Will they always have a room?

[bilzer]

I know in some cases (regular cash bookings) if they don't have a room for whatever reason, they move you somewhere else. Is this ever a problem with DVC rentals?

 

[SuperRob]

If you book a room, you have a room. There may, on rare occasions, be a time where the DVC rooms are all sold out, and a room may need to be taken out of inventory (for maintenance or refurbishment) after you book. In such a case, Disney will find another room for you. Usually, you'll get an upgrade of some kind, either view, a bigger room, or possibly a different resort entirely. On even more rare occasions, it may have to be a slight downgrade, but they will find you a room.

 

[RobDoc]

Rarely is there an issue with DVC rentals. However, there have been occasions where a renter has arrived at the resort to find they have no reservation because the member canceled the reservation.

This happens infrequently enough to NOT be a concern. It is always wise to verify your reservation online through Disney right up until you leave for the resort and, if dealing with a rental broker to verify with them.

The DIS has only had a couple of situations with rentals via the DVC Rent/Trade Board on this site in the past 17 years where anyone has arrived to find they have no reservation, but verifying yourself is always wise.

 

[DebbieB]

It could happen for legitimate reasons too. Say there is some kind of maintenance issues and some rooms are closed. I heard one time a member checked in at BWV and got moved to Boardwalk Inn because of this.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney cash guests are more likely to get moved or upgraded. We were told at BWV's that there is a policy in place that DVC point reservations don't get moved or upgraded until all other possibilities are exhausted, management approval is required.

Bill

 

[supersnoop]

What you're asking about is called "overbooking." Hotels and airlines do it all the time because they expect a certain number of no-shows.

According to other posts I've read, DVC does not overbook. With their cancellation policy, I don't think they need to. However, if there's a maintenance issue, or if someone refuses to vacate their room, they could run out of space and have to upgrade or move a new arrival. But that would be a very, very rare situation.

 

[Dean]

We've seen reports over the years and it seems they fall into 2 types. One is where the person arrives and there is no room. In those cases I remember, it did seem to work out but remember one person's upgrade is not necessarily another's. I recall the most common solutions to be a larger unit at OKW or BWI with concierge access. All of such incidents I recall were at BCV but there were only 3 or 4 and they seemed to be within a few months of each other. The other situation is where there were major renovation issues that were either unplanned and forced for some reason or where the planning didn't happen and got put into effect after bookings were made. Even then there seems to be a delay in the type of actions needed by several months. All of the ones I recall were at AKV (e different episodes IIRC) and BWV (BW view moved). Plus a somewhat similar incident where people were booked for a Savannah view at AKV where there were no animals.

I don't think everyone was happy with how any of these issues were handled, some reasonably and some not based on what I saw posted here. I think most of those from AKV were relocated to SSR with a refund of the points difference and BWV was mostly relocated to BCV. Likely the most egregious situation was AKV concierge being relocated to SSR. From what I recall, most didn't get anything for compensation but Disney tends to be VERY inconsistent in these situations, I know some did get compensation. They likely underperformed in all of the larger relocations and often give more than reasonable for many issues we see posted. It seems they left the AKV issues up to AK management rather than handling it centrally and that seemed to be a major mistake.

I also know many cash guests with Free Dining were upgraded from value and moderate's mostly to SSR a few years ago. Some here were upset but there really wasn't a reason why they should have been.

 

[com_op_2000]

Our upgrade experiences with DVC:
1. Once cause of over booking at VWL:
Booked a studio at VWL, when we tried to check-in, we had been upgraded to a WL 2 bedroom lake view suite. Called some family members to come and join us for an unexpected vacation.
2. Once cause of problem with check-in at AKL:
Booked a standard view studio at AKL-Jambo, checked-in, given a room key as the room was suppose to be ready, went to the room, and found suitcases and purse in the room along with the room not being made up. Went back to the front desk, they gave us an on-the-spot upgrade to a savanna view room in another part of the resort plus four free breakfasts.
3. DCL
We reserved an inside stateroom but were upgraded to an ocean view room. We did not find out about the upgrade until we got to the room, what a surprise that was. When our luggage arrived it still had the old room number's tags on them.
4. AKL-Jambo
Booked standard view room at 5 days out, due to a last minute change in home plans. Given a Savanna View room.

 

[gatordoc]

We once had a maintenance issue with our room after a few days at VWL. It was in December and the resort was full, so we were moved from our studio to a concierge level room at the main WL (and given an extra night free).