All-Star Sports on Priceline for $36?

[Magnetic]

I'm so glad that my post was a help to you and that you got the ASM! Congrats!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I noticed that priceline has the Walt Disney World Swan listed under "resorts". Has anyone ever bid on a resort class room on Priceline and received the Swan? Just wondering...

The last time I won the Swan on PL was about 6 years ago.. got it for $75 that much I can remember...It was also a 4* at that time (then there were no Resort levels)

 

[A Mickeyfan]

That's exactly what I meant. Before I booked our trip, I checked the dates both against Expedia, and also against the OTHER dates people who had been successful were booking their trips for. If you look at Carol's post elsewhere on the boards, you can see a pattern emerging as to the dates people are successful, and the dates they aren't. I used that information, coupled with the availability showing for those hotels on my dates, to "increase" my chance of possibly hitting a Disney hotel. And we did, between my mom and me, on 3 separate times with Priceline (6 if you count the additional nights' bookings offered by Priceline once we were successful with a Disney hotel.)

I realize not everyone is getting Disney bookings, and I realize that yes, there was a lot of luck involved for us as well. In talking to my mom while we did hers, I likened it to pulling a slot machine lever! You know you will "win" something, but you don't know quite what.

I agree with how you said ... it is like a slot machine, you really never know. Instead of pulling the lever, you are hitting an enter button As I said in one of my other posts, I have seen posters (on other board) asking exactly how to go about getting a certian resort. There is just no way to do that. I know your info helped many people. Despite what others think, there are people that take things at face value..word for word. I am not one of them, but I do interpert things different sometimes. I just didn't want anyone thinking the DIS boards gave them the wrong info..

 

[Lewisc]

I agree with how you said ... it is like a slot machine, you really never know. Instead of pulling the lever, you are hitting an enter button As I said in one of my other posts, I have seen posters (on other board) asking exactly how to go about getting a certian resort. There is just no way to do that. I know your info helped many people. Despite what others think, there are people that take things at face value..word for word. I am not one of them, but I do interpert things different sometimes. I just didn't want anyone thinking the DIS boards gave them the wrong info..

Well said.

If you bid on a date the Allstars are sold out or below the PL rate, which we think is $36, your chances are zero. Following the advice merely raises your odds from zero to some unknown value. There is no way of knowing if the odds are 80%, 50% or 10%. All you can do is raise the odds above zero. You may get the Allstars or you may just overpay for another resort. Guests flying in will find car rental and parking fees will wipe out some of the savings.

 

[5boyz]

Movingthemout.....Thanks alot!!! I found it!!!!

 

[Magnetic]

I received my Magical Express luggage tags and bus vouchers today, and the cast member I spoke with indeed did add our children to the reservation, as their tags are here too (bless her!)

I then decided to try to call one more time about adding a Pack & Play crib to our reservation request. (I called once before and Disney said they could not modify a Priceline reservation.)

Well, today I had a nice man who again said yes, they can't modify a Priceline reservation from the regular ticketing office, "but let me transfer you to our GDS department, and they can do that for you." I was transferred, a woman answered the phone "Automation Support" (?) and from there, indeed was able to add the crib request.

I'm not sure what this department is exactly, but I thought I'd pass this along for what it's worth.

Edit: Just found this number online for Disney's Automation Support at Passporter: 800-353-4800

 

[summerrluvv]

I received my Magical Express luggage tags and bus vouchers today, and the cast member I spoke with indeed did add our children to the reservation, as their tags are here too (bless her!)

I then decided to try to call one more time about adding a Pack & Play crib to our reservation request. (I called once before and Disney said they could not modify a Priceline reservation.)

Well, today I had a nice man who again said yes, they can't modify a Priceline reservation from the regular ticketing office, "but let me transfer you to our GDS department, and they can do that for you." I was transferred, a woman answered the phone "Automation Support" (?) and from there, indeed was able to add the crib request.

I'm not sure what this department is exactly, but I thought I'd pass this along for what it's worth.

Edit: Just found this number online for Disney's Automation Support at Passporter: 800-353-4800

What day did you place your winning bid on?

 

[LORI FROM KINGSTON]

I saw the post last night April 30th. I added an extra day onto our 6 day trip. Port Orleans Riverside for the first portion and All Star Music. I'm so excited at this price.

 

[4mcbjCtr]

I just bid for June 3rd and got AmeriSuites. Oh well. It would have been nice to be on property before checking in at BWV, but $47 a night works okay for a place to sleep.

 

[Magnetic]

What day did you place your winning bid on?

Tuesday, April 25th. I called Magical Express the next day to set up our flight times with them.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

I bid on 4/30 and got June3-5 at ASM, then tried to add on 5-7 and it said no room available. So I tried a new reservation and got Amerisuites for the 5th.

I bid last night for June 10-12 for 2 rooms and got Amerisuites, then added one night at Amerisuites to that. So we are there from 6/9-12. I was hoping for Disney but am ok with Amerisuites as we are doing other things those days Good luck to everyone!

 

[Lewisc]

Sheryl posted at BFT that Expedia is not a good way to see if the Allstars are sold out before you bid. Some of the dates showed as unavailable on Expedia due to a 2 night minimum stay even though there were rooms available and a bidder "won" a room on PL.

You have almost no chance of winning the Allstars if they are sold out, but Expedia may not be the best way of checking.

 

[LakeAriel]

Did any of you call Niki Bird to confirm????
A room at Amerisuites etc at $36 would be great as an add on to staying on property. Say you want to spend a few days at Seaworld or Universal. Which hotel is closest, does anyone know?

 

[clkelley]

Also remember that priceline only guarantees accomodations for two guests. In many cases you may only get one bed which is great if there are only two people but if you are a family of three or four there is no guarantee you will get a room with two double beds. Nonsmoking is also not a guarantee. I do use priceline for weekend getaways when I can bid a 4 or 5 star and will be happy with any of the hotels. From my experience if you bid $36 for a 2 or 2 1/2 star hotel someone will take it. That is a very high bid for this level of hotel. I usually pay around $40 for four stars in other cities. If you do get one of the All Stars, or other hotels, you can call down and request nonsmoking and the bedding type you want but it is just a request. The moral is if you can't live with all the possibilities, don't bid!

The thing with All-Stars is that two doubles is the norm. There are only about 20-30 rooms at each All-Star that has a king bed and those are handicapped accessible. So at All-Stars, the odds are greater that you will get two doubles.

 

[Lindsy1052]

Its true. I bid and won All Sar Music, 2 rooms from 5/31-6/7 36.00 a night for a total of 588.00. I did this last night after reading the post regarding Priceline winnings.

I called Priceline after winning and the man said "You saved 63% off the rate"

I priced it on the WDW website and it was 784.00 for one room and i got 2 rooms for 588.00.

I am very pleased to say the least.

You really go lucky. Most of the time you wind up at a resort off property. Don't know how they are doing it, but my feeling is they are buying a few rooms at rack rate and taking the occasional loss by giving it away a few times to make their offer legit. You were one of the lucky ones, it's what they call a "loss leader"....nothing to do with Disney itself.

 

[Magnetic]

Don't know how they are doing it, but my feeling is they are buying a few rooms at rack rate and taking the occasional loss by giving it away a few times to make their offer legit. You were one of the lucky ones, it's what they call a "loss leader"....nothing to do with Disney itself.

That's not how Priceline works at all -- they don't buy rooms at rack rate and resell them for less -- how would they make any money? It has nothing to do with making an "offer legit," as Priceline does not advertise or list anywhere that the Disney hotels are in their system.

It's already been posted upthread that the hotels themselves enter the rooms into Priceline on dates they have openings to fill. And it's been more than a few rooms people have gotten -- take a look at Carrie's Priceline calendar -- as of today, 124 Disney rooms have been booked on Priceline.

I don't mean to be critical, but your post that it is a loss leader that has nothing to do with Disney is incorrect. Disney is entering these rooms into Priceline to try to fill them and make some money. If they can't make $99/night, they're trying to at least make -something- on them and fill them with guests, who will in turn spend money on meals and in the parks.

 

[CarolA]

The thing with All-Stars is that two doubles is the norm. There are only about 20-30 rooms at each All-Star that has a king bed and those are handicapped accessible. So at All-Stars, the odds are greater that you will get two doubles.

Actually my experience has been that this is true all over Orlando, but NOT anyplace else in the US. My feeling is that Orlando has a much larger number of double bedded rooms then anyplace else in the US....

 

[Amor4Pooh]

Also couldn't we just check the WDW website to see if the hotels are available? If so then we know for sure we at least have a chance of getting the hotel we want.
Amor4Pooh

 

[iluvepcot]

 

[MILEMRKR63]

My Magical Express info came today for my Priceline rooms.

Never used it before so I thought I would. My question is do I have to get my luggage when I arive in Orlando or do they atomatically get it for me and deliver it. And, can I take my own luggage directly to the bus I will be on if I prefer as I am concerned about my luggage geting lost.

Any responses would be appreciated.