New to Priceline have a few ???'s

[kilee]

I have never used priceline but I just finished reading all the tips on the biddingfortravel website. We are putting together a trip for 4/24- 5/2 (kind of last minute). Anyhow, I thought we were going to stay onsite. However, it is just too much. I was think of bidding in the $70-80 range for a resort in the Disney vicinity. From the list none of them looks bad or like I'd be disappointed. We usually stay at the Days Inn type places. DH said we could splurge alittle but had to keep it in the $80.00 range. I don't have my heart set on getting the swan or dolphin. So I am wondering are any of the main resort hotels that come up a disappointment?

 

[Luv2Travel]

Hi Kilee,
We just got back from our second trip to WDW using Priceline. The two hotels that come up the most are the Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa at DD, and the Hilton at DD. Both hotels usually go for $60 to $65 a night. We stayed at the Wyndham last May and just got back from the Hilton this week.

I enjoyed the Wyndham a little better than the Hilton. The staff seemed friendlier and I liked the pool area better. The rooms at both hotels are very nicely decorated, and the location of both are great. I think the Wyndham might have been a little easier of a walk to the DD Marketplace, but both are across the street from DD.

I may not have liked the Hilton as well because we stayed at the Royal Pacific Hotel at US for a couple of nights before moving to the Hilton. The Royal Pacific is brand new, and I get spoiled easily. If you normally stay at a Days Inn, then I think you'll be very pleased with either hotel that you would end up with. And who knows, you might get real lucky and get the Gaylord Palms. Although, I believe that normally goes for around $80 or more.

I've read on the DIS that the Swan and Dolphin will not be on Priceline again for a while. I was hoping to get one of them for our next trip in May and ended up with the Hilton again. But I could do worse. Bottom line, I think you'll be happy with any of the hotels from Priceline if you're used to staying off-site anyway. Good Luck!

 

[kilee]

Thank you I found that website helpful as well. I am a little nervous of the unkown. I really don't believe I can go wrong though. I'd take any of those hotels on the list of frequent ones and I'm sure if something else were to come up it would have to be pretty nice to compare to them.

 

[CarolMN]

Keep in mind that most, if not all, of the resort hotels that come up on Priceline charge a resort fee. As far as I know, it cannot be waived. Just wanted you to look those up before you bid so you will be prepared budgetwise.

We stayed two nights at the Wyndham Palace last November, right after Thanksgiving. IMHO, it is a great resort and very conveniently located. Although we didn't visit the WDW parks while we were there, we did walk to the MarketPlace and PI (just across the street). I noticed that the park shuttle buses looked very nice and seemed to appear on a frequent/regular basis. If you end up there, I predict you will be very satisfied.

Good luck with your bidding!

 

[jeffreyml]

I would start your first bid at $60 for a resort hotel in the WDW area. I haven't seen any Resort bids accepted any lower than that. We received the Hilton in DD for $60 for a 7 night stay. we then decided to arrive one day earlier and bid again and received the Wyndham for$65.

The first night will be used to recoup from the drive down so were not to concearned about switching hotels after the first day.

This is also a last minute trip that were trying to do as cheap as possible since were going for 2 weeks in August..

 

[kilee]

have one more question---- I was reading that all bids are based on double occupancy. Well it will be me, dh and ds (10). Will I have a problem getting a room with 2 beds? I just wanted to make sure it is double occupancy with one king/queen bed. I got alittle concerned about this.

 

[Luv2Travel]

Kilee - that can be a concern to have, but it's really not a problem in the WDW area. Most hotels in Orlando are geared for families, and I've never had a problem with getting two beds when I requested them in any area that I have won a Priceline bid. Not to say a problem can't arise, but the odds are low in the WDW area.

Also wanted to mention that as the above post said most hotels in the resort category to have resort fees. However, they are not madatory at the Hilton (as I just got back and did not have to pay them - only if you use the resort services), and I'm fairly confident that I did not have to pay them at the Wyndham (although that was last May).

And another thing to mention rolleyes: sorry so long): while I may have liked the Wyndham hotel a little better, the Hilton is the only DD hotel that offers early entry and E-nights to WDW. The other hotels do not participate in them.

 

[horseshowmom]

Are you driving? If the absolute worst came to worst, you could always run to Wal-Mart and pick up a twin inflatable bed for your son. We keep one just in case we ever need it.