Asking for upgrade when renting DVC points?

[judeis]

Is it OK/acceptable to ask for a room upgrade (which I have always been told to do no matter what- you never know) when staying on rented DVC points? Thanks for the great info everyone!

 

[DMKEDM]

As you say, you can always ask...but I've never heard of a points-based upgrade unless there was a maintenance issue/problem...

Points-based stays just don't get upgrades--ever. Or so "the story" goes, and certainly in my four years of DVC ownership (and about 15 trips in that time frame)...

Don't think it makes any difference whether they're your own points or rented points.

But go ahead and ask. The worst thing that can happen is they'll tell you "no."

Happy vacation.

 

[TLSnell1981]

There are no free upgrades when staying on points.

 

[judeis]

You guys are great! Thanks for the quick response and info- thought that might be the answer- just didn't want to do a Disney "faux pas"

 

[n2mm]

DVC upgrades just don't happen. The only time you'll get upgraded staying DVC would be if there is something wrong with your room and there's no place to put you. I would say your chance of an upgrade would be less than 1%. Post back and let us know how it went. We've been members for 5 years and have stayed at the villas 25 times over the last 5 years and we've never been upgraded. If you really want some opinions, post this on the DVC board.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I definitely wouldn't ask if I'm staying on rented points. You may get the upgrade, but DVC would deduct the additional points from the member's account.

 

[vicki_c]

I definitely wouldn't ask if I wasn't staying on my own points. You may get the upgrade, but DVC would deduct the additional points from the member's account.

Despite the "there are no DVC upgrades" thing (which is true) - I would never ever ask for one when staying on rented points. Just imagine if for some crazy reason they gave it to you and took another xx points out of the member's account. That would be just the most awful thing I could imagine for the member. You could use points they had planned for some special vacation or something -- even if you paid them back in cash, it might be something that would really mess them up. So on behalf of any DVC owner renting points (and I never have rented mine), PLEASE don't ask.

 

[Rhode Island Quahog]

Despite the "there are no DVC upgrades" thing (which is true) - I would never ever ask for one when staying on rented points. Just imagine if for some crazy reason they gave it to you and took another xx points out of the member's account. That would be just the most awful thing I could imagine for the member. You could use points they had planned for some special vacation or something -- even if you paid them back in cash, it might be something that would really mess them up. So on behalf of any DVC owner renting points (and I never have rented mine), PLEASE don't ask.

I agree completely and couldn't have put it better myself. Thank you!

 

[disneymath]

Are upgrades for cash guests at DVC Resorts as common as at regular resorts? (I know that even at the regular resorts it's all in the pixie dust and that only a small percentage of people get upgraded.)

We're staying in a Studio and a 2Bdrm (both Lake View) at BLT - and while I'm sure we will be quite happy with them (and would have reserved standard view had they been available), we definitely would not turn down complementary MK views ... or, the ultimate upgrade, the option to combine into a Grand Villa.

(Yeah, ok, pipe dream ... I know the GV one is never gonna happen.)

OP ... sorry to veer slightly off topic.

 

[jwfla422]

For sure, yes, we have been upgraded more times staying at a DVC resort than any other resort on property (as cash guests of course). We've stayed at SSR probably 7 or 8 times and booked a studio EVERYTIME and only once did we actually get a studio. I am always prepared to get what we booked and never expect to get upgraded but we do, a lot.

Last year we booked a studio at the BCV and ended up getting upgraded to a 2 bedroom villa. Now, that was quite a surprise. I really would have been happy with a studio at the BCV as it was our first time staying there. We booked BCV again for the end of next month and will still be happy with a studio. Its a beautiful resort with awesome amenities in a great location!

Now BLT, not sure about that one, since it is the newest DVC and pretty high in demand I'm sure it's pretty full all of the time but you never know because when DVCers stay on points they have to have that room level available and if you booked a studio and there aren't anymore available, as a cash guest you could end up with an upgraded room. (A GV is probably unlikely because they really go far in advance-but at WDW, never say never. Just go expecting the room you booked and if you get upgraded well, thank Tinkerbell!

Are upgrades for cash guests at DVC Resorts as common as at regular resorts? (I know that even at the regular resorts it's all in the pixie dust and that only a small percentage of people get upgraded.)

