WWYD? offered free upgrade

[NJDISMOM]

I booked a few days after Free Dining came out. We've stayed at moderates and most recently AKL. I'm not sure how we qualified for the upgrade, but I'm glad we did!!

Now I'm just wondering how hard it will be to move from Pop to SSR. We've always rented a car before, but with ME, we probably not going to this time. Does it take up a lot of time transferring ? And since we will be checking in with Free dining, do we all have to be there ? I was considering just having me or DH go to check in, but wasn't sure.

 

[clombardi]

For those who got the free upgrade offer, how many times have you stayed at a Disney resort? I'm wondering if the free upgrades are being offered to those who visit WDW often, and would be prime candidates for DVC...

Also, out of all of your stays at a Disney resort, how many were at a value vs. a moderate vs. a deluxe?

Hmmm... it makes me wonder what Disney's marketing strategy is here.... Get the frequent visitors into a DVC resort and hope they will buy? Or get the frequent visitors who have mostly stayed at deluxe level resorts into DVC and hope they will buy? DVC is not cheap, so I'm wondering how they are "prequalifying" the guests that are being given the offers...

Interesting point...we have stayed deluxe 4 times, mod 1 time, and value 4 times...

 

[clombardi]

For those that received this e-mail, when did you book the original free dining offer? I am just wondering if they are sending them out on a day to day basis based on the first day of booking.

I booked August 26-31 on the first day free dining was available to general public.

 

[dis2cruise]

hey congrats to all......

We are coming in on august 27th and staying at the asmu
It seems to me that everyone who is getting this fantastic
promo is coming in on the 26th???

i called dw and asked them IF they might give out more codes
(i never get anything ) and the cm said i could happen
IF guests don't take this offer....hay why wouldn't you

 

[nbodyhome]

What are the dates that everyone is getting these offers for? I wonder if they are starting with earlier dates and maybe they'll roll along through September adding more?

It would be great, but I don't expect to get it!

 

[nanadeb]

I got my email this afternoon and checked with my husband. He was thrilled, too. So within a half hour of receiving the email, I dialed up Disney Travel and did the upgrade. I've got a one bedroom at OKW. I asked, and we still get the free dining.
The 9/1 to 9/8 stay at ASMu would have been only our second stay on property. We usually do timeshare exchanges. Disney had us logged as having visited 17 times with only one of them onsite.
I have the Disney VISA and booked first thing the morning the free dining came out for VISA holders.

 

[LanaJae]

When I used the upgrade to get a studio at SSR, I came on the DIS and saw that others got 1 bedroom villas. I called back and explained that I had upgraded today and asked if I could change it to a 1 bedroom. The CM was thrilled out of her mind when it worked! The difference is now $1700.00!

When I called back because of the sofa-bed at SSR, I asked if I could pay the difference for a one-bedroom and was told, no, all they could do was offer a studio at OKW, which I took. I wonder if it has to do with the number of days people are staying (or the dates). We are staying 8-27 to 9-1.

 

[tasha99]

We're staying 8/28 to 9/4 and I made the reservations on 5/8. Last year was our first trip and we stayed at CSR. I did order a DVC DVD just about a week ago, but the idea of me owning in DVC is I just thought it would be fun to dream about it . . .

This is the luckiest thing that's happened to me in a long time.

 

[M2DD's]

We booked on the first day they offered free dinning for visa card members. We are going 8-30 through 9-11. !3 nites at OKW+free dinning
I love saying OKW instead of all star sports.
laura

 

[tme0521]

I can't believe they actually do this at WDW!!! You guys are so lucky!! Have a great time!!!

 

[Boston5602]

Have any of you who got the free upgrade done so having booked a full package with Disney? My friend received the offer today too. When She called to upgrade CM said she wasn't able to because she had a package . Doesn't getting free food mean booking a package ? I'm trying to get her to call back and try again. Thanks

 

[dis2cruise]

I also bet that we didn't get the special email because me and my brother
booked under grand gathering. Now i do wonder how crowded will the parks are going to be if all of the values are booked solid?

One more question on the email that you rec'd what day do you have to respond to the promotion?

 

[Jewels*CPA]

Which resort would you all choose with a 2 year old boy? Old Key West looks more our style, plus it's closer..?? Are there any advantages to Saratoga that I might be missing out on? How are the pools?

