Have you used Priceline to book a resort?

[vikster1]

Hi

I am looking to add 1 night to the front end of my upcominig stay.

I've done some price checking and the room is nearly 70.00 cheaper through priceline from my husband's work perks program.

Have you used priceline?
Is it easy to link a reservation to MDE?
Did you have any problems?

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[BeautyBeastAndNemo]

bump

 

[JKalai]

Room reservation agent here.

Third party reservations are okay if you want to book rooms. The issue arises if you want to make any modifications/cancellations to any third party reservations. The hotel is unable to help (we're under strict contract to not modify their rooms) and you would have to back through the third party website. Most third party websites CS agents are an absolute pain to deal with to get anything done.

Also, the thing with Priceline in particular is that they aren't an actual wholesaler, but a search engine that looks through thousands of wholesalers to find you the best deal on a room. I've seen people who book through Priceline, the need to change something, and can't figure out which website Priceline used for the room.

 

[rwdavis2]

I avoid third party booking sites like the plague. As JKalai alluded to, there can be problems if you need to change. Also, if there is an actual problem the web site and Diseny will point fingers blaming each other. If it's $70 total then I would not do it. If it's $70 a night then I might think long and hard about it.

 

[PolyRob]

I agree with the other posters! I booked a room with a great deal through Cheap Tickets (Owned by Expedia like Orbitz) since Disney had not released discounts yet. It took over a week of calling multiple times a day, being transferred, speaking with agents that had no idea what I was asking just to get my "Disney Confirmation Number" which is required to link the reservation to MDE. I also could not modify any room requests and had to check my bands were shipping to me rather than the agency. The Disney discounts released and I was able to book my same room and category for about $150 more. I ate the $25 cancellation fee and ended up paying the $175 more than I had originally thought. Totally worth it since I had the freedom to speak with Disney directly again. I will add that when I cancelled, I received my money immediately, but it took 3 weeks for the reservation to finally be removed from MDE! It was back and forth between Cheap Tickets and Disney. Cheap Tickets knew I cancelled it and refunded it, but Disney did not receive notification. Disney informed me that agencies do not update things right away, and it could take time. Cheap Tickets finally had to fax Disney reservations a cancellation notice and within 24 hours it dropped off and was all behind me.

How far away is your trip and will you be utilizing the Magical Express upon arrival? If it is relatively soon, I would say it may be too close to try and get it linked. I never tried booking the ME with this reservation, but I was unsure if that also had to somehow go through Cheap Tickets because it was not my reservation. There is the online form, but this also requires the Disney Confirmation Number.

 

[vikster1]

Thanks for the responses.
I bit the bullet and booked one night at CSR. I booked the room through my husbands work perks website. I called priceline and got my disney reservation number for my MDE. Once linked, I was able to add my family and change the address for my magic bands to ship to my home. It was very easy and smooth for me. I'm not sure if I'd chance a whole vacation. I like having control, but since it was one night I went for it.

I avoid third party booking sites like the plague. As JKalai alluded to, there can be problems if you need to change. Also, if there is an actual problem the web site and Diseny will point fingers blaming each other. If it's $70 total then I would not do it. If it's $70 a night then I might think long and hard about it.

It was 70 cheaper for the night.

I agree with the other posters! I booked a room with a great deal through Cheap Tickets (Owned by Expedia like Orbitz) since Disney had not released discounts yet. It took over a week of calling multiple times a day, being transferred, speaking with agents that had no idea what I was asking just to get my "Disney Confirmation Number" which is required to link the reservation to MDE. I also could not modify any room requests and had to check my bands were shipping to me rather than the agency. The Disney discounts released and I was able to book my same room and category for about $150 more. I ate the $25 cancellation fee and ended up paying the $175 more than I had originally thought. Totally worth it since I had the freedom to speak with Disney directly again. I will add that when I cancelled, I received my money immediately, but it took 3 weeks for the reservation to finally be removed from MDE! It was back and forth between Cheap Tickets and Disney. Cheap Tickets knew I cancelled it and refunded it, but Disney did not receive notification. Disney informed me that agencies do not update things right away, and it could take time. Cheap Tickets finally had to fax Disney reservations a cancellation notice and within 24 hours it dropped off and was all behind me.

How far away is your trip and will you be utilizing the Magical Express upon arrival? If it is relatively soon, I would say it may be too close to try and get it linked. I never tried booking the ME with this reservation, but I was unsure if that also had to somehow go through Cheap Tickets because it was not my reservation. There is the online form, but this also requires the Disney Confirmation Number.