We're staying in a Studio and a 2Bdrm (both Lake View) at BLT - and while I'm sure we will be quite happy with them (and would have reserved standard view had they been available), we definitely would not turn down complementary MK views ... or, the ultimate upgrade, the option to combine into a Grand Villa.

(Yeah, ok, pipe dream ... I know the GV one is never gonna happen.)

OP ... sorry to veer slightly off topic.

 

[n2mm]

For sure, yes, we have been upgraded more times staying at a DVC resort than any other resort on property (as cash guests of course). We've stayed at SSR probably 7 or 8 times and booked a studio EVERYTIME and only once did we actually get a studio. I am always prepared to get what we booked and never expect to get upgraded but we do, a lot.

Last year we booked a studio at the BCV and ended up getting upgraded to a 2 bedroom villa. Now, that was quite a surprise. I really would have been happy with a studio at the BCV as it was our first time staying there. We booked BCV again for the end of next month and will still be happy with a studio. Its a beautiful resort with awesome amenities in a great location!

Now BLT, not sure about that one, since it is the newest DVC and pretty high in demand I'm sure it's pretty full all of the time but you never know because when DVCers stay on points they have to have that room level available and if you booked a studio and there aren't anymore available, as a cash guest you could end up with an upgraded room. (A GV is probably unlikely because they really go far in advance-but at WDW, never say never. Just go expecting the room you booked and if you get upgraded well, thank Tinkerbell!

Well getting upgraded paying CASH is an entirely different animal. Paying CASH means you booked through Disney. When I'm not staying on points and paying cash I've been upgraded 90% of the time when staying at a Delux resorts and even a few times at a moderate. Heck I booked Pop and was upgraded to CSR one year. Staying on POINTs, not going to happen, and as others have mentioned, if you ask for an upgrade on POINTS beware that they may give it to you, but not free, and then the owner finds a ton of points missing. Us DVC membes have read of this happening to one of our fellow DVC members a few years ago -- granted it was a family member of the DVC member, but it still infuriated us that a non-member was given access to our pool of points without our permission -- BTW, I won't rent either, not even to my family.

 

[csaribay]

Are upgrades for cash guests at DVC Resorts as common as at regular resorts? (I know that even at the regular resorts it's all in the pixie dust and that only a small percentage of people get upgraded.)

With Walt Disney Travel Company and Room Only reservations it's possible, but not likely. Free room upgrades, particularly at BLT, are a dime a dozen. They happen, but chances are extremely low (the building has high occupancy all times of the year, and as with most DVC properties, the availability of rooms reflects actual room availability and in that, Disney does not sell a lower category (that is theoretically not available) to fill the rest of the resort (upgrading certain reservations from the lower, oversold category to the higher undersold category).

With member points or member cash reservations, forget it. Unless a pipe explodes and destroys the last unit of its type in the resort, and you were the one to occupy that room, upgrades for point reservations are contractually disavowed. 95% odds that you will actually be told by the Cast Member you ask that upgrades are not available for member reservations.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Well getting upgraded paying CASH is an entirely different animal. Paying CASH means you booked through Disney. ....

Not necessarily. You can also book DVC villas for cash through Member Services. We did book an additional night in a studio for cash through MS before our week in a one bedroom on points. When we arrived they had upgraded our one cash night in a studio to a one bedroom and we did not have to check out and check in again the next day.

Occasionally, guests staying for shorter cash stays might be upgraded to a larger villa. I doubt you would be upgraded to a GV, though.

 

[disneymath]

For sure, yes, we have been upgraded more times staying at a DVC resort than any other resort on property (as cash guests of course).
<snip>
(A GV is probably unlikely because they really go far in advance-but at WDW, never say never. Just go expecting the room you booked and if you get upgraded well, thank Tinkerbell!

Well getting upgraded paying CASH is an entirely different animal.

With Walt Disney Travel Company and Room Only reservations it's possible, but not likely. Free room upgrades, particularly at BLT, are a dime a dozen. They happen, but chances are extremely low <snip>

Not necessarily. You can also book DVC villas for cash through Member Services. We did book an additional night in a studio for cash through MS before our week in a one bedroom on points. When we arrived they had upgraded our one cash night in a studio to a one bedroom and we did not have to check out and check in again the next day.

Occasionally, guests staying for shorter cash stays might be upgraded to a larger villa. I doubt you would be upgraded to a GV, though.

