What's with all these upgrades?

[cspowell]

So I have a little rant ...

Read on a blog that disney has upgraded nearly 100 families to deluxe resorts. Most seem to be from pop to the lodge.

Now I have also read several cases of upgrades right in these forums as of late. Though I express no ill-will to those lucky people, I have to ask one question ...

Where is my free upgrade from POR to some deluxe resort too !?@ hehe

Rant off

I hope all you lucky people enjoy the upgrades. I know I sure would ! But sometimes we have to satisfied with what we have and can afford I suppose.




http://www.**************/id/1238299144.jpg

 

[WDWKOOK]

I'm sure you know that Disney isn't obligated to ever upgrade or discount anything, however, they do, and while it may seem unfair to those who don't receive a little Disney magic, I wonder if the latest upgrade frenzy from Pop to Deluxes has something to do with their current economic downturn.

After 9/11, Disney temporarily shut down POFQ (then PO) and later re-opened it as POFQ and permanently closed its food court. It may make more economic sense right now for Disney to shut down a portion of a resort, such as Pop. From what I've read here, it seems to be a very short notice upgrade, suggesting it isn't due to a rehab.

I do wish you some Disney magic on your next trip!

 

[Allison]

Well, the recent upgrades from CBR to deluxe resorts are a result of Disney not having the pirate rooms ready so they had to do something for those people.

 

[nurse.darcy]

I'm sure you know that Disney isn't obligated to ever upgrade or discount anything, however, they do, and while it may seem unfair to those who don't receive a little Disney magic, I wonder if the latest upgrade frenzy from Pop to Deluxes has something to do with their current economic downturn.

After 9/11, Disney temporarily shut down POFQ (then PO) and later re-opened it as POFQ and permanently closed its food court. It may make more economic sense right now for Disney to shut down a portion of a resort, such as Pop. From what I've read here, it seems to be a very short notice upgrade, suggesting it isn't due to a rehab.

I do wish you some Disney magic on your next trip!

The food court at POFQ is alive and well. . .son not a permanent closure

 

[DISNEYNY]

Wow, I hadn't heard about this. Congrats to everyone that got one. We received one in 2007 from Music to SSR...it was great. I looked for the thread, but couldn't find it. I would love to hear about it from those that received one.

 

[WDWKOOK]

So sorry, you are right! Thanks, Darcy.

 

[jmpellet]

When we went in 2007 (POFQ) tons of POP folks were being upgraded to Saratoga Springs! It happens.

 

[TheWog]

What are people's thoughts on those being in the Lodge (Animal Kingdom? Wilderness? not sure where) and having the others arrive? The Lodge people paid for the accommodations, what are there thoughts on the throngs of people getting the same thing for just a fraction of the cost? It's not just a random, you are family 42 so you get a bump, or we oversold for this evening and you need to move up. It seems to be a we have all this open deluxe space, so let's fill it. Do people even care? I'm happy for those that are upgraded, you know, good for them, but what about the people who shelled out for the deluxe?

 

[cspowell]

Disney will have to be careful for sure. If they do this too much, it will eventually come back to bite them I think.

But as an earlier poster said, its the economic change that has them shutting down areas and moving things around.

All that being said, from what I have heard, the place is still packed every day !

Shrug

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would not compare this when a guest gets a better upgrade within their own resort to a better room category, because as Alison mentioned these upgrades are for guests who booked the Pirate themed rooms at Caribbean Beach and they were not ready. However since not everyone who travells to WDW posts on here or other WDW message boards maybe the number of guests getting these upgrades are not as big as we think, because we only read the stories about who are getting them.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

After 9/11, Disney temporarily shut down POFQ (then PO) and later re-opened it as POFQ and permanently closed its food court. It may make more economic sense right now for Disney to shut down a portion of a resort, such as Pop. From what I've read here, it seems to be a very short notice upgrade, suggesting it isn't due to a rehab.

They closed French Quarter for a complete refurbishment, then did the same with the AB section of Riverside building by building and rehabbed the Mansion rooms (did not gut these, only FQ and AB).

You're probably thinking of the table service restaurant at French Quarter - that was closed - and missed by many.

Why they renamed the resort has been a question for years. A Disney exec friend told me it was b/c FQ was not very popular at the time and they thought merging the two would draw more families; Might have worked - FQ is very popular now!

 

[WDWKOOK]

They closed French Quarter for a complete refurbishment, then did the same with the AB section of Riverside building by building and rehabbed the Mansion rooms (did not gut these, only FQ and AB).

