New Owner Question--Do Upgrades Exist in DVC?

[grubens]

We are new DVC owners (resale points) and are looking forward to our first stay. I am curious as to whether DVC stays ever get upgraded? I realize/think they would not switch locations, but if you book a lower point view option, are members ever upgraded to a better view at check-in?

 

[rkstocke5609]

I have been upgraded into savannah view at Kidani one time, but that was just pure luck. I’ll call it a magical moment that I don’t expect to experience again.

 

[NoTime42]

As DVC runs at extremely high occupancy, upgrades are very, very rare as they only keep a few rooms for maintenance problems.

I get the impression from other posts that guests only staying a day or 2 have a higher likelihood of getting an upgrade.

it’s possible to ask for an upgrade and get charged the extra points to use that upgrade.

 

[Sandisw]

Because DVC is a timeshare, upgrades aren’t part of the system and happen very very infrequently.

Typically, it happens when the room reserved is taken out of service for some reason,

For example, the value rooms were taken out of service because the hotel side was going through renovations. But, those have not been completed yet, so those that had booked,,DVC must have assumed they’d be back in play...had to move people to different rooms.

If you ask about it, you would be charged the points for the upgrade. it would not be given for free

 

[Marionnette]

I’ve never been upgraded but I’m currently reading a trip report by @franandaj . They were upgraded from SSR to Riviera on a recent visit. Of course, it was done because there “was a problem” at SSR and not just to spread pixie dust.

 

[FFMickey]

No upgrades technically. Our last trip, we were moved from CCV to BLT lake view due to a maintenance issue, but didn’t get charged the extra points. If you ask for the upgrade, you’ll be charged the extra points.

 

[BillPA]

I assume you mean FREE upgrades, as above, the answer is no. But you may be able to use points to upgrade once you arrive.

 

[TraderSamWDW]

Dvc is set up to run at 95 plus percent occupancy. They aren't off the table, but a lot of time there aren't ANY extras rooms available. On top of that, an upgrade would have to be available every day. Possible, but unlikely

 

[kristenabelle]

Ditto, the only time we've been upgraded was for maintenance issues. A pipe burst in our 2BR at BWV before check-in, and we were sent to the Presidential suite on the Inn side. But I haven't seen it since

 

[Homemom]

I have been upgraded into savannah view at Kidani one time, but that was just pure luck. I’ll call it a magical moment that I don’t expect to experience again.

Same here, we checked in and were made "Family of the Day", they took our picture with a fancy sign and upgraded our 1 bedroom standard to Savannah view for the week.

 

[drusba]

Upgrades are rare and usually occur only if the class of room you reserved is not available to you on your arrival date. Moreover, you should not check-in on your arrival date and request an upgrade, because what will result, even though not mentioned when you make the request, is that the upgrade may be given and a couple days later you will see that the extra points applicable to that better room have been charged to your DVC account.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

In all of our DVC trips since 2008, we have never been upgraded. But we have had some AMAZING trips!

 

[k_hase]

In November I was booked for 2 nights in a standard view studio at Jambo. When we arrived to our room we had been given a savanna view one bedroom. No one mentioned it and I didn't ask!! I assume this was due to the number of standard view rooms that were taken out of service during the exterior painting project around the pool in November.

In a decade that is the first and only time I've been 'upgraded'

 

[DaveNan]

Not that I really see this as substantially different rooms, but we were placed in a 1BR P&G at BWV, when we had a reservation for a 1BR STD at BWV for 4 nights. It was 5PM and we were still waiting on our room and quite annoyed in the lobby. All the sudden, "our room was available, but we were placed in a "better" view". They took out a few extra points, but they were credited a couple of days later. The CM at the desk warned us it would happen and asked us to contact him if it wasn't corrected within a week.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Ditto, the only time we've been upgraded was for maintenance issues. A pipe burst in our 2BR at BWV before check-in, and we were sent to the Presidential suite on the Inn side. But I haven't seen it since

how fabulous! ( so glad it burst BEFORE you checked in!)

 

[grubens]

Thank you for all the responses.

 

[jo-jo]

Owners since 2006, guessing about 30 DVC trips. Upgraded once. Was waiting for text ready, waiting, waiting , waiting...but it's really only about 2 or 3 pm. This was before DH used wheelchair at disney and we took loooong afternoon breaks. Anyway, I decided to look at my DVC account and I see one bedroom....instant panic .no, no, what did I do, I need those points for the next trip, how did I mess this up???? Then I get text or phone call (I forget), see front desk. I go and found out we were upgraded from studio to 1 bedroom at BCV. It was for 3 or 4 days. No real reason given, just that they do that sometimes.

 

[RangerPooh]

Over the years there's been a few pleasant surprises, but not many in recent years. Usually it's a better view or room location that we had booked.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

In all our (many) trips since purchasing in 2009 (added on in 2016 and 2018), we have been upgraded once. It was at BLT a couple years ago. We were a late check in and I couldn't figure out why we hadn't gotten our room # when we'd landed at MCO at 11 pm or so. When we arrived I found out we'd been given a 2 bedroom rather than a one bedroom for our four night stay. It was awesome!!!

 

[KPeterso]

My friend's were last year at OKW. They added a night at the beginning of their trip a few weeks out and could only get the 2 bedroom at OKW (rest of the trip 1 br at BLT). Apparently, there was some sort of maintenance issue with their room at OKW and they got upgraded to the Grand Villa. There were only 3 of them and a ton of space. Took quite a bit of video to show me.