Swan / Dolphin on Hotwire

[jtopicz1]

Just got The Swan for May 16th-23rd. Listed as a 4* in LBV for $99. Two friends had also received this hotel for $116/nt for May 17th-22nd. Not HUGE savings, but the best I've found. We've been compiling a list of hotwire hotels in the Orlando area for the past couple of months, including star level, zone, and ammenities. Not a definite thing, but certainly improves the odds. Hotwire also seems to have a lot of the Royal Pacific and Hard Rock hotel in their inventory. Anyone who regularly uses my Hotwire/Priceline Orlando guide - I've now added these to the list.

Jim

 

[chrissyk]

Thanks for posting the link to your site! I looked at your hotel list and saw that the Portofino hotel and Hard Rock Hotel both come up for the Universal zone. Do you know about how much those hotels come up for? I am not very experienced in using Hotwire, but I'd love to stay at either of these hotels for 2 nights on our trip to Orlando in Oct. Thanks!!

 

[jtopicz1]

RPR has been coming up between $100-116, HRH Around $120-$140, PBH around $130-145.

Just email me or post on the board before bidding and I'd be more than happy to help you out.

Jim

 

[Debbie7452]

Hi,

I checked out your site and found it very helpful. I have been researching the S/D amenities list as best I can for the last few days. Two 4* hotels come up that have the identical amenities list except for one has the Laundry symbol added. They were the same price. Could this be the Dolphin (which has a launderette). If true, this might be useful to differentiate between the two hotels.

I didn't see that amenity listed on your Hotels List for the Dolphin, so I worried it might be a different hotel all together.

Thank you for sharing with us!

 

[jtopicz1]

I had only received a winning bid for the Swan and assumed the ammenity list would be identical for the Dolphin. You bring up a good point though, and I'll see what I can find out and update the list.

Jim

 

[chrissyk]

Originally posted by jtopicz1
RPR has been coming up between $100-116, HRH Around $120-$140, PBH around $130-145.

Just email me or post on the board before bidding and I'd be more than happy to help you out.

Jim

Thanks! About how far ahead of time does Hotwire have inventory for these hotels? I'm used to bidding on Priceline where you tend to get better rates closer to arrival.

 

[jtopicz1]

I plugged in some random dates, and for almost all of them RPR came up at $114 and HRH came up at $137. PBH doesn't seem to be coming up today. I plugged in dates from this weekend (where RPR was actually $5 higher, $119) all the way out to November, and almost all had inventory.

For point of reference I use HotelKingdom.com . They are very good and the rates can't be beat. For the same dates they wanted RPR-$179, HRH-$189.

Hope this helps!

Jim

 

[chrissyk]

Originally posted by jtopicz1
I plugged in some random dates, and for almost all of them RPR came up at $114 and HRH came up at $137. PBH doesn't seem to be coming up today. I plugged in dates from this weekend (where RPR was actually $5 higher, $119) all the way out to November, and almost all had inventory.

For point of reference I use HotelKingdom.com . They are very good and the rates can't be beat. For the same dates they wanted RPR-$179, HRH-$189.

Hope this helps!

Jim

Thanks for that info! Now I just need to talk with my husband and see which hotel he would like to stay at They all look good to me

 

[DisOrBust]

Good luck on your wesite! I like your emphasis on "FRIENDLY". Did you find any feature that made you sure it was the S/D. I looked the other day and it was a 4 * and did not mention chidrens activities for 109.00 so I thought it WAS NOT the S/D. What else could it be?

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi Jim , I checked out your site.. very nice I have a question about Hotwire.. I plugged in my dates June 15 -21 and a 4 star came up for $69 a night ? that can't possiblely be the swan or dolphin ( i used Lake Buena Vista and sorted by star - the amens listed are rest, pool, fitness ctr, bus.ctr ?? ) Thanks i would switch from POR if it really is ? Thanks Michelle

 

[jtopicz1]

I really do not believe there are any other 4*'s in that zone with the same ammenities listed as Swan. I am sure the Swan does not come up with Childrens Activities (why I do not know). The Dolphins ammenities I have listed are assuming it is the same as the Swan, it is the only one I have not personally seen won however so I can't be 100% sure.

