Going in 3weeks-Can u Upgrade??(Booked thru Dave DVC)

[CodyBoy]

Wondering if anyone knows if you can upgrade from studio to one bedroom through the Aulani if we booked using Daves DVC? Any experiences?
Would I wait till check in to ask or call ahead? Thanks for any insight. We have studio right now 11/8-13.

 

[starry_solo]

No you can’t.

 

[Disney_Fan_01]

You are going during one of the slowest times for the resort as well as the fact that not many would be traveling yet, but then there are locals who may be looking to do a staycation. Aulani may not have all rooms opened to manage capacity, which might make it tricky to get an upgrade. It doesn’t hurt to ask once you check in

 

[karen4546]

You are going during one of the slowest times for the resort as well as the fact that not many would be traveling yet, but then there are locals who may be looking to do a staycation. Aulani may not have all rooms opened to manage capacity, which might make it tricky to get an upgrade. It doesn’t hurt to ask once you check in

She rented DVC points. so she should not ask.

 

[FinnFogg]

In my experience, the front desk will not deal with upgrades for points bookings. At all. It doesn’t matter how busy they are. They only option is to go online or call member services to see if you can change your room category (for more points) last minute.

 

[BlueRibbon]

She rented DVC points. so she should not ask.

Assuming its because the request will go against the owners contract? If not, can you elaborate as to why she shouldn't ask?

 

[BlueRibbon]

In my experience, the front desk will not deal with upgrades for points bookings. At all. It doesn’t matter how busy they are. They only option is to go online or call member services to see if you can change your room category (for more points) last minute.

Does Pixie Dust only exist in Florida? We constantly see stories from WDW about people getting upgraded who booked on points.

 

[Disney_Fan_01]

Does Pixie Dust only exist in Florida? We constantly see stories from WDW about people getting upgraded who booked on points.

That was my point. It never hurts to ask even if they say no. You will never know until you ask.

 

[BlueRibbon]

I agree. My comment was made in response to another post from FinnFog about how in their experience, the front desk will not upgrade on points bookings. I've never been to Aulani and was just wondering if its a thing over there to not give upgrades like they do in Florida.

 

[FinnFogg]

We’ve been upgraded in the villas when paying cash, but never on points. We’ve had about 15 stays there on points over the past 5 years. I enquired at the front desk about upgrading to a room category that was showing as available while we were staying there (both on the Aulani site and on the DVC site), and even offered to pay the cash difference between the room category that I was booked into (on points) and the room that I wanted to upgrade to. I was told that they simply could not do that.

 

[happily single]

In my experience, the front desk will not deal with upgrades for points bookings. At all. It doesn’t matter how busy they are. They only option is to go online or call member services to see if you can change your room category (for more points) last minute.

Is this Aulani specific? We rented points thru Dave’s for my dd23 birthday at Jambo House. We asked and received an upgraded view

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Does Pixie Dust only exist in Florida? We constantly see stories from WDW about people getting upgraded who booked on points.

Pixie Dust does not really exist for DVC. You get what you booked. If you request an upgrade, the points will be charged to the owner, which is a violation of your contract with David's and the owner.

Is this Aulani specific? We rented points thru Dave’s for my dd23 birthday at Jambo House. We asked and received an upgraded view

At Jambo you probably weren't upgraded. They may have told you they upgraded your view, but they didn't shift your room booking category. If you booked Standard, there are a bunch of Standards that were once considered Savannah but were downgraded because they view fences and people pens. Many people mistake these for upgrades, and the desk takes advantage of this.

 

[CodyBoy]

Thanks for all the replies! I certainly don’t want to get anyone in trouble! I’m good with the studio—just thought since it might not be too crowded I would ask, since they have kitchens, too and dining is so limited! really I’m just happy to be going! And will not ask as I don’t want to break any rules. (P.s. first time we have ever used DVC points through a third party.)

 

[FinnFogg]

CodyBoy - You will love it! If I could go in the next couple of weeks, I would (but we are in Canada so still can’t go even with a test). The studio will be plenty spacious for two. We’ve stayed in one in a pinch before with our three kids (when one was still under 3) and it was fine. There’s actually a fair bit you can do with the kitchenette, expect for breakfast. As for dining, Monkeypod happy hour from 3-5:30 is great...also happy hour next door at Mina’s (Four Seasons) if they are open and both Longhi’s and Longboards down the path at the Marriott. Also the ABC food counter has some fantastic dishes - Kimchi fried rice is to die for. They also have a great spicy ahi poke bowl. Grab some dishes to go and sit out on your balcony with a bottle of wine!

