Priceline at Disney?

[SeattleGirl]

So, we use priceline for everything (where you bid a price and if it's accepted you are assigned a hotel that you didn't know about in advance). We have gotten some AMAZING deals at beautiful hotels, plus it is kind of fun to let the website choose a hotel for you.

I am wondering if people have done this around Disney and what the results have been (I am most interested in 3-star hotels). I hesitate to try it just because I have heard rumors of bedbugs at some hotels and I am DEATHLY AFRAID of bedbugs. I make DBF stand by the door and turn on the light while I lift up the mattress and examine.

 

[DoomBugger]

Why not call the hotels on Harbor (mostly three-star type places) to get an idea of what would be a good bidding price for the times you will be visiting.

I would just call the ones that are right across the street on Harbor and make reservations yourself as Priceline won't consider the location (it is great to just walk across the street) as much as you would and that will be worth a few extra pennies. The deals you will get yourself will be in the same ballpark and even if you find something better on PL you can just cancel. Good luck.

 

[poohnpigletCA]

check out www.biddingfortravel.com then select Anaheim. It will show you what people have bid and the Hotel they received. The closest hotel with Priceline is the Hilton next to the convention center. We got that for 42. a night. There are some nicer Hotel, but not in walking distance. In Anaheim I have always bid at the highest star rating.

 

[RuthieT]

We are also considering using Priceline for our next DL trip in December. I have heard from other message boards from people that have done with and they have gotten some really night hotels. They only had one bad one and it was too close to the highway and there was noise from that....If you are concerned with the distance between hotel and DL then I might not this, but for us we are planning on getting a rental car or just using ART.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

id call desert inn and hojos and see if you can get ther 59night rooms or 74 a night hojos ent rate ..i wouldnt do priceline becosue they pick the hotle not you and they wont be close to the park id think

 

[RuthieT]

If you choose Disneyland Area you will only be a mile or two at the most from DL.

 

[kingshockey04]

We recently used priceline for my upcoming trip and got the Hyatt Regency for 42 dollars a night. It's not walking distance but has a shuttle which is fine for my family. But also beware of parking charges (sometimes up to 19 $ a day) and other fees.

 

[JosieGirl71]

We did Priceline for our trip last year and got the Anaheim Hilton (3*). We requested a Disney view room and they happily obliged. There was a parking fee of $12/day though. But we still liked our stay there.

We have three reservations for our upcoming trip and I have yet to decide which one I want.

 

[RuthieT]

We are only going to decide on a rental car after the hotel we win the bid on. Since we do not want to pay the parking fee at the hotel.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

The money you save on hotel goes to parking and wasted time might as well bite the bullet and get right across the street.

 

[RuthieT]

well if we can get a hotel off of priceline for 50% or more off what we would pay for being acrossed the street then I say its worth the extra time to catch a shuttle to and from DL.

 

[DizMe]

Just be aware that at many hotels, the parking fee is not optional. You pay whether you have a car or not.

 

[TripHHH]

We used Priceline our last trip and got the Hilton for $48 a night. You do have to pay to park (but only if you have a car you are parking there). Since we got the hotel so cheap, we splurged on valet parking for $19 a night. Still a great deal overall.

The Hilton was very nice, clean, great pool...and the Disneyland shuttle picks you up right outside the front door for $3 a day ($1 for kids). It worked perfect for us. It also has a beautil lobby with a Starbucks...perfect to start my day!

The hotels across Harbor are motels, no hotels (as in the room door opens out into the parking lot or outdoor corridor, rather than inside a building. Also, they would be considered 2 star properties because of that and because most don't have restaurants on the premises.

I've stayed at the Tropicana across Harbor. It's great being so close, but I like the luxury of bigger hotels.

 

[SeattleGirl]

Thank you for all of the replies (and the website with current bid success!). I may very well end up at the HoJo, BUT..

The way I look at it is if I can stay at a high end property for the same price I'd pay for a hotel, I don't mind taking a shuttle. I've been spoiled by $60 nights at the Hyatt.

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

I always bid for a 3 star hotel in the Disneyland area. If my first bid is rejected I add Seal Beach (I think) as they have no 3 star hotels there.... then if that is rejected I add Anaheim Hills (again no 3 star hotels there either) both suggestions from biddingfortravel as suggested by a previous poster.

I just stayed on Thursday night at the Hyatt Regency for 42.00 per night. I did pay parking of 15.00 but that is OK. The free shuttle they provide is great and their drivers are very friendly. We loved it and we have stayed there before too.

Usually depending on the time of year and day of the week you can get a hotel from 40.00 - 50.00. The hotels on Harbor directly from Disneyland are not where as nice or clean. I am not a hotel snob either but if I can stay 3 star for less than 2 star I will.... Just be aware that Priceline will only guarantee a room that sleeps two people. I have never had an issue requesting two beds though but they don't have to give you two beds.. The same goes with a smoking room vs. non-smoking room. They only guarantee you a room - it could have one bed and it could be smoking but again in using this service at least 6 times in the past two years we have been able to request two beds and non smoking every time..

You do take a chance by not knowing the hotel you are staying at and you cannot cancel after you bid is approved... but it is worth it in my opinion...

 

[kingshockey04]

I just stayed on Thursday night at the Hyatt Regency for 42.00 per night. I did pay parking of 15.00 but that is OK. The free shuttle they provide is great and their drivers are very friendly. We loved it and we have stayed there before too.

Quick question on the Hyatt, we are staying there next month. I know the shuttle leaves the hotel at the top and 30 minutes of the hour (per the website). Did it leave an hour before DL opening? Or does it leave starting when DL opens?

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

Quick question on the Hyatt, we are staying there next month. I know the shuttle leaves the hotel at the top and 30 minutes of the hour (per the website). Did it leave an hour before DL opening? Or does it leave starting when DL opens?

it leaves 30 minutes prior to the park opening....it ALWAYS arrives and leaves on time.. After the Hyatt it makes one more stop at the Crown Plaza and the it is onto Disneyland and it stops in the white zone for shuttles..

 

[Mililani Mouser]

I am wondering if people have done this around Disney and what the results have been (I am most interested in 3-star hotels). I hesitate to try it just because I have heard rumors of bedbugs at some hotels and I am DEATHLY AFRAID of bedbugs. I make DBF stand by the door and turn on the light while I lift up the mattress and examine.

I've never seen bedbugs, what do they look like and where exactly do I look for these things?

 

[pixiewings71]

The hotels across Harbor are motels, no hotels (as in the room door opens out into the parking lot or outdoor corridor, rather than inside a building. Also, they would be considered 2 star properties because of that and because most don't have restaurants on the premises.

Sorry, not true. The HoJo has interior corridors and is a GREAT hotel, it's our first choice for staying on Harbor. Also, the first year (06) we were there we stayed at the Radisson, it also had interior corridors but was too far away for us. Try the HoJo, ask for the Ent Rate of $59 or $74, you won't regret it. My BFF did Priceline for them once.....never again, she got a hotel that was too far to walk comfortably and it was pretty run down. I'll just stick with my HoJo.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

hojos camolot or desert inn will always be the three i recomend.