Tips on using Priceline to get Hilton DTD or Swan?

[goofyfordisney]

Hi everyone,

I need alittle help with PL...We really would like to go to WDW this Thanksgiving, but are thinking that we really would rather have 2 rooms instead of trying to cram into 1 room. Our sons 19 & 13 are really too big to share a bed anymore! Paying for 2 rooms as regular reservation prices would break our budget!

We are thinking of trying PL with the hopes of securing 2 rooms at either Hilton DTD or Swan/Dolphin...we would really ultimately like to have the EMH perks of staying at either of these hotels vs. another DTD area hotel.

Can anyone give me some tips on how to do this? I've looked on biddingfortravel.com...I still need some advice from all of you guys!

Can anyone share their experiences with using PL? Am I being too hopeful that I will be able to get 2 rooms at either hotel?

Thanks in advance!

 

[DianeV]

You can never be sure you will get any hotel and the Swan hasnt come up in a long time..you can try to duplicate accepted bids for the Hilton but that isnt guaranteed either..

 

[CarolA]

If you will not be happy with any of the options you might get do not use Priceline. There is really no way to "Guarantee" any hotel!

 

[ScoobyDoo84]

why don't you try skyauction's auction for the dolphin & swan hotel:

http://www.skyauction.com/hotel/walt-disney-swan-dolphin

I bid and won that auction last month for 7 nights at the Dolphin. We left July 25 and came back Aug 1. We did not have any problems. Everything went pretty smooth. Family had a great time. I wish you luck!

 

[swilshire]

Or go for a condo. You'll never go back to a hotel with kids.

I have sons exactly that age and know how much they can eat. A kitchen is a lifesaver.

Rates should be pretty low at Thanksgiving. Most people can't take the whole week off.

Sheila

 

[Anc96]

Priceline is more unpredictable.. but that's why it's so much cheaper. Hotwire is pretty good with prices too.. Use Betterbidding.com and you can have a pretty good idea of which hotel you're getting. I've used it several times and was able to tell which hotel I was getting every time. There's no guarantee of course.

Just this past June I hotwired a hotel for 6 nights, 4*, through hotwire. I was 95% sure it was the Peabody because of betterbidding.com, and it was! I got it for $87 a night!! The online rack rate was $199, and I could find it no cheaper than $163 on other online sites. The hotel lived up to it's wonderful reviews too!

I personally would NEVER use biddingfortravel, but that's just me... and lots of other people

Good luck!!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Priceline is more unpredictable.. but that's why it's so much cheaper. Hotwire is pretty good with prices too.. Use Betterbidding.com and you can have a pretty good idea of which hotel you're getting. I've used it several times and was able to tell which hotel I was getting every time. There's no guarantee of course.

Just this past June I hotwired a hotel for 6 nights, 4*, through hotwire. I was 95% sure it was the Peabody because of betterbidding.com, and it was! I got it for $87 a night!! The online rack rate was $199, and I could find it no cheaper than $163 on other online sites. The hotel lived up to it's wonderful reviews too!

I personally would NEVER use biddingfortravel, but that's just me... and lots of other people

Good luck!!

I went on Betterbidding and was not exactly sure how find out what the hotel might be. Do you have any tips for doing that. Keep in mind I am technologically challenged so unless I know exactly were to go I am LOST!!

 

[4Seasons]

I've recently seen Cypress Pointe, Orbit One and The Fountains resorts, all 2 bedroom units with full kitchens, for $90/night or less including tax for Thanksgiving week.
I would go with a condo so everyone could spread out.

 

[Lewisc]

Swan hasn't come up in years. NO GUARANTEES but the Hilton is usually the lowest price hotel. You can look at bidding for travel to get an idea as to what hotels are coming up at what rates and just stop bidding when you get close to that level. My memory is the Hilton normally comes up $65-$75 and the other resorts generally start at around $85.

DON'T BID UNLESS YOU'RE PREPARED FOR ANOTHER HOTEL It's always possible a new hotel can show up, or a hotel might have a block of unused convention rooms to dump.

This is general advice, the OP is interested in EMH and shouldn't take the chance of getting another hotel.

 

[kilee]

S/D are both so rare anymore. I would count them out for the most part. The biggest thing w/ priceline is to be sure you'd be happy w/ any of the accomodations in your zone and * category for the price you bid.

 

[LuvAriel]

Swan hasn't come up in years. NO GUARANTEES but the Hilton is usually the lowest price hotel. You can look at bidding for travel to get an idea as to what hotels are coming up at what rates and just stop bidding when you get close to that level. My memory is the Hilton normally comes up $65-$75 and the other resorts generally start at around $85.

DON'T BID UNLESS YOU'RE PREPARED FOR ANOTHER HOTEL It's always possible a new hotel can show up, or a hotel might have a block of unused convention rooms to dump.

This is general advice, the OP is interested in EMH and shouldn't take the chance of getting another hotel.

Lewisc is correct...I just bid $60.00 on priceline for a resort in DWV & got the Hilton.

It is for 1 night 9/16 w/ tax is $75.00. There was no guarantee it was going to come up & I went into it with no expectations.

I just needed a room for 1 night & I would have been happy with any of the resorts that poppped up.

Priceline is a gamble so buyer beware!

 

[Mainebound]

I personally would NEVER use biddingfortravel, but that's just me... and lots of other people

Good luck!!

It's funny you say that -- I have been trying to use BFT for the first time for an upcoming trip (not to Orlando) and it is full of rude people who are totally unhelpful to boot! I'll try betterbidding.

