do "free upgrades" ever happen?

[KyleAfterAWhile]

do "free upgrades" ever happen for dvc members? i was under the impression this never happens because the rooms are available and allocated based completely on point value and inventory.

but, the reason i ask is there is somebody at work, trying to pull my leg i think, who is telling me that every time they stay on points they only book a studio standard view and they always get either an upgraded view or moved to a 1 bdrm. i asked him which resorts and he said animal kingdom, bay lake and saratoga are where he always stays. he said it happened once at boardwalk. he said it has happened every time but one.

i tend to think he is making up stories, but i wanted to ask here as many of you have been members much longer than we have.

 

[The Jackal]

It does happen. We were upgraded in late September at VGF from a 2 bedroom standard view to a 2 bedroom lake view. It was our 5th or 6th trip using DVC points. I don’t think it happens every time, but it can happen.

 

[Geomom]

Generally it happens if they needed to pull a room out for service, and it's more likely when it's a category with fewer rooms (and an evening arrival). We've had it happen 1x in our 10 yrs. We booked a boardwalk view studio and got a 1 bedroom since there were no studios available when we arrived.

 

[drusba]

It generally happens only when they cannot give you the room category you have, e.g., a room is taken out of service leaving none left in your category, they overbooked (sometimes a result of a group of rooms being taken out for refurb after reservations have been made). If you actually check-in and ask for an upgrade and get it, you will usually find shortly thereafter that the extra points needed for that new room have been charged to your account.

 

[lovin'fl]

Been DVC since 2006. Started off going 1 time a year, then twice and recently like 4 times or more (WDW and HHI). So have 25+ stays (and we've booked rooms for family several times too) and NEVER have we been upgraded. Ever. Nor have we gotten any nice little gift basket in our room which I have read some DVC folks have. SIL also is DVC member since 2007 and she too has never been upgraded. So, while it might happen once in a blue moon there is absolutely NO WAY it happens every trip like your coworker says. Maybe his wife spends the points for these better rooms and doesn't tell her DH but fibs and says they were upgraded. I know my cheapo DH insists I go for cheapest room when booking.

Oh, and SIL owns SSR and BLT and stays there almost 100%. I own BWV, HHI and CCV and stay BWV and HHI about 85% of the time. I even took my mom to HHI for her 70th birthday (told MS that when booking) and requested to get in the main building with elevators (which is all 2BR lock off they use to book 1BR and studio stays but I asked if we could get a lock off over there because my mom was a month away from having double knee replacement and could not do stairs easily). We were not granted that request but instead put in building near the main building. Where she had to walk up stairs. And I recently heard they have an HA 2BR in that main building and I would have made that request and even gotten a DR note if I was told (I emailed MS and called front desk, both). All I was told is that we could not be in main building and we could request 1st floor for less stairs possible BUT they couldn't even guarantee that request (we did get 1st floor).

Also had similar with MIL and FIL at OKW. They were 70 and had trouble with stairs. I requested 1st floor but they were give 2nd floor.

My recent BWV stay...1BR standard view last month. I requested NOT near the front portico and got 2nd room off the front portico. Then we were supposed to move to SSR for the last 2 nights but found BWV P/G view open up the day before so I switched and went to desk to ask if we could stay in the standard room and give upgrade to someone to our P/G room. We didn't want to pack up and drop our stuff at bell services if we didn't have to. BUT, nope. The desk gal actually told us...this is good...she actually told us that 'standard view rooms were MORE in demand'. Um, well, yes...when booking because it saves points but who would not LOVE booking standard view and then be gifted P/G view??? Especially giving up my next to front portico (NOISY) standard view. She even called to back office and that person reiterated 'standard view is more in demand'. So we had to pack up and drop at bell services.

 

[KyleAfterAWhile]

thanks everybody. i had a feeling he was full of poop.

i really dont think it is his wife not telling him how she used the points. i think it is him trying to sound special.

 

[gillep]

thanks everybody. i had a feeling he was full of poop.

i really dont think it is his wife not telling him how she used the points. i think it is him trying to sound special.

I wouldn't be surprised if they booked AKV standard and got a partial savanna view as there are quite a few of those and it happens often, but otherwise this story is very unlikely.

 

[skippytx]

Like others have said, it's rare but can happen, but only when they don't have the room you book available.

I'm in some of the DVC groups on FB, and once in a while you'll hear about someone getting a 1 or 2 bed instead of a studio, or better view.

He could also be misinterpreting the room. My first stay at BLT was in a 1bed standard view room, and our view of MK was so nice I thought for sure they messed up and put us in a TPV room instead. We were just in one of the better standard rooms they had, the next floor up was considered TPV I think, but not ours.

 

[boyt]

Years ago we had three studios booked at OKW. Approximately three weeks before our trip Disney called to see if we were interested with trading the three studios for the GV. We said yes. We had a wonderful trip. I would assume the demand for studios were strong and since we were one family with inventory they needed to fill reservation requests, and a GV was available, it worked well for everyone. A great upgrade moment.