I am still in shock from this offer I think...I was SO excited about getting POP, because I was first at ASMO...I have gotten myself so worked up about POP that I am just a little iffy about this offer...but the way it sounds is I should not pass it up!

I have another question for somebody who might know the answer...I have a preferred room at Pop...does anybody else who received this offer? I was wondering if I could downgrade to a regular room, THEN do my upgrade...it would save me around $80 I think...I know this is sort of cheating especially after disney was so nice to offer me this upgrade! Do you all think I should even try or do you think there are some sort of stipulations in the offer to not let me do this?

 

[LanaJae]

For those who got the free upgrade offer, how many times have you stayed at a Disney resort? I'm wondering if the free upgrades are being offered to those who visit WDW often, and would be prime candidates for DVC...

Also, out of all of your stays at a Disney resort, how many were at a value vs. a moderate vs. a deluxe?

Hmmm... it makes me wonder what Disney's marketing strategy is here.... Get the frequent visitors into a DVC resort and hope they will buy? Or get the frequent visitors who have mostly stayed at deluxe level resorts into DVC and hope they will buy? DVC is not cheap, so I'm wondering how they are "prequalifying" the guests that are being given the offers...

I stayed on-property once in May 2007 at ASMo, but reservation was in my mom's name. The only other time I was at WDW was for one cold rainy day in Jan. 2000.

For this trip I did the free dining package at Disney's website and I ordered it on May 6 (got home from WDW on May 4 and booked this 2 days later, I was hooked!)

Two other things that might've made a difference is that I paid in full about a week later, and I recently filled out an online survey about my experience with making reservations, and at the end, they asked if they could send me one after our trip and I said yes.

 

[laurabelle]

I booked my package on May 3, we're staying Aug 31- Sept 3. I don't think there's any rhyme or reason to this... it's pixie dust, it just gets scattered around! I love the YOAMD! I hope all the rest of you get dusted too!

 

[LanaJae]

I love you guys!

I just called back and said, I don't want to sound greedy, because I already feel like I've won the lottery, but other people who got the upgrade email got a 1 BR....

She checked and all the 1 BR are filled for my dates at OKW, but gave me a 1 BR at SSR. She thought that the reason some got studios instead of 1BR was the difference between having a reservation for a preferred vs. standard room at the value resorts.

 

[laurabelle]

Boston 5602- Have your friend call back. The first time I called the CM said it had just gone into the system and nobody could access it to book. Then I saw other Disers had booked it, so I called back. Got a great CM who had no problems booking it for me.

 

[brymolmom]

I couldn't believe it when I read the email...and then I was BUMMED because I was told we were the only family out of the 3 in our Grand Gathering that were able to move. Not much of a gathering if one family is in a totally different resort....so - I hung up. DH yelled at me and said this is the ONLY time we've ever gotten a code. So I called the other 2 families and they said to take it.

I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor - I said we have a grand gathering and I want to book all 3 of our rooms with this offer...and after about 10 min on hold - THEY LET ME DO IT!!!

I moved all 3 of our grand gathering families from ASMu from 8/27-9/3 to 3 -one bedroom villas at OKW! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! I'm getting OKW, all -inclusive (free dining) for 2 adults and 2 kids for under $1000!!! We have some old park tickets to use up so we only needed 1 day tix.

Congrats to everyone else who got it!

 

[tasha99]

I love you guys!

I just called back and said, I don't want to sound greedy, because I already feel like I've won the lottery, but other people who got the upgrade email got a 1 BR....

She checked and all the 1 BR are filled for my dates at OKW, but gave me a 1 BR at SSR. She thought that the reason some got studios instead of 1BR was the difference between having a reservation for a preferred vs. standard room at the value resorts.

I don't think that could be the reason because I had a standard room and got a 1 BR. I think anyone with a pin can get a 1 BR till they're gone (but who knows? I was going to get a studio, but I asked the cast member to please check on a 1 BR and she was pretty surprised it worked).

 

[LanaJae]

Trying to answer questions from above..

1. I booked resort, tickets, dining and magic express (no air)

2. Date to respond by is July 31, BUT with this warning under it: The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited.

3. As for pre-qualifying people for DVC, I doubt that's the case with me. I used my credit card to book and I haven't worked for several years, so although I have good credit, I don't have the income to trigger interest in me for DVC. My husband might, if all they need is a name - I'm the primary reservation maker on this trip.