Anyone been upgraded from POR to OKW/SSR?

[wilma-bride]

For long term DVC members that have seen the good years they/you probably do not get as concerned as the ones bought in the last few years, there is a lot of unhappy owners with the free dining and discount deals.
Very difficult for Disney to please everyone though, I would never buy into DVC or rarely stay onsite if it wasn't for free DDP/42% discount offer. If they want to attract offsite travellers like me they have to do the deals but that upsets DVC members.
I can't understand them building more resorts. If I was running the operation I would do it like Disneyland CA or Universal Florida, less hotels all at a premium, to me it looks like they are trying to please too many people.

I don't know why people would get so upset about it. We only bought in 2007 and I am certainly not unhappy at all. When I take into account what we have paid for our DVC plus what we pay in maintenance fees, so far, since Feb 2007, we have had the following:

5 nights in a studio at SSR
6 nights in a 2b/room at VWL
7 nights in a 2 b/room at OKW
10 nights in a 2 b/room at AKV
1 night in a Grand Villa at BLT
5 nights in a studio at BWV

All for the grand total (averaged out total cost over the 47 years of ownership plus maint. fees) of approx. £2000

True, that did not include the free dining plan but we were able to buy APs one year with $100 off each and for this trip we are not having to buy tickets at all as we have tickets from previous trips which are still valid. And, if we wanted to add the dining plan to our booking, we could - and would not have to fork out an additional £200+ each for tickets.

I think, even if we added on what it would have cost us to add the dining plan to those trips listed above, it still wouldn't come anywhere close to the amounts that others have shelled out to get 'free' dining staying at OKW/SSR - and, let's face it, for those people OKW and SSR are the only choice of deluxe resorts for the 42% off offer. We have a choice of several deluxe resorts, all of which are (in my opinion) preferable to OKW and SSR.

So you can count me among the (possibly few) very happy DVC members - I know we made the right choice and, free dining or no free dining, still consider we are the winners in the long run

 

[offtoseemickey]

Just saw someone on the Tour Guide mike forums get an upgrade. Sigh. I want an upgrade!!!!! Preferably the Contemporary . . .!!!!!!!! I'm not moaning about the price I got SSR for, but a little pixie dust would be a beautiful thing!!!!

Was that me?

 

[MAYNARDS99]

My party was very fortunate last year to be upgraded via a Disney PIN email from All-Star Music to a 1 bedroom at SSR, with DDP!

Have the UK based guests been offered the POR to SSR upgrade in past years?

What about from the value resorts to SSR for UK guests?

 

[tigger137]

We had the letter and the e-mail yesterday, for our POR stay in September.

But we love POR and have no real interest in OKW or SSR - well, except for the Treehouses but I can't see them upgrading 2 people to one of those!

I did price it up out of interest and made it like-for-like, ie POR king room, with free QSDP but paying the extra to upgrade to DDP, to match the free DDP at SSR (booking SSR, not being upgraded to there), and in that case POR would cost £84 more. So, if we had paid the extra for DDP, this supposedly complimentary upgrade from WDW would, in fact, be offering us a holiday of lesser value than that for which we've paid!

I do wonder why US free dining includes DDP at moderates but for UK bookings only includes QSDP?

This offer may be a way for some people to experience OKW and SSR at a slightly cheaper rate. And if they do get a 1-bed then the upgrade is pretty good, but there's no guarantee of that. In some ways I did think perhaps we should try it, seems wrong not to accept an 'upgrade', but it isn't that we've ever looked at OKW or SSR and wanted to stay there but couldn't afford it, so there isn't much point for us.

I just hope this doesn't mean we'll arrive to find that our booked and paid for king room at POR isn't available.

 

[crabbie1]

Well I just phoned wdw uk and asked again how much to upgrade to a one bedroom. Now its £210. £10 more than the other week. I have emailed them about this and will keep you posted.

 

[2Tiggies]

I do wonder why US free dining includes DDP at moderates but for UK bookings only includes QSDP?

I can't say why, but I do know that there are no more moderate rooms available for booking with the free DDP. One of the resorts I want to try is POP and thought next year maybe, while DD is still young, but when I priced this up for next October it is several hundred pounds cheaper to take a mod with free dining than to get a value and add the same dining plan over the same dates.

I just hope this doesn't mean we'll arrive to find that our booked and paid for king room at POR isn't available.

I wouldn't worry - if you have your confirmation then your booking is confirmed. They are trying to shift folk from the mods to empty rooms at these other 2 resorts so that they can sell the mods/value rooms to guests who have NOT booked and who won't book a deluxe.

 

[debbiebee]

is it only people who booked through Disney UK that are being offered this upgrade?

thanks
x

 

[2Tiggies]

is it only people who booked through Disney UK that are being offered this upgrade?

thanks
x

It sounds like it. But then that could be because those are the only reports we have had of upgrades. The posts and threads on this topic have made reference to Disney UK sending out letters and emails. I don't know if it is just a random computer pick that selects who is offered the upgrade. I booked through them and haven't had a letter/email.

 

[wayneg]

this supposedly complimentary upgrade from WDW would, in fact, be offering us a holiday of lesser value than that for which we've paid!

You are comparing on Disney.co.uk prices though, where PO is full price and OKW/SSR is dicounted to around half price. The full rack rate for PO is $149/night, studio at OKW/SSR $295/night so it is an upgrade. The 1 bed is a fantastic upgrade.

is it only people who booked through Disney UK that are being offered this upgrade?

thanks
x

No, Virgin guests are being contacted also, not sure who else.

 

[crabbie1]

Blood boiling now. For us to get a one bedroom it will cost £210 more. Good for all who have been offered the upgrade not so good for all who are already there and getting nowt. Very frustrating. looked at CO tonight and there 1 bedroom with 14day pass and DDP is cheaper than disney direct. sorry for the moan. still waiting for WDW email.

