Would you be "happy" with a room type downgrade if Disney only refunded you the difference in price?

[disneydeegs]

I selected "Other" because I think it REALLY depends on the circumstances and the reason for booking the room. A bare minimum response would be to refund the difference in room cost. A good customer service response would be to offer something additional for "trouble."

-If my trip was only one or two nights at a value, I probably wouldn't care too much because I woulnd't spend much time in the room anyway.
-If the downgrade in view isn't a "big" change to me, I wouldn't let it bug me (like moving from river view to courtyard at POFQ).
-If the downgrade involves substantial additional walking distance from amenities and buses, I would be very upset because I have a physical disability which makes that evening walk back to the room AWFUL at times, especially if I had to stand on the bus.
-If the downgrade significantly changes the view I booked I would be pretty ticked any time I step outside of the room (ex. instead of nice landscaping I end up with parking lots and dumpsters)

There are many more possibilities, and my feelings of satisfaction would likely change with many of them. In most cases, I'd be content with some extra fastpasses or a meal voucher or some sort of additional credit. If the change is significant enough to have a major impact on my trip, I would expect Disney to do more.

No matter what, I would try to make the best of it, but that doesn't mean I'd be dancing for joy at having a wrench thrown into my plans.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Related question... If you booked Savannah View "for the animals" but never saw an animal (because they are free roaming and may not feel like going to that area - or may only go to that area when you are our of your room) would you complain and try to get compensation? Because the do NOT guarantee a view of the animals - just the savannah. Hence the name.

Well I know for sure yes some people will be like that "I booked this so I could see the animals...where are the dang animals..argh Disney.." I would call those people however unrealistic in their expectations. They are live animals so you're kinda luck of the draw there. In that case I see no difference in going to the zoo..you may get to see all sorts of animals or the one animal you wanted to see isn't up for coming out and saying hi that day.

 

[Nancyg56]

Honestly, it would depend on the situation. I seldom book categories or views. The only view I have ever booked besides waterview at POFQ< before I realized that was a waste for me, is Savannah view at AKL. I would not be happy if I got moved to standard view, but I would be okay. I am a pretty fait person in my life, so I would need to remind myself that I was moved to Castle View at the Grand and no one charged me. I am way too cheap to pay for that, so I was pretty tickled.

WE want our nieces to join us one day, and since one is a game warden I know she would love AKL Savannah view. When that time comes, if we are downgraded, I would admit to being really disappointed, and I know I would talk about that with the CM, but I would try really hard to be okay. I would never embarrass myself or those with me by being rude or trying t make the CM make a change.

 

[terri33inne]

Agree with others... it would probably depend on the circumstance. At the moderates & values I pay for the preferred as I don't like a lot of walking after a long day in the parks. I would expect to be in a room with minimum walking.

Disney added these categories as people were requesting certain views, and they knew they could charge an extra premium.

 

[Disneylover99]

WE want our nieces to join us one day, and since one is a game warden I know she would love AKL Savannah view. When that time comes, if we are downgraded, I would admit to being really disappointed, and I know I would talk about that with the CM, but I would try really hard to be okay. I would never embarrass myself or those with me by being rude or trying t make the CM make a change.

I don't think it's rude to ask for a change if you are disappointed with a downgrade. As long as you're polite, it should never be an embarrassment to advocate for yourself.

 

[Dayzy]

I'd be pretty upset if I got downgraded, and wouldn't take the difference in price as a compensation. I make reservations 6+ months in advance, do online check in at around 30 days in advance, so I expect the room that I put my reservation in for to be there.

 

[melanielll]

I would not be happy and would want something more - quite a bit more. We stay at The Contemporary, in the tower, facing the theme parks. I don't think there is a comparable room elsewhere on property. I would stay in the Garden Wing for free. That's about what it would take. Or free passes. It would have to be significant.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would not be happy and would want something more - quite a bit more. We stay at The Contemporary, in the tower, facing the theme parks. I don't think there is a comparable room elsewhere on property. I would stay in the Garden Wing for free. That's about what it would take. Or free passes. It would have to be significant.

CR TPV is on my bucket. If I book that room and it's not available upon check in I would be upset. I think I could only accept Poly or GF CL plus more compensation. It would take a LOT. I would try my best to not let it ruin my trip but I would be irked.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't think it's rude to ask for a change if you are disappointed with a downgrade. As long as you're polite, it should never be an embarrassment to advocate for yourself.

I did not say it was rude to ask. I said I would not try to make the CM make a change, and I would not.

 

[Micca]

If the downgrade affected a view or location I could suck it up. If the downgrade affected the number of beds or room size there would be a problem.

 

[BayouQueen]

Nobody can rain on my vacation parade; I'm always gonna have fun, but....

I had the experience of booking a two-queen-bed room at a Disney resort, and upon arrival was given a king. Even though we were a party of unrelated adults. I was given a breakfast coupon as apology -- told that absolutely no other rooms were available.
We managed okay, but at $600 a night, we were not comfortable and I always think of this experience when booking a Disney vacation. Any other hotel at those rates would do something to correct the problem.

My approach to it is "two times shame on you; three times shame on me." If this kind of thing happens again, I won't book another Disney hotel. I would just feel foolish if I did.

 

[Nancyg56]

Nobody can rain on my vacation parade; I'm always gonna have fun, but....

I had the experience of booking a two-queen-bed room at a Disney resort, and upon arrival was given a king. Even though we were a party of unrelated adults. I was given a breakfast coupon as apology -- told that absolutely no other rooms were available.
We managed okay, but at $600 a night, we were not comfortable and I always think of this experience when booking a Disney vacation. Any other hotel at those rates would do something to correct the problem.

