Les Claypool Tallahassee

Started bidding around $65 as the Omni Championsgate (one of the resorts I was hoping for) had been advertised as low as $73/night the day before, for rack rates. Unfortunately no luck though. Added zones and re-bid in $2/$3 increments until getting $82 accepted. Been to Disney a million times, and as anyone who tries to win there on Priceline knows, the Hilton is literally the only option you absolutely do not want. It's not a resort. We've all petitioned unsuccessfully to get Priceline to remove the "Resort" distinction, but alas they won't. In fairness, it was Labor Day Weekend, so we really couldn't complain. Had a great trip just the same.

$45...that's incredible. Even with the $30 in resort fees and parking, that's an incredible deal. Maybe the best one I've ever seen. Kudos and have a blast!!

When did their resort fee go up to $30? It's been a couple of years since I stayed there last, but the resort fee used to $15, and it included parking. In any case, the Omni is 10x the property that the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is, I assure you.

For reasons not interesting enough to explain here I assure, I have to stay at this hotel on 4/2/2010. I just paid $117 with a AAA rate. I've stayed here twice before. For $53, you couldn't be getting a better deal. Kudos! Great free breakfast, and 2 hours of complimentary (full-bar) happy hour! Well done indeed!

Started @ $60. Immediately got the "increase by $17..." response. Added $2 a new zone until I got to $70, and won. FYI, on Priceline, it's one of only 2 "resorts." The other is the Omni Championsgate. I've stayed at both, and loved my experience at each one. When I bid I knew I was going to win one, so it was a no-brainer. The key is not to include the Lake Buena Vista Zone. That's where the Hilton @ DisneyWorld is, and should be avoided at all costs. Good luck and I hope that helps!

Very pleased with this win. Stayed at the Gaylord Palms once before and absolutely LOVED it. Can't wait to go back again. The only downside of this hotel (which I was already aware of) is that they charge a $17 resort fee AND $12 for self-parking. ($20/valet) I'm not elated about that, but this place is so nice, I don't really mind. Effectively getting arguably the best hotel in Orland for $99/night. I'll take it! Started @ $60. Immediately got the "increase by $17..." response. Added $2 a new zone until I got to $70, and won. As always, I used the PRICELINE link from this site.

This was a great trip. Brand new hotel. It was a little cold so we couldn't use the AWESOME pool, but several Northerners were undeterred by the cold weather and were in the pool for hours! HAHA I gave the check-in attendant a $20 at check-in (as I always do) and requested an upgrade. Sure enough, we were put on the 15th floor w/an awesome view over-looking the pool, golf course, and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you don't already do this, START doing it. I'm 3-for-3 after learning that trick from someone on this site, and all 3 times I've tried, I've been substantially upgraded. Can't say enough great things about this hotel. Hope to win it again in March or April when it's warmed back up and we can take the kids to enjoy the pool and waterslide.

How did you like it? That's not a hotel I'd have been very excited about, and frankly, I'm shocked to see it listed as a 4* Have the done some SERIOUS renovations to it or something?

Started at $50 and added an extra zone and $2 per bid. Didn't get any bites until $60, when I won. Used the PRICELINE link from this site. I've been to Orlando a million times, and I'm looking forward to staying at a new place!

You're right to be concerned based on reviews. It's just not a very nice place. Definitely not a resort, which is the biggest knock that the place (quite justifiably) receives. But...@ $60/night, you can't get a much better deal! Don't sweat it! If you use priceline to go to Orlando often, you're bound to get the Hilton once or twice. Chalk it up to experience, go, and have a great time!

GREAT deal! I love the Omni! Their pools are awesome. Really nice accomodations, and good restaurants too. Also, you can literally walk to Subway or McDonlds (or Publix) from the hotel in less than 8-10 minutes, so food doesn't have to be a big expense here at all. Wish I was going! :)

GREAT deal! Congrats! *Tip the check-in clerk a $20 and ask for an upgrade. You'll get it! It's worked for me and for others!

With all due respect to Yellowdog, the Hilton IS that bad. It should absolutely not be classified as a resort OR a 4* hotel on either HOTWIRE or PRICELINE. I'm sorry for our luck Rosenbla. It's happened to all of us though one time or another...if that makes you feel any better. :)

Just got back tonight. Loved our stay. Tried to give the checkin lady a $20 for an upgrade, but she wouldn't take it. Smiled politely, and say that won't be necessary...but she still upgraded us anyway to a balcony view in the Tower (beautiful view of the St. Pete Pier and Sailboat Marina). Absurd that we were able to get this place so cheap. I almost feel guilty!

Started at $50, added a zone and re-bid at $55, added one more zone and re-bid at $59, successfully. Thoroughly elated at this resort and this price. WHAT A DEAL! I used the PRICELINE link at this site. Thanks, as always, for the great service that you all provide here.

