priceline question

[khawk]

I have never used priceline.com before. But I hear you make a bid and then (if your bid is accepted) they get you a hotel and you will have no idea what hotel it is until after you bid. I also hear you HAVE to take whatever hotel they give you. Can you bid for disney owned hotels on priceline? I already have my reservation for this year but I was thinking for my next trip. I dont think I would want to take a chance on bidding for an offsite hotel because you just never know what you will get. I suppose if you dont care where you stay as long as its cheap then it would be a good deal? this year I am staying at BW LBV. I would prefer a disney hotel but I am going to stick with what I have this time. Next time, I would like to stay on disney and I dont care what hotel it is as long as it is on disney and thought maybe I could try priceline.
Kim

 

[ducklite]

Disney owned and operated hotels are not offered on Priceline.

Anne

 

[anne60]

Yes, you do NOT know which property you will get, BUT you can specify a certain geographic area (example, Kissimmee, WDW vicinity, airport, etc.) and the "star"level of the hotel. I bid $65 for a "resort" (better than or equal to 4 stars) in the WDW area. I got the Wyndham Palace Spa at Downtown Disney. I bid $33 for a 3 star hotel in the airport area, and got the Marriott Orlando Airport.

 

[lookingforward]

I bid on a four star in the disney area and got the Hilton at Downtown Disney for $70 during spring break. Not my first choice but nice enough and a huge savings.
It gets "onsite" benefits (early entry, transportation, etc).

 

[robinb]

Go to www.biddingfortravel.com for lots of good info on bidding on Priceline. Make sure to check out the Orlando Board and the Hotels List for what hotels usually come up. We've been seeing the Wyndham Palace come up a lot again at the $65 mark. Unfortunately, PL availability at the Swan and Dolphin have dried up again.

 

[SRyba]

I have never used PL, but have read of people getting Swan and Dolphin. I did hear an ad on the radio the other day saying they have a new feature where you can chose a specific hotel now, but haven't visited the site or seen/heard anything other than that one ad. They also said something about air/hotel and they would add up to $200 to your bid, for a limited time. Good luck!

 

[SRyba]

I have never used PL, but have read of people getting Swan and Dolphin. I did hear an ad on the radio the other day saying they have a new feature where you can chose a specific hotel now, but haven't visited the site or seen/heard anything other than that one ad. They also said something about air/hotel and they would add up to $200 to your bid, for a limited time. Good luck!

 

[makelab]

AFAIK the only way you can specify a hotel is if you are bidding on a 'package' = hotel + airfare. and there is a chance that hotels that may come up on 'hotel' bids alone are not necessarily available if you go the 'package' route. the $200 is probably a $25 bonus for up to 8 people. one thing that is stressed on BFT is that if you want a particular hotel, PL is not for you. as extensive as their information is, there is always a chance that a new hotel (not previously obtained through PL) can come up at anytime.

 

[CarolA]

I think Priceline has also linked up with someone like ORbitz and you can click thur to the Orbitz site where you have a more traditional booking engine. Not exactly the same thing as bidding on a specific hotel.

 

[daannzzz]

I have used Priceline many times for hotels and always been happy with what I got and the price. However I will not use Priceline for any trips to WDW or Disneyland when I want to stay on property. Disney does not particitpate in Priceline. I like to be in control of where I am staying at WDW and Disneyland.
I would suggest that you not use it unless you are adveturouse about where you may get accepted. The one time I did use it for part of a trip to WDW I bid $39 for a 3 star property and received what is now the Renaissance Worldgate Hotel and it was great.