Does DVC ever upgrade for free?

[aurora23]

We had an “upgrade” of sorts when there was a maintenance issue with our room. We were on our way to the resort when we received a phone call that our studio at GFV had a maintenance issue and would we mind being moved to a club level hotel room at Grand Floridian. It was definitely an experience we would never have been able to afford on our own and we saved a lot of money on food that trip. The rooms were about the same in terms of amenities but the club level food options were amazing! We were so grateful for the experience.

 

[Massachusetts]

In June of 2022 we arrived at BLT much later than anticipated (9 PM) for our 2 Bed Theme Park View reservation. We got up to our room and found ourselves in a 3 Bed Theme Park View GV! We were there for 2 nights before going to AKL. It was awesome! We had a party of 4 adults and 3 children. The reservation for BLT was made with rented DVC points.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

In June of 2022 we arrived at BLT much later than anticipated (9 PM) for our 2 Bed Theme Park View reservation. We got up to our room and found ourselves in a 3 Bed Theme Park View GV! We were there for 2 nights before going to AKL. It was awesome! We had a party of 4 adults and 3 children. The reservation for BLT was made with rented DVC points.

AMAZEBALLS

 

[Bearval]

They may upgrade due to a problem and we had a weird problem on our last trip.

We had BLT booked for a week starting on a Saturday night. We started our 22 mile drive on Thursday right after I got out of work and DH ended up driving the entire night without stopping so when I woke the next morning we knew we would be in WDW by about 2pm that afternoon so I called DVC to see if any rooms were available for that evening. I could get AKL DVC savannah room which was great.

We got to AKL around 1:30pm that afternoon and were issued our room keys. DH and DD5 headed to the room while I waited for Bell Services to load up a cart with our luggage and I followed them to our room. Our room key didnt work and DH was no where to be found.

DH called me to say that there was a mix up on the room and the room we got was apparently occupied.no, he didnt walk in on anyone, his key just didnt work, thankfully. They issued him new keys and told me to meet him at another room number so Bell Services and I started heading there. Not even a minute later, I get another call that there was another mix up and they were sending us to concierge for a two bedroom suite.

Bell Services and I met DH and DD at concierge and they issue us new keys and we finally had a really nice, non-DVC two bedroom suite that was on a corner so that the master bedroom had a balcony onto one part of the savannah and the second bedroom had a balcony looking out onto another part of the savannah. We had three bathrooms for just the three of us and the master bath was huge. The shower could be its own room. We didnt have much time to enjoy it or the concierge lounge.

This was the first time we have ever had anything quite like this happen. On occasion, we have had one or both keys not work and we would have to go down and have them fixed but this time the first two rooms were still occupied.

On Saturday, we moved to BLT without a problem and had a wonderful trip.

I think it might be time for a new car if you started your 22 mile drive on a Thursday afternoon and didn't get to WDW until Saturday ~ 2pm.

 

[BWoody]

Didn't want to start a new thread for this so parking it here.

I just wanted to give a huge shoutout to MS for giving us a recent upgrade and for their help in general. We just completed a 1 week stay at AKV-K in a dedicated 2BR Savana view unit. However, after we arrived at the airport on Saturday and made it to our gate we were alerted that our flight got cancelled. Note that this was on Saturday prior to the storm arriving so it was not weather related. The cancellation was as a result of ATC issues or some other nonsense. Thanks a lot EWR. In any event, the next available flight we could get booked on was 2 days later! We eventually accepted this reality, got rebooked on a flight with half of us at 1:00 pm on Mon. and the rest at 9:30 pm. on Mon., and began scrambling for a room to accommodate 5 adults and 4 kids (4yr, 4yr, 2 yr and 10 mo).

Disney was able to find us something at Art of Animation, but it wasn't exactly going to be cheap with so many people. They claimed it was the most affordable option they had on site that could accommodate all of us though. This is when I had the bright idea to see if there were any cheap rooms I could book on points. I logged into the DVC website only to discover that no rooms were available for the first night. That seemed a little strange since rooms were there for the 2nd night so I made a call to MS thinking I just couldn't make day of reservations or it was too late in the day (around 2:00 pm at this point).

Upon calling I was pleasantly surprised to immediately get connected with someone with no wait. She was super helpful! I explained that I was looking for something for a party of our size and spending the least amount of points as possible - so likely 2 separate studios. First, she somehow found 2 AKV value studios. I thought those rooms could only accommodate 4 even with a baby, but she said she was going to hold the rooms and then call the hotel and ask them to make an exception for us given our circumstances. Then in my continued shock I questioned again if she really had 2 rooms for 2 days. This is when she realized she only had the first night...ugh.

Not wanting to do a split stay she looked for other options. She found 2 studios at OKW and they added up to the exact number of points I had available to use. Fantastic! It was meant to be. Booked the rooms and we were on our way to OKW. We arrived at the resort and checked in with the front desk. She looked up the one room that was in our travel companion's name and saw that it was ready. Next, she said she was going to try to see if they had something in the same building so we could all be close together. This is when she said oh yes here's a 1 BR in the same building, first floor. WHAT?! I asked her to confirm what room type she had because I booked 2 studios and didn't have the points for a 1 BR. She smiled and said yes it's all right here, someone put in a special upgrade for you and we are going to put you in a 1 BR for the room in your name. I even saw it on her screen that it said upgrade.

AMAZING!!! Not only was it nice to have a bigger room, but after a week with small children, there were no clean clothes, so we really needed that in room washer and dryer. MS came through with the surprise upgrade and really helped take some stress off of a really stressful situation and hit us with some magic.

