Can someone explain to me the bitterness about upgrades this year and not 2 yrs ago?

[glitzybabes]

Can someone explain to me the bitterness about upgrades this year and not 2 years ago? I don't remember seeing a post one that was negative 2 years ago when ppl got the upgrade.

DVC ppl are upset which they shouldn't be because they are not the only ones who are allowed to stay at the resorts and I believe that for the Fall discounts for 42% off the villas, discounts were cheap like the price of a mod. Were DVC ppl complaining then that they are "paying" more?

Sorry if you didn't get the email for the upgrade. maybe it went to another email address or there was not an email address on your ressies. Up until a week ago there wasn't one on mine. I called and made some changes to my ressies and the cm asked me for an email address which she should of had one on file since I booked the ressies online and received an invoice and conformation email before I provided my email to them last week.

I think everyone should just be glad (or not) for the ppl who got the upgrade and move on.

Just my 2 cents.

[MinnieGirl33]

Originally Posted by glitzybabes

DVC ppl are upset which they shouldn't be because they are not the only ones who are allowed to stay at the resorts

DVC Members pay tens of thousands of dollars for membership plus thousands more every year for maintenance fees. With these upgrades, guests are given 1 BR Villa accommodations AND FREE DINING (which DVC members are NOT eligible for) for less than $100 night ? And you are surprised by the frustration ???

Personally I think its the combination of the upgrade & the free DDP that gets under people's skin.

I never read where anybody ever said they thought DVCers were the only ones who should be allowed to stay at those resorts. Anyone can book a cash stay at any DVC resort thru CRO.

And FWIW, this is at least the third year I remember this being a hot topic.

[Mitzicat]

Originally Posted by MinnieGirl33

DVC Members pay tens of thousands of dollars for membership plus thousands more every year for maintenance fees. With these upgrades, guests are given 1 BR Villa accommodations AND FREE DINING (which DVC members are NOT eligible for) for less than $100 night ? And you are surprised by the frustration ???

Personally I think its the combination of the upgrade & the free DDP that gets under people's skin.

I never read where anybody ever said they thought DVCers were the only ones who should be allowed to stay at those resorts. Anyone can book a cash stay at any DVC resort thru CRO.

And FWIW, this is at least the third year I remember this being a hot topic.

Well if there is one thing I learned....I did not know DVC members were not eligible for the free dining! Wow..but I guess when you look at the big picture (pin code upgrade out of the picture) I understand now.

I'm at the Pop during the time frame quoted for the upgrade and I did not get a pin code. I would have like one, but then I started thinking....my family doesn't spend much time in our rooms...just sleeping and bathroom stuff, mom already said she was going to rent a fridge so that's covered, I want to try the tie-dye cheese cake and see all the cool stuff at the property. So even if I had gotten one...I probably wouldn't have taken it. Plus not getting a pin code opens the door for maybe some other type of magic to happen...provided by the family and/or Disney.

We (4 adults) looked at staying at WL or Poly, CSR, OKW...but we decided that we would rather have our money for the food and wine festival and extra spending money.

Like one poster said in another thread those who are going to Disney should be thankful that we still have jobs, a roof over our head, food on the table and have luxuries like Disney trips.

I could go on for hours about this. I just hope everyone hugs a family member this weekend, has a good laugh and just let things fade away...

[Sammie]

DVC members are eligible for free dining like anyone else. They simply have to do what everyone else does, book a package, pay "rack" rate and buy tickets.

If they do not wish to do that and wish to use their points then they are not eligible just as someone not wanting to pay rack rate would be or did not want to buy tickets from Disney.

Free Dining is a package and with the package comes restrictions.

[DisneyBride'03]

Originally Posted by glitzybabes

Can someone explain to me the bitterness about upgrades this year and not 2 years ago? I don't remember seeing a post one that was negative 2 years ago when ppl got the upgrade.

DVC ppl are upset which they shouldn't be because they are not the only ones who are allowed to stay at the resorts and I believe that for the Fall discounts for 42% off the villas, discounts were cheap like the price of a mod. Were DVC ppl complaining then that they are "paying" more?

Sorry if you didn't get the email for the upgrade. maybe it went to another email address or there was not an email address on your ressies. Up until a week ago there wasn't one on mine. I called and made some changes to my ressies and the cm asked me for an email address which she should of had one on file since I booked the ressies online and received an invoice and conformation email before I provided my email to them last week.