I am 60 days away today. I was just adding a single night. I didn't want to tamper with my exisiting reservation for AKL. We will be driving so no ME.

 

[MinnieMe2669]

Just booked Coronado Springs using Priceline Express Deals.....was SHOCKED to see it on there, but it was. Paid $99.90 a night with a 10% off coupon I had. And it's during Spring Break!

I use Priceline for every hotel stay. I do my research and have never had an issue, except once but that was years ago.

 

[happily single]

I Just booked (on Saturday) throu Cheaptickets. I went through Ebates and used a discount code. I paid $300.66 for three nights at All Star Sports (4-23 thru 4-26). I called Disney today and got my confirmation number without a problem. Tomorrow I will try linking the resevations online

 

[MinnieMe2669]

I got my Disney confirmation number with the booking and put it into MyDisneyExperience right away. I called to put in room requests and had to be transferred to the Wholesale Department. So easy and a better discount than my TA rate.

 

[baler31]

Just booked Coronado Springs using Priceline Express Deals.....was SHOCKED to see it on there, but it was. Paid $99.90 a night with a 10% off coupon I had. And it's during Spring Break!

I use Priceline for every hotel stay. I do my research and have never had an issue, except once but that was years ago.

Was this a blind booking express deal ?

 

[MinnieMe2669]

Was this a blind booking express deal ?

Yes and no. I know how Priceline Express Deals work. For the most part it is easy to figure out which hotel you will end up with and in this case, that was the case! It showed the hotel as a 3.5 star, 7plus rating, 220 a night, with 50% off. There was only one hotel that met all of those things...Coronado Springs and the price was dead on. Easy!

 

[baler31]

Yes and no. I know how Priceline Express Deals work. For the most part it is easy to figure out which hotel you will end up with and in this case, that was the case! It showed the hotel as a 3.5 star, 7plus rating, 220 a night, with 50% off. There was only one hotel that met all of those things...Coronado Springs and the price was dead on. Easy!

Would you mind identifying the area listed for the hotel. Was it Bonnet Creek, Disney Springs etc.

For my spring dates I see 3.5 stars Bonnet Creek area $106 final price with 58% off.

 

[MinnieMe2669]

Bonnet Creek

 

[MinnieMe2669]

Yes that's it. I would do it

 

[momofkids]

Yes and no. I know how Priceline Express Deals work. For the most part it is easy to figure out which hotel you will end up with and in this case, that was the case! It showed the hotel as a 3.5 star, 7plus rating, 220 a night, with 50% off. There was only one hotel that met all of those things...Coronado Springs and the price was dead on. Easy!

Has anyone else done this. I want to but am afraid to be stuck with a non-Disney hotel.

 

[emmabelle]

I've booked through both Orbitz and Cheap Tickets for WDW and have had no issues. I usually just go on a live chat with them and they go and call WDW and then come back with the WDW conf #. I haven't done Priceline for WDW but have for other stays and haven't had any problems. I've even gone up to see a room many times and gone back down when there was a problem with it and the hotel moved me without giving me any spiel that I had booked through Priceline so too bad.

 

[emmabelle]

Has anyone else done this. I want to but am afraid to be stuck with a non-Disney hotel.

let me know if it works!


I don't think I have the guts to try it either. Anywhere else on the planet probably, but Disney, no. I want to guarantee I'm on property mostly for the FP perks, EE, free parking if we get a rental, and magic bands that do everything.

 

[JKalai]

I've booked through both Orbitz and Cheap Tickets for WDW and have had no issues. I usually just go on a live chat with them and they go and call WDW and then come back with the WDW conf #. I haven't done Priceline for WDW but have for other stays and haven't had any problems. I've even gone up to see a room many times and gone back down when there was a problem with it and the hotel moved me without giving me any spiel that I had booked through Priceline so too bad.

It's not so bad for us to help you when you're already checked into a room at a hotel. All of the issues that arise with third party companies happen pre-arrival.

 

[Beer Me]

One reason I hesitate to use them for any family vacation is that they cannot guarantee the type of room. We need (at least) two beds and you could end up with a king. I suppose there's less chance of that happening at Disney though.

 

[emmabelle]

It's not so bad for us to help you when you're already checked into a room at a hotel. All of the issues that arise with third party companies happen pre-arrival.

I was just saying that I am at the mercy of the front desk and they could say I'm sorry but you did book with a third party so....

Luckily the time our room was right next to the elevator they took pity on us and moved us. They didn't have to and I would consider this to be a post arrival issue.