Unless you've been to both and decided you like the Hyatt better, I would say that this is a 100x better resort than the Hyatt. Hopefully you'll agree. When you get there, give the check-in person a $20 and ask for a free upgrade for your stay. It will work.

The Ritz @ Grande Lakes? That place is awesome! The Hilton...That place is not, but for $60 it beats a Motel 6 I suppose. Have a great time at the Ritz!

This hotel is a dump! It's NOT a resort. It's an absolute joke that it's considered a "Resort." It's 3*, at BEST, in my opinion. There is nothing for kids to do here. The pool sucks - no slide or anything fun for kids to do other than swim. The location is great. That's the ONLY good thing about it. I've "won" this hotel twice on Priceline and written several emails complaining about it, and asking them to change the star rating to something other than resort. Still no luck, but I'm going to keep trying.

We're thinking about going to an Orlando Resort Hotel for Memorial Day Weekend. I was perusing the HOTWIRE and PRICELINE sites (via the links from this board, as ALWAYS :) ) and I saw this $99/rate on PRICELINE when I entered a "Resort" stay from 5/22-5/25. This is the rack rate NOT the Name Your Own Price rate! I then went to the Omni's site to verify it was accurate, and sure enough they offered the same rate, however with taxes, ($393 for 3-nights) the Omni's price was actually $50 more than PRICELINE's rate with taxes was, ($340ish for the same 3 nights) for the same exact room. I'm not sure what to attribute that to. Perhaps the Omni's rate includes 3 days worth of Resort fees at $15/day, which would make sense if that's the case. I just wanted to make everyone aware of this deal. At that price, I don't think I'd risk getting a "lesser" hotel by trying to Name Your Own Price. Priceline's link to the Omni Champions Gate *Mods - forgive me if this is an inapprorpriate place to start this thread. Please let me know where I should have posted a thread like this, if not here. Thanks for all you do here at this site!!

Guys - just a warning about some of the hotels I'm seeing listed in this thread. Caribe Royale...Buena Vista Palace (or whatever it's called now)...these are nowhere near 4* hotels. Everyone needs to be really careful when booking! It's appalling that HOTWIRE thinks that the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and the Buena Vista Palace or Caribe Royal are in anyway comparable. It's a joke!

Good point!The Gaylord has a resort fee of $17 or $18/night. But it ALSO charges for parking - $12/day for self or $21/day valet. We elected to valet (first time we've ever done that before - really liked it) b/c we knew we'd be in and out of our car a lot, but I've heard people say that you can park in self-parking and just tell the check-in folks that you don't have a car. Personally, I didn't feel comfortable doing so, but to each his own. $30+/day IS definitely a lot of money to paying in daily fees. At both the Hyatt and The Omni, the resort fee is $15, (at least it was the last time I stayed at both places) and includes parking. IMO, based on the tiny bit you've shared here, The Omni may be the best combination of luxury hotel, GREAT onsite recreation & activities, and reasonable fees for you and your daughter. Assuming that there isn't a HUGE discrepancy in price, then the next time we go to Orlando (which will probably be for Memorial Day Weeked), that's where we're going to stay. Another thing that the Omni has going for it, is that you can walk to a Publix, Subway, and McDonald's. You don't have to eat onsite at one pricey restaurants. That saved us some good money on breakfast and lunch when we were there last time. Either way, have fun. All 3 places are great!

I've stayed at all 3. Your concern is somewhat justified, but at the same time, I think you and your daughter will love this hotel. The pool isn't on par with either the Hyatt or the Omni, but the hotel itself is much nicer than either place. We just got back from our first stay at the Gaylord a couple of weeks ago. I had my 8 year old daughter and one of her friends with us. They enjoyed the pool and the waterslid OK, but what they really loved was the alligators and turtles, the fish and stingrays, and the atrium view that we had. TIP: When I checked in, I gave the check-in girl a $20 and asked her if she had any upgrades available. She put is on the 6th floor overlooking the alligators. It was AWESOME! Give this a try.

I've stayed at all 3. The best pools are: 1. The Omni - has a great waterslide and a lazy river. You can't beat the lazy river! Also has a separate adult pool which is really nice. More upscale with no kids. You can't beat The Omni, IMO. 2. The Hyatt - Hotel is by far the weakest of the 3. The pool is pretty fun. They have BY FAR the best bang for your resort fee. You get free bike and canoe rentals, free 9 hole pitch n' putt golf. It's awesome. 3. Gaylord Palms - The Palms is the best hotel of the bunch, by a mile, but the pool is terrible. If you're traveling with kids, it will be a disappointment for them (compared to the other two pools). Just my .02 All three resorts are great!

SCORE! Well done!!

$86 for this place is a flat out steal! Way to go. You're going to love that place!!!!