We were DOWNGRADED...is this typical?!!!

[Jeanne B]

We just got back from our first family stay on WDW property and when we checked into CSR I was told that we had been downgraded...what?!! I reserved a waterview room and was put in a standard...does this happen often? I asked the CM how I could have booked a waterview if none were available and she said "apparently they'll let you book anything". Considering this was my first experience booking a Disney property I wasn't too impressed but we'd been traveling all day, I was hungry, hot and I had a really bad headache and I just didn't have it in me to make an issue of it. As she was plugging away at the computer I suddenly felt myself having Disboard withdrawals!! I wanted a computer in front of me so badly so I could hop on disboards and ask "What do I do?!"...I knew I'd have helpful advice within minutes!! Anyway, we ended up in the Ranchos section which we decided we actually liked a little better but after I was rested up the next morning I found myself being pretty irritated by the fact that they downgraded us. I would think if anything they would upgrade you or offer you something comparable possibly at another resort. After being downgraded our first time as a Disney resort guest why would I want to book a Disney resort again knowing that we could always be downgraded? Maybe I'm making too much of an issue of it (or maybe I need some pixie dust!!). We're also used to always staying at our timeshare in Kissimmee which is why I've asked if being downgraded is typical because we're not familiar with staying at hotels.

We spent the first 2 nights at CSR and the second 2 nights at Pop and some people might think I'm crazy but we liked Pop more than CSR. I was a little nervous about going from a moderate to a value but I just loved the Pop theming, loved their pools and I felt more like I was in Disney (my DD11 loved Pop also). We also had a much better room compared to CSR. We were in the 50's section (I requested 70's but was so happy they put us in 50's) in a top floor corner room overlooking the pool and we didn't have to walk through a maze like we had to at CSR to get to our room. We would absolutely stay at Pop again but I'm not so sure about CSR...of course, I probably have a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth because of them downgrading us.

 

[safetymom]

Did you get the difference in the cost of the standard vs waterview room refunded?

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I've never heard of a guest being downgraded, unless the wanted to do such upon check in. I hope you recieved the monetary credit for the difference.

This is usually how it works. Say we have 3 room categories, Standard, Deluxe, and Concierge. CRO will overbook the Standard rooms, but not the upper two. Those staying in Deluxe will be upgraded to Concierge, creating openings in Deluxe. The overbookings in Standard will then be upgraded to Deluxe to fill the empty spots. (They base upgrades on how much you paid for the room, as well as dates... the more you pay, the better the chance, also, if your dates fit a hole that they have.) Using this system, everyone should be happy.

 

[tnkrbell]

WHAT??!!!! Did you ask for a manager???? Did they compensate you in any way???? I would of said ' Well I paid for a waterview find me hotel with a waterview!!!" This sounds crazy!!I hope they did something for you!!

 

[dawgfan]

For what it is worth I have NEVER heard of anyone being downgraded. Hope you still had a great time anyway. As for your report on a value being more likable than mod or deluxe for that matter I am with you. I like some resorts and dislike others strongly. Honestly I would stay at ASMu before I stayed at Grand Floridian. I like the high life more than most but the Grand F does not have the theme and "feel" that I am looking for in Disney. It might be great in another venue.

 

[dawgfan]

Not that you stayed at Grand Floridian or anything but mods and deluxes in genral are personal choices as well as whether you like a place or not. Sorry for any confusion from my last post. I am generally confused most of the time.

 

[Catrin]

Did you REQUEST waterview??? Or did you RESERVE and PAY for waterview???
Oh boy.... that is terrible. If you actually paid for it, I would demand a refund.. even now after the trip. It may actually be very little money, since you only stayed a few nights... but it is the point!

Glad you enjoyed POP. Although we are staying in a moderate this time (POR) I have enjoyed our Value Trips just as much!
Good Luck... and Don't give up on Disney.... hopefully next time it will be just as you wished!
Catrin

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That happened at ASMu--we were upgraded while the guest next to us was downgraded....I think the logic was that the water in the building was cut off so they were trying to give her a room right away.

I had a funny post about this but for some reason I couldn't post it.

I didn't want to wait for 2 hours and didn't like the "lies" about guest safety that the CM was tossing at me. They wouldn't give us our room number--but yet other newly checked in guests were allowed access to the building. I asked her if they evacuated and she said they couldn't let anybody in the building for safety reasons--I'm so glad my life is so precious--but let us not LIE about it. (my original post was a funny exchange of what actually happened).

Anywho--at Disney you pay for 1 night up front---and you PAY for the view. So if you PAID for the waterview....and got booted from it...a complaint is in order. I'd like to say I've never heard of it--but witnessed that very thing this weekend.

