WWYD? offered free upgrade

[kutchyone]

Congratulations to all that hit the Disney Lottery!

I do have one question, why would anyone consider not upgrading? For the life of me I can't figure that one out. Those one bedroom villas are great and offer so much more room. Loved the washer and dryer in our villa too.

Congratulations again.

 

[MELSMICE]

she got back on...they found a 1 br villa at saratoga springs...now i am back on hold...i don't think the pin code is working yet...YAY, A 1 BR VILLA!!!! This means I'll have a w/d and a full refrigerator and everything, right?! I am so excited!! if anybody can answer me quickly, which view would you ask for at saratoga?

Never stayed at SSR, just spent the day, but I'd ask for a water view if possible.

 

[MELSMICE]

Congratulations to all that hit the Disney Lottery!

I do have one question, why would anyone consider not upgrading? For the life of me I can't figure that one out. Those one bedroom villas are great and offer so much more room. Loved the washer and dryer in our villa too.

Congratulations again.

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[REL1203]

I got the email yesterday, and called at 4:55pm EST and got upgraded to the 1Br Villa at OKW. The CM said it was one amazing upgrade, with all the perks of a Deluxe resort. I am arrivings the 25th of Aug, for onen ight at Pop, then from 8/26-9/4 at OKW with my Wife (this is our 1year anniversary and our real honeymoon)... How awsome... Can anyone talk about the negitives that we are overlooking? Bigger resort, less busses, ect...

I was staying at Pop, and used my Disney Visa the first day possible to book my Free Dining Plan

 

[dclfun]

What dates were people booked for who got the upgrade email? I never get emails and a few times when I've called I was told I had a code attached ( but never got notice of it ). Apparently my email has been "turned off". I tell them to please turn it on, but then each time I call back for something and check on this issue, it's still turned off....sigh. If the dates coincide when we'll be there, I'll call and ask about this one. ---Kathy

 

[n2mm]

What dates were people booked for who got the upgrade email? I never get emails and a few times when I've called I was told I had a code attached