I did a VERY dumb thing (Priceline)

[Luv2Travel]

Well, I got all caught up in the hoop-la with so many people on the biddingfor travel.com board getting the Swan or Dolphin that I thought I'd roll the dice. I have used Priceline several times and am fully aware of what could, would, and usually does happen - but I just had to give it a shot. It seemed as if everyone was getting one of the resorts for $69 for the time frame that my family will be going. I was probably going to use priceline anyway, so I figured my chances were greater at this time for getting the Swan or Dolphin than they would be later. Knowing that all of the hotels had rooms available for my time period, and knowing that I could get the Hilton or Wyndham at a lower price, I went ahead and put in the magic $69 and tried to get the S/D. I'm a horrible gambler, and I knew I'd get something else - and I was right. I got the Hilton. It makes me so mad, because now I'm tied into it. I didn't even wait for the AP rates to come out before trying Priceline! I'm such an idiot, and I knew I would get the Hilton, but I HAD TO TRY IT.

Point being - (1) I could never go to Las Vegas (I'd lose my house and the shirt off my back). And (2) Don't be as stupid as I was and try Priceline because of what everyone else is able to get. I enjoyed the Wyndham on our last WDW trip that I got through Priceline, but I'm not so excited about this Hilton won bid. At least we'll be at Disney - thanks for letting me vent.

 

[punkin]

First of all, hilton for $69 is hardly the worst thing that could happen. I think it's a very nice hotel and you have early entry. Besides, for $69, even with AP rates, you won't get better than the All Stars. I'd say you did fine. stop worrying.

 

[Snow Brite]

and get points for every $ you spend there. Then when you have enough points, you can redeem them for a WDW Park Hopper. Might take a year or two, but maybe a good side benefit?

 

[tar heel]

And the Hilton qualifies for early entry and e-nights, too.

I also have used priceline several times for other places, but I can't do "resort" at Disney b/c we have three children and the Hilton absolultely will not allow more than 4 people in a room.

 

[Belle5]

Sorry you're dissappointed! DH stayed at the Hilton a couple of weeks ago and really liked it. It's a great location! What are the dates you are going? Had you noticed others on Biddingfortravel.com getting the Swan or Dolphin for the exact same dates as you were trying for?

 

[Belle0101]

That's why I'm afraid to try Priceline. I keep thinking I should but then I'm afraid I'd be dissapointed. I wanted to try for a hotel in the west Disney area but I keep holding back. Right now through Expedia I can get the Sleep Inn for $39/night.

Just like my ebay luck, I got all caught up in bidding today - I even knew better than to get caught up in it -- and ended up winning the Passporter 2003 Deluxe Editon for $26.00 plus $6.50 s/h = $32.50. That's not such a great savings It's better than no savings but I really shouldn't have done it.

And that is why I'm staying away from Priceline -- I'd probably get all caught up in winning and pay $50 for a Howard Johnson's.

 

[TreeOfLife]

And the Hilton qualifies for early entry and e-nights, too.

And, it beats staying offsite. It is OK, could have been worse.

 

[RobinLyn]

I don't think Priceline is for anyone who has their heart set on any specific or type hotel. If you don't care, and a cheaper price is what you want most, then it may not be a bad idea. I have never used priceline and think it is only for those who can live with whatever comes up. Just the idea that you can't cancel or usually make any changes, keeps me away from the thought. Last August, the very day we arrived at WDW we received an emergency call that my brother-in-law had pasted away suddenly. We got on a plane the next day to return home and WDW was excellent about the whole thing. They returned evey dime. You just never know...
Luv2Travel, as other's have said, you will enjoy the Hilton. It is a nice hotel and close to everything. Most of your time will not be spent there anyway because after all, your at WDW!!

 

[Luv2Travel]

I guess that's why I decided to vent here . . . I knew you'd make me feel better. I'm happy to hear a little positive feedback on the hotel - they are not so kind on the biddingfortravel.com reviews of Hilton. And I am a HiltonHonors member, so I'll definitely be pulling that baby out. I didn't know that Hilton participated in the early entries, so that makes me feel better. And I agree with everyone - I'll be at Disney, so it can't possibly be that bad!

I agree RobinLyn, you have to be able to live with whatever you get with Priceline. I have used PL many times and rarely get the hotel that I was secretly hoping for. I guess that's what makes me so mad at myself. I KNEW BETTER! And I fell to the gamble of it all. I'm also upset because I started out with a high bid for the Hilton. Oh well, live, learn, and get over it - right?

Belle0101 - LOL! That's what I'm talking about! I get all caught up in the bidding frenzy. I'm not very good on Ebay either, I hate to lose.

