Originally Posted By Chewybear Was wondering has anyone used Priceline to get their hotel rooms for their stay at Disneyland and how was it? Are the rooms you get big enough to hold a family of 5 (youngest is 1 yr old)? Was it easy to ask for double beds or two queen beds? How was the courtesy shuttle to Disneyland? Is it part of the ART shuttle system or was it unique to just the hotel? Been staying at properties along Harbor Blvd in the past and thought I'd just try Priceline this time there. Thanks advance for your advice!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss The problem with using Priceline and bidding for a room is that you cannot select a specific hotel, so there is no way to know what kind of room you will receive. I would advise you to read the FAQ at this site: <a href="http://www.biddingfortravel.com" target="_blank">http://www.biddingfortravel.co m</a> I have used Priceline for rooms in the past, and have always been very satisfied. For example, once I was able to secure the Anaheim Marriott for $35.00/night.
Originally Posted By forcemejure We've used Priceline extensively for 3* rooms at DL and have been happy with our bids all but once. I've never bid for anything less than a 3*. Recent bids for this area are more in the $50 - $65 range. I just bid and received the Doubletree for $51/night during Easter week. It has a shuttle (every hour) and is about 2.5 miles from DL. That said, Priceline is only a good option if you have a car, and with 5 you might be squeezed in to some of the rooms. You can occaisionally purchase an upgrade to a suite at check-in for an extra $50/night, but you shouldn't count on it. If your other two kids are old enough, I would book two rooms, then ask to trade to a two-room suite or for adjoining rooms at check-in if available. If you abousolutely all need to be in the same room, you're better off booking direct at someplace like HoJo's. Good Luck!
Originally Posted By wendebird The 2 times I used Priceline for a room near DL I was unable to get 2 Queens. I knew this ahead of time by calling the hotel & requesting 2 Queens & was told there were none available. I have 2 kids, so I packed some extra pillows, air bed & sleeping bags. It worked out fine based on the price we paid. The first time we got the Hyatt & the 2nd time we got Candlewood Suites. (Which by the way had no shuttle to DL & was way to far to walk.) That's something else to consider when using Priceline. Luckily I had a PAP, so driving & parking wasn't an issue.
Originally Posted By judyf I just got the Doubletree also for 4 days total during Easter week too. Two different bids as we are doing 2 days pre cruise and 2 days post cruise. I got one for $47.00 per night and the other for $50.00. I sort of knew I would get the doubletree from the info I searched prior to bidding. I called and we will have 3 beds not sure if double or queen, but it's only my mother and I so it doesn't matter. Good luck, I love priceline used it many, many times and always more then happy.
Originally Posted By passthepixiedust Also check out betterbidding.com they were really helpful (even giving bidding strategies) when I was asking the exact same question. I was told you would probably be okay as long as you bid on 2.5* and up as the Candlewood is only two star aand does have some rooms with a max capacity of two people.
Originally Posted By retlawfan I just got the Hyatt (4*) for $50 per night. They have their own bus route(not part of the ART), restaurant, gift shop, starbucks, pizza hut, room service(until midnight), and you can upgrade to a "kids suite" for $30. The "kids suite" offers a separated kid's bedroom(although not any more overall room space) with a bunkbed as well as a childs size fold out couch, and a king size bed for Mom and Dad. Easily fits a family of 5. Getting this hotel of course is not guaranteed when using priceline, however we always get the hyatt when we put in **** and $50. And, there is no guarantee that the kids suite will be available either. Happy bidding!
Originally Posted By judyf Last and only visit to CA we got the Hyatt with priceline for $25.00 a night. I was shocked. It was months before our visit and I started out with a real low bid just playing with it and my first bid was accepted. I got 7 nights at that price. Only thing with the Hyatt is there's a $10.00 per day parking charge, that was in 2003. That made it only $35.oo per night. That's still not bad and if you don't have a car then no extra fee.
Originally Posted By Chewybear For those successful on bidding on priceline, did you get double beds or were they just one king bed. And was it easy to ask for a double and non-smoking room?
Originally Posted By Mr X Last April, I bid for a 4 (5?) star hotel assuming I'd get the Hyatt (I did some research, and Hyatt seemed to come up a lot). I lucked out and got it. It was $39 bucks a night for 4 nights, and it's my understanding that that's about as awsome as it gets. I was WAY happy with it! The first night, strangely, I ended up in a kind of "conference room", which was huge (I was by myself!) with a table for 6, a lounge seating area, and the bedroom itself. Would have been GREAT if I had a large party with me, but all by my lonesone it felt kinda cavernous to be honest... So I requested and got a switch the very next day. The staff at the Hyatt Anaheim is awsome, they NEVER mentioned priceline or how much I paid for the room (EVEN when I was requesting a change...which, according to priceline (and keep this in mind), you are not entitled to). Anyway, my experience was great. I'd use priceline anytime. Just be prepared for the possibility of a disappointment (hey, it's a gamble right?) and don't let it spoil your vacation even if you get a hotel that isn't all that great (it's STILL cheap, right!?). One more thing (just fyi, I'm sure this will not apply to anyone reading this), they do advertise as "non-refundable" BUT I had a rather sad situation where I was PLANNING to stay at a hotel in Vegas which I also bid for with Priceline, and due to a death in the family my plans changed. Well, I called the hotel just to cancel (ASSUMING that it was still "non-refundable") out of courtesy, and the hotel operator encouraged me to call priceline. I did, and they asked for documentation regarding my situation, and refunded my money! So, just something to keep in mind if your plans get changed for the worse...Just another FYI, this does NOT apply to Korean airlines...keep away from those heartless SOB's
Originally Posted By wendebird ChewyBear, read my post #4. (Both times we got 1-King, no exceptions were made for us.)
Originally Posted By AZDLDad Chewy- We have always got the Priceline Hyatt and immediately called the hotel and requested 2 queens in NS Room and were given them upon arrival.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m I used Priceline for my arrival night for the Big Meet last year. I got Hyatt Regency Orange County for $44. It was awesome. As others have meantioned, they have their own shuttle which runs hourly (or every half hour, can't remember). I got two queen beds. The thing you have to remember about Priceline is you are not guaranteed a certain hotel, and you are not guaranteed a certain number of beds. the max occupancy they will guarantee is two people. So if you get a room with one queen bed, and have five people going, there is nothing you can do about it as priceline takes your credit card info before you can place the bid.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m BTW, Hyatt is now considered a 4 *? I thought it was 3 when I went last year? Maybe it has changed? Or I could be mistaken.
Originally Posted By wendebird >>Chewy- We have always got the Priceline Hyatt and immediately called the hotel and requested 2 queens in NS Room and were given them upon arrival.<< That is good news to hear. I wonder why we couldn't get it? I called right after my bid was accepted & I was told they had no 2 Queen beds available. Granted, this was a while ago. July 2004 I was just looking to see if the Hyatt was now a 4* & it looks like it is & I ran across this review. It's the SAME experience I had, how funny, I could have written it. I guess I'm not the only one. I just figured the price I paid, it's not worth it to complain. <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32420-d217219-r4476912-Hyatt_Regency_Orange_County-Garden_Grove_California.html" target="_blank">http://www.tripadvisor.com/Sho wUserReviews-g32420-d217219-r4476912-Hyatt_Regency_Orange_County-Garden_Grove_California.html</a>
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m I called after making my bid on priceline, and the people at Hyatt told me to make my request at check-in. I didn't care what I got as it was only me, and I got two queen beds. I woudl have preferred a king, but the beds were heavenly...... From what I see on biddingfortravel, the Hyatt Regency Orange County is a 3 *....maybe we're talking about different hotels? ORANGE COUNTY - CENTRAL Disneyland Area 3 Star Anaheim Marriott LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Coast Anaheim LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Hilton Anaheim LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Hyatt Regency Orange County Alicante LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Sheraton Anaheim Hotel LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Crowne Plaza Resort - Garden Grove LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Anabella Hotel LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Marriott Anaheim Suites Hilton Suites Anaheim/Orange LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Doubletree Hotel Anaheim/Orange County LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Radisson Maingate-Anaheim LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort Area LINK TO HOTEL REVIEW
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m Oh, ok, I didn't realize you were referring to another site. yeah, all of the travel sites seem to have their own ratings for hotels. But I was referring to Priceline's star rating.... No biggie. Sorry your experience wasn't that great there. I read the first review.....and you said your experience was similar.
Originally Posted By AZDLDad <<That is good news to hear. I wonder why we couldn't get it? I called right after my bid was accepted & I was told they had no 2 Queen beds available. Granted, this was a while ago. July 2004>> Wbird- maybe because that was during peak or convention season and they were near max capacity? <<From what I see on biddingfortravel, the Hyatt Regency Orange County is a 3 *....maybe we're talking about different hotels?>> t1 - Priceline Hyatt OC (aka Garden Grove)is 3*, different sites rate differently. Yes the beds are to die for and we came home last year and bought an equivalent mattress. My friends tell me that the Marriott guests no longer are allowed to ride the Hyatt shuttle bus too.
Originally Posted By retlawfan Oh yeah, the beds are heavenly. With all those pillows too, it's very nice. No wonder I couldn't get to the park before noon.
