I'm thinking of taking the Priceline plunge-

[figment27]

I have been doing some research about Priceline at biddingfortravel.com. I am actually thinking about trying this for our Jan. 2003 trip to WDW. I will need to figure out a few more of the bidding strategies suggested though.
I would ideally like to bid on a resort level and HOPE to get either the Swan or Dolphin.
For those who have used Priceline for their WDW trips, I would appreciate feedback, negative or positive, regarding the experience?
Thanks,
Figment

 

[rcomputer]

The Swolphin have previously been reported as 4* - You would not get them by bidding resort.

The only reported availability of Swolphin on Priceline last year was December.

It appears more likely that you would get another hotel - is that acceptable?

 

[singitalto]

I have used priceline many times and I think it's great!! The only time you get yourself into trouble is when you will only be happy when your get a particular hotel. You have to be open to get any hotel in the star level you bid on.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

For starters, if you decide to jump into Priceline, useing biddingfortravel.com is an excellent way to go. Strategy developed by people who do it over and over again. All they ask is that you click through their banners to get there and come back, win or lose, and tell how and what you did.

We've used Priceline several times for hotels (won't do it for airlines). I've personally gone the 2.5* route, being a cheap person. Last year, we were placed in the Courtyard at Lake Bryan, which was an incredible deal (with the exception of the non-stop time share pitch by everyone but the housekeepers). Excellent new hotel. for September this year, we're part of the wave that landed the BW Lake Buena Vista for $25 a night. If you're set on the Dolphin/Swan genre, that probably won't cut it. But for $25 a night, beats the hell out of Hojos.

Of course, the whole deal with Priceline is you can hope all you want, but you're in the wrong place if you have your heart set on a given hotel. Flexibility is the downfall with Priceline. But if you read around Biddingfortravel.com, you can at least find out who's been getting what lately in what price range.

I give Priceline an A+, from a 2.5* kind of family.

PE

 

[plugnickle]

I got the Sheraton Studio City very close to Universal this year for $37 using biddingfortravel. Just be flexible and well informed.

 

[figment27]

I really appreciate the great feedback from all of you!
I am very flexible as to where we stay, I just can'ts pass up a good bargain.
Although, I say I would like to stay at a resort level, I would probably enjoy the bargain of a 2.5* more.
We are the type of family who sleeps (very little), showers, and then hits the park so we really don't stay around long enough to enjoy a resort.
Reading the biddingfortravel.com boards, and hotel FAQ's really explains the process to a newbie like me. It gives me a little more confidence tackling the bidding process.
I did read however that priceline is ranking Swan/Dolphin as a resort now, not a 4* as it was once ranked. Although, being new, I may have misunderstood the wording of Sheryl's post.
Strangely enough, I understand the re-bidding concept better than I understand being rejected for a bid. I will have to read more to get a better understanding.
I guess I missed something because I really don't understand now many times you can bid, being rejected, and the time frame for rebidding under those circumstances unless you get a "free" bid by bidding for a quality level in a zone known not to offer that particular quality level???
Thanks again,
Figment

 

[plugnickle]

You find out the highest * rating in each of the different areas. You then add the areas that do not include your desired hotel rating for a new bid. Each area not including your desired rating equals a new bid.

 

[figment27]

I just love your screen name!
I do understand the re-bidding process. What I don't understand is:
What happens after your initial bid is rejected?
How long do you have to wait before submitting a new bid?
Am I correct to state you get to rebid earlier, after a bid has been rejected,if you submit a bid for the a *rating you know is not available in a particular area?
You then get to give a bid on the original area you wanted with an increased offer???
They also talk abour increasing a bid slowly, example $5 increments. When do you do this with the initial bid, or after being rejected?
I apologize for my apparent ignorance!
Thanks,
Figment

 

[ErinH1]

When your initial bid is rejected, you can immediately rebid using a zone that only has less star quality. For example, if you're bidding on a 2-1/2 * and get rejected, you can then "change your bid" by adding Winter Park (that zone only goes up to 2*) and increase your bid amount at the same time. It's up to you how much you want to increase it--$2, $3, $5. If you go with 3* bidding, you'll have more free rebids because there are more zones with only 2-1/2* or less. Each time you get rejected you can immediately keep raising the bid by adding a zone that has a lower * level. I think you do have the idea of how it goes! If all that fails, you just have to wait 72 hours to try again and you've got plenty of time till January. Good luck, keep us posted!

 

[bumcat]

When I did a bid thru priceline.com, I plugged in 35.00, it stated that my bid was to low, I then plugged in 36.00 and got the hotel. (This was the second time that I did it). The first time I did a bid I put in 35.00 and when it said it was too low I plugged in 40.00 and got it but after that I decided to try increasing to a 1.00 only and it worked.

The 40.00 hotel is for the marriott renaissance by world drive. The other one is a townsuite (in Tallahassee) for 35.00

I decided to take the plunge after reading sixpacks post.