 

[wayneg]

Even if you don't get offered an upgrade now there is always a chance at check in. A few posted last year they were upgraded when they arrived.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Even if you don't get offered an upgrade now there is always a chance at check in. A few posted last year they were upgraded when they arrived.

There certainly is, we were upgraded from a studio to a 1 bed last year at SSR, that was mid September.

 

[crabbie1]

Hey guys happy with studio as I booked that but I did put a thread on about upgrading I think last week and now just a bit miffed that even after hearing this disney still want to charge me to upgrade to a one bedroom when others will be getting thid for free

 

[Nubbedy]

Just for the record, if I were to be offered an upgrade to one of those two resorts I would decline as I specifically wanted POFQ for this trip, so one less room to be fought over.

Two less rooms - I love POFQ and would not want the upgrade.

Thats one upgrade I would turn down None of us like the Contemporary, now if they offered me, Poly, AKL or Wilderness Lodge I might be tempted to accept

Yep, I'm with you Wayne, that I would consider! Again, I'm going in August so I don't think it's gonna be an issue for us.

 

[tinks_1989]

This is on the back of the letter.



*‘Complimentary Upgrade’ offer is available for all bookings made on or before 23 June 2010 at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, arrival between 3 September and 2 October 2010 inclusive. Disney Park Tickets and a Dining Plan for each member of the party must have been included in the original booking to be eligible for the Complimentary Upgrade. Guests who are eligible will be offered an upgrade to a Studio or 1 Bedroom accommodation located at either Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort or Disney’s Old Key West Resort for the same arrival dates as the original booking. Notification will be sent via e-mail or post by 1 July and guests will need to confirm their Resort choice by 14 July 2010 to wdtc@disney.com Responses received after this date will not be eligible for the Complimentary Upgrade. Walt Disney Travel Company UK will respond within 5 working days to confirm the upgrade has been processed.

The upgrade is only applicable to the accommodation portion of the booking and Guests will be upgraded in their current package. If a Quick Service Dining Plan is included in the original booking this will be transferred to the upgraded reservation. If a Disney Dining Plan is included in the original booking this will be transferred to the upgraded reservation. Guests may choose to upgrade their Dining Plan at the usual cost, please refer to the website for latest prices.

Any amendments made to the reservation once the upgrade has been processed will be calculated against the original booking value, therefore, additional charges may apply. If the arrival date is amended to a date outside of the upgrade period the offer becomes invalid and the upgrade supplement will be chargeable. Standard amendment fees apply.

The ‘Complimentary Upgrade’ offer is not valid for new bookings and not valid on flight inclusive bookings. Standard terms and conditions apply.

Personally this annoys me I don't earn alot of money people cant belive I get out of bed for the money I earn but I work and Save save save for my WDW holiday and we decided we would pay more as it is special occasion now knowing that people who paid less will get the same I have saved hard for

Rant over had a really bad think Im just stressed

 

[tinks_1989]

Blood boiling now. For us to get a one bedroom it will cost £210 more. Good for all who have been offered the upgrade not so good for all who are already there and getting nowt. Very frustrating. looked at CO tonight and there 1 bedroom with 14day pass and DDP is cheaper than disney direct. sorry for the moan. still waiting for WDW email.

 

[wayneg]

Hey guys happy with studio as I booked that but I did put a thread on about upgrading I think last week and now just a bit miffed that even after hearing this disney still want to charge me to upgrade to a one bedroom when others will be getting thid for free

Thats how upgrades work though. Anyone wanting it has to pay, those happy with what they have sometimes get the upgrade as a bonus. I have had AKL and cruise upgrade, you might be lucky at checkin and get a 1 or 2 bed villa. Not a fair system especially in this situation where you have booked a studio but its how they work.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Personally this annoys me I don't earn alot of money people cant belive I get out of bed for the money I earn but I work and Save save save for my WDW holiday and we decided we would pay more as it is special occasion now knowing that people who paid less will get the same I have saved hard for

Rant over had a really bad think Im just stressed

I totally understand where you are coming from. My fiancee and myself save so hard for our holiday and now we have to make the decision to either book a studio at OKW and hope for a upgrade or really push the budget and book the 1 bed villa only to be gutted to hear about others getting upgraded for free.

I'm afraid not much things in life are fair.

 

[Chilly]

Thats how upgrades work though. Anyone wanting it has to pay, those happy with what they have sometimes get the upgrade as a bonus.

Exactly my thoughts.

I guess I won't be getting a letter as I didn't buy tickets with my hotel booking.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Hey guys happy with studio as I booked that but I did put a thread on about upgrading I think last week and now just a bit miffed that even after hearing this disney still want to charge me to upgrade to a one bedroom when others will be getting thid for free

It's just mho, but that's a wasted emotion and a tad bit naive. Disney isn't in the business for being handing out free stuff. They're a business that is geared towards making money, plane and simple. They've seen a high demand for the mods during the free dining. Such a high demand, they need to make more space to be able to make more sales. Upgrading folks already booked to another resort makes total sense to do that. Folks will not move unless they're given a big enough incentive, after all most will have booked a resort for a reason and not because they don't care where they'll be staying.

Upgrading those already booked at SSR and OKW, obviously resorts with availability to spare, does not make ANY economical sense to Disney. And thus they are not offering this upgrade to those guests. Just like guests booked at CSR apparently aren't getting the offer.

While Disney has lots of pixie dust surrounding it, in the end they are a business and will make offers based upon economics. This time some folks booked at POR, POFQ and CBR can benefit from that. In september folks can benefit from free dining. Guests from the EU can benefit from a very steep 42% off of SSR and OKW including free dining at various times and the offers go on and on. Pure economics.