I'm hoping this list is as accurate as possible. I will keep the info updated but it is always subject to change. I am 100% sure the Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Pacific Hotel are correctly identified and the only hotels showing the ammenities I listed. As for the Swan/Dolphin, I am about 95% sure they are the only ones.

Once visitors start reporting success, I will be able to generate an even more complete list. I DO NOT take info from other boards into account, because while I don't like the way those boards are run, their owners have worked hard, and I want this setup and information to be unique.

If there's any info you would find helpful to be added to any part of the board, please post suggestions. I'm having fun messing around with this and will add whatever I can.

Jim

 

[jtopicz1]

bigsis1970,

That one is not the Swan/Dolphin. On the list I have on my site, the ammenities and star level must match EXACTLY. THat one is missing a few!

I'll see if I can find out what that one is and add it to the list ASAP!

Jim

 

[bigsis1970]

Thanks Jim , I thought at first it might be my lucky day but saw it was missing a few things you had listed.. Glad i asked first.. Thanks for your info .. its a great help to those of us who are new to the whole bidding thing.. Michelle

 

[DeeCeeSW]

My assumption is that the $69 rate on Hotwire is for the Hilton or Wyndham Palace since the customer reviews mention a good view of Downtown Disney. FYI, I looked up dates for my short vacation next month and what I believe to be the Dolphin is up for $112 per night (laundry facilites were included). When I looked up dates for September (longer WDW trip), a 4 star was not offered.

 

[Debbie7452]

I suspect that $69 is the Hilton. Wyndam Palace is listed with a "spa" symbol and goes for around $72.

There is another one that comes up once in awhile that really intrigues me. It is 4* and has the "resort" designation and the "spa" symbol(as well as all amenities except children's activities) for about $114. The only property I could come up with is Marriott World Center...but I had heard that Marriott didn't participate with Hotwire. I did see another Marriott property in the Vacation Package section so maybe they have a deal with them now?

I don't know why I got so obsessed with this puzzle!

 

[dimimi]

Please help. I just found the hotwire site and I booked a hotel for Easter Weekend in Cleveland, OH. I was able to get a hotel with an indoor pool for $29.

Anyway, I am hoping to get the swan or dolphin in Orlando. How will I know if the 4 star is one of those hotels? I read in one posting that they have laundry...when I check hotwire just now I came up with a 4 star without laundry...so I assume that is not the swan? Thanks for your help!

 

[jtopicz1]

dimimi,

I am 100% sure the Swan has the EXACT ammenities listed on my site. If any are different or missing it is not the Swan. If the Swan doesn't come up on your dates, try either playing with the dates by a day or two, or simply keep checking Hotwire every few days - Inventory, like Priceline, always changes.

The Hilton and the Wyndham are the only other two 4*'s available that I am aware of. THey both have different ammenities, and the Hilton is generally much cheaper.

Jim

 

[dimimi]

Thanks for your reply Jim. I guess I'm a little slow! I went to the link you left and there is a list of 3 hotels for Lake Buena Vista. Only the Dolphin and Swan are listed as 4 star. So if hotwire comes up 4 star, do I know it is the Swan/Dolphin, or does it also have to say: restaurant, pool, fitness center, business center, golf course and tennis? I thought someone said it said laundry also? If I do use hotwire I really want to be onsite at Disney so we get the early entry. THANKS...I appreciate your help and I'm sorry if I'm not catching on very quickly!

 

[CarolA]

I think that you need to match ALL the ammenities Jim has listed to have a shot at the Swan.

However, with either Priceline or Hotwire remember that hotel availablity can change. New hotels can join the program or hotels can drop out.

My recommendation is that if you MUST have a certain hotel, I would not use these sites. For my travel I use them extensively and have been very happy, but I can do just find at the Marriott World Center. For the savings I can skip being on property!

 

[dimimi]

I was thinking of just using my teacher discount and being happy with that! I was also thinking that it might be worth it to buy one night on hotwire and then if I can be sure it is the Dolphin...then book the rest of the nights. The prices people are getting are encouraging and enticing!