WDW Resort Priceline -What could this be for so cheap???

[laurabelle]

I'm currently booked at POP with AAA discount rate of $93/night next month for a total of $375 -including using ME and Disney buses during our stay. Just for kicks, I plugged in my dates Oct 21, 4 nights for a WDW vicinity Resort on Priceline and was accepted for a bid of $46/night...but did not go through on the bidding process because I have never done this before and the cheap price for a RESORT is making me very leary! Is this for real??? Would I really get resort level accomodations at this price? Obviously I'd have to rent a car for my stay instead of relying on Disney transportation and pay for parking at Disney and possibly a resort fee at the hotel...wondering what you guys think of this?

 

[PA DISNEYLOVER]

Wait I'm confused. How did you get Priceline to go thru without giving your CC info? Priceline will only tell you if your bid was accepted after they charge your credit card.

I used Priceline once and I hated the hotel I got and ended up being stuck with it. What is important to you? Having more money to spend on other things or staying in a Disney hotel.

 

[laurabelle]

I've never done this before...I plugged in the numbers and it took my bid and just asked for credit card information. I assumed that meant it was accepted and once I put my CC info in I would be charged that rate, including tax and fee it was $216 I think. Is that right?

 

[tednvon]

Not sure exactly what happened, but I don't think they accepted your rate. They accepted your BID but it was not sent on to the hotels until you give your CC and click on "get my hotel room now"

Resorts usually go for about 70 to 80 a night for rooms that are usually over $200 if booked privately.



The resorts are really nice, some are absolutely spectacular like Gaylord Palms. There probably will be a resort fee of about $10/night added at the hotel...

Good Luck...Ted

 

[laurabelle]

The screen came up and said it was accepted and to enter my CC info. Otherwise, that doesn't make sense... how would you know what you're paying? I'm confused

 

[tednvon]

Hi...Your BID was accepted only at the"step one" level. If you would have bid $2.00 or some unrealistic amount it would not even let you go forward...My guess is you got a screen that said something like "you only have a small chance of this bid being accepted"....Step one will accept about any bid...

Next step is put in the CC and send the bid to the Priceline Computer and the hotels.
It is now out of your hands. If the BID is accepted by a hotel, you are charged immediately for the whole amout of the stay...

You should have had a screen pop up that listed your BID, then computed the number of nights, the taxes and the Priceline fees for a total of X amount for the number of nights. This the TOTAL amount your CC will be charged IF and only IF the bid is accepted by a hotel.

Because you did not put in CC you were not taken to the next step that actually allowed your bid to be submitted from the web site to the hotel.

I know it sounds a little confusing, but it really works well. FYI we always use a 3 star Disney Vicinity for about 40-45 and have NEVER been disappointed...

If this still does not make sense PM me and I can call you on our cell and "splain" it all...

Best Wishes...Grandpa Ted

 

[laurabelle]

You should have had a screen pop up that listed your BID, then computed the number of nights, the taxes and the Priceline fees for a total of X amount for the number of nights. This the TOTAL amount your CC will be charged IF and only IF the bid is accepted by a hotel.

Because you did not put in CC you were not taken to the next step that actually allowed your bid to be submitted from the web site to the hotel.

I know it sounds a little confusing, but it really works well. FYI we always use a 3 star Disney Vicinity for about 40-45 and have NEVER been disappointed...

If this still does not make sense PM me and I can call you on our cell and "splain" it all...

Best Wishes...Grandpa Ted

This was the screen I got, saying x number of nights, total including taxes and fees and the next screen took me to fill out CC info, which is where I stopped. So if I would have filled that out, I would have only been charged that amount...is that right? It wasn't asking me to increase my bid at all. Thanks for answering all my silly questions!

 

[tinaluis]

Your bid wasn't accepted -- it is not even submitted until you enter your credit card info. The screen that you mention just recounts the total amount you would be charged IF your bid is accepted but it isn't submitted without credit card info. Make sense?

 

[Lewisc]

This was the screen I got, saying x number of nights, total including taxes and fees and the next screen took me to fill out CC info, which is where I stopped. So if I would have filled that out, I would have only been charged that amount...is that right? It wasn't asking me to increase my bid at all. Thanks for answering all my silly questions!

You didn't make a bid, your bid isn't made until you give your credit card information your bid would have been made and if accepted your credit card would have been charged that amount. Many of the resorts have a "resort fee" and a parking fee that will be charged when you check in.

Resorts generally go for $60-$110, your bid would have been rejected.

www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com are good resources.

 

[laurabelle]

Thanks you guys! I thought it seemed llike a crazy (i.e. too good to be true!) price. Like I said, I've never gone through the process. The way it looked to me, I was getting that price per night and all I had to do was enter my CC info. I wouldn't give them my info without having a def. price accepted though...that makes me nervous! Again, thanks for answering all me questions, you guys are the best!

 

[powellrj]

check out www.biddingfortravel.com and see what hotels SOMETIMES come up and what people are paying. If you want to ask a question, make sure you READ the FAQ, and other posts before you do anything!!!

 

[disneymom3]

check out www.biddingfortravel.com and see what hotels SOMETIMES come up and what people are paying. If you want to ask a question, make sure you READ the FAQ, and other posts before you do anything!!!

I would go so far as to say read the FAQ over there and if you are still confused come back here and ask your questions. I have seen too many people get in trouble over there and personally I would not post for fear I would ask the wrong thing.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I would go so far as to say read the FAQ over there and if you are still confused come back here and ask your questions. I have seen too many people get in trouble over there and personally I would not post for fear I would ask the wrong thing.

Oh, that is so the truth! That lady knows her stuff but don't waste her time.........you'll pay!

Laurabelle...........you can also tell if you have won or not won because they send you an email giving you all the info. If you have no email, then no bid went through.

 

[laurabelle]

I'm so glad the Dis is a friendly place to ask!!!

I just thought I'd give a little update in my planning...
After much debate, I actually changed our ressies from POP to POFQ and ditched the offsite idea. We love staying both off and onsite depending on the trip...longer trips, especially when we make the drive down, are usually offsite villa or split stays- for price, the kitchen and extra room! We're flying down for a long weekend, and when we figure in the rental car price, which is high in Oct., onsite is looking like the best option. We decided to do all Disney transportation - haven't done that in years! - (including DME) and upgrade our resort a bit to hang out on our off times... have a fridge and coffeemaker, 2 resorts to use, bike and boat rentals, and the boat to DTD from POFQ is a big plus for us!
Thanks again for the great info! You guys rock!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Oh, that is so the truth! That lady knows her stuff but don't waste her time.........you'll pay!

Yes she does know her stuff. Her board isn't really to socialize like this one is. She is more cut to the point. She has helped me soooo many times. I use her site as my bible when I am ready to bid on something. Reading her tips & posts from others on the rates they got accepted has helped me judge where I should start my bidding at ($ amount that is). As others here have said, read all of her Q&A section, then come on over here & we will help you out with anything that you do not understand... but don't be that afraid of her, she really is helpful. Just do not ask a question that the answer is in her Q&A section

 

[DianeV]

And dont forget to use her link if you bid!

 

[DanaHesson]

A disney "good neighbor" or whatever they call it hotel. Just because they said resort, does NOT mean it is in the RESORT category. At $46.00, it was almost certainly Sheraton Safari Hotel, which considers itself a resort. It is a good place to stay, and has some "resort like" amenities. This particular hotel comes up regularly in the WDW vicinity as a 3 star in the 40-60$ bid range. As with other posters I highly recommend bidding for travel, but if you request bidding assistance, make sure to follow the instructions TO THE LETTER or get "slapped on the hands" by the infamous MS S.