Upgrades-do they ever happen?

[BedKnobbery2]

First of all, let me first say that I realize the unlikelihood of an upgrade happening! I have no illusions that it is a possibility for our trip to BCV, but I was curious as to whether this ever happened with DVC. I was pleasantly surprised last year when the resort we stayed in (Westgate) gave us a complimentary upgrade from a 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom. I wonder if anyone has been similarly surprised at a DVC resort?

 

[gleddo]

Two years ago my family and I had a BWV studio booked. When we were checking in the desk CM said that they were over- booked with studios and asked if we would consider an upgrade to a one bedroom with no increase in points used. Of course we jumped at the chance. When we got to the room it was the biggest one bedroom I have ever seen at BWV. I can't recall the room number but it was on the first floor on a corner. About 10 minutes after we got into our room the phone rang. It was the desk manager. She told us we would have to change rooms. There was a water leak in the room above us and she was afraid the water would seep down into our room. I knew our upgrade was too good to be true. But lo and behold she said that she would honor our upgrade and tried to give us park passes for our trouble. I told her that we had AP's and anything extra wasn't necessary, but she insisted on giving us something. She finally told us to go to Spoodles for breakfast on her. She said to charge our meal to the room and it would be charged back. This was back when Spoodles had the breakfast buffet and it was great. They even charged back the tip!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Upgrades have been known to happen, but are extremely rare.

My fellow DVCer Aunt reserved 2 studios for 2 nights on points for her sister (also my Aunt ) for her family of 6 last August at the VWL. When they got there, they were upgraded to 2 one bedrooms!!! The resort and rooms were so nice that her kids never even wanted to go to the parks. They just wanted to stay in their rooms and swim in the pool.

The upgrades were not requested. She was told that they were given the upgrades due to the studios being oversold.

I have a feeling that the only time that they give upgrades is due to inventory control. Due to the points system, this would be rare. Maybe an existing cash guest wanted to stay an extra night or so in a studio. There was inventory to upgrade the DVCer staying on points, so the resort let the cash paying guest extend their stay with cash in the already reserved studio. And then upgraded the points staying guest from the reserved studio to an empty one-bedroom.

Unless, there was an extra-ordinary situation on the DVC/CRO end, there should never be free upgrades. Even if there was availabilty and you asked about an upgrade at check-in, normally (and technically), they would give you the upgrade AND deduct the points difference from your account.

That said, free upgrades do occasionally but rarely happen. So, if you get one, what a wonderful surprise! But don't count on it!!

Have a great time at the BCV!!! Can't wait 'til our trip!

 

[ez]

since we joined two years ago, we have been upgraded I think 4 times. First of all, I would never ask for an upgrade, I think we have been lucky on these trips because we were just staying a day or 2, and it was somehow more convenient to them. We've been upgraded from standard to preferred view. This has happened enough that I would never book preferred again. One time we were upgraded from standard studio to preferred one bedroom-what a great surprise, but like I said we've never asked!

 

[yesdisneyfool]

Originally posted by ez
since we joined two years ago, we have been upgraded I think 4 times.

What times of the year do you usually go?

 

[Granny]

gleddo...what a nice story. To think that they actually "insisted" on doing something extra for you after already giving you an upgrade!

 

[Merilyn]

We were booked into a GV at OKW. The day before we left, we got a call that they had overbooked them and asked if we minded going to BWV. We sure didn't!! We would have never at that time had the points to stay in a GV at BWV. They even gave us park passes for the whole group for the entire stay. We should have only gotten 6 for the entire stay. That was when they gave park passes with you reservations. We were in a handicapped room on the boardwalk, but that didn't matter. It was great!! They are so very nice and really big. OKW is great also, but it gave us an opportunity that we wouldn't have gotten if they hadn't overbooked. Also, my daughter and son-in-law got an upgrade at the Plaza in NY when they were there.

 

[ez]

we live just over an hour away,so we go over several times a year. Last year we went...Jan, Feb, March, May, Sept & Nov.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Wow!! What great stories!! Thanks for sharing, everyone!!

We can't wait for our BCV visit, which is happening on the latter end of our trip.....we'll return with lots of photos!!

BK

 

[Debbie in Townsville]

Last February we were upgraded from a standard to a preferred view studio. It was nice surprise!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Most of the upgrades appear to be at BWV. Not sure why that would be. We did have friends staying with us last year who arrived a day early and were scheduled to stay at All Stars that first night. They arrived late, and the desk had to move them to OKW!! They were elated!

 

[WACK156]

I'm going this aug 28 thru sept. 10 and staying at the poly. I was wondering could i get a upgrade to conc. level if i was willing to pay the $80.00 a night diff.
thanks

 

[CRobin]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
Most of the upgrades appear to be at BWV.

I was thinking the same thing, Diane.

I wonder it it could be related to all of the rehab underway at BWV - in our last two trips they've had a fair number of rooms "out of service" while upgrading the facades. Certainly appeared to be more than the 4% not declared to inventory.

 

[Mark D]

We were upgraded from a preferred studio to a preferred 1 BR this summer (July 7-13). Needless to say, it was a pleasant surprise.

 

[msdisney53]

We were upgraded at BWV this past July(14-18) from a studio to a one bedroom. What a great surprise! My dds were in seventh heaven.

 

[PamOKW]

They even gave us park passes for the whole group for the entire stay. We should have only gotten 6 for the entire stay

That was a great upgrade. If you had booked BWV instead of OKW you wouldn't have gotten any passes. During the pass program, you didn't get the passes if you booked at BWV.


It does sound like the construction/rehab problems at BWV are behind most of these upgrades. They shouldn't be overbooking the resort, but rooms that were expected to be completed by date "x" could be delayed and not ready for guests.

 

[Regina]

Hmm........maybe it's a secret plot to put you in a 1 bedroom instead of a studio, knowing that there's no turning back.

I think it's great that so many of you have gotten such a wonderful surprise! Good for you.