Is there such a thing as a free upgrade?

[minnielaners]

We are excited new DVC members and will be "returning home" to go on our first vacation at SSR in late August. We have been to many of the other Disney hotel/resorts over the years and have sometimes been able to get a free room upgrade if the resort was not particularly full. Has anyone tried upgrading from say a studio to a 1-bedroom upon check-in (without using any additional points) if the resort had many vacancies? This wouldn't be something I would count on, but was wondering if it was even worth asking. I would think DVC would have some incentive in doing this whenever there was enough vacant space so members get accustomed to larger rooms and will spend more points over time and therefore, probably purchase more points later.

 

[WDWDad]

Good theory, but in reality this rarely happens. I have heard on rare occasions about an upgrade, but it has always had something to do with construction or a problem with room assignments. I have never heard of anyone getting an upgrade just for asking. And I know that this has been tried before.

The flip side to the argument would be peolple booking smaller rooms during down seasons expecting an upgrade.

 

[mickeymouse710]

We have been upgraded many, many times at WDW resorts but NEVER when using pts at a DVC resort. The only semi upgrade we got was once we got a preferred view (pool) when we had booked a standard view at BWV. BUT that is only because they had a big chunk of the standard views under construction and a whole wing of the building was closed off. I have read of people getting upgrades on room sizes but that is usually the result of a problem and it occurs few and far between. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but don't expect to get upgrades on DVC rooms while using pts. For the whole, you get what you booked. If you want a 1 br, you need to book a 1 br because the chances of being upgraded at check in, with no additional pt cost, is about nil.
And really when you think about it, that is excatly how it should be. Booking a room paying cash at a non DVC resort and being upgraded for free, is different then paying for a room with pts that all DVC members, have the same vested interest in. Why should Mr X be able to get a 1 br for the same # of pts Mr Y paid for a studio?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Timeshares are different than hotels. DVC is a timeshare.

A hotel can overbook guests in lower category rooms, and then accomodate some percentage of those guests in higher category rooms. Also, typical hotels only sell out entirel at peak demand periods.

A timeshare resort has specific "buckets" of inventory, and there's a direct link between ownership and inventory. Timeshares are at or near capacity almost every night. (In the case of DVC, some members may choose not to use all of there points some years, and Disney may be unable to sell some of the inventory that's been turned in for Disney Collection or Concierge Collection stays, so there are times when occupancy is less than 100%.)

There have been a few reports of upgrades if there are rooms that are out of service and the front desk must accomodate guests who should have been in those rooms. But it happens very, very rarely.

Botton line: Don't expect upgrades from DVC.

 

[canda]

I have been upgraded at HHI twice. One really does not count as it was a cash stay. Right before joining DVC we wanted to check it out one more time. We did not tell them this though. We booked a studio during Sep. This was before they had sold out. We ended up with a 2 bed room.

The second time was on points with a studio. The CM said that they had to move some folks around to accomadate a guest that needed an elevator access. They moved the guest in the 1 bed room to a 2bd. and since we had not checked in yet they told us they had no more studios and we could have a 2bd.

So the guest with the need was able to have their 2bd. I don't know how they compensated the 1bd room folks on ther move.

when the studio opened back up, they called to see if we wanted to move to it or stay in the 2 bedroom. boy that was not a hard decision. I think I said we'll stay before she even finished talking.

but that it the only time in going twice a year since 1998

 

[LisaSt]

We rented points to some people for BWV and wanted a standard view studio for 55 points for them for the time just before the triathalon. Well we called down got waitlisted this was 2 weeks prior to the departure date. DVC called me 4 days prior to them leaving with a prefered pool view room for the same 55 points so yes it does happen.

 

[TinksDH]

We got upgraded when staying at BWV in June 2002. We were booked into a studio for the weekend and a 1 bedroom for the week. They asked us if we'd like to have a 1 bedroom for the weekend - who would say no? This was our first time using our DVC points - what a way to begin the magic!

 

[mbhoxsie]

We were upgraded at BWV last year from a 2BR-Standard to a 2BR-Preferred...

Very nice suprise...

 

[jbthi]

We have been upgraded a few times from a std. studio to a preferred at BWV.

We were also upgraded once at BWV from a studio to a 1 BR. I thought maybe it was because the 1 BR was next to the last room down the hall and maybe someone had complained.

We have never asked for upgrade.

 

[MinnieGi]

We have also been upgrade at BWV from standard view one bedroom to preferred view one bedroom. But I certainly have not read of many upgrades from studio to one bedroom or one bedroom to two bedroom unless there was construction or something else going on.

 

[Dean]

I wouldn't even askk, just be happy if it happens.

 

[shelbyjosh]

A friend of mine stayed at OKW for 4 nights over Easter. She was staying on cash-no points. They had a 1 br. reserved and when they checked in they were upgraded to a 2 br. CM told them it was "Disney magic". Too bad they couldn't work some of that magic on those staying with points! BTW...they loved OKW. Would stay there again in a heartbeat.