 

[CodyBoy]

CodyBoy - You will love it! If I could go in the next couple of weeks, I would (but we are in Canada so still can’t go even with a test). The studio will be plenty spacious for two. We’ve stayed in one in a pinch before with our three kids (when one was still under 3) and it was fine. There’s actually a fair bit you can do with the kitchenette, expect for breakfast. As for dining, Monkeypod happy hour from 3-5:30 is great...also happy hour next door at Mina’s (Four Seasons) if they are open and both Longhi’s and Longboards down the path at the Marriott. Also the ABC food counter has some fantastic dishes - Kimchi fried rice is to die for. They also have a great spicy ahi poke bowl. Grab some dishes to go and sit out on your balcony with a bottle of wine!

Thanks so much for the dining ideas!!
it’s our anniversary so we are looking at Roy’s for dinner one night. The rest sound yummy!
(So far the 4 seasons isn’t opening Yet—and monkeypod is Closed still too.)

 

[karen4546]

Assuming its because the request will go against the owners contract? If not, can you elaborate as to why she shouldn't ask?

The points belong to the owner not the renter. If the upgrade is not "on Mickey" then the owner would foot the bill. The renter will not be able to pay the difference. You assumed right.

 

[Lewisc]

Assuming its because the request will go against the owners contract? If not, can you elaborate as to why she shouldn't ask?

Does Pixie Dust only exist in Florida? We constantly see stories from WDW about people getting upgraded who booked on points.

In general cash reservations get upgraded before point guests.Point reservations get upgraded for operational reasons. I've read relatively few reports of complimentary upgrades for guests on point reservations.

Reason not to ask. Your request could be reasonably interpreted as a request for a paid upgrade. The owner could be charged the points.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Thanks for all the replies! I certainly don’t want to get anyone in trouble! I’m good with the studio—just thought since it might not be too crowded I would ask, since they have kitchens, too and dining is so limited! really I’m just happy to be going! And will not ask as I don’t want to break any rules. (P.s. first time we have ever used DVC points through a third party.)

Its really truly the biggest negative of renting through Davids. We wanted to change resorts from Riviera to CCV after COVID struck. If you rented from a member here a simple email or DM and they would most likely change it for you right away. We were even switching to lesser point room and were okay of the owners kept the leftover. But David's has a policy where they will not even email the owner to ask on your behalf. You are 100% locked into your choices. And we knew this so it was on us. We rented through Davids nearly a dozen times before we purchased for ourselves(and a few times after to add on).

 

[CodyBoy]

Its really truly the biggest negative of renting through Davids. We wanted to change resorts from Riviera to CCV after COVID struck. If you rented from a member here a simple email or DM and they would most likely change it for you right away. We were even switching to lesser point room and were okay of the owners kept the leftover. But David's has a policy where they will not even email the owner to ask on your behalf. You are 100% locked into your choices. And we knew this so it was on us. We rented through Davids nearly a dozen times before we purchased for ourselves(and a few times after to add on).

My hubby is the one who used "Dave's" we usually do this all on our own, after this experience I will never do a booking this way again. I like to have options and control and this was not a great experience, Covid or no Covid.

 

[corgi_monster]

We have studio right now 11/8-13.

just thought since it might not be too crowded I would ask

I'm going to be there at the same time! Even though the resort is just opening back up and things will be quieter than usual, I wouldn't expect a ghost town. I just checked the Aulani website and some room categories are completely sold out (of their reduced capacity) for that time period.

There was a kamaaina discount ($258/night!!!) being offered and it sold out for this particular time frame really quickly. Like I-refreshed-the-webpage-and-it-was-gone quickly. There's also a Hawaii staycation group that will be there during that time and lots of local families take the days before/after Veteran's Day off.

I'm a little worried about the food situation, too . . . especially dinners. Ulu Cafe isn't our favorite and I generally don't like to leave the Aulani bubble. I grew up in Makakilo so driving to Kapolei kills the staycation-vibe for me. We're planning on using Bite Squad to have dinner delivered and watching the sunset while we picnic on the beach.