Downgraded at AllStar Music

[Gagebre]

We hear a lot about upgrades and can always dream about one, but I didn't think they could downgrade you. I went to the front desk at AsMu last Friday to check in and when they told me what my remaining balance was, I knew it was less than it was supposed to be. Being honest, I said "Are you sure that is correct because I had a preferred room booked and I should owe a little more than that". He then said so matter of factly "Yes, that's what you owe, you've been downgraded. We're really full right now with the Soap Weekend and Food and Wine Festival and when you book a preferred room it's not guaranteed". Then trying to make the best of it (at least I had an extra $40 or so to spend elsewhere), I said "Well, where did they put me? The main reason I booked the preferred room is so I wouldn't be put in the County Fair Section" (which is where they always try to put me). He said he would be right back and talked to the room assigner and got me another room, not preferred but at least it was in Broadway instead of the CF section. Has this happened to anyone else? And by the way, I had a great time, didn't let this ruin my trip, but I thought they should have told me right away instead of waiting to see if I said anything about it. I think they hoped I wouldn't notice or something.

 

[klofan]

This does happen alot. I believe they overbook on purpose because they know people won't show/cancel. This has never happened to me though because I always book the lowest view/price, haha. I think they should of moved you to a hotel of equal or of better value. Like a preferred location at another value or a standard at a moderate. Oh, and they put me in CF as well when I stayed at ASM in August. At first I was upset, but I didn't think it was that far and I liked the theming of it.

 

[kimsuenew]

Wow, I had no idea. We booked a preferred at Pop for our 2008 trip (due to my mobility issues), I hope this does not happen frequently. I am glad they at least gave you a different area than before.

 

[MIDisFan]

That seems odd to me. I thought that since you are paying extra to book a preferred room that it wasn't simply a request but rather a guarantee. It's good to hear that it didn't ruin your trip and you handled it very well IMO.

 

[Microcell]

I never have been downgraded per se, but happy for you that you didn't get Country Fair... we did and will be staying at All Star Movies on our next trip! That was a hike, and they lost $50.00 because I didnt buy the refillable mugs, I didn't want to haul them to the park and I didnt want to hike them back to the room every day!

 

[gigi1313]

this exact same thing happened to us at ASMu in '06... i was EXTREMELY unhappy for multiple reasons (but esp 'cause it seemed like the rooms we were given in the CF section had not been used in a *long* time, dusty, tons of lovebugs on the door/window/walkway [outside], and of course the full seven minute walk to the food court/buses)... after three days of our seven day trip they were able to move up to the preferred rooms, which was a hassle in and of itself... and they did nothing (no balloons, or autographed photo or any other special touch) to "apologize"

 

[Hootch]

something similar happen at AS Movies. The problem was that we had a AAA rate for a preferred room. The standard was quoted at the seasonal rate and amounted to about $15/night higher than what we had reserved. We ended up in a preferred room.

 

[Shell0616]

Is this only done on room only reservations or have they done this to anyone who had a "paid in full package"?

I would be so upset if I pre-paid for the preferred and was given a standard.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Oops.
2) This was a MAJOR NON-NO!
3) If they do not have your promised room, the policy is
. . . offer a same room category there or elsewhere
. . . offer an upgraded room category there or elsewhere
4) There is NO policy provision to downgrade a guest.
5) You could have demanded the same room elsewhere, or an upgrade.

 

[bnk1120]

The same thing happened to me at ASMu in May. However, I was never even told I was downgraded!! I walked away with the map of the resort and was like wait a minute we're supposed to be in Calypso not Rock! When I went back to the desk and asked the girl she said, yeah sorry we had to move you. Isn't that what a RESERVATION is for?? It totally reminded us of that Seinfeld espisode where Jerry reserved a rental car and they didn't have one for him. (Seinfeld fans, you know what I'm talking about here) It really did tick me off, but I'm not the type to complain (to someone' face ) so...It actually worked out that we preferred being far back in the quiet corner of the resort. I just figured it must have been meant to be...

 

[JandT'smom]

If you paid for a room category then it is not a request . You can insist that you recieve what you paid for or they need to send you to another resort in the same room category.

 

[msteddom]

I think the difference here may have been that the OP still had a balance to pay at check in. The way I see it, since the reservation was not paid in full Disney did have the right to downgrade him. It was never an issue of "getting what you paid for" because the balance had not been paid. He was charged the correct amount for a standard room. I do agree that it was not an ideal situation, but it seems that there was no real harm done.

Melissa

 

[gigi1313]

when it happened to me, we were PAID IN FULL! and had been for months! the problem was the only preferred room they were able to offer me was at movies, and that was the year movies pool was rehabbed... so, we took the refund (although i was tempted to fight for a moderate, but dh made me concede!)

