RLD1118

Aaaah, I knew that there must be a convention of some type going on. Thanks for the info. Hopefully all those folks will be staying out on the links and away from the Disney Parks :)) Anyway, I pretty much figured that I would have to go upwards of $ 100/night for a resort level on those three nights.... plus Priceline fees, resort fees, parking, etc... So, yesterday, after receiving a special offer to join AAA for $ 48 for 13 months (which I took as a sign), I went down and signed up, then booked 3 nights at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We added the dining package at $ 38/person per day, and only a one day base ticket, as we already have free 5 day hoppers. With our AAA discount and the savings on food, parking, Priceline fees and resort fees, we figure we'll be right around what we're paying for our nights in the Gaylord Palms that we got at 100/night via Priceline. Thanks for all your help. I do appreciate it. Now, I've got a couple of nights coming up in NYC in February that I have to book.....Last year we got Millenium Broadway for $ 175/night on Priceline.....hopefully, we can get a deal again this year!!

Still trying to get a Resort level hotel for 1/24 - 1/27. Have been bidding every 72 hours. This evening was still unable to get anything. Started at $ 65 and went up to $ 110 using free rebids. Hilton WDW still shows availability for those dates on their website, with prices of over $ 200/night. Gaylord Palms, after showing sold out for all three dates for the last few weeks, now has rooms available for 2 of the 3 nights at around $ 200/night. I am going to keep trying for maybe another week. If all else fails, will probably join AAA and get a room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It'll cost a few extra bucks, (around $ 175/night), but we'll take advantage of Extra Magic Hours and free parking at the parks. We are renting a car, so Disney's airport shuttle will not be of any interest. Anyone else trying to get these dates and having the same luck? Any advice? Any idea how properties such as the Gaylord Palms or Hilton time the release of rooms to Priceline? Thanks for all the help received from this board. As always, starting my bidding through Savingsbarn.com

Just wanted to add that I have been bidding via SavingsBarn.com. Thanks for this board!

Well......Must still be too early! Tried again tonight for Resort / WDW area, starting at $ 65 and adding re-bid zones at $ 5 increments until I hit $ 105 with no success. Tried for 4*/Universal area, starting at $ 75 and adding re-bid zones at $ 5 increments until I hit $ 95 with no nibbles. Perhaps I will wait and try again on Christmas Eve....hopefully the Priceline elves will be feeling a bit of the holiday spirit!!! :))

Last minute trip -- 1st bid accepted for $ 70 (darn -- should have started lower!) 12/18/05 - 12/20/05 Hyatt Regency Baltimore (4* DT Inner Harbor) 300 Light St Baltimore, MD 21202 Subtotal: $ 140 Taxes & Service Fees: $ 26.58 Total Charges: $ 166.58 (Now, if I could only get our Disney trip hotel squared away......)

UFJOE, Yes, I did see your post about "add-a-night" and I did try it, but my original Priceline win for the Gaylord Palms was done on Nov 7 so it was too late. But, I'm glad I have this info for future trips, because I will certainly use it if needed. I am going to keep trying. It's possible, like you said, that rooms will open up. Perhaps they are holding a certain number of rooms for the convention that will open once their registration period is over. It must be a big convention, because the Hilton near the convention center is also booked solid for those dates (at least on their website it is). I guarantee it, once I finally get that reservation I'm looking for, you'll here me whoop and holler for miles away :)) !!

So, after another unsuccessful round of bidding, decided to check out the availability of resort hotels directly. A call to Gaylord Palms confirmed that they are sold out for dates 1/24-1/27 due to a big conference. Hilton WDW is at $ 259/nt. Tried getting 4* in Universal Studios Area, but struck out up to $95. Any thoughts?