Belle5 - No, I didn't see anyone get the exact dates as mine at the S/D. We are going at the end of May, and people have been getting winning bids all through May and into June.

Hope everyone has a good day today, you've started mine off a little better.

 

[Gillian]

The people on biddingfortravel.com are very picky reviewers. Many of the travel all the time! Another thing to keep in mind with the Hilton reviews is that (I believe) all of the rooms are now renovated. It's that modern Hilton style that I really like.

I stayed there ($55, priceline) for 2 nights last March. Got to do an e-night. HHonors gold so I also got to use the club lounge (nice for getting water, coffee & some afternoon cheese). The room was clean & new looking. Plenty of space! My AKL room seemed really small in comparison.

Priceline is so addictive. I keep planning trips just so I can bid for hotels. We are going to Toronto just because the hotel rooms there are so cheap!! DH thinks I'm just a little crazy! Luckily, he wanted to go to Toronto anyway!

You'll have a wonderful trip!

 

[TFMont]

Luv2Travel - I did pretty much the same thing as you but I was hoping to get the Gaylord Palms and got the MOWC which is a really fabulous resort with nice rooms and a great pool but we have already stayed there and I was hoping to try somewhere new. Oh well, live and learn! And of course, we're still have a great time because we're at Disneyworld!

 

[Roxie A]

Don't feel bad - I've done worse. I'm opening addicted to Priceline, we are able to travel so much more than ever before just because of it. Anyway last year I was just playing around with it and bid for tickets from NC to San Diego for me, my mom & my kids at $130 each! Bingo - accepted!! I abought fell out of my chair!! Had to call my Mom and ask if she wanted to go to CA, she said not really and I told her "well your going". It was a great trip, thinking now of going again!! Have a great time!!

 

[princessmomma]

Hey, I fell into the same trap. I was so disappointed when I got the Hilton and not swan and Dolphin. I was bidding on two rooms and had my rooms booked at the Dolphin for 4 days over Easter weekend.

Someone was able to get Swan for Easter week for $70, so I gambled and got the Hilton for $70. My heart would not stop racing, I was so disappointed, until, I found out about the early entry. Boy, that made all the difference!

I haven't been to DTD so this will be an adventure for us.

Like another poster said, we are at Disney and it is better than being off site. Now I can use the extra cash on some really nice meals.

 

[Thmacs]

I have to agree with many of the other posters re: the Hilton. It is a very nice hotel. I stayed last Sept. on a priceline bid and was not "thrilled" when we got it. I was hoping for almost anything else. The location is great. Walking across to DTD is a great perk. We always drive to the parks so I cannot comment on bus service. The rooms were very nice and we too had club privleges with our Hilton Hononrs card. (Although my SIL checked us in and I know she has way more points than us so I can't say for certain how she arranged it but it was really nice). I would now bid on Priceline just to get the Hilton. Hope your trip turns out to be fabulous.

 

[sm4987]

I also was hoping for the Swan or Dolphin during our stay this summer. We bidded and got the Hilton. That was o.k. for us as we would be staying at the San for the next 11 days of our vacation. We were just hoping to stay there for our first night after driving in and just maybe we wouldn't have to move. However, I didn't care about the Hilton. It participates in EE which allows me to go the MK on our first day there, and now I have it all planned out. So, I'm not disappointed, I see it as an adventure and the chance to try out a different hotel.

 

[NHLFAN]

Originally posted by Snow Brite
and get points for every $ you spend there. Then when you have enough points, you can redeem them for a WDW Park Hopper. Might take a year or two, but maybe a good side benefit?

When we stayed at the Hilton via priceline...the Hilton wouldn't give me the Hilton points for the stay but we did get a HHonors room.

We were there during the remodel and didn't like room(s) they gave us...but it's only a room to sleep in for our family as we spend ALL day/night in the parks and when we hit the room it's time to crash.

 

[CarolA]

Generally Hilton and Marriott will give you points for any incidentials you charge to the room. Since Marriott now charges for parking you will have at least one incidental.

 

[Charleneluvsdisney]

We also got the Hilton for our first few nights of our trip on Priceline, before we head out to the Beach Club. My husband was hoping for the Swan/Dolphin also when he bid. I knew we wouldn't get it and was hoping that we got the Hilton over the Marriott, or Wyndham. I have stayed at them all through Priceline and think the Hilton is wonderful. The convenience of walking to Downtown Disney is great. They were also very accomodating. The last time we stayed there, we had a Downtown Disney view and when we returned to the hotel for the last night of our stay (we switched over from the Board Walk at the end of our trip) we mentioned that we really liked the room we had at the beginning of our stay. They gave us the same room! Service was excellent. I don't think you will be disappointed.