 

[disneyfan2]

this happened to us too ASMu. We had 6 nights reserved and ended up without preferred room, they did have an opening after day 4 but i wasn't willing to move and pack up with only 2 days left. This sounds common at All Stars. We are going to Pop instead for Value.

And it happend after we paid in full, and had the full package(Ticket.hotel.dining)

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I hope this does not happen often. I've booked a King room at CSR for our anniversary and I won't be happy if we get there and they try to give us a room with 2 double beds! I would definitely be angling for an upgrade!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

This is my worst fear, that I am going to get to CBR and find that they have given my room to someone else or worse that they upgraded someone as a free-bee and gave away my room.

 

[Tink415]

Yes downgrading does happen and they are not nice about it always either. This past summer we checked in BWI, had booked a room for 5 and were sent to a studio at BWV with bedding for 4. I didn't realize until I got to the room that we were changed to BWV, nothing was said to me by the CM at the desk. Really I think he was clueless. He told me I had already checked in ?? I said, NO, I just got here. Anyway when I went back to complain about bedding for 4 when we had booked for 5, I was basically told too bad we're over booked. I couldn't get a roll away bed either, only an aerobed. I was annoyed because I had paid $269 for ap rate at BWI, if I had known we could have 5 in a room for 4 I would have booked SSR or OKW for $169. Honestly, they should have been up-front and told us we weren't getting what we booked and paid a deposit for. It was very very strange and not what I'm used to from Disney.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) OK.
2) I hesitated to say this.
3) If you don't get what you paid for, there is a remedy.
4) Now, this is not what was REQUESTED, but what was PAID FOR, such as
. . . MK view at CR
. . . King Bed, when it is a higher price than queens
5) You can get the room you ordered, in almost all circumstances.
. . . go to Front Desk and ask for a manager
. . . if no satisfaction, ask for Guest Services Manager
. . . if no satisfaction, ask for General Manager
6) Here is what you say
. . . explain what room type you paid for, or reserved
. . . explain what you got
. . . ask to have your room swapped, so you get your ordered room
. . . ask to move someone who has not checked-in yet
. . . even if that person has a blocked room
. . . explain you will continue to go up-the-chain until you get satisfaction

NOTE: The ugly little secret at WDW is that they can swap your room with another, as long as the other has not checked-in. Sure, the other person might be angry, but someone is going to loose. If you persist (not being mad, loud or angry), the disappointed person will be someone else. THIS IS DONE ALMOST EVERY DAY AT WDW RESORTS. Unfortunately, this is the downside of late check-ins; you can be bumped from the room you ordered. Checking-in early allows you to get moved right away - or shall we say, let's you take someone else's room type. If you are told this can't be done, start going up the food chain. Manger's get bad performance reviews if complaints go above them, since they are supposed to satisfy the guest whenever possible.

 

[kimsuenew]

1) OK.
2) I hesitated to say this.
3) If you don't get what you paid for, there is a remedy.
4) Now, this is not what was REQUESTED, but what was PAID FOR, such as
. . . MK view at CR
. . . King Bed, when it is a higher price than queens
5) You can get the room you ordered, in almost all circumstances.
. . . go to Front Desk and ask for a manager
. . . if no satisfaction, ask for Guest Services Manager
. . . if no satisfaction, ask for General Manager
6) Here is what you say
. . . explain what room type you paid for, or reserved
. . . explain what you got
. . . ask to have your room swapped, so you get your ordered room
. . . ask to move someone who has not checked-in yet
. . . even if that person has a blocked room
. . . explain you will continue to go up-the-chain until you get satisfaction

NOTE: The ugly little secret at WDW is that they can swap your room with another, as long as the other has not checked-in. Sure, the other person might be angry, but someone is going to loose. If you persist (not being mad, loud or angry), the disappointed person will be someone else. THIS IS DONE ALMOST EVERY DAY AT WDW RESORTS. Unfortunately, this is the downside of late check-ins; you can be bumped from the room you ordered. Checking-in early allows you to get moved right away - or shall we say, let's you take someone else's room type. If you are told this can't be done, start going up the food chain. Manger's get bad performance reviews if complaints go above them, since they are supposed to satisfy the guest whenever possible.

This is good to know! You would think there would be an automatic upgrade in circumstances like this, but never a downgrade! I am copying your post and placing it in my WDW folder "just in case"! Thanks!

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

This is good to know! You would think there would be an automatic upgrade in circumstances like this, but never a downgrade! I am copying your post and placing it in my WDW folder "just in case"! Thanks!

Ok, but what happens if you had reserved the preferred room and that is the TOP at that resort, do they move you to an upgraded resort and give you another room? I want to have my ducks in a row just in case, KWIM!!