Priceline - need advice!

[DWHooked]

I'm considering going through Priceline to book a Resort / or 3+ star hotel for the Disney area. (We aren't going until Sept. so I had some time to dream/play around with this.) Can I ask if anyone has experience with this, and if so what sort of hotels you got & for what prices? I hear so much about staying on property, but it seems like you get so much more for your money by staying off! This will be our 3rd trip to Disney , but our first time planning it. After looking at everything, I'm more confused than ever! We like our Space! We want to be close to Disney! Yet, we don't want to spend a fortune on the room either! ($75+/-) Am I dreaming or what!?!?!

 

[floridagirrl2]

If my budget was $75 in September (which I think, historically, is a fairly quiet time of year at WDW), I would either stay onsite at a Value (with code, $49-$59) or even possibly a Moderate (with codes, I've seen Mods at around $79). Or, if I had kids, I would consider an offsite condo (very nice condos can easily be had for the price). I, personally, would not Priceline for a $75 hotel room unless I wanted to play around and try to get a Resort level lodging for that price.

DH and I have used Priceline for very-low-budget stays ($26 and $31 at a 2.5 star hotel) and were fine with the hotel we won each time, but I have read of some rather disappointing wins for higher-priced lodgings on Priceline.

 

[princessmomma]

DWHooked, first welcome to the Dis, great people here, you will find lots of good answers to your questions to ask away.

I have used Priceline a lot and have never been dissappointed. I have only bid on 3* for Disney area and received the Sheraton Safari for $37 a night. I also bid on Seaworld/Universal and received the Renaissance for $60 a night.

Here is a link that shows you other winning bids in the Orlando area zones.

Need more help, ask away.

http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelineandexpediabiddingorlandowaltdisneyworld

 

[CarolA]

OK. You need to go to www.biddingfortravel.com and find the thread on orlando. Then look at EVERY hotel in the category you want in the Disney area. If you can live with ANY of them you can bid. I generally just read lots of posts there to see what the going rate is....
The woman that runs the board is a pill so if you want help you might try www.betterbidding.com much nicer folks but not as much info.

Good luck.

 

[floridagirrl2]

You also might want to post this over on the Orlando Hotels board--lots of people there use Priceline for offsite hotels, I think.

 

[my3kids]

I love Priceline, but with a $75 budget and space being your main objective, I wouldn't use it. You can likely find a suite hotel for the price in your budget to give yourself the space you want. By choosing yourself, you can probably find ne with the ammenities you most desire, whether it be great pools, free breakfast, transportation or whatever.

 

[d4est]

I don't know if I would dare to bid for a 3* in WDW vacinity. There are a few that are "possibles" that I wouldn't be happy with (bad reviews), I just wouldn't chance it for fear of being disappointed. Now RESORT level is a different story. I think I could live with any of the possiblities. The last time I bid I got the Marriott Orlando World Center. It was awesome and so close to DTD. If you are willing to bid $80-90, then go for a resort. Otherwise, I would try skyauction or hotelkingdom etc.

 

[jlcbshaw]

We used Priceline for our trip last March (and plan on for December) and we actually got two rooms for that price. We requested joining rooms and had plenty of room. Having two bathrooms was really helpful for our 16 year old. She used one and everyone else used the other . There was even a free breakfast (juice, cereals, muffins, etc) that made the deal even better. Of course our kids prefer a light breakfast, so it was perfect.

My only advice is to really decide on the type of experience you want from your vacation. We go for the parks and eating out, so where we sleep (only at the hotel after dark to sleep) just has to be CLEAN! Never had a problem that wasn't fixed right away with Priceline. We use it for all of our travel.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Zoesmama03]

I have used it a couple times with out problems. However for a "busy" resort I would avoid as I have heard horror stories of overbooking and they have to turn away the priceline guests. My MIL works in the hotel industry and says it has happened at all of her hotels from time to time there was not enough rooms. She says the hold a percentage of rooms for Priceline but sometimes priceline has a good day and they end up over booked.

 

[CarolA]

You know the ONLY times I have ever been walked I was paying rack rate LOL!

 

[DWHooked]

Thanks so much for your tips! See, I've never bid on a priceline "resort" so I'm not all that sure what they mean by that. From what I've seen, Disney's Value & most Moderate rooms have two double beds or one king. Even as tired as we get at the parks, I don't think I would get much sleep since we are so used to our King size bed. Not to mention our two kids driving us nuts having to sleep so close together - not that they don't just "adore" each other... Anyway, the rooms just seem really small. I definately want to stay very close to Disney, a kitchenette would be awesome - we plan on staying 10+ days. I definately want a pool. I would go up to $100 per night (including tax) if the place was right. There are just SO MANY places! What pressure!

 

[powellrj]

try the orlando board and look for posts about hotelkingdom. Read what other people have to say about several of the villas you can get in the $70 a night range. We use priceline alot, but this time we went with Cypress Point this time from hotelkingdom. I would rather know where I am staying when I go to Disney!

 

[d4est]

As was mentioned, go to biddingfortravel.com. There is a list of known resorts that come up when you "win." Check out this link for all the hotels that commonly come up on priceline. The WDW vacity resorts are at the top. http://p070.ezboard.com/fpricelinea...waltdisneyworld.showMessage?topicID=650.topic

 

[CarolA]

Thanks so much for your tips! See, I've never bid on a priceline "resort" so I'm not all that sure what they mean by that. From what I've seen, Disney's Value & most Moderate rooms have two double beds or one king. Even as tired as we get at the parks, I don't think I would get much sleep since we are so used to our King size bed. Not to mention our two kids driving us nuts having to sleep so close together - not that they don't just "adore" each other... Anyway, the rooms just seem really small. I definately want to stay very close to Disney, a kitchenette would be awesome - we plan on staying 10+ days. I definately want a pool. I would go up to $100 per night (including tax) if the place was right. There are just SO MANY places! What pressure!

OK, IMHO you don't sound like a good bet for Priceline. There is no way to gurantee two king begs or the kitchenette. What about the Hawthorn Suites LBV or Sierra Suites?

 

[Lewisc]

$75 is probably not enough for a resort with PL and would probably be an overbid for a 3*. At that price point you might do better carefully picking a hotel based on the amenities you're looking for. Try consolidators like hotelkingdoom and discounts offered through sites like this one and mousesavers.

 

[DWHooked]

What is a "code?"

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I've used priceline 2 times for WDW...both times bid on a resort at $83-$84 and got the Gaylord Palms, which was AMAZING for that price. Rack rte was $249/night Wasn't sure we would get it the second time, but I followed the bids on www.biddingfortravel.com and won on first try.

Also used priceline in Scottsdale, Arizona, and in Chicago. Both times, however, the hotels became overbooked and they "bumped" us to hotels which I felt were inferior to Priceline's star quality. After a little complaining, Priceline refunded half my costs in Scottsdale, and the original hotel in Chicago gave me two free nights to use the next time I was in Chicago.

ALso use Priceline for cars nearly every time I travel because I don't care who I book through (a car is a car is a car to me!!).

 

[Stepherella]

I would definitely look around more. Both mousesavers.com and allears.net have good deals that you can book through links on their sites. I got a good deal for this coming September. I got 2 rooms at the Doubletree suites near WDW for $99. This is for a King suite. It has a separate bedroom section that closes off, and a living room area with I believe a queen size fold out couch. The have deals with other hotels too. I think you will get a good deal and more space booking on your own rather than using priceline.

 

[DWHooked]

I checked out most everything - Cypress Pint Grand Villas look awesome! Might go with the 2 BR. Thanks so much for everyones help! Disboards is so cool!