Priceline Express Deals

[madge]

Sounds to me like Disney is not happy with HW and PL bookings--but aren't they the ones that release them to those sites?

ding ding ding! we have a winner!

 

[Willow1213]

We are st

Followed up with an additional e-mail. The response states that you can use DME without the guest being on the reservation. Might be a little bit of a PITA, but worth it for sure.
EDIT: I'm not sure how you'd call the resort, but it would be worth looking into ahead of time.

Trinsey,
Thank you for the response, but both Priceline and Hotwire have informed me that this simply is not the case. They are refusing to add additional guests.
Disney wholesale is telling people to contact the 3rd party, and the 3rd party is telling them to contact Disney.


Those with pending reservations are unable to use the Magical Express, dining plans, etc.

What are we to do if Disney says contact Priceline, and Priceline says contact Disney?

Thanks

Dear Josh,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort. We do apologize for all of the confusion.

When a Guest books a room through a third party, we don't have access to those reservations to modify them and add additional Guests until check in.

The additional Guest can use Disney's Magical Express® as long as the lead Guest calls the Walt Disney World® Resort upon landing at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and adds the Guests at that time. The new Guest will have the same components the other Guests already booked. I.e. Disney Dining Plan, Theme Park Tickets, etc.

If you have any other questions or challenges, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling us at 407-W-DISNEY (407-934-7639) or by chatting with us in the Help Center of the Walt Disney World® website (only available on the US site). Cast Members will be happy to assist you further.

Sincerely,

eCommerce Sales and Service Team

We are staying at Coronado this weekend on a Priceline blind bid. I called wholesale and was told they no longer add additional guests, that the wholesaler would need to reach out on our behalf. A quick web chat to priceline and they called wholesale, received an email address to send the request and VOILA! It took about 1.5 days before I could see my son added, but it was super simple! No need for all of this craziness.

It's not about Disney not liking Priceline, it's about Priceline and Hotwire maintaining control of their reservations AND Disney controlling Call Center costs. Just like booking through ANY travel agent, you should not be able to call and make changes yourself. Priceline CS had no issues making the request for me, and the whole process was quick and painless. From start to finish (including a call to wholesale where they told me they can no longer assist) I spent 40 minutes getting my son added to our reservation. Most of that time was waiting while the chat person at Priceline got on the phone with Disney and filled out the email (while I cooked dinner!)

 

[JayMass]

ding ding ding! we have a winner!

So confusing! I wonder if Disney is going to pull out of HW and PL at some point in the future and that's why they are starting to enforce the rules about adding guests. Maybe they have contracts with these companies that they are waiting out?

 

[Willow1213]

I think the Priceline deals are about to get bigger... We are hearing more and more of cancelled conferences. Expect to see last minute Coronado, Yacht Club, etc. as Disney struggles to fill the room blocks now left empty by cancelled conference goers.

 

[Lewisc]

A point of clarification--

People want to add other guests to their hotel reservations made through HW and PL for the following reasons:

1. They want to take MDE from MCO
2. They need to be on the reservation to add a DDP
3. They want to all members of the family to book FP+ and ADRs

My understanding is that the ONLY valid reason above is #1--MDE.

For #2--You can add a DDP (at the same rate) once you get to the resort so no need to add them before hand.
For #3--You can book FP+ for the whole family with only one linked family member on MDX. So for example, Mom books AoA via Hotwire. She then adds it to her MDX. In her MDX she has linked Dad, Kid 1, and Kid 2. On 60 Day FP+ morning, Mom, Dad, Kid 1, and Kid 2 can book all of their FP+. Same is true for ADRs at the 180 day mark.

So...

The only reason for adding additional guests (i.e.-the rest of your family) to a HW or PL reservation is for MDE. (This is of course takes into account that when Mom booked she made sure there were enough beds for the whole fam).

Am I correct or am I missing an important piece of information?