You're probably thinking of the table service restaurant at French Quarter - that was closed - and missed by many.

Why they renamed the resort has been a question for years. A Disney exec friend told me it was b/c FQ was not very popular at the time and they thought merging the two would draw more families; Might have worked - FQ is very popular now!

Hmm... According to this, it seems 9/11 certainly "encouraged" the rehab.

From the "Port Orleans" website:
http://www.portorleans.org/history.htm

"After the terrible events in New York in September 2001, the subsequent drop in tourist demand meant that Disney needed to reduce some of its resort capacity. From late November 2001, French Quarter was completely closed and Riverside’s capacity was severely curtailed to around 350 rooms. Guests who had bookings were contacted and offered alternative resort choices. The Sassagoula River Cruise was also taken out of service for several months. As demand picked up again, French Quarter was reopened for new bookings starting from 31 May 2002. Disney apparently used the six month downtime to undertake renovation work on the food court."

 

[TheWog]

I would not compare this when a guest gets a better upgrade within their own resort to a better room category, because as Alison mentioned these upgrades are for guests who booked the Pirate themed rooms at Caribbean Beach and they were not ready. However since not everyone who travells to WDW posts on here or other WDW message boards maybe the number of guests getting these upgrades are not as big as we think, because we only read the stories about who are getting them.

That's not what the OP is suggesting. The original post indicates it is POP to a Lodge.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hmm... According to this, it seems 9/11 certainly "encouraged" the rehab.

From the "Port Orleans" website:
http://www.portorleans.org/history.htm

"After the terrible events in New York in September 2001, the subsequent drop in tourist demand meant that Disney needed to reduce some of its resort capacity. From late November 2001, French Quarter was completely closed and Riverside’s capacity was severely curtailed to around 350 rooms. Guests who had bookings were contacted and offered alternative resort choices. The Sassagoula River Cruise was also taken out of service for several months. As demand picked up again, French Quarter was reopened for new bookings starting from 31 May 2002. Disney apparently used the six month downtime to undertake renovation work on the food court."

Hmm...Don't think I said it didn't have anything to do with 9/11, but Disney does not spend money when less is coming in to rehab out of the blue. The rehab was planned, the way they went about it was, shall we say, rearranged?

Do not know where Andre got his information (and I do not doubt for a moment it is correct and authentic), but mine came directly from a WDW Resorts executive.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

That's not what the OP is suggesting. The original post indicates it is POP to a Lodge.

I realize that. What I meant was it's nothing like getting upgraded within your resort because those are the usual posts we read when that type of upgrade happens. So when guests are upgraded from a Moderate Resort to a Deluxe Resort there is a specific reason why it's happening like with the Pirate themed rooms not being ready at Caribbean Beach, so this type of upgrade to another resort category we don't see to often.

 

[that's nice]

Disney will have to be careful for sure. If they do this too much, it will eventually come back to bite them I think.

I think that after SOME people have the experience in a 'nicer' resort they may be more likely to book that resort or one in the same classification. So it might help Disney when doing these upgrades. Just trying to look at it from another perspective.

Tim

 

[mousefan1972]

I don't begrudge anyone who gets upgraded. That's great for them. That's why I always book the resort/room category that will make us happy, so that I am not disappointed if we don't get upgraded. Besides, it's not as if everyone is being upgraded...I just read a TR on another Disney discussion board where the person went to check in at ASSports at 11:30 a.m., only to be told the resort was full and he was being moved to...Pop. Lol.

 

[jb01]

Wish I had received an upgrade last time.
Maybe next time the gods will shine on me.

 

[debster812]

I think that after SOME people have the experience in a 'nicer' resort they may be more likely to book that resort or one in the same classification. So it might help Disney when doing these upgrades. Just trying to look at it from another perspective.

Tim

I think this is a very possible scenario. If there are rooms sitting open, and WDW Resort has the guests that are actually there, onsite, why not upgrade them to a better class of resort, in the hopes that when things turn around, they will be 'sold' on a Deluxe versus a Moderate, or Value.

I know that we did a short 4 day stay at WL in Feb of 2008, and I am TOTALLY hooked. We spent a week at PO-R in January, and I did wish we were able to stay at WL again.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Hmm...Don't think I said it didn't have anything to do with 9/11, but Disney does not spend money when less is coming in to rehab out of the blue. The rehab was planned, the way they went about it was, shall we say, rearranged?

Do not know where Andre got his information (and I do not doubt for a moment it is correct and authentic), but mine came directly from a WDW Resorts executive.

Just noticed you almost have 5,000 posts - congrats!