World, 2003 March - Sheraton Vistana Resort, 2004 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2005 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2005 June - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2006 February - Pool House in Davenport, 2006 June - Tampa Doubletree, 2007 March - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2007 July - Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, 2008 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2008 March - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2008 June - Cypress Pointe, 2009 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2009 June - Marriott's Sabal Palms, 2010 February/March - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2010 December - Sheraton Vistana Villages, 2011 December - Sheraton Vistana Villages, 2012 December - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2013 March - Westin Lake Mary Orlando North
|
|
|
|
|
|
05-31-2010, 04:31 PM
|
#7 | |
|
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,029
|
Quote:
I assume that by "extremely close to Disney" you mean not downtown Orlando or the airport or other such areas that might be fifteen-twenty miles away from Disney World. I think that three areas would satisfy your desire to be in the area: Lake Buena Vista-Downtown Disney (a rather large area that runs from about Central Florida Parkway to the northeast, down to the Osceola Parkway and then over onto Disney property and the hotels that are just outside of Hotel Plaza Boulevard in the Downtown Disney area), Disney Maingate - Celebration (an even larger area including Celebration, the area along SR 192 in Kissimmee, and down toward Davenport on either side of I-4), or the West Disney area (a rather small area along the western-most part of SR 192 that includes several timeshare resorts and a few hotels). Remember that not all hotels and resorts participate with Priceline (or Hotwire) and you should check the Interim Orlando Hotel List at the biddingfortravel website to see what users have reported as participants or the site owners indicate as possible participants (usually based on other hotels of the same chain participating in other areas of the country). I think that the Lake Buena Vista area would provide you with the greatest likelihood to be relatively close (within a fifteen minute drive) to Disney as it looks like most of the hotels are adjacent to Disney and that is where the largest number of hotels in that area are located anyway. On the maximum 2 guests thing noted by another poster: a standard Priceline room is set up for two guests in a king or queen sized bed - and some hotels only have that set up - but most hotels have two double bed rooms that will accommodate more than two guests. We've used Priceline dozens of times and have always called the hotel in advance of our stay to arrange for a two bed room and have never been denied such a set up. While I suspect that luck won't bear out forever I think you chances of getting a room with more than one bed are favorable. In my experience a good Priceline win will be 50% to 60% of the retail price and most Priceline hotels are very recognizable chains. Happy bidding... Dick Taylor
__________________
1961 New Years - The Disneyland Hotel, 1977 February - someplace on I-Drive that doesn't exist anymore, 1997 March - Sheraton Vistana Resort, 1998 February - Cypress Pointe, 1999 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2000 February - Vacation Villas at Fantasy World, 2001 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2002 March - Hilton Grand VacationClub at Sea World, 2003 March - Sheraton Vistana Resort, 2004 March - Orange Lake Country Club, 2005 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2005 June - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2006 February - Pool House in Davenport, 2006 June - Tampa Doubletree, 2007 March - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2007 July - Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, 2008 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2008 March - Marriott's Grande Vista, 2008 June - Cypress Pointe, 2009 February - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2009 June - Marriott's Sabal Palms, 2010 February/March - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2010 December - Sheraton Vistana Villages, 2011 December - Sheraton Vistana Villages, 2012 December - Marriott's Cypress Harbour, 2013 March - Westin Lake Mary Orlando North
|
|
|
|
|
|
06-01-2010, 10:36 AM
|
#8 |
|
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Allentown, PA
Posts: 2,967
|
Are you flying into Orlando? If so, you may want to consider a hotel near the airport. I have used the bidding advice on biddingfortravel.com several times for those trips when we have a late arrival into Orlando. I have gotten the Hyatt inside MCO twice and the Marriot which is about 5 minutes from the airport. I paid under $55 (including all the Priceline.com fees) each time. I also was able to call and request double beds for one of our stays at the Hyatt and didn't have any problems at all. I always bid for at least a 3.5 star.
From what I understand, you may have to pay resort fees for those hotels nearer to Disney, which may bring the cost higher than what you would pay to be slight distance away.
__________________
Pam in PA
 (Pam)  (Alex-21)  (Nick-17) |
|
|
|
|
06-02-2010, 02:10 AM
|
#9 | |
|
Mouseketeer
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 102
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
|
06-02-2010, 06:25 AM
|
#10 | |
|
Mouseketeer
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lewes, Delaware
Posts: 271
|
Quote:
2 adults...husband and me and 1 child 9 yr old boy. Now Iam starting to second guess using it. We will only be there one night and then transferring into CSR.
__________________
DH (47)
Me (36) DS (11) |
|
|
|
|
|
06-02-2010, 06:32 PM
|
#11 | |
|
Mouseketeer
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 102
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
|
06-02-2010, 07:15 PM
|
#12 |
|
Mouseketeer
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 102
|
OK...
That is the Baymont Inn and Suites. I just stayed there and it is the only place I will stay in Orlando now. All rooms have mahogany furniture and a 42 inch plasma television. The best part is, you can get to Disney in less than 2 minutes "the back way." Just take Sherberth Rd and you are at Animal Kingdom in 60 seconds. Also, be prepared for a $5 "resort fee." Parking is free, though. You will love it for $40 total! Also, after you reserve it, call them and ask for a room "Pool side, 1st floor." The courtyard is quite peaceful. Last edited by FSUFanChris; 06-02-2010 at 07:21 PM. |
|
|
|
|
06-03-2010, 07:18 AM
|
#13 | |
|
Mouseketeer
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lewes, Delaware
Posts: 271
|
Quote:
Hotel Hotel rate per night: $35.00 Nights: 1 Rooms: 1 Subtotal: $35.00 Tax recovery charges and fees $11.49 Total price: $46.49
__________________
DH (47)
Me (36) DS (11) |
|
|
|
|
|
06-03-2010, 10:59 AM
|
#14 | |
|
Mouseketeer
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 406
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
|
06-02-2010, 05:43 AM
|
#15 |
|
I still call it a WEDWay PeopleMover!
Join Date: May 2007
Location: South Jersey Girl trapped in Massachusetts
Posts: 2,270
|
Also watch TravelZoo.com everyday!
__________________
-Michelle
Keeping my fingers crossed that on my next trip I will hear "Welcome Home!"  |
|
|
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Hybrid Mode
