Have you gotten upgrades while using your points?

[walkdmc]

To clarify, I never received an upgrade or requested/expected one. I've booked and paid for a MK view at the Poly and a Lake View at BLT. I didn't learn about "upgrades" in room categories until I started reading the Disboards. A recent thread about online check in and room upgrades got me wondering if DVC folks are less likely to be upgraded.

(I'm a new DVC member).

 

[DebbieB]

To clarify, I never received an upgrade or requested/expected one. I've booked and paid for a MK view at the Poly and a Lake View at BLT. I didn't learn about "upgrades" in room categories until I started reading the Disboards. A recent thread about online check in and room upgrades got me wondering if DVC folks are less likely to be upgraded.

(I'm a new DVC member).

In over 10 years of DVC, never. DVC tends to be close to 100% occupancy so there is no room for upgrades. Plus I don't think DVC wants to get into issues with it, members complaining why one was upgraded and another not.

 

[disneynutz]

Members staying on points never get upgraded unless there isn't any rooms available when checking in. DVC Members will be the last to get upgraded.

Bill

 

[Dean]

To clarify, I never received an upgrade or requested/expected one. I've booked and paid for a MK view at the Poly and a Lake View at BLT. I didn't learn about "upgrades" in room categories until I started reading the Disboards. A recent thread about online check in and room upgrades got me wondering if DVC folks are less likely to be upgraded.

(I'm a new DVC member).

Basically no and they shouldn't routinely. The system breaks down if enough people were able to finagle upgrades. Timeshares function differently than hotels even when they share the same footprint. Previously I've held the opinion that it's OK to ask for an upgrade but don't expect it. I've changed my opinion to say that it's only OK to ask for the upgrade if you're able and willing to pay the extra points to get it. There was actually one thread a few years ago where someone asked for an upgrade and got it an was later upset to see where they took the extra points from their account. Of course they should have told them but in a way it's kind of funny.

 

[DenLo]

. . . . . There was actually one thread a few years ago where someone asked for an upgrade and got it an was later upset to see where they took the extra points from their account. Of course they should have told them but in a way it's kind of funny.

The above story really shows how different the DVC and timeshares are in comparison to staying at a hotel. I know at hotels I've often asked (especially if it's a chain where I'm a frequent stay member) if a free upgrade is available. Just a habit, but really wanting to make sure I wasn't charged for the larger/better room. But when staying at the DVC I don't even think about it.

 

[Dean]

The above story really shows how different the DVC and timeshares are in comparison to staying at a hotel. I know at hotels I've often asked (especially if it's a chain where I'm a frequent stay member) if a free upgrade is available. Just a habit, but really wanting to make sure I wasn't charged for the larger/better room. But when staying at the DVC I don't even think about it.

The problem is when the habit extends over to timeshare. Hotels set it up that way, their choice, it's actually somewhat rude to do so for a timeshare stay in a system where you own, IMO. It's also good business for hotels but bad business for most situations for timeshares.

 

[CarolMN]

We technically got an upgrade at the BWV a few years ago. I booked a SV 1 bedroom. When we arrived, the CM had upgraded us to a Pool/Garden 1 bedroom.

I wasn't very happy about it, to tell the truth. CM offered to put it back to SV but the Pool/Garden room was ready and my DH wanted to watch some dumb football game so we took it. The room was fine. I wasn't rude or mean, but I think the CM was disappointed that I wasn't excited to get the upgrade. Don't know why we got an upgrade.

When I got back home, I noticed our account was messed up due to the upgrade. MS fixed it and all ended well, but I am now very leery of CMs offering upgrades and changes at check in.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think the random few times an upgrade happens either is on very short stays (one or two nights) or cash reservations through MS.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We technically got an upgrade at the BWV a few years ago. I booked a SV 1 bedroom. When we arrived, the CM had upgraded us to a Pool/Garden 1 bedroom.

I wasn't very happy about it, to tell the truth. CM offered to put it back to SV but the Pool/Garden room was ready and my DH wanted to watch some dumb football game so we took it. The room was fine. I wasn't rude or mean, but I think the CM was disappointed that I wasn't excited to get the upgrade. Don't know why we got an upgrade.

When I got back home, I noticed our account was messed up due to the upgrade. MS fixed it and all ended well, but I am now very leery of CMs offering upgrades and changes at check in.

We had the exact same thing happen a few years ago with a BWV SV studio reservation....they upgraded my daughter & her friends to a PV studio but when I looked at my accout they had canceled the SV studio and made a new reservation for the PV and charged PV points....took many called and a month or so to get everything straighted out

 

[rentayenta]

We got upgraded from a Value to a SV when staying in a 2 bedroom at the AKV in May 2009 over Mother's Day. Now I will never be able to stay less than SV when at the AKV.

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

Last August we got upgraded at Kidani from Standard View to Savanna. It was because our bathroom was flooded and they couldn't fix it.

 

[CADisneyMom]

Personally I can see getting upgraded if there is something seriously wrong in the room (like the bathroom is flooded) but I wouldn't ever expect to get an upgrade, I book what I want to stay in. I'm sure it's a great surprise to be ugraded but like what people have said - they've then taken the extra points without your permission, to me if they upgraded you that was them being nice not because you requested and you shouldn't have to pay for it.

 

[Disney Spaz]

Before we purchased DVC we had been upgraded several times at the resorts. Best one was Poly, we went from a theme park view to Theme park view concierge. Now I don't think DS wil ever stay at Poly without Concierge. However we have never been upgraded with DVC and like other posters would have strong reservation about points being screwed up if they tried to offer me an upgrade.

 

[Deb & Bill]

.... However we have never been upgraded with DVC and like other posters would have strong reservation about points being screwed up if they tried to offer me an upgrade.

And that could be a problem with a rental. The non-member asks the front desk if an upgrade is available. They check the member's contract, see points available and use them for the upgrade.

 

[Dean]

And that could be a problem with a rental. The non-member asks the front desk if an upgrade is available. They check the member's contract, see points available and use them for the upgrade.

I've seen at least one report of this happening.

 

[LarryM]

We were i[graded pmce fprm a studio to a one bedroom. We had a late check-in (arrived after midnight) and booked a studio for that night. When we got to our room it was a 1 bedroom. I had to call the front desk to make sure we only got charged for a studio. The next day we checked out and back in for the rest of our stay in a 1-bedroom.

 

[Donald duk]

Just got back from a trip from June 13th to June 24th. Our original schedule was the the 14th to the 26th. We had to change at the last minute so the getting something on the 13th was dicey. We managed to get a 2 bedroom at the boardwalk the night of the 13th. Then on to our original booking of a 2 bedroom at Bay Lake Towers from the 14th to the 21st. Finaly our last reservation was a 2 bedroom at Animal Kingdom Kidani lodge from the 21st to the 24th. When we checked in they upgraded us to a Grand Villa at no additional charge.

 

[Sammie]

We have been upgraded before while using points but it was due to issues involving damaged rooms, etc.

 

[gkrykewy]

We got upgraded from a Value to a SV when staying in a 2 bedroom at the AKV in May 2009 over Mother's Day. Now I will never be able to stay less than SV when at the AKV.

You sure you weren't just assigned one of the savannah view value rooms? There are a number; it's luck of the draw.

 

[rentayenta]

You sure you weren't just assigned one of the savannah view value rooms? There are a number; it's luck of the draw.

I didn't get picky with the logistics. We saw our view and did a little dance.