Priceline tips????

[PamNC]

I read that someone got the Dolphin for $60 from priceline. What's the secret of increasing your changes of getting the Swan or Dolphin? Would it be a 3 star or 4 star? What might be the other hotels you'll end up with?

Thanks!

PamNc

 

[CarolA]

Pam,
Go to www.biddingfortravel.com and find the message board on Orlando hotels.

The Swan/Dolphin are considered Resort hotels in the WDW area. I have bid on resort hotels often and received the DTD Hilton, DTD Wyndam and Marriott Orlando World Center. I have also read of people getting the Gaylord Palms. In all my stays I have never gotten the Swan or Dolphin.

There is NO strategy on PL that will gurantee you a hotel and my advice is if you cannot be happy at ANY of the resort offerings don't do it.

I love PL and have had good stays at all of the hotels I have stayed at and done all of them at least twice on Priceline.

 

[pandora174]

I also wanted the Dolphin/Swan but as stated before there is no guarantee on Priceline . But I bid $60/night on Priceline & got the Wyndham Palace Resort ! Not the Swan or Dolphin but I was happy ! I used the www.biddingfortravel.com & know I got a good price. Since we're getting AP's for next year I'll keep trying & hopefully I'll get it one day but since we're at Disney anyway it's all good !!

 

[Lewisc]

It seems (based on posts on BFT) that Swan/Dolphin come up less than the other resort hotels.

The best strategy to get them is to watch BFT and duplicate a winning bid (dates and winning bid amout) ASAP.

If you really want Swan/Dolphin use some of the available discounts.

 

[polkadotminnie]

I read the biddingfortravel website and got the Dolphin last night. I am so excited! I had noticed that someone else had gotten it for our date next weekend for $70/night so I bid $69. I figured worst come to worst, I would get another hotel at a pretty good price. The other resorts seemed to be around $60-$65, but I am not an expert. I was so excited for the Dolphin that the dolphin came up!!! This was the first time we've tried Priceline and I can't wait. We will use them again.

 

[Bob NC]

I have used Priceline many, many times...For Disney and other areas. Read biddingfortravel.com and BEFORE you bid make sure you would be completely happy with ANY property that is listed as a Priceline subscribing hotel in the area and star level you are looking at. If there is just one hotel on the list you wouldn't be satsified with, DON'T use Priceline!!!!

 

[MJames41]

My Priceline tip is to not use them. We ended up with the Marriott Orlando World Conference Center, and had an abysmal stay there. The beds were too hard, the "free" shuttle to Disney we were promised was replaced 24 days before we got there by pay for shuttle (Mears) - and it went there in the morning and at night only. We quit our stay there after 2 nights (we had paid for 3) and saved enough money from what they were charging us for "incidentals" to pay for a night at the All Star Sports. They were charging us a huge amount for these services we didn't even use (some, such as the main pool, weren't even available). These are, of course, just my thoughts, but I will never again use Priceline for Disney again.

 

[jeffreyml]

I received the Dolphin thru Priceline for $60 this August. I had been bidding back and fourth for a week with no luck. My starting bid was for $55 in the WDW area which was rejected. After raising my bid up to 60,62,65,70 and$72 and adding another zone each time I was still rejected.

I waited 2 days and lowered my bid price to $60 and added another zone, this time it was accepted at the Dolphin for $60.

I had noticed a 4* Hotel pop up on Hotwire for the dates I wanted and concluded that it was possibly the Dolphin before I rebid on Priceline.

During the bidding process I only bid on resort area hotels, when I had to add an area, I added ones that had no resort hotels.

Another thing I found helpful was checking Hotwire's site to see which hotels came up for the period I was bidding. With carefull study you can come to an educated conclusion on which hotels are availible through Hotwire by checking the emenities listed for the hotels.

Hopefully this helps anyone trying to bid for the Dolphin/Swan. But as always, your not guaranteed to receive these hotels. I bid this past Easter and received the Hilton. Which we were more than happy with.

 

[PamNC]

I'm scared - I'm not doing it. I wouldn't be happy with anything but the Swan or Dolphin. I'm glad I asked you guys. I knew it was a gamble but I wondered if there was a secret. But, this is good to know in case we go down for something non-Disney (hmmmm...wonder if that'll ever happen?)

PamNC