Anyone Else "Walked" or "Upgraded" Recently?

[robinb]

I was really looking forward to staying at PO-R last week. I have only 4 resorts left to stay at: All Star Movies, PO-Riverside, the Yacht Club and the Grand Floridian.

We tried to check into PO-R last Wednesday at about 4:00 pm and we were offered an upgrade to SSR. I had just stayed there in a 1-bedroom the week before on my DVC points so when I stopped laughing I asked if it was for a studio or 1-bedroom. The CM checked in back and told me it was a studio. Hmmmm .... I explained that and I really wanted to check PO-R off my list. So, I rejected the studio but said the the YC or the GF would be a-okay with me. He came back with an offer for a 1-bedroom and I accepted in defeat. They really had no rooms at PO-R and we were happy as clams in a 1-bedroom villa over at SSR. I was especially happy because my DH had a cold and I was able to sleep on the fold-out while he snored away in the master bed. The only downside is that I still need to stay at PO-R.

So, was anyone else "walked" last week?

 

[RMulieri]

A couple of people here said they were upgraded from por to ssr.

 

[Anonomom]

If you're offered an upgrade like that, does it really mean there's no room for you at your original hotel? I've read at least two posts now about people who booked POR and got put in SSR instead.

We're checking into POR on Sunday, and I'd be really disappointed not to stay there. We picked that resort for a reason, and there's nothing about SSR that seems particularly appealing to me (plus, I"m pretty sure I just read that the main pool slide at SSR will be closed for refurbishment while we're there). Not to be a brat, but I'd rather stick with a smaller room in a resort I want that be in a large room somewhere else. Would I have any recourse if I was "upgraded?"

 

[robinb]

Anonomom, they *might* have had a couple rooms left at POR, but I really think that they were far and few between. You can try to be a "brat" and try to insist on your room at POR (like I did) but if they really want to move you they will. If they ask you can express how important a pool slide is to you and ask for a different resort option. FWIW, my DD loved the Grandstand Pool and it didn't have a slide at all. We didn't even use the main pool on our second visit.

I talked to some people in the parks who were at POR and they said it was packed. I was kinda glad that SSR was comfortable and not crowded at all.

 

[disneyfan55]

I wonder why they overbook like that. I thought maybe they had some sections closed for renovation but by what some have said about crowding, I doubt that is the case. It almost sounds like SSR doesn't get booked that much since that's were many posters have said they were upgraded to. Also, the current bounceback has discounted rooms, that you can't seem to get a price for, at SSR and OKW.

 

[robinb]

Disney, like most hotels, overbooks to fill their hotels. They know that a certain percentage of guests will cancel and sometimes not enough of them do and then some guests are "walked" to another resort.

 

[RMulieri]

the only thing I have to say..is it better not happen to me.I am at the BCv this trip, and specifically picked this dvc with a 1bdr villa ( I am not yet an owner)I keep having a recurring nightmare that i arrive and they try to move me to AKL( not that its a bad resort just not what I wanted) They would seriously have to come up with something stellar to get me to switch.

 

[Shugardrawers]

We had tentatively cancelled our trip for next week at POFQ because after booking a year in advance during last year's bounceback promo, they could no longer provide us with a king bed room. My Dh is well over 6 and 1/2 feet tall and NEEDS the scant extra inches a king bed provides. He also is ADAMANT we stay at POFQ since we honeymooned in New Orleans and it's an anniversary trip. I'd been calling and faxing for literally months to guarantee that king room and no one could do it even though I was told we had one originally. They kept saying there were no king bed rooms available ON THE BOUNCEBACK PLAN for our week. They were all but pleading with us to move to POR or CSR.

When I did finally call to cancel because Dh was pouting and we'd decided on an alternate destination everything changed. The CM on the phone seriously busted butt and somehow found that king room, available for our dates GUARANTEED at POFQ (perhaps because we're booked Deluxe DDP and I was about to yank a paid in full trip out from under them during a high cancellation week??? It was the week balances were due for our time frame ). Regardless, if you're reading Savannah, YOU'RE A GODESS!!!!!!!!