But I would like to add that on the S/D thread on the resorts board there used ot be good tips for getting those hotels on Priceline. You may want to look at it.

 

[Anc96]

I went on Betterbidding and was not exactly sure how find out what the hotel might be. Do you have any tips for doing that. Keep in mind I am technologically challenged so unless I know exactly were to go I am LOST!!

Hi Bella...

It's not too hard so even the techno challenged shouldn't have a problem
Click onto Betterbidding.com, scroll down to the state you want (Florida).. then click on the SUBFORUM Hotwire-Florida.
On the very top of that forum there is another subforum that says "Hotwire hotel list - Florida". In that forum you will find listings of the most likely hotel you will receive. This is based on the area you chose, and most importantly, the amenities list of the hotel you are considering. The amenities will be listed as icons on the Hotwire site beneath the hotel description.

For instance, right now I see a 4* at $95 a night for the dates of 11/23-28th. Area, Sea World I-Drive. I quickly glanced at the amenities and checked BetterBidding.. it looks like the Peabody to me. No guarantees.. but the amenities, and area, fit.
There's another 4* underneath it for the same price also, in Dowtown Disney, which matches the Buena Vista Palace Walt Disney World Resort.

If you need help identifying a hotel the people there would be more than happy to help. And, they usually answer pretty fast too!

So, that's the hotwire scoop. Now, some people are suggesting a condo. You can get pretty good rates with a condo too! I haven't needed much space since it's just myself and my daughter so I couldn't help you much there.

JFYI Hotwire does list some condos sometimes. Just look for the little house condo icon. There is on 4* shown for $109 in the Sea World area, and one 3.5* in the DTD area for $124, but I couldn't identify them.

BetterBidding also has a good priceline section where the people post what they had won at what price, and the dates. It gives you a good idea of what might be available.

If you have your heart set on EMH or some other disney perks... don't use either priceline or hotwire. There's too little guarantee you'll get what you are looking for.

I hope you find the exact thing you're hoping for!

 

[Anc96]

It's funny you say that -- I have been trying to use BFT for the first time for an upcoming trip (not to Orlando) and it is full of rude people who are totally unhelpful to boot! I'll try betterbidding.

You noticed in only 1 visit? It must be getting worse..lol.

I have personally found Betterbidding friendly and they really try hard to help!

 

[HeatherFeather]

I've used both of the sites and found them both very helpful. They are very rule oriented at BFT and as long as people follow the protocol, things remain calm. When people just come and post without having read the rules, I have seen some pretty rude responses. While I understand why they want everyone to do things a certain way, perhaps they could be a bit more diplomatic with those not in the know.

I also found myself "banned" from the site one time when I was trying to look for information and hadn't ever registered or posted there. Very weird... Next time I tried, it let me in.

 

[Mainebound]

You noticed in only 1 visit? It must be getting worse..lol.

I have personally found Betterbidding friendly and they really try hard to help!

To be fair, they weren't rude to me -- just curt. I tend to be a rule follower, and wrote my post very carefully. But I did see some pretty rude responses to other posts.

 

[Anc96]

To be fair, they weren't rude to me -- just curt. I tend to be a rule follower, and wrote my post very carefully. But I did see some pretty rude responses to other posts.

It was actually the same with me. I can't even remember if I ever posted on the site. But I was a lurker.. and I saw some odd responses to what seemed like pretty normal questions or comments. I was very surprised. On other forums I've read how people were banned for agreeing with someone, and I knew someone who was banned (a co-worker who told me about the site) just for ASKING why someone else was banned, and she did it in a PM!...lol.
Yes, they seem "rule oriented" there... nothing wrong with that, but I guess it's not for me.

If I'd posted there.. what I have here, I would have been banned also.


Oh.. and rereading my post to Bella, it seems like my part about the condos was saying to do it on Hotwire too. Yes, Hotwire has that option for condos, but I meant that renting normally you can get some great prices. It might be a better option for someone who wants to know exactly what and where they're getting. I have no suggestions where though since I've never rented a condo.

 

[goofyfordisney]

This is the kind of info I was looking for! Thanks for all of the great suggestions/tips, etc.!

We really don't care too much about the EMH...it would be nice though!

I think that if we do go "off-site" (non-Disney resort), we just want to be close to WDW...

I've been researching alot of the Timeshare condos nearby WDW...just don't know which one would be good. We really don't spend alot of time in our room--we just want to have good sleeping arrangements, nice pool, and to be fairly close to WDW (we will have a rental car).

I will look at betterbidding for sure...sounds like it's alittle more user-friendly than biddingfortravel! I don't know anything about Skyauction--I'll look into that as well.

Thanks again!

P.S. Slightly off-topic from my original post...what Condo/timeshare resort would you all recommend me looking into? I know that everyone probably has a favorite...some suggestions would be great!

 

[madge]

I've used both of the sites and found them both very helpful. They are very rule oriented at BFT and as long as people follow the protocol, things remain calm. When people just come and post without having read the rules, I have seen some pretty rude responses. While I understand why they want everyone to do things a certain way, perhaps they could be a bit more diplomatic with those not in the know.

I agree. I just used BFT this weekend, for advice on a hotel in Indianapolis. I followed the directions to the letter, and they were quite helpful. Spot on, actually... I got a room for less $$ than they suggested I started bidding.

But, I knew going in that I had to play by the rules of the site or I'd get no help at all. It's not a warm and fuzzy message board. LOL

I've also used betterbidding for Hotwire, too. That site helped me get a deal on the airport Hyatt a couple of years ago.