I

 

[bumcat]

Silly me, the post was by partyofsix not sixpack, can you see where my mind is early in the morning. LOL

 

[BonnieA]

A lot of times they (priceline) do try to persuade you to bid higher by telling you that your bid is too low and there is almost no chance of it being accepted. Ignore that!! Bid what you want, you may get it.

 

[AWW]

When bidding on Priceline, ALWAYS ignore the "opportunity to raise your bid because it is unlikely to be accepted" page. Bid whatever you wish to start at and continue to raise your offer through rebids. You can learn about rebidding on the "Bidding for Travel" website as mentioned before. It is quite likely that your original bid of $35 would have been accepted at the Reniassance World Gate as it has been so often in the past. The Priceline experience is difficult to explain, but once you have it figured out it is the greatest travel tool around for saving money!

 

[DisOrBust]

Just a thought....We are also planing a Jan trip. Last year there were great codes out ie All Stars for 49 a night. Are you sure you wouldn't want to wait and see what the codes are before doing priceline? Also I don't know how many are in your part but price line does not garantee 4 per room availablity. I know someone last year had a problem woth one of the DTD hotels they won on priceline.

 

[figment27]

DisorBust,
I already have ressies at HRP. I am also researching alternatives. I am hoping for a good mousesaver discount for HRP, or a good discount code for one of the WDW resort moderates.
In addition, I am thinking about DreamRes, the service on the homepage of the Disboard. They offer what seems to be a great service, and others have said they have gotten some great room rates using them.
At least, I think it is called DreamRes, it is the service that will check on room rates for you and obtain the lowest rate possible.
I am also considering Priceline, it is very tempting. I have to weigh all my options when considering PriceLine.
I was planning on staying in a WDW resort or DTD hotel. This way I would be able to purchase the UPH's and use the Disney transportation or the DTD hotel shuttle service.
If I use PL, I may end up at a property that is not a Disney resort, or DTD hotel. This would mean I would not be able to purchase the UPH.
I may also need a rental car depending on where the property was located, and how frequently their shuttle bus service is.
I am in no rush, but I truly appreciate being able to use these boards. They are a very valuable resource!
Figment

 

[plugnickle]

What I did was to make reservations at a hotel that I wanted to stay at if I couldn't get a decent Priceline rate. I then started working on Priceline. Once I succeeded at Priceline I just cancelled the previous reservation. Just make sure that you don't let the grace period run out on cancelling your ressies. I read somewhere that the better rates are actually received closer to the date in question, so don't bid too high now. Maybe just keep the same range of low bids going until a month or so out from your date of departure. It makes sense, because they want to fill those empty rooms with time running out.

 

[cinamin27]

one thing you want to watch & I've seen made as an important suggestion on biddingfortravel is to choose Disney Vacinity first as your only area of choice then look at the priceline hotel list on bidding for travel to know where you can add an area, say for instance, there have been no known hotels using priceline at a 3, 4 or resort star rating in the Kissimmee area so you may want to start your bid like this:

4* Disney vacinity $XX (how ever much you feel you want to bid for a 4 star) -- priceline will always upgrade you if they find a higher rated hotel/resort to accept your bid.

if the bid comes back rejected, increase your bid amount by a few dollars or so but add something like the Kissimme area (or any area that shows hotels with a * rating lower than your origional bid) but **KEEPING** the star rating you origionally chose. It will accept Kissimmee (or other areas), but according to the hotel list on biddingfortravel there are no known hotels in Kissimmee with a 2 1/2* or higher using priceline. if the 2nd bid is rejected, add another area like West Disney because there have only been 1 or 2 * hotels using priceline & add a few more bux to your bid amount, bid again rejected, add Winter Park (only has a 2* hotel using priceline) & add a few more bux again. (get the picture?)

Took me awhile to get the hang of it & getting burned by bidding 3* for an initial bid of $51 & not realizing the Hyatt on 192 was 3* & saw that the Hyatt accepts bids usually about $35 but I got over my anger because the Hyatt usually goes for like $79 per night on their own website, oh well, ya live & learn!

I've been lurking on biddingfortravel for several months watching the posts & mods comments & I've seen the mods suggest never lowering your hotel rating on rebids because you can change the area only on your rebid. Read the hotel list because it is very informative on what you can expect to get hotel wise depending on the * rating you pick during your origional bid.

 

[figment27]

Instead of rebidding in a different zone using the original quality rating but increasing the original bid for a few dollars-can you just wait the 72 hours after being rejected and try again using your original bid?
Thanks,
Figment

 

[AWW]

Yes, you sure can. You can keep repeating your original bid every 72 hours. Just make sure you start a brand new bid each time. Because your trip is not until January, you should not raise your bid too soon as you have plenty of time and many times Priceline does not get availability this far ahead (sometimes they do!). Just make sure your bid is reasonable, based on previously accepted bids. Good luck!