Homeschoolmom I wasn't aware of the "add a day" option. How does this work, and is it too late to add to a reservation that I won a number of weeks ago? That would be great. I actually started out bidding for the full 7 nights. When I was unsuccessful at this, I noticed on the board that most of the people winning bids for the Gaylord Palms or the Hilton WDW were getting 3 or 4 nights at a time, not a whole week. So, I tried to split up my week, hoping to get 3 nights, then the next 4. Well, I got the four nights (1/27-1/31), but have so far been unable to get the first 3 nights (1/24 - 1/27). So, I just keep trying..... Please let me know about the "add a day" option. Thanks

UFJOE I think I saw your friend's win on that other board. It's so frustrating....his dates are different from mine by only 1 day. I just tried again, going up to $ 105 for Resorts and $95 for 4* with no luck. What am I doing wrong? Maybe I can't get a whole week via Priceline, even splitting it up? (Remember, I have Gaylord Palms for $100 for 1/27 - 1/31).

Well, tried again tonight to get a Resort or 4* hotel for 1/24 - 1/27/06. Started with Resort Level (WDW area) at $ 70, then added free rebids, increasing by $ 5 each bid to a total of $ 105 and was rejected. Then I logged off and started again at the 4* level (Universal Studios area) hoping for Peabody...started at $70, then added free rebids, increasing by $ 5 each bid to total of $95. Still no luck. I'll keep trying I guess. Wonder what's going on in Orlando on those dates!!!!

I think you're right about the lack of significant inventory at this time. I tried bidding again tonight, going up to $ 90 for Resort Level in WDW area and going up to $ 85 for 4* in Universal Area. Was unsuccessful. I haven't yet even gotten a counter-offer. Wonder if that means that I've not even come close to what they'll accept. I have been watching the various hotel websites and it looks like they do have rooms available at the end of January and that the prices are starting to come down. The prices seem to be coming down some on Hotwire also. I think I'm going to just wait a bit and keep trying Priceline. Good luck to you, LoneStar

Tried again tonight..... (for Jan 24-27, 2006) Orlando (WDW Area) Resort $ 80......denied Added Maitland, up to $ 85.....denied Added Universal area, up to $ 90....denied Added Winter Park, up to $ 95....denied Added MCO, up to $ 100....denied Added Kissimmee, up to $ 105 ....denied Added 4*, went back to $ 80.....denied Added West Disney, up to $ 85....denied Added another area (can't remember which), up to $ 90....denied Oh well, guess I'll keep trying.

Bidding Update --- Tried again today... Orlando (WDW Area) $ 75 Resort level....denied Added MCO Airport Area $85...denied Added Sea World/Universal Area $95....denied Added 4* and Sand Lake Area $100....denied Should I consider higher bid or wait it out? Obviously no one has a crystal ball, but any gut instincts? Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

Just to keep up to date on the bidding... Tried again last night, starting at Resort Level (WDW area) at $60...denied Added Sea World area for $ 65...denied Added 4* hotels for $ 70...denied Added Maitland (as there are no 4* or Resort there) for $ 75...denied Added Sand Lake (for same reason) for $80... denied Will keep trying :)) Same question, tho... checking individual hotel websites, am finding a number of the higher end hotels are sold out for one or more of these nights (1/24-27). This is a Tues-Fri. Anyone in the Orlando area know if there's a major convention or something going on then that might affect the crowds? Thanks for this board. I've learned so much.

Thanks Schoolmom and Joe for your suggestions. I wasn't aware of the JWMarriot, but it sounds nice. I'm travelling with my teenage son, he is my youngest. When each of my older kids were in their senior high school year we took a trip to Disney as a mini-celebration. My youngest has a number of health problems and his high school years have been a struggle, so this is a well-deserved trip for him. (He had his Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii, which was phenomenal, but that was 2 yrs and at least 3 surgeries ago). So, although money must always be an issue, I have put enough aside to see that we can have a good time. We got 2 free 5-day hopper passes through the rewards program at our bank, and flights for $ 69 each way on Jet Blue. We spend a good part of our day at the parks and other attractions, but we would like to be able to come back to a nice, clean hotel with courteous staff. I know that you can find that at many 3* hotels, but it seems to be more hit and miss. So, I will keep bidding and hope to get a good 4* or resort level hotel for those 3 nights (Tues/Wed/Thurs). And we already have the 4 nights at Gaylord Palms via Priceline. If it gets too close, then I guess I'll look at all the options again, perhaps Hotwire where I'd have a little better idea of the hotel we'd be getting. Thanks so much for all your help and ideas.