I will also just add that this was the first time we stayed at OKW and we really loved it. The room was huge! They had us in building 46 right along the river. It was gorgeous. When we walked in all the kids went out back on the balcony and there was no lie, 20 ducks hanging out there right up to the balcony. The kids were going crazy with excitement and it was a magical moment in the face of a tough situation.

For anyone still reading along, guess what, we did not make it out of Orlando on Mon. Not all of us anyway. Our 1:00 PM flight got cancelled, this time because of the weather. Those on the 9:30 flight made it out that night. The next available flight for the rest of us was Tues. night at 9:30 pm. Not ideal with the one 4yr old and the 10 mo old but we took it because we had to get home. Out of points, I scrambled for a cheaper cash room and opted for the Dolphin. This was not the end of our adventure though because that 930 pm flight got delayed until 1:00 am on Wed. We finally got home at 5:00 am on Wednesday. 4 nights after we were originally going to get home.

The last few days have been an absolute adventure. At least MS came through with that upgrade though because it really really helped and made a huge difference for us! And now that we are home in NJ, we get Debby's company for a 2nd time

 

[jekjones1558]

I admire your flexibility. I would have been in tears after all of those snafus. SO happy to hear that MS was able to help you.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

AMAZING!!! Not only was it nice to have a bigger room, but after a week with small children, there were no clean clothes, so we really needed that in room washer and dryer. MS came through with the surprise upgrade and really helped take some stress off of a really stressful situation and hit us with some magic.

The last few days have been an absolute adventure. At least MS came through with that upgrade though because it really really helped and made a huge difference for us! And now that we are home in NJ, we get Debby's company for a 2nd time

This is such a wonderful story! And the extra 4 days, albeit not ideal, was at disney, where they make magic. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face!

 

[GGGT]

We got a pool/garden view at BWV this January. Definitely an upgrade, and at first the CM told me the balance was amazing, over $1000 but I wasn't listening because I had booked standard view on points! I suppose it was one of those cases of the room being out of commission, but it was great, a dedicated 1 bedroom, with a very nice view of the pool!

The last two times we’ve stayed at BWV we’ve been upgraded from a studio to a 1 BR.

 

[DebbieB]

I’ve been a member since 1999, no upgrades. I usually have 5 or 6 night stays, upgrades are more common with shorter stays. We had 1 night at VDH last weekend in a standard studio, hoped for a preferred view, no.

 

[jekjones1558]

I’ve been a member since 1999, no upgrades. I usually have 5 or 6 night stays, upgrades are more common with shorter stays. We had 1 night at VDH last weekend in a standard studio, hoped for a preferred view, no.

We also have been members for 25 years. For many years my husband and I made 3-4 trips per year. But I don't think I've ever stayed fewer than 7 days. And we almost always stayed at BWV in a one bedroom. Since all BWV one bedrooms are lockoffs, we would never be upgraded to a 2 bedroom. And hubby and I always booked BW view, so no chance for a view upgrade either.

 

[yeahdisney]

On rented points. The last night we snagged a one bedroom that opened at the last minute.
When we checked in we were in a two bedroom.

 

[tgropp]

I was upgraded from a 1 BR to a 2 BR at BRV in Dec 2023 when they opened it up ahead of the refurbishment

 

[carlbarry]

1. Once at my home resort OKW I was upgraded to a 1 BR after water started pouring out of the ceiling near the kitchenette.
2. I stayed at the Villas at the Grand Floridian when it first opened. It took hours for my room to be ready. When I got in, I had a fantastic view of the lake, Poly, Monorail. So I assume I was upgraded from a standard view.
3. I stayed at the Riviera when it first re-opened after Covid, when only DVC rooms were open. It also took hours for my room to be ready. When I got in, I had a view of the pool. Since I booked a standard view, I assume I was upgraded.
On the other hand, I was one of the first to book Aulani, and even got a commemorative book by Joe Rohde. I was supposed to have an "island view" room. The view was of the parking garage of the resort next door. When I got home I wrote to guest services and they returned 7 points.
That's it since joining in 2009.

 

[MagicDVC]

Never been upgraded.....had to switch from CCV to BLT due to a water pipe issue, 1 bedroom to 1 bedroom lake view. Maybe it was a small upgrade for location.

 

[miksicnarf]

Member for 28 years, 1 upgrade: Booked a 2BR at VGC for 1 night and got upgraded to a GV. It was awesome!

 

[LRdismom]

I was upgraded from a AKL jambo studio standard to a savannah view last year. It was pretty sweet.

 

[kaleopp09]

Rarely, if ever, in my experience. They might offer a slightly nicer room if one's available, but don't count on a free upgrade.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Once I was upgraded from a value studio at AKV Jambo to a savannah view studio (overlooking the Uzima savannah, upstairs from Mara) for a one night stay. Apparently there was a maintenance issue with the value studio. In 22 years of DVC membership, that's been the only upgrade.

 

[Mle8308]

It is much more common for a one night stay to be upgraded to fill in "holes or lock outs" - what we used to call a random one night that was open when we couldn't move another reservation for whatever reason. The longer your stay, the less likely for an upgrade unless it's due to an issue on Disney's part.

 

[DisTravels]

It is much more common for a one night stay to be upgraded to fill in "holes or lock outs" - what we used to call a random one night that was open when we couldn't move another reservation for whatever reason. The longer your stay, the less likely for an upgrade unless it's due to an issue on Disney's part.

Very true in general (not Disney specific). The longer the stay the more likely it is that someone else has that upgraded room booked.