should I get first night for hotel before I leave or wait?

[veraletta]

I cant believe I'm leaving in a little over a week and cant deciede to get a room for the first night or wait until I get to Orlando.
Will I have to pay more because I'm waitting ?
There is going to be 5 of us.
DD 30, DDH 30, DGS 5, DGD 2 and me . We need Double Beds as Granddaughter sleeps in Crib.
We are looking for Cheap, Clean Rooms. I was thinking about trying PL or HW but afraid of getting only one bed. Thought of trying for 2 rooms but then room would end up being about $100 for two rooms.
I think for about $100 I could get a room downtown disney for us..
We have room at all stars after we get there, just worried about first night. Would you get room before you go or wait until you get down there ?
We are driving down on Sunday it will take us 15 hours. we will not be in Orlando until 12 am or 1.
Any ideals or where to stay or it I should just wait until I get to Orlando ?
thanks..

 

[CarolA]

Well if it were me I would NOT arrive at midnight with no hotel room. Since it is summer I just would not want the risk of having to drive around between hotels looking for a room especially if you need them to supply the crib. What about someplace like the Courtyard LBV which goes for under $50?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

give Priceline a try.... I have just recently gotten a 2* in Lake Buena Vista for $20 ....it is the Comfort Inn on Palm Parkway... will be getting there on 7/24.. As CarolA said.... there is no way that I would arrive there with my kids and no room....not in the summer!!!

 

[safetymom]

I would get the room before I got to Orlando. I am sure the last thing you want to do is look for a room at that hour.

 

[FreshTressa]

Why can't you just get another night at the all stars?? How much is it running?

Priceline is kind of scary for me for 5. There is alwasy that "what if" I get stuck with a queen bed for 5 of us! I don't care myself, cuz my 2 wind up in bed with us every night anyway, but if you absolutely can't live with that possibility (no matter how unlikelye it is) I wouldn't do it!

Hotel Kingdom has such great prices on suites. Have you checked them out?

 

[veraletta]

Thanks all, I would love to try PL but I would have to get two rooms, as I wouldnt want to have just one bed.. we thought we should wait to get the room once we got down there, but we are being to get cold feet about it, as we didnt know if we would have a hard time finding a room or not in the summer time, as we never went to florida past the first week of June, Plus we alway had a room for the first night. We are bring the baby a pack and play for a crib.

 

[horseshowmom]

If you wanted to try Priceline, you could buy an inexpensive inflatable bed at Wal-Mart (not an Aerobed - just a cheap one) or even two air mattresses. Just in case you get a room with a king bed (which is always possible), you'd have what you needed. If you got two beds, you'd be okay anyway (and the extra bed wouldn't even have to leave the car).

Personally, I never want to arrive somewhere past dark and have to look for a room. I know that lots of times hotels have signs out front with great prices, but I also know from experience that they don't always have those prices when you get to the desk.

The last time I didn't make a reservation ahead of time taught me a lesson. We drove from hotel to hotel trying to find a room in the middle of the night. We were ready to pay any price at that point but did finally get a room at a reasonable price. The aggravation was the main problem, and we were already tired.

That particular night we had stopped at a hotel for me to go in and check for a vacancy. Our then 3 year old was asleep in the backseat, so my husband stayed in the car. After awhile he woke up, looked around, and asked where I was. My husband said that I had gone into the hotel to see if they had any rooms. Scott looked suspiciously over his shoulder at the hotel and said, "Well, I see about a million doors...."

 

[robinb]

While I would usually suggest against Priceline with 5 people in most locations, I have only heard of 2 instances where someone received a single bed on a PL reservation in Orlando. The first was at a 2* Amerisuites property and the other was at the Resort* Hilton. I think If you bid in the 2.5* or 3* range you'll be OK. Once you get your reservation, call the hotel in advance and request 2 beds and a crib. If you're still nervous, then bid for 2 rooms at the 2* level. People have been getting the 2* Comfort Inn LBV for about $20 per night. Check out www.biddingfortravel.com for more info on bidding .

 

[antmaril]

I would not arrive in Orlando without a hotel reservation. You are driving 15 hours - you will be tired and anxious to rest. Have a room reserved before you leave.