Anyway, sorry to veer off like that. I hear of this "upgrade" every year. It seems many people are not so pleased with it. Why not? Adamant or no, I'd have jumped on it if offerred. Is it not necessarily a good thing?

 

[Vickie46]

we were moved from POR to Contemporary..

 

[Anonomom]

Anyway, sorry to veer off like that. I hear of this "upgrade" every year. It seems many people are not so pleased with it. Why not? Adamant or no, I'd have jumped on it if offerred. Is it not necessarily a good thing?

I can tell you the reasons I wouldn't be pleased, with two disclaimers:

1. I haven't visited Disney as an adult yet, so what I think I want may not be all that important once we're there, and
2. Everything I know came either from here, allearsnet or the UG, so to the extent that what I know is wrong, I blame someone else.

Anyway, reasons why an "upgrade" to SSR would not be good news for me:

1. From what I've seen, food court choices there are extremely limited in comparison to the choices at POR and POFQ (and I can't even find a food court dinner menu at all for SSR). Considering that we plan on eating at the food court at least a few times during our stay, that's a big deal;
2. The main pool slide will be under refurbishment during our stay, and I've literally been looking forward to the POR/POFQ pools for months;
3. DD, 2.5 is too big for a portable crib, but too small for me to feel comfortable putting her in a movable cot. In two connecting rooms in POR (assuming, of course, that they can honor our request for them), we can put DD to bed on one of the doubles with bed rails, then go hang out in the connecting room with my in-laws. In a studio or a one bedroom, we can't do that. Either we get to sleep on a sofa bed while DD sleeps in the bedroom (uh, no. Not going to happen) so that we can use the living area after her bedtime, or we give up the functionality of the living area so DD can sleep on the sofa bed, and there's no chance of connecting rooms.
4. This trip is pretty much a 1-shot deal for us, and I just really want to stay at POR. I just think the theming is beautiful and lush and I can't wait to see it. SSR looks much more like any other hotel I've ever seen, at least from the photos on allearsnet. Simply not as interesting.

That all said, if they, say, offered us an upgrade to the Yacht Club or pretty much any other deluxe resorts, I'd be turning cartwheels in the lobby. It's just the idea of going to a fairly remote DVC property that has me apprehensive. YMMV, and I already know that some of my objections are bratty or unreasonable.

 

[robinb]

1. The food court at SSR is called Artist Palette and it is pretty good. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=462
2. Your child will not be interested in the pool slide as she's too little and the slides are not all that interesting to adults. The splash areas at SSR, OTOH, are perfect for toddlers are is the zero-depth entry pool.
3. You are the second person I have read who is renting a room for their young child. I just don't "get it". Your child will be so exhausted from being at WDW that she will completely zonk out and you will have nothing to worry about by talking and visiting in the same room. A 1-bedroom would be perfect for you and since you have booked 2 rooms, you would be eligible for a 2 BR. If you are "walked" to a 2BR you will be totally spoiled.
4. A "one-shot" with a 2 1/2 year old? You will come back here and be planning your next trip as soon as you get back. Mark my words, you will WDW and that second room will be history, LOL.

FWIW, since you are with your in-laws too and you have multiple rooms I don't think you have anything to worry about. I would be totally surprised if you are moved. Don't worry about things ... you'll have a GREAT time!

 

[wdwfan1]

Since you havent stayed at POR yet, you just have to take another vacation. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!!!!

Congrats on the upgrade.

 

[Anonomom]

3. You are the second person I have read who is renting a room for their young child. I just don't "get it". Your child will be so exhausted from being at WDW that she will completely zonk out and you will have nothing to worry about by talking and visiting in the same room. A 1-bedroom would be perfect for you and since you have booked 2 rooms, you would be eligible for a 2 BR. If you are "walked" to a 2BR you will be totally spoiled.

Just to clarify, we're not renting a second room for my daughter. My in-laws have decided to come this trip, and they'll have their own (connecting, if we're lucky) room. If they weren't along, Me, DH and DD would be in one room and probably hoping for the same upgrade I'm disdaining here.