Disney Onsite Upgrade - Pay or chance it?!

[OrlandoMagic]

Hi guys,

My GF and I are thinking of booking onsite (either SSR/OKW) next year at the end of September through Disney UK, the same as we did last year.

Last time we booked a studio at SSR for a week and when we turned up to check in we were offered a free upgrade to a one bed villa! We fell in love with it, it was so nice!

Now what are the chances of us getting an upgrade again? Were we just really lucky or does this happen a lot at that time of the year? We want to go for two weeks this time, will this lower our chances?

It will cost about £500 extra if we pay to upgrade but if theres a good chance of a free upgrade I would prefer to spend the money else where, but if we didn't get a free upgrade we would be totally gutted after already staying in a one bed villa!

What are your thoughts? Have any of you had experiences with free upgrades you can share?

Thanks!

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Hi guys,

My GF and I are thinking of booking onsite (either SSR/OKW) next year at the end of September through Disney UK, the same as we did last year.

Last time we booked a studio at SSR for a week and when we turned up to check in we were offered a free upgrade to a one bed villa! We fell in love with it, it was so nice!

Now what are the chances of us getting an upgrade again? Were we just really lucky or does this happen a lot at that time of the year? We want to go for two weeks this time, will this lower our chances?

It will cost about £500 extra if we pay to upgrade but if theres a good chance of a free upgrade I would prefer to spend the money else where, but if we didn't get a free upgrade we would be totally gutted after already staying in a one bed villa!

What are your thoughts? Have any of you had experiences with free upgrades you can share?

Thanks!

Upgrades can happen but are pretty rare. Consider yourself lucky to have had that pixie dust bestowed upon you on your last trip. But don't count on it happening again. If you really, really want to stay in a 1-bedroom, then book a 1-bedroom.

 

[Disney_Sarah]

Wow thats was lucky.
If you really really want the 1 bed...booking it is your safer option
x

 

[torsie24]

Here's how I see it, and I'll share my recent upgrade vs. pay decision with you aswell.

Would you rather stay in a studio and have £500 extra? Or stay in a 1 bedroom and not?

I know you want the 1 bed and £500, but would you be in your studio wishing it was a 1 bed the whole time?

On our last trip the price difference from Standard View to Savannah View was mroe than I was willing to part with. So we booked standard and I daydreamed every day of checking in and getting the upgrade.

Luckily we did, and we loved it.

This time we've booked again, and we just knew if we didn't get the view we'd be disappointed, so we've booked Sav View. Which has given me the added benefit of being able to request a specific area of the resort (which I couldn't have done if it was a free upgrade.)

I know it's not an answer, but it really is a case of what you'd rather part with, the definite chance of a one bedroom, or the extra money.

 

[iluvtot]

We've never been given an upgrade, and we've stayed at different times of the year, (end of Sept included), so think you were really lucky!
Couldn't you put that £500 aside, and if you weren't offered the upgrade, then offer to pay? (or would it be more than £500 to upgrade at the desk?)
We always had 2 adjoining studios as DSIL came with us, but last year she couldn't so we went for the 2 bed. No going back I fear!!!!

Jules x

 

[wayneg]

Stayed onsite 3 times, booked std rooms.
Allstars Movies no upgrade
AKL upgrade to Savanah room
OKW no upgrade

Probably hear about more upgrades at AKL than any other as they only have limited basic rooms, rarely hear about them elsewhere.
If I wanted upgrade and it would spoil my holiday without it I would either prepay or pay on arrival(if available) after having savanah room at AKL I know I would not return in a std room, I would rather stay elsewhere but at OKW more than happy in a studio so would not pay for upgrade.

 

[mcarthur205]

I would definitely pay for the one bedroom if I knew I'd be unhappy in the studio. FWIW, I've stayed in a studio and a one bedroom and the extra space is definitely worth paying for. In fact, we booked a two bedroom villa this September because I like plenty of space and I want my kids to each have their own bed. No way would I leave this to chance.

Also, the washer and dryer in the one and two bedroom villas is a godsend. No trekking to the laundry like you have to do in a studio.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

I really didn't know that it's rare to get an upgrade, we just thought because it was September and quiet so there was lots of villas free.

If we ask to buy an upgrade at the desk and one is available is it likely to be cheaper?