Posters don't want to pay an extra per person fee charged by Hotwire. Previous posters suggest Hotwire charges even if the extra guest is a young child and adding through Disney wholesale department resulted in no charge even if the extra guest was an adult. The only way you can generally get enough beds is if you specify the number of guests. OK going from 3 to 4 should be an issue. I don't think Disney guarantees 2 beds if the reservation is only for 2.

PL only guarantees double occupancy. Customers want to make sure they get a room which will accommodate the number of guests. Not generally a big issue, Disney has relatively few one bed rooms.

So confusing! I wonder if Disney is going to pull out of HW and PL at some point in the future and that's why they are starting to enforce the rules about adding guests. Maybe they have contracts with these companies that they are waiting out?

Third party companies are responsible for handling reservations. I suspect Disney wholesale department is tired of devoting resources to dealing with individual guests. They may even be aware of the fact that guests are calling direct to avoid paying extra guest fees.

Guests who don't correct indicate the number of guests, or book through PL and are in effect booking for 2, are accepting some risk.

FWIW. DME doesn't seem to be following the rules as closely as they did in the past. Telling the CM you were told to straighen out the issue with the 2 kids when you get to the resort will probably work. The issue is if the resort is full and you're assigned to a King room.

 

[Lewisc]

I think the Priceline deals are about to get bigger... We are hearing more and more of cancelled conferences. Expect to see last minute Coronado, Yacht Club, etc. as Disney struggles to fill the room blocks now left empty by cancelled conference goers.

After 9 11 Disney found out discounts wouldn't fill resorts. An entire resort was closed, construction on the second half of POP (now AoA) was stopped and sections of resorts were closed.

I agree some discounts are likely, at least for some dates. But closing a resort is a possibility. Completely close a resort for renovations

 

[ILuvDisney78]

SAVE MORE WITH EXPRESS DEALS​

Save an extra 5% OFF* hotels already up to 60% OFF. Enter code at checkout.​

9YQ8CW7TL8​

Book by 03/06/2020 23:59:59 EST, travel any time. Coupon valid for one-time use only, discount applies before taxes and fees.

 

[emmabelle]

 

[emmabelle]

Anyone know what the upper two are?

 

[JJTNY]

Without review numbers it is harder to ID - I checked these on my iPad,but I'm not getting the 4*9 resort on the left for $324.
But, the only resorts in BC with that rating are: Boulder Ridge Villas (review count = 7, so will appear as no reviews.), Boardwalk (review count = 30s), and Yacht Club. (review count = 60s)
BR Villas seems unlikely IMHO.

The only 4.5* 9-rated resorts in BC are Grand Flo and AK Jambo House. I do see a deal for that in my iPad search that has 70 reviews, so would be Grand Flo. HOWEVER, the rate I am seeing for that resort is $411, not $361.

BTW, I am seeing these deals on those dates as well in my results:
3*8 with 100 reviews for $308 (AoA)
3.5*8 with 400 reviews for $172 (CSR)
4*8 60 reviews for $346 (Beach Club)

 

[madge]

We are st


We are staying at Coronado this weekend on a Priceline blind bid. I called wholesale and was told they no longer add additional guests, that the wholesaler would need to reach out on our behalf. A quick web chat to priceline and they called wholesale, received an email address to send the request and VOILA! It took about 1.5 days before I could see my son added, but it was super simple! No need for all of this craziness.

It's not about Disney not liking Priceline, it's about Priceline and Hotwire maintaining control of their reservations AND Disney controlling Call Center costs. Just like booking through ANY travel agent, you should not be able to call and make changes yourself. Priceline CS had no issues making the request for me, and the whole process was quick and painless. From start to finish (including a call to wholesale where they told me they can no longer assist) I spent 40 minutes getting my son added to our reservation. Most of that time was waiting while the chat person at Priceline got on the phone with Disney and filled out the email (while I cooked dinner!)

that's a significant difference from the experience I had with HW - that's exactly how my other bookings with 3rd party vendors have gone & how I expected the one I currently have with HW to go.

as I've stated before, HW terms on the site clearly state no changes. they are holding firm to that, regardless of Disney's position.