Yes, Joe, I have tried your suggestion as the Peabody looks like a nice property. I have bid up to 115/nt for 4* in Universal Area, but was rejected. I'll keep trying. I'm starting to wonder if there's some big convention at that time, or if everybody's going to Disney because they think, like me, that the crowds will be low. Thanks again.

Oh well, I guess this isn't the first time that my logic isn't very logical! Thanks for the info, though. I'm just going to keep my eye on the rates and keep trying Priceline every 72 hrs until I get lucky. Have noticed by looking at various hotel's websites that there seems to be a lot of hotels that are sold out for the Jan 24-27 time slot. Wonder if there's something big going on in Orlando at that time. Thanks again.

Still patiently waiting to find a great deal on lodging for our Disney trip in January. Here is my question: I check the Hotwire offerings as well as trying to get a good Priceline deal. Every so often I get an email from Hotwire stating that the prices for hotels are going down for the dates I wish to travel. So....would it stand to reason that if I can get a room now for $ 100 on Hotwire when it was $150 a few weeks ago, that I can also probably get the same room via Priceline for less than I would have when I first tried? Thanks for the info

Ufjoe, Thanks for the suggestion. I have heard good things about the Peabody. I think that I may have used up all my free bids and will have to wait 72 hrs now, but I will certainly give it a try once Priceline lets me. Thanks again.

Thank you for your assistance. I wasn't aware that EasyClickTravel reservations were refundable. I will reserve a room with them and keep trying Priceline. One more question --- I would be happy to get either Hilton WDW or Gaylord Palms via Priceline (if I can get either). It seems as if people get Hilton WDW for at least $20/night less than Gaylord Palms. Should I start at a lower bid? (I started at $ 90/night when I thought that Gaylord Palms was the only option). Hilton WDW is listed as a resort-level hotel in WDW area, correct? Thanks again

I ended up bidding in every single area listed, adding 5-10 dollars each time I added an area. (Most of the other areas, except Universal did not list resorts available, so felt pretty safe). We will be renting a car, so staying in Universal area, or in another area within 5-10 miles of WDW would be fine. I would like to get into a resort-level hotel, or possibly a 4* if possible. I considered staying on-site, but have been hearing a lot of complaints about on-site hotels, including the moderates. Would consider a Deluxe on-site if could get a good price. Swan or Dolphin would be nice, as would WDW Hilton. Easier yet would be to get into the Gaylord Palms for those 3 nights, as we are there (via Priceline) for our last 4 nights. Thanks for your assistance.

Will be in Orlando for Disney trip from 1/24/06 through 1/31/06. Was able to get Gaylord Palms resort, but only for 1/27 - 1/31, at $ 100/night via Priceline. Have tried every possible way to get a resort-level room for 1/24 - 1/27, including bidding all zones and up to 120/night. Would be thrilled to get Gaylord Palms or Hilton WDW, but would be happy with getting the nicest hotel room in the 80 - 120 price range. Also, have seen that some have gotten Hilton WDW for $ 60??? Any suggestions? Is it still early enough that I can wait and keep trying? Thanks.

Would you mind telling us what parameters you used to get this property? Did you check "Resort" and "Disney area", or some other choice? I got Gaylord Palms for 4 of my 7 night stay in January, but am looking to fill in the other 3 nights. Would be happy to get the Hilton, especially at a good rate. Thanks

Saw on this board that people were getting Gaylord Palms for 3-4 day stretches, while I was trying unsuccessfully for 7 day stay (1/24/06 - 1/31/06). So, I tried breaking our week up and was successful at getting 1/27/06 - 1/31/06 for $ 100/night. Now, have to come up with something for 1/24 - 1/27. Tried bidding up to $ 115, hoping to complete the whole week at Gaylord, but was unsuccessful. So, maybe will stay on Disney grounds for those days and switch over to Gaylord on the 27th. Can anyone tell me if the $ 10 per night resort fee is included in the Priceline fee, or is that added extra at the end of the stay?

Planning a trip to Disney in January 2006. First choice of dates is Jan 24-31. Second choice is Jan 14-24. Hoping to get a room in the Gaylord Palms. Have started bidding for Resort in Disney World area at $90 and got all the way up to $ 115 while adding new areas and all were rejected. Any suggestions? Thanks.