 

[Eeyore's Queen]

I'm with you on liking Pop better than CSR. We had a not so happy time at CSR this Thanksgiving and then we went over to Pop. I was so much happier over there. I hope you got your money back. Not all resorts are like that. We've had a great time at most of them.

 

[maxiesmom]

We were downgraded from our prefered room at ASMU to the third building back. We were told all the prefered rooms were full. What, they don't know how many they have? They did refund the money, but I wanted the room location, not the money. I will never stay there again because if it happens once, it can happen twice.

 

[ktink]

Wow, we stayed at Pop last year and loved it and then booked CSR this year and paid for a waterview room, I certainly hope this type of thing doesn't happen often.

 

[Jeanne B]

I specifically reserved a waterview room (it's on my confirmation as the room type) and my deposit was based on the rate for a waterview room but they charged me for a standard room at check-in since that's what they downgraded me to (I made sure of that!!) and as I said in my first post, had I not had such a headache and been tired from traveling all day I probably would have pushed the issue a little further and after reading your replies I'm really kicking myself for not asking to speak to a manager. I am going to fax a letter to the manager at CSR. Not that it will make ANY difference at this point but I'm still mad about it and I'll feel better if I let them know as first time guests how much they ticked us off (I'm sure we'll stay at a Disney resort again in the future but they don't need to know that!!). Thanks all for your quick replies - glad to know I'm not totally overreacting!!

 

[Jeanne B]

We were downgraded from our prefered room at ASMU to the third building back. We were told all the prefered rooms were full. What, they don't know how many they have? They did refund the money, but I wanted the room location, not the money. I will never stay there again because if it happens once, it can happen twice.

Exactly my thoughts!! They refunded the difference but I specifically switched from CBR to CSR because CBR only had standard rooms available and I was able to get a waterview room at CSR. I paid the extra money to get a waterview room because that's what I wanted...otherwise I would have booked a standard!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

well if this happened and im not calling oyu a liar
i hope you were refunded the different in rooms cuz i believe there is one adn that you spoke with a manager
if not id be email disney now
tell them what happened and you r room number
what you believe the diff is and tell them you expect to be refunded

 

[Jeanne B]

well if this happened and im not calling oyu a liar
i hope you were refunded the different in rooms cuz i believe there is one adn that you spoke with a manager
if not id be email disney now
tell them what happened and you r room number
what you believe the diff is and tell them you expect to be refunded

They did refund the difference...we stayed for 2 nights and I had to put down a one night deposit of $166 but when I checked in they charged me just $114 which is the difference between the waterview and standard room so I don't have any issue with them as far as the price difference is concerned. My issue is that I booked a specific room type and was downgraded so I will definitely contact Disney just to let them know my disatisfaction with how my reservation was handled.

 

[HaleyB]

I'm with you on the POP it is my favorite non deluxe resort. Sorry you got downgraded. I have a feeling that doesn't happen much, but bummer if you really were attached to having a water view.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

They did refund the difference...we stayed for 2 nights and I had to put down a one night deposit of $166 but when I checked in they charged me just $114 which is the difference between the waterview and standard room so I don't have any issue with them as far as the price difference is concerned. My issue is that I booked a specific room type and was downgraded so I will definitely contact Disney just to let them know my disatisfaction with how my reservation was handled.

Unless you had a code the standard room would have been more than $114 - At a mod the standards start at $134 for value season, $149 for reg season. So yes you got down graded which stinks but you also got a special rate if you were only charged $114.

Opps I realized I read your psot wrong - the $114 was the difference - ok never mind - Yep it does stink that they did that - I would definately email them to complain!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We were downgraded from our prefered room at ASMU to the third building back. We were told all the prefered rooms were full. What, they don't know how many they have? They did refund the money, but I wanted the room location, not the money. I will never stay there again because if it happens once, it can happen twice.

That is hogwash when they do that. B/c you know they do complimentary upgrades. I know b/c I was to receive one this weekend until I was told of the "delay" for my "safety". Gee, thanks! you upgrade me but I can't go to my room for several hours. Hmmmm....with 2 small kids, no thanks. And by the way--that lady got downgraded, so why don't you give her the room she deserves instead of giving it to me when I didn't pay for it.

Very screwy system.

Could you imagine if someone booked concierge and got downgraded? Granted--these aren't deluxe resorts...but still.

 

[cassie]

Isn't a Moderate standard $166 a night with the tax in regular season? That's what I paid for my standard room in May at CBR before I got a code.

 

[Jeanne B]

Isn't a Moderate standard $166 a night with the tax in regular season? That's what I paid for my standard room in May at CBR before I got a code.

I haven't unpacked my luggage yet so I don't have my receipt handy but I think the CM said the standard was $149 (or something close to that) plus I had a AAA discount which brought it down to around $125 plus tax.