just when i thought i knew everything!

[cvet1]

ok here's a question i'm hoping someone can help me with....I may soon be planning a very last minute trip and was hoping to do it on the cheap. So i'm thinking of using hotwire and can I assume that all the hotels listed in the "WALT DISNEY WORLD AREA" section are the downtown disney area hotels? I've read that that's what the hotels listed in that area are...and i'm under the assumption that that's what those are. The reason I'm asking is that i'm worrried about transportation..I've read that all the DOWNTOWN DISNEY hotels offer comp. transportation to the parks (is that true?) So i guess is comes down to this - if i purchase a room on hotwire that is in the "walt disney world area" will it be one of the downtown disney hotels - and if it is can i assume there will be bus transportation to the parks. I hope this makes sense .....Also for those that have stayed in those D.D. hotels - how is the transportation compared to staying officially on site? Whew?! - thanks in advance.

 

[smilingmouse]

I think I can offer you some help, but others mioght have more/better info

1. a WDW area hotel on Hotwire will may or may not be one of the DTD hotels.

2. the DTD hotels do have free bus transportation, although the bus serves all hotels in the area (Ithink), and I've heard that the bus isn't as reliable as the WDW resort busses.

Hope this helps,

SmilingMouse

 

[aesalsa]

First of all. . . WELCOME, CVET2 !!! HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ON THE BOARDS!!
The above poster is correct about all those points. I have stayed at the Wyndham Palace right across the street from DTD Marketplace (takes about 5-10 min. to walk there from the lobby). My DH and I found out that it is usually better to wait at the DTD Marketplace busstop for buses that go to a WDW resort; from the resort we take a bus to a park. That worked very well during the slow season (we were there from 12/1/02-12/13/02). Of course, the other DTD hotels aren't that close to the actual DTD.
We've stayed there twice, asked for promo rates, specials, etc. We found out that the longer your stay there, the cheaper the daily rate. Last year, we reserved, for 12 nights, a deluxe room w/ a hot tub for $109, plus 11.5% tax and resort fee. We ended up getting upgraded to a suite (I think it was because it was our honeymoon and they were doing renovations) which was a GREAT deal. This year (10/15/03-10/25/03), our daily rate was $89, plus 11.5% tax and resort fee ($8.00 plus tax on that= $8.92). That was for a deluxe room (standard). Rooms are 400 sq. ft. If you join the FREE Wyndham byRequest program, you get a complimentary welcome beverage and snack (which they are very generous with), free upgrade to best available room on the day of your arrival, and extras in your room and some special amenities. It's NOT Disney by ANY means, so I'm told, but I've heard people here say that it is the best DTD hotel. It's the only hotel I've stayed in on WDW property, and it's A LOT cheaper than comparable WDW-owned hotels. If you're interested in the program, go to www.wyndham.com and click on the Wyndham byRequest link.

I suggest checking with the hotel first to see what they have to offer. Then compare it with the hotel discount sites. If you do decide to go with the Wyndham Palace and the byRequest program, make sure that you can use the byRequest privileges if you book through Expedia, Hotwire, etc. If booking through the hotel, be sure to give them your byRequest member number. Hope this helps.

 

[CarolA]

I suggest www.betterbidding.com Look at the hotel lists.

I have gotten the Celebration hotel using the WDW area so NOT all of them are at DTD, but using the notes on betterbidding I was able to figure out what I was getting.

The buses from DTD seem to be reliable, just not as frequent. (Somethiing like a 30 min schedule)

 

[Wolfelaw]

The DTD Hilton and Wyndham Palace both come up a lot on Hotwire in the 4 * section, usually at $55 - $65 a night. Both have transportation to the parks, although several posters say it's not too great. If you stay at the Hilton you get to take advantage of the "bonus hour" in the morning at whichever WDW amusement park is offering it that day. There is no guarantee that you will get either of these hotels, but the other 4* hotels are very nice as well -- probably nicer, except that they aren't right in DTD.

I believe that Wyndham won't give you the Wyndham by Request benefits if you book through Hotwire -- at least that is their official position. I'm staying there in a few weeks on a Hotwire reservation, so we'll see.

Wyndham and the Hilton both often have super low rates on their websites (not as low as Hotwire, but low), so if you feel strongly about staying at one or the other, you should check that out. Plus if you book through the website, you get whatever beneifts (i.e., HiltonHonors or WyndhambyRequest) you might be entitled to.

Good luck.