 

[torsie24]

If we ask to buy an upgrade at the desk and one is available is it likely to be cheaper?

No way of knowing, would hopefully not be higher. But there is the small chance if one's empty they just let you have it, or do it at a special rate, if it's empty then they may as well fill it.

 

[Kaz65]

Just checking Disney Uk site. Is the price of £2,331 (for 1 week in May next year) for a 1 bed room at OKW correct? Seems to me a heck of a lot of money but if you guys on here all think it is worth it it must be something great. I suppose for 4 adults its not as painful but for 2 adults and a small kid thats way out of our league

 

[torsie24]

Just checking Disney Uk site. Is the price of £2,331 (for 1 week in May next year) for a 1 bed room at OKW correct? Seems to me a heck of a lot of money but if you guys on here all think it is worth it it must be something great. I suppose for 4 adults its not as painful but for 2 adults and a small kid thats way out of our league

Wow, is that true for a week?

If that's the case then I'd say go for a Deluxe hotel instead!

Have you looked what else you can get for the extra £500?

 

[torsie24]

Just checked for a week at the end of Sept, and AKL, WL and the Contemporary are all cheaper than OKW and SSR!!

You have looked at what those 3 resorts are like, right?

ETA: AND - for the extra you pay to make it a 1 bed you could pay less and stay at BC/YC/BW, Poly and even the Floridian.

 

[mitchfishguard]

i paid for a king-sized bed here in the uk, and "requested" it to be a river-view. we were given that river view but only because i, A. already paid for one upgrade and, B. it was our third stay at disney, so the fact that the massive increase in birthdays and anniversaries at disney does not give the free upgrades so readily any more. i know because i asked. if you hope for a free upgrade and dont get it, how would you feel? i now prefer the airline maxim, "if you want something for nothing, pray that no-one else does, or flash your credit card"

 

[wayneg]

Remember Disney have not discounted OKW/SSR yet. Complete Orlando already have
A week at OKW/SSR in a studio is £756, a 1 bed villa is £1,022. Only £266 more.
Disney are asking double this at £1,526 & £2,072. No way are they worth that IMO.

 

[OrlandoMagic]

Remember Disney have not discounted OKW/SSR yet. Complete Orlando already have
A week at OKW/SSR in a studio is £756, a 1 bed villa is £1,022. Only £266 more.
Disney are asking double this at £1,526 & £2,072. No way are they worth that IMO.

Yeah we are waiting for the discount offer and free ddp from disney before we book. I would never think about paying full price!


I'm starting to think the way forward would be to pay for the studio, save the extra and then buy an upgrade if I can't get a free one. Oh decisions decisions!

 

[mikki.young]

Thought I would just mention that if you go for OKW the difference between the one bed and the studio is far more than anywhere else - the One beds are massive and wonderful (and the whole resort is being done up between now and next spring!)

 

[Elise79]

Just remember if you book the Studio at the discounted rate the amount you pay at check in the may well more than £500 if they charge you the difference between the rack rate of the 2 rooms which in September is $105 a night!

If you really want the studio pay the £500 when booking.

It is rare they upgrade for free and the longer you are the staying the less likely it is. They do it to juggle the inventory.

 

[disneyholic family]

Yeah we are waiting for the discount offer and free ddp from disney before we book. I would never think about paying full price!


I'm starting to think the way forward would be to pay for the studio, save the extra and then buy an upgrade if I can't get a free one. Oh decisions decisions!

but if you buy the upgrade, won't they charge you the regular rate, not the UK discounted rate?

that discounted rate is only available to UK and European Union guests...
i find it hard to believe they'll let you pay that discounted rate if you buy an upgrade once you're onsite...

if you really want it, you should go ahead and book it..

and you're right, there is a major difference between a studio and a 1 bedroom....no comparison really...

if you end up in a studio, you'll be very unhappy if what you really wanted was the 1 bedroom...

 

[wayneg]

but if you buy the upgrade, won't they charge you the regular rate, not the UK discounted rate?

Don't think its possible to know but I would guess nearer the rack rate difference rather than discounted.
As I quoted earlier the cost for discounted upgrade is £266, although I would not pay it as we are more then happy in a studio I think £266 is a fair price to pay upfront if it would affect my holiday without a free upgrade.