How to handle "free upgrade" email?

[Belle83]

Aww, I want an email! We are booked in a king room with free dining at POR from 12/11-12/18.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

We got the email and they gave us an upgrade to Saratoga Springs 1 bedroom villa. This is like a $3000 savings so I took it! We've never stayed at a DVC resort so I am excited. Our dates are December 22-27 and we were originally booked for AOA Little Mermaid room.

 

[vtownpatty]

It looks like free dining is the "problem". Our offer was only for our first night, room only rate. Looking at other posters dates, it looks like the upgrades are not during free dining dates. Oh well - either way we will be in Disney in 30 days!

 

[letsgoreds]

Anyone who turns down an upgrade from a value to a deluxe is bananas! You can always go and visit AoA. Even for one night, it could be fun just to see what it is like. They will move your bags for you during the day at the park, right?

 

[vtownpatty]

Anyone who turns down an upgrade from a value to a deluxe is bananas! You can always go and visit AoA. Even for one night, it could be fun just to see what it is like. They will move your bags for you during the day at the park, right?

We are at POR, not a value. Call us bananas, but the resort is just not that important to us. If we could get the whole week, for sure, but just not worth the hassle for one night. At some point during the day we would have to give up time at the park to "check in" at the other resort. We just don't spend enough time at the hotel to worry about it.

 

[disadventurer]

Congrats to everyone on their upgrades! We are staying at CSR 12/20-1/3 and would love a free upgrade to a dvc resort. Enjoy and Happy Holidays to all

 

[JulyGirl]

Congrats on the nice upgrades everyone!

 

[Ro Z]

Just returned fromPOR and going again Dec 3-13. Love it there but if they offered an upgrade I would take it. Unless it was for only a night or 2. Too much trouble moving. It would have to be for at least 3-4 nights. And that is only because we are staying 10 nights. If our stay was shorter I wouldn't want to move!!

 

[rentayenta]

We got the email and they gave us an upgrade to Saratoga Springs 1 bedroom villa. This is like a $3000 savings so I took it! We've never stayed at a DVC resort so I am excited. Our dates are December 22-27 and we were originally booked for AOA Little Mermaid room.

Having stayed at both and as an owner at SSR, you scored! And over Christmas, how magical. Go to the DVC section and do some research. I'd request the Springs or Paddock section. It's such a great resort.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Having stayed at both and as an owner at SSR, you scored! And over Christmas, how magical. Go to the DVC section and do some research. I'd request the Springs or Paddock section. It's such a great resort.

Thank you!

 

[csmom]

My wife got the email and we went from POFQ to Poly, there was no way we were turning that down. Can't wait.

Can I ask, when are your dates?

 

[LucyBC80]

Anyone who turns down an upgrade from a value to a deluxe is bananas! You can always go and visit AoA. Even for one night, it could be fun just to see what it is like. They will move your bags for you during the day at the park, right?

Unless they are upgrading me to CR, BC or Poly I won't move from POFQ. Going from POFQ to Saratoga Springs to ME it's not an upgrade. I stay at POFQ because it's a small resort which SS definitely is not.

So yeah, you can call me bananas all you want but I'd stay put.

 

[nanienamou]

Having stayed in a LM room for 2 nights last October, I would switch in a heartbeat. You're talking value vs deluxe or even a suite. It would be a no brainer for me.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Having stayed at all levels... I would take the upgrade in a heartbeat!!

Of course I would never get one... Lol...

No pixie dust for me..

 

[reiella]

I would just ignore it. I don't think there's any danger of getting upgraded against your will.

As an aside., we were booked for LM as well for Dec 2012, and we DID take advantage of the offer, now we're booked in a suite.

There is risk of being 'upgraded against your will'. That sort of offer reads as they are overbooked for some reason, and are trying to move people. That said, it all depends on if they get enough other people to relocate to cover the overbooked category.

 

[NHKristy76]

So I had to go and check my email... This whole thread made me think it might have been possible to get out of Pop Century and into Poly.

No such luck...

We are going for a short anniversary trip from 11/25-28 and although I'm thrilled to be going at all, I really wish we could have splurged on a more romantic resort!

I'm going to pray to the Pixie Dust Gods and hope I get one of the emails... Congratulations to all who got the email!

 

[robinb]

Just so you know, even if you turn down the upgrade offer you may be "walked" when you get there. That happened to us one year at the start of free dining at POR. We didn't get a letter, but we were asked to upgrade to a studio at SSR when we arrived. We had just stayed at SSR the week before (we visited my in-laws in Tampa between 2 WDW stays) and POR was the last moderate to check off my list. I told the CM that and that I also had GF and YC on my list, so those would be OK . He came back with an offer of a 1 bedroom at SSR and I knew there was really no fighting it. We enjoyed the extra room .

For the people who are being asked to upgrade for one day. I would consider it if it was a resort that I still needed to "check off" but otherwise the inconvenience wouldn't be worth it unless they sweetened the deal a bit more.

Good luck and may the upgrade fairy visit those who are hoping for one!

 

[Abharmagic]

Upgrading for 1 NIGHT? Crazy, I can't believe they would ask this of anyone. If the rooms are overbooked WDW has to eat it and upgrade for the length of stay. Who would want to move for 1 night- not me, what an inconvenience.

Upgrading from a LM room to an AOA site for the length of stay- yes! I don't know why anyone would say no- that's a huge discount on more room. I understand her DD loves LM, go walk the grounds, take pics, and then enjoy a huge savings on a nicer room!

 

[stmize]

We got the email and they gave us an upgrade to Saratoga Springs 1 bedroom villa. This is like a $3000 savings so I took it! We've never stayed at a DVC resort so I am excited. Our dates are December 22-27 and we were originally booked for AOA Little Mermaid room.

Looks like we may have a future Dvc member. Lol. Dvc villas are awesome.

 

[Miffy]

OP here. A couple of things.

1) My sister doesn't have free dining--it wasn't available for most of her stay--and she's paying rack rate for her room.

2) This is a solo trip, so she hardly needs the extra room or bathroom in the suite, and she loved the decor of the LM rooms. She has no interest in staying at SSR, OKW, CBR, or CSR. She hasn't been to WDW in 25 years and she doesn't travel frequently, so it's not like she'll settle for something she didn't book and doesn't want because she'll be back in a few months.

3) She's calling this morning, so I'll post with an update when I know what happened.

And many thanks for all the replies! Very helpful and informative.