 

[madge]

Posters don't want to pay an extra per person fee charged by Hotwire. Previous posters suggest Hotwire charges even if the extra guest is a young child and adding through Disney wholesale department resulted in no charge even if the extra guest was an adult. The only way you can generally get enough beds is if you specify the number of guests. OK going from 3 to 4 should be an issue. I don't think Disney guarantees 2 beds if the reservation is only for 2.

PL only guarantees double occupancy. Customers want to make sure they get a room which will accommodate the number of guests. Not generally a big issue, Disney has relatively few one bed rooms.





Third party companies are responsible for handling reservations. I suspect Disney wholesale department is tired of devoting resources to dealing with individual guests. They may even be aware of the fact that guests are calling direct to avoid paying extra guest fees.

Guests who don't correct indicate the number of guests, or book through PL and are in effect booking for 2, are accepting some risk.

I mentioned the bolded part pages ago - it's a high risk/high reward deal. In addition to Disney not expecting people realizing all it would take is a call to add guests, I'm sure PL & HW never expected people to figure out how to know what hotel they're "blindly" booking ... and yet, here we are. I was well aware of the risk before I booked my room 10 days ago, but my previous experience told me that was a good risk to take, so I did.

it is going to be interesting to see how travel trends over the spring & summer and how that relates to 3rd party vendors. I remember the post 9-11 deals well. that's when we got hooked on WDW.

 

[emmabelle]

@JJTNY - thank you!

i was thinking YC but wanted someone to agree with me!

 

[Patrick Gavin]

what are u guys seeing for 9/8-9/15? Looks like AOA and port orleans? 2 pop up w/ airport shuttle but not sure

 

[sanibel11]

I am hoping someone can answer this question. I have a room at CBR booked for March 24-26 for 2 adults and 2 kids, obviously have my fast passes booked. Just found a great Priceline express deal those same nights at Yatch club for $275 per night. If I book it and link YC reservation from Priceline hotel to MDE before I cancel my CBR reservation - since my YC reservation only has two adults will it cancel my kids Fast Passes I already made?

 

[madge]

within 30 days, I don't think it will.

I am hoping someone can answer this question. I have a room at CBR booked for March 24-26 for 2 adults and 2 kids, obviously have my fast passes booked. Just found a great Priceline express deal those same nights at Beachclub for $275 per night. If I book it and link YC reservation from Priceline hotel to MDE before I cancel my CBR reservation - since my YC reservation only has two adults will it cancel my kids Fast Passes I already made?

 

[lorilclevelandrn]

Anyone have a PL promo offer not being put to use?

TIA!

 

[Leigh L]

Anyone have a PL promo offer not being put to use?

TIA!

Hi, I checked my email, here's one for 5%

7CR2ME8729​

Book by 03/06/2020 23:59:59 EST, travel any time. Coupon valid for one-time use only, discount applies before taxes and fees.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

I’ve been having so much trouble with this lately! Does anyone see anything for March 27-30?

 

[ClapYourHands]

I'm sure PL & HW never expected people to figure out how to know what hotel they're "blindly" booking ... and yet, here we are.

I'm not so sure of that. If PL/HW didn't want people to be able to figure out the hotel, they wouldn't have so many identifying clues. I think what they want is plausible deniability. They want the deals hidden just enough that the hotel owner isn't going to get mad at them for undercutting the regular prices too much. They want the deals hidden just enough that many guests will pay more for the sure thing of a revealed booking.

But PL/HW wants enough people to be confident enough in what they're getting to take the risk on a non-refundable booking that they don't know for SURE in advance. How many of us would pay for a Disney moderate opaque booking if there were a high probability we'd end up with TownPlace Suites? Not many.

It's a delicate balance.