 

[jerseyduke]

Disney basically sells 51 weeks worth of points for a 52 week year. Disney is also required to maintain a 2 percent ownership. This means there is a 96%+ occupancy rate at DVC.
Now of course this is reduced because of Breakage, and people going on cruises, etc, etc.
But this is one of the reasons Disney loves DVC. They wont get 96% occupancy at their hotels.

Basically, most of the time, they wont have a room to upgrade you to, even if they wanted to.

It can happen, but it is unlikely. If Disney had that room available you would probably see it in CRO inventory.

Your coworker has brown eyes for a reason.

 

[sachilles]

Length of stay is a factor. Shorter stays like one or two days are more likely to benefit from an upgrade. Week long stays, it's a bit more rare.

It's a lot easier to toss a guest into an upgrade for a day or two allowing the resort to fix whatever room might be out of service.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

Member since 2007. Almost all stays are in a studio and never had an upgrade.

 

[com_op_2000]

My upgrade experiences:
1. Once cause of over booking at VWL:
Booked a studio at VWL, when we tried to check-in, we had been upgraded to a WL 2 bedroom lake view suite. Called some family members to come and join us for an unexpected vacation.
2. Once cause of problem with check-in at AKL:
Booked a standard view studio at AKL-Jambo, checked-in, given a room key as the room was supposed to be ready, went to the room, and found suitcases and purse in the room along with the room not being made up. Went back to the front desk, they gave us an on-the-spot upgrade to a savanna view room in another part of the resort plus four free breakfasts.
3. DCL
Reserved an inside stateroom on DVC points but were upgraded to an ocean view room. We did not find out about the upgrade until we got to the room, what a surprise that was. When our luggage arrived it still had the old room number's tags on them.
4. AKL-Jambo
Booked a standard view room at 5 days out due to a last minute change in home plans. Given a Savanna View room.
5. AKL-Jambo
Got another upgrade in Aug ‘16. Reserved a standard studio, on Sunday before leaving the house checked status of points, made a reservation, etc; found that I had more points in my account than I should have and points in Holding that should not of been there. On the way from home to AKL, I called MS, asked for a status of my points, and they stated they saw the same thing on their system.
After being put on hold, MS came back with an explanation, stating that we had been upgraded from a standard to a full-savanna view room. The points in holding are there for the backroom process of the upgrade. Checked my points on Sunday evening and everything is correct. The room we were given was 5268 with no pen in the view except across the savanna.
6. DCL
Reserved a Wonder inside stateroom 11-C 2nd Deck on DVC points but we were upgraded to an 11-B 6th Deck room in Feb ‘19.

 

[4evryoung]

It is always worth being cautious on up-grade offers. A few years ago on a solo trip I was upgraded (without me asking for an up-grade) on a one night points stay at AKL Jambo from a Value Studio to a 1 bedroom. As I completed check-in the CM then asked did I want the "cost" of the up-grade charged to my credit card and quoted in excess of $500 for the privilege. When I pointed out that I had booked on points and had no desire to pay for an up-grade either in cash or points so would stick to my original booking thank you, they backed off and gave me the one bedroom. I made sure after the trip that I double-checked my points to make sure that the unwanted up-grade did not lead to more points being taken from my account.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We were given a pool view 1 bedroom at BWV when I had booked standard view.

For one night, our 50th anniversary at VGF we were given a two bedroom when we had booked a studio. They sent us a cake and we called friends to share it with us. They were already booked at a WDW Resort, or they could have shared the room too!

The upgrades were about 5 years apart, no points taken. Our anniversary was last year.

 

[crazywig]

In 16yrs of ownership at bwv this was the first year I got something I didn't book. I booked a standard view 1br and got a 1br overlooking the village green. Technically that room is boardwalk view.

This was a 4 day trip in July. I'd never expect that to happen during a busy time like the fall.

 

[lovin'fl]

In 16yrs of ownership at bwv this was the first year I got something I didn't book. I booked a standard view 1br and got a 1br overlooking the village green. Technically that room is boardwalk view.

This was a 4 day trip in July. I'd never expect that to happen during a busy time like the fall.

That is P/G view.

 

[lovin'fl]

Length of stay is a factor. Shorter stays like one or two days are more likely to benefit from an upgrade. Week long stays, it's a bit more rare.

It's a lot easier to toss a guest into an upgrade for a day or two allowing the resort to fix whatever room might be out of service.

Most of our DVC bookings have been 2-5 nights since we do split stays almost every trip. And not once got an upgrade since 2006 and many many trips.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

Once checked in on the night before NYE - checked in around 11:30pm on 12/30. Had booked an SSR studio. Upon check-in they told me they were out of our room type but handed me my key and told me I'd be "pleasantly surprised."
I got to my 2 bedroom (!) Congress Park (DTD view!) room at midnight and cried with joy. It had a been a long travel day with 2 young kids and this made our YEAR. It was the best trip!

To be clear - I don't think we were "upgraded" for magic - I truly think they had overbooked and gave the last check in of the night the "special room"...LOL!

 

[crazywig]

That is P/G view.

No, the dedicated 1 bedrooms on the green are Boardwalk view, at least 5051 is certainly. Likely they use it as a swing room as there have been reports over the years of people receiving it booking either category.