Thanks for your replies everyone. We're excited to be staying at BLT (and are actually using this trip as a test to see if we like BLT enough to become DVC memebers). On the one hand, it's nice to know that pixie dust upgrades are possible for CASH stays at BLT. On the other hand, since we're seriously considering DVC, I should probably set my pixie dust upgrade daydreams aside.

 

[n2mm]

Not necessarily. You can also book DVC villas for cash through Member Services. We did book an additional night in a studio for cash through MS before our week in a one bedroom on points. When we arrived they had upgraded our one cash night in a studio to a one bedroom and we did not have to check out and check in again the next day.

Occasionally, guests staying for shorter cash stays might be upgraded to a larger villa. I doubt you would be upgraded to a GV, though.

The last time I checked members services were part of Disney....

I guess I should've said you are giving Disney cash (whether it's CRO or MS) and not meaning you are giving a stranger cash to rent their points.

 

[csaribay]

The last time I checked members services were part of Disney....

I guess I should've said you are giving Disney cash (whether it's CRO or MS) and not meaning you are giving a stranger cash to rent their points.

Member Services is part of Disney Vacation Club, and is physically a different entity from the Disney Reservations Center.

There is a designation between Member Cash reservations (that are booked at a member significant discount compared to rack rates, book into member declared inventory (by member services) and are treated like point reservations for housekeeping and other benefit reasons) and Cash reservations booked through the Disney Reservations Center or a travel professional, which are treated like hotel reservations.

Not necessarily. You can also book DVC villas for cash through Member Services. We did book an additional night in a studio for cash through MS before our week in a one bedroom on points. When we arrived they had upgraded our one cash night in a studio to a one bedroom and we did not have to check out and check in again the next day

Probably because your resort was oversold, and there were no other possible reservations (cash, booked as hotel reservations) to upgrade. Resorts avoid upgrading members unless operationally necessary - they will always look for non-member reservations first.

 

[aubriee]

As you say, you can always ask...but I've never heard of a points-based upgrade unless there was a maintenance issue/problem...

Points-based stays just don't get upgrades--ever. Or so "the story" goes, and certainly in my four years of DVC ownership (and about 15 trips in that time frame)...

Don't think it makes any difference whether they're your own points or rented points.

Happy vacation.

Not necessarily true! I rented points for a standard view studio at BW from a fellow DISer here in the DIS a few years ago. She asked me if I wanted to make a particular room request and so I had her request a top floor close to the elevator. That was our only request. When I checked in, I very politely asked if our room request had been met. The very nice CM told me no, but let him see what he could do. In a few minutes, he told me he had a perfect room for me that I'd love and I'd just received some pixie dust. The room wasn't ready yet, but later that night when I got back I was shocked to find that I had been upgraded to a Boardwalk view. The room overlooked that courtyard area behind the bike rental place/boat docks and was just above the art gallery, but definitely was a nice boardwalk view. It had the queen size bed, sofa couch, plus a day bed. I was also only two rooms down from the elevator and on the top floor. When I got back, I PM'd the lady who rented me the points and she agreed I had received a great upgrade. She was not charged any points either. I just ran into a very nice CM. I didn't ask for an upgrade just wanted to know if my room request for top floor and close to elevator might have been met.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Not necessarily true! I rented points for a standard view studio at BW from a fellow DISer here in the DIS a few years ago. She asked me if I wanted to make a particular room request and so I had her request a top floor close to the elevator. That was our only request. When I checked in, I very politely asked if our room request had been met. The very nice CM told me no, but let him see what he could do. In a few minutes, he told me he had a perfect room for me that I'd love and I'd just received some pixie dust. The room wasn't ready yet, but later that night when I got back I was shocked to find that I had been upgraded to a Boardwalk view. The room overlooked that courtyard area behind the bike rental place/boat docks and was just above the art gallery, but definitely was a nice boardwalk view. It had the queen size bed, sofa couch, plus a day bed. I was also only two rooms down from the elevator and on the top floor. When I got back, I PM'd the lady who rented me the points and she agreed I had received a great upgrade. She was not charged any points either. I just ran into a very nice CM. I didn't ask for an upgrade just wanted to know if my room request for top floor and close to elevator might have been met.

But you risk using the owners' points without their permission. It has happened in the past.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Just to clarify, the rooms on the Green above Wyland Galleries , are NOT catagorized as BW View rooms.

 

[kmrobins03]

Bumping this post to say that the contract on Davids Point Rental indicates "no upgrades"