Airport Hotel Priceline ???

[chaoscent]

Hi - we finally made our airline reservations for WDW. There will be 8 of us coming in very, very late (or very, very early). We will arrive at 12:20 a.m. on 11/20. We are thinking that we may just stay near the airport and pick up our rental cars and drive to the Wilderness Lodge at about 10 a.m. or so. I have seen recommendations about Priceline and Hotwire. As it is important that we can get a shuttle at around 1:00 a.m. after picking up our luggage, I am wondering if all the 3* hotels around the airport have shuttles? I will have my 77 year old mom and 2 younger (8 & 9) children so I don't want to take a chance and not have a shuttle that runs all night.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Penny aka chaos cent

 

[kilee]

You mentioned having 8 people. You can only get 3 rooms at one time on priceline. The problem with this being-- that only these 3 are going to be guaranteed at the same hotel. Also, you are only guaranteed a room for 2 people. NOW, most hotels in Orlando will give you 2 beds. But there is a chance that they may not. Some Diser's have reported being told no in the WDW area.

 

[Lewisc]

So far ALL of the 3* hotels that have come up have 24 hour shuttles and I think only one of the 2.5* doesn't have a 24 hour shuttle. I wouldn't worry about a 3* hotel. If you bid for 3 rooms the chances of not being able to get 2 beds in at least one is very small. You might want to fax the hotel with your flight information and bedding request.

Price your rental car both ways. It might not cost you any extra to pick it up when you get in. Herz and Thrifty are offsite, BUT are N of the airport very near many of the hotels.

 

[SB in KY]

Actually you can book 4 rooms at once on Priceline....however 3 rooms would be fine...all of the 3* hotels in the MCO area have 24 hour shuttles (most of them do a lot of airline flight crew business so the shuttle service is quick even at odd hours)

And the good news is that getting a room with 2 beds should be no problem....we have stayed at all of the 3*MCO hotels via Priceline bids and I always request 2 beds, non-smoking (and we always arrive late....that's why we stay near the airport) and we have always been accomodated...in fact 2 of the hotels (Marriott and the Renaissance) told me they routinely put Priceline guests in 2 bedded rooms and save the kings for those that request them.

We always do the 3* Priceline thing when we arrive late. It is SO much nicer to pick up you bags and hop the shuttle and be at the hotel and in your room 30 minutes after you get off the plane. I always hop the shuttle back to the airport the next AM to pick up the rental car...even if it doesn't save any$$ (although it often does)...just easier not to have to mess with it so late when everyone is tired and sleepy and then be driving around in the wee hours trying to find the hotel.

Let us know what you get on Priceline.

 

[MartDM]

We're arriving late & are doing the same thing as you. We got the Crowne Plaza for $59/night using Hotwire (DH needed the high speed internet connection for work) and the do have a complimentary 24 hour per day shuttle.

 

[chaoscent]

Thanks for all of the good advice. I was worried about the double issue. We only need 3 rooms as my mom will have the two youngest in her room and my brother (his DW died 3 years ago) will have the 2 older boys in his room. that leaves the 3rd for DH & I. I figured if we only got 1 room with 1 double I could sleep with mom. We are also going to pick up the car in the morning. Thanks again.

btw - I have just heard about hotwire. i am going to look into them. Penny

 

[tarmand]

Originally posted by chaoscent
Thanks for all of the good advice. I was worried about the double issue. We only need 3 rooms as my mom will have the two youngest in her room and my brother (his DW died 3 years ago) will have the 2 older boys in his room. that leaves the 3rd for DH & I. I figured if we only got 1 room with 1 double I could sleep with mom. We are also going to pick up the car in the morning. Thanks again.

btw - I have just heard about hotwire. i am going to look into them. Penny

Priceline will usually beat Hotwire. Go to Bidding For Travel for help with bidding.