My approach to it is "two times shame on you; three times shame on me." If this kind of thing happens again, I won't book another Disney hotel. I would just feel foolish if I did.

This is something I could not manage. I can live with a longer walk, a different view, but I am not sharing a bed unless I have already chosen to do so. Unless I arrived in the middle of a hurricane and th eentire resort complex was dealing with unforeseen circumstances, there would be some sort of change made. I am pretty easy going, but I would speak to a manager in this case.

 

[sandyplayer]

Some people care about the view in their rooms, others do not. For my family, the view is a huge part of the room we choose. And we don't go to Disney nearly as often as so many people on these boards. Knowing we won't be back for another 4-6 years makes just dealing with a change that we carefully researched that much more difficult.

We have stayed at Poly Hawaii with a theme park view. I mean, downgrade from that? It was the entire reason we chose the Poly and the absurd price: the club level, the view, the proximity to the pool.
We have also stayed at Boardwalk, view of the Boardwalk/water. Honestly, now that we stayed there, it wasn't a big deal and would be ok with garden view. But we had a deluxe and with the kids it was the reason we chose it. If they gave me a smaller room, not a deluxe, I'd be miffed.
This time we booked a water view at Grand Floridian. My fave part of every vacation day is getting up and having coffee while looking at the water. Switching to a garden view may be ok, but may not.

And I check in online 60 days out, so I would expect some sort of inkling that there is a problem before getting a text that my room is ready. A call to say it may be a problem, and ask what I would like to do, would be nice. Maybe I would choose another resort, and could save time if I didn't have to go to the hotel and find out my room changed.

Give me options too! If something happened, I could be upset, but if you gave me options: same category/different resort, upgrade/different resort, split stay to get partially the room we wanted....a discussion would be nice. Not just, "here's your room, be happy we gave you SOMETHING, because legally that's all we have to do, and you're at Disney, damnit, so you had better be happy. And you can bet I would be asking about all those club level rooms/suites (and looking online if there is availability) and see if maybe we can upgrade for a night until they sort out the problem.

I will be happy on my trip. Many think it's an either/or. I can be mad, and expect more, and still walk away once a decision has been made and have a great time. But if Disney takes my money for a room 6 months out, and then rest of the nights 45 days out, and I have done online check-in, then I think I can expect Disney to try to make me happy if they messed up and overbooked.

 

[BayouQueen]

This is something I could not manage. I can live with a longer walk, a different view, but I am not sharing a bed unless I have already chosen to do so. Unless I arrived in the middle of a hurricane and th eentire resort complex was dealing with unforeseen circumstances, there would be some sort of change made. I am pretty easy going, but I would speak to a manager in this case.

I did speak to a manager. I spent a long time at the front desk and I'm not a particularly passive person. They really dug their heels in that there were absolutely no other rooms, and finally I was getting so upset that I just gave it up -- didn't want to be boiling over and totally wreck my time.

Honestly, I hate to even share this experience because there is this one bad event on one hand and then many, many wonderful experiences on the other hand.

 

[Nancyg56]

I did speak to a manager. I spent a long time at the front desk and I'm not a particularly passive person. They really dug their heels in that there were absolutely no other rooms, and finally I was getting so upset that I just gave it up -- didn't want to be boiling over and totally wreck my time.

Honestly, I hate to even share this experience because there is this one bad event on one hand and then many, many wonderful experiences on the other hand.

Yikes! This is the experience I would remember too. I am comfortable sharing a bed with my family...so my DDIL or DD, but when traveling with friends, this would be very difficult for me. I do hope that I could be graceful about it, but Jeepers, that would be hard.

 

[LilyWDW]

Would I be "happy" about it? No, I would be disappointed just like anyone would.

That said, I also know what the fine print says and, as long as Disney refunds me the money, I would deal with it. I might ask if there are any other options, but I wouldn't push the issue or make a scene.

 

[jerseyjersey]

I will be happy on my trip. Many think it's an either/or. I can be mad, and expect more, and still walk away once a decision has been made and have a great time. But if Disney takes my money for a room 6 months out, and then rest of the nights 45 days out, and I have done online check-in, then I think I can expect Disney to try to make me happy if they messed up and overbooked.

I so agree with this--it's not an either/or. I would be disappointed, and perhaps even frustrated, depending upon the change. But I would make the best of whatever the end result would be. Several posters seem to be equating being disappointed with having a temper tantrum and/or allowing it to ruin one's vacation. While that may be true for some people, I don't think it's the case for most of us, and it certainly isn't an automatic cause and effect.

 

[Disneylover99]

I did not say it was rude to ask. I said I would not try to make the CM make a change, and I would not.

If you're disappointed, why not? It's your vacation. It never hurts to ask.

I guess I just can't imagine accepting a downgrade you're not happy with without asking if there was a possibility to be moved back to your original room category. I'm definitely not talking about making a scene.

 

[Micca]

I had the experience of booking a two-queen-bed room at a Disney resort, and upon arrival was given a king. Even though we were a party of unrelated adults. I was given a breakfast coupon as apology -- told that absolutely no other rooms were available.

So Disney knew the room was being shared by 4 adults and expected them all to sleep in one bed? That's insanity! Were all other resorts full? Did you have to stay in the single bed room the whole trip? That's awful!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So Disney knew the room was being shared by 4 adults and expected them all to sleep in one bed? That's insanity! Were all other resorts full? Did you have to stay in the single bed room the whole trip? That's awful!

I could be totally wrong but I took their statement to mean 2 unrelated adults (hence the request for two queen beds with each adult in their own bed) which would make sense that they (meaning Disney) view the ability to put 2 adults in a king bed the same as 2 adults in 2 queen beds. Again I could totally be wrong.