Priceline Hotel: 3* Orlando (WDW) Sheraton Safari

[DeAnna4140]

New here! Thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge!!

My husband is working in Disney from 12/1 to 12/9 and we would like to join him on 12/6 for a few days.

He needs a micro and fridge in his room. I do not want any hidden resort fees and would love free Disney Shuttle

WHERE do I start looking? I have been doing this for days and have gotten NO WHERE!! Would really like to book

and be done with this. I feel like I am going in circles. I have used PL before but not Hotwire. Any suggestions?

Thanks again for your help!

DeAnna

[DeAnna4140]

I think I am getting the hang of this!

Found this on Hotwire. 2.5*Maingate Disney Champions Gate with Fitness Center, restaurant, pool, laundry for $35 from 12/1 to 12/11.

Thanks in advance for help in ID.

[DeAnna4140]

Please help ID

2* condo Kissimmee 12/1 to 12/11 $45/night with studio, pool, kitchenette and comp breakfast.

Thanks!

[DeAnna4140]

2* Disney Maingate Champions Gate for 12/1 to 12/11 $29 with pool and laundry.

Thanks again!

[thereuare]

Welcome to BetterBidding!

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.

He needs a micro and fridge in his room.

Based upon this requirement it doesn't sound as if the above is a viable property... you want to look for a HOTWIRE offering which shows the Kitchenette icon.

What is your maximum budget for this stay? Which zones are you willing to accept?

[DeAnna4140]

We might have to skip the micro and fridge. Looking for close to Disney preferably with Shuttle service to the park.

My husband is working from 1:00 am to 1:00 pm in the park so he needs vehicle to get there. My daughter and I would like to shuttle to park. Trying to avoid all those extra fees that add up so quickly.

Not sure if I want to try PL or not. Looks like some are getting the Hilton and the Sheraton Safari. There again, don't want to be SURPRISED with all those extra fees!

This board is great! Thanks for the quick responses!

[blindman]

Please help ID

2* condo Kissimmee 12/1 to 12/11 $45/night with studio, pool, kitchenette and comp breakfast.

Thanks!

And 24 hr front desk?

[DeAnna4140]

Sorry, will keep all requests in this post.

Yes Blindman and 24-hour desk.

Thanks!

[DeAnna4140]

Any suggestions for starting bid for resort/3* in WDW area? Just wondering how low I could go before I stand a chance at acceptance! Dates are 12/6 to 12/11.

How many surprise 'fees' are there after you make the bid?

Thanks!

[DeAnna4140]

Sorry Thereuare! Thought I could do separate posts in PL and Hotwire thinking they were 2 different things.

[thereuare]

Before moving forward... why not take a look at all of your options, see which HOTWIRE hotels you're really interested in, we will try to help you ID them (but you MUST include the complete set of amenities HOTWIRE associates with the hotels) and then weigh that vs. booking via Priceline.

Since you seem to be overly concerned with any extra fees, i'd question whether priceline is the right way for you to go. Since you could receive any hotel in the shaded region of the zone, there is no way to target hotels, or know beforehand, if there will be fees for parking, resort, etc or if a shuttle to the park is offered. These all seem like important aspects for this stay. (and all add the caveat that although we can often assist in identifying the hto.wire hotel beforehand, we can't see the name either, so nothing is guaranteed... if we ID the hotel and are not correct, the hotel you do receive could have some of the unwanted fees you're trying to avoid or not offer the amenities you're seeking)

Also, are you looking for two separate stays/purchases? (one for you and one for your husband) I see date ranges above of 12/1-12/11, 12/1-12/9, and now also 12/6-12/11.

[DeAnna4140]

Thanks again for your help!!

My husband has actually been working in WDW for awhile. He is staying in one of the local roach motels as he often does when he travels. (He works construction). Originially I thought we would have him switch before my daughter and I got there, but know he is going to stay in his roach motel up through 12/6 and then join us in a hopefully upgraded room! I am NOW only looking for motel from 12/6 to 12/11. Sorry for the confusion earlier. Tyring to plan this in record time - 1 week!

We would like a free shuttle, fridge and micro optional. Starting LOW and going up until we find one hopefully around $60. I saw where somebody got Sheraton Safari for $59. My concern is how much is added? Tax? Fees? Does that $59 turn into $80 after I blink? I am wondering if I should gamble on PL and start with $40 - only 3* and resorts. Maybe last minute like this I would have better results??!!

Is this enough info?

Thanks again!

[thereuare]

A few issues before you should begin...

Both priceline and HOTWIRE charge a booking fee, which comes to about $5-$7/nite on top of your bid amount/purchase price, but is included in the the total you see before you place your bid (or make your purchase).

As noted above, resort fees (if any), parking charge (if any), or any other items not included in the room rate of traditionally booked guests will be extra and payable directly to the hotel upon check-out. As some hotels have these fees and other do not, and those which do have these fees charge different amounts, you will not know if the hotel you will receive will have any of these charges, and if so, how much, until after your purchase. With HOTWIRE you can try and ID the hotel beforehand and then research what, if any, additional fees the hotel charges, but you still can't be 100% certain since you won't be certain that you guessed the hotel correctly until after your purchase.

Likewise, with priceline you won't know if the hotel offers a shuttle to the park or not, with HOTWIRE you can try to research beforehand, just as referenced above in checking any extra fees. Not sure if the 'optional' part applies to just the micro or the fridge as well, but the same comments regarding the shuttle apply to these items as well.

Lastly, priceline only guarantees double occupancy, after that it is at the discretion of the hotel. This may not be as much of an issue in a family-friendly area such as this one where many of the rooms are set-up with two beds, but it's still an issue that you should be aware of and decide if this is a 'risk' that you're willing to accept. HOTWIRE allows you to search for up to quad occupancy. See the related link in our PRICELINE FAQ for more info.

Based upon the above, which service do you think is more appropriate for your needs?

[DeAnna4140]

Again, thanks for all your advice!!

As I said I had PL'd numerous times in the past for all of our other short trips. Only disappointed once in the 3-4 years I have been using. This is such a big trip with so many other expenses I was a little nervous. We're weren't looking for a resort but I sure didn't want to get a roach motel either.

Late last night after I got home I thought what the heck, give it a try. I had seen where someone got Sheraton Safari for $49 and it was on your 'PL list' as a possiblity and was really hoping for because they didn't have any hidden fees. So I told myself I had 3 tries only then I'd 'think' some more. Started with $35 Disney vicinity only, declined, no surpise! Bumped to $40 and added Disney West, declined again. Last try, bumped to $45, added Winter Garden and GOT IT!! Total shock but totally excited. Totally gambling! Didn't want to go over $50 because after all the taxes and fees we would have been over budget and not been able to eat all week! Anyway this is what I got:

Sheraton Safari 12/6 to 12/11

PL Bid $45/night

5 nights

Subtotal: $225.00

Taxes and Service Fees: $39.41

Total: $264.41

Call the Sheraton to confirm no added fees - yeah! - and they have a free shuttle!

Again, thanks for everything! I will definitely recommend your site to friends. Not sure if I was to start a new thread with this info or not. I'll leave that to you!

Have a great day!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your win!

Glad to hear you received a hotel which will work well for your needs... and at a great price.

Thanks for sharing your win with the rest of the board.

Enjoy your stay.