Big Problem, Need Help!

[Minnesota]

My Best Friend and I are going to WDW in August and are arriving actually the night before our package begins at WDW. We are trying to find a hotel for that one night. I would like to use Dreamsres and possibly a membership discount to get the one night at the Lake Buena Vista Best Western in Downtown Disney. This way we can only pay for transportation from the airport once, then use Disney Transportation to get to our resort the next day. The problem is my Friend wants to try and get a better deal by using priceline.com. I see her point in trying to save money but I would rather not do this because wh knows where we will end up. We might make up the cost difference in transportation if we get put someplace strange. Any advice on how to work this out? It's the only problem we have had with planning these trips for the past 4 years. I don't want her resenting my choice, what ever that may be.
Thanks
Minnesota

 

[PamOKW]

Disney doesn't provide transportation from the LBV Best Western.

I'm not that familiar with how Priceline would work to assure you'd be near WDW. You might want to also post this question on the Budget Board. You may get some answers here, but the folks there know all the ins-and-outs of Priceline and other deals.

 

[Minnesota]

There are DTD busses that run from these resorts to the parks, technically they are not disney but we could get to the ttc or the parks and transfer from there. Part of why I don't want to do Priceline is that we are not assured of being close to disney, we could be put by the airport or even as far out as close to Cape Canaveral but putting Orlando in.
Thanks
Minnesota

 

[Carrieberry]

IYou can pick the DD area when you bid on Priceline. Just put in Lake Buena Vista for your city and it gives you the following areas to choose from:
Disney World Vicinity
Downtown Orlando
Florida Mall
Kissimmee
Maitland - Altamonte Springs
Orlando Airport (MCO)
Orlando East
Universal Studios - Sea World
West Disney Area
Winter Park
Select All Areas

You only check off where you would stay. As you can see you can check Disney World vicinity. This would get you a hotel closest to WDW, though it might not be Downtown Disney. If you really want to ensure you will be at a DD hotel I would not use Priceline. I feel that it's best if you really don't care where you end up in that general area. Taxi's can be expensive and although choosing Disney vicinity would put you in the general Disney World area, it could still be a hefty charge for a cab. We paid $14 to go from Boardwalk to Port Orleans a couple of years ago and there not that far away from each other! I would use Dream Res, and then Disney Transportation like you said. You might be able to even get a good rate at an All Star hotel (Dreams Unlimited Travel) and then they would even transfer your stuff. It's not easy to take it on the buses, and don't forget, officially you are supposed to have your park passes or WDW resort ID to be able to use the buses, so be sure you have those, although as long as you have your reservation confirmation it should be ok.

 

[taylor1293]

We just used priceline for our first night. We are driving from Illinois and will arrive around midnight and don't want to pay to stay on-site that night.

You can enter the minimum level (we picked 3-star) of hotel you find acceptable and the area that you will accept.

We got our night for $30 at a Wyndam resort. Here is the link:

http://www.wyndham.com/Resorts/MCOWD/

Hope this helps

Teresa

 

[lfw]

Taylor 1293

Was it the Wyndam Palace you got for $30 at Priceline or the Wyndam Resort near Universal?

 

[taylor1293]

lfw - I think it's the one near universal. I posted a link up above that should give you more info .

Teresa

 

[Lisa P.]

If you want to try Priceline, definitely read a bit about it on bidding for travel .com (all one word in the web URL). You may select only the immediate area around Disney, but it could still put you at a LBV or Kissimmee hotel that's just offsite. If you do this, look for your best rates at a DD hotel, then assume $20 for a cab, a possible $10 resort fee from priceline and keep your Priceline bid lower than the difference (best rate less cab less fee = max bid price).

Another option is to look for your best rate at a hotel near the airport that offers free airport shuttle. Then you could stay there at night and return to the airport in the AM, finally taking your paid transfer to Disney. Wish you well, either way!

 

[hercamore]

Hi Minnesota

You are going to have to pay for a taxi to shuffle your luggage from Best Western (or whatever offsite hotel) to your disney resort.

Why not stay onsite at the Allstars with a code from mousesavers.com and let disney transfer your luggage for free to your new disney resort.

That way only have transportation costs to and from airport.

Herc.