I think everyone should just be glad (or not) for the ppl who got the upgrade and move on.

Just my 2 cents.

well, while Disney World is suppose to be the Happiest Place on Earth, there seems to be more unhappy people in the "regular" world

I agree...let's be happy for the fortunate folks today...feels much better than emotions of

[Tinkerbella001]

Originally Posted by DisneyBride'03

well, while Disney World is suppose to be the Happiest Place on Earth, there seems to be more unhappy people in the "regular" world

Or at least here in this virtual world!!

[DisneyBride'03]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbella001

Or at least here in this virtual world!!

lol and this is the place where you can pretend to be something you are not!

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Originally Posted by Sammie

DVC members are eligible for free dining like anyone else. They simply have to do what everyone else does, book a package, pay "rack" rate and buy tickets.

If they do not wish to do that and wish to use their points then they are not eligible just as someone not wanting to pay rack rate would be or did not want to buy tickets from Disney.

Free Dining is a package and with the package comes restrictions.

[Rip]

Originally Posted by glitzybabes

Can someone explain to me the bitterness about upgrades this year and not 2 years ago? I don't remember seeing a post one that was negative 2 years ago when ppl got the upgrade.

DVC ppl are upset which they shouldn't be because they are not the only ones who are allowed to stay at the resorts and I believe that for the Fall discounts for 42% off the villas, discounts were cheap like the price of a mod. Were DVC ppl complaining then that they are "paying" more?

Sorry if you didn't get the email for the upgrade. maybe it went to another email address or there was not an email address on your ressies. Up until a week ago there wasn't one on mine. I called and made some changes to my ressies and the cm asked me for an email address which she should of had one on file since I booked the ressies online and received an invoice and conformation email before I provided my email to them last week.

I think everyone should just be glad (or not) for the ppl who got the upgrade and move on.

Just my 2 cents.

Heh, I just got an e-mail for 48% off SSR or OKW, maybe I can park my mobeel home in the front yard while I'm there.

[luvthemouse71]

I think in tough economic times, the ugly side of human nature comes out. Yes, someone may be well off, but that doesn't mean they don't worry about money. Unfortunately, some people also are very much into status, labels etc. So when the "great unwashed" start getting access to things they deem as "exclusive"- they get mad.

[smcabee]

Im a DVC member and Im not even a tiny bit upset over this. Good for those who got the ugrade and sorry to those who didnt. Hope everyone just has a great time while your there and makes some wonderful memories.

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

Two years ago the economy was in a much better state so people were better able to afford or more confident in booking the higher end resorts.

[Cupmom]

I got the upgrade back in 2007, POP to a 1br at SSR and it was great. DVC members know when they buy that Disney always put out offers to the public. They may not always like the offers but they sould not be surprised by them. disney has had deals for the past 6 years or so. That is one of the reason DVC is not for us.I have taken advantage of 4/3 back in 2003, FD in 2006,2007 and again next month.

[fla4fun]

Originally Posted by Cupmom

DVC members know when they buy that Disney always put out offers to the public.

That's for sure. Disney would like every room on property to be full, and although they would prefer full price, a discounted price is better than nothing. At this point, I'm sure 99.9% of the DVC members who were wanting to visit during that time frame are already booked, and have been for a long time. So Disney has a pretty good idea of which resorts they need to fill, and which ones they would be able to re-sell if they were empty again. They can get rack rate at value resorts easily enough with the free dining, where they can't as much with the more expensive resorts. Especially now that there is talk of extending the free dining, I'm sure they will be looking at every resort and ways to fill those empty rooms.

Of course, if they'd give me a 50% code, I'd fill some rooms for them . . .

[Tjkane28]

One perspective on investing in a DVC ownership is that it is speculative. In effect, one is purchasing futures on the cost of hotel rooms at Disney. You pay money up front for the "right" to stay at a hotel at something of a fixed cost for a certain amount of years.

DVC ownership is an excellent investment if hotel prices soar, or even rise at a greater rate than your expenses for the investment. You have a locked contract that allows you to stay at a nice hotel for a fraction of the price that others will pay.

However, when hotel room prices go down, as they have this year, DVC ownership is very expensive comparatively to the market rate , and perhaps not a "wise" investment. Emotions run high when people are not getting what they thought they paid for; in this case, a less expensive hotel room.

Am I missing anything here? I am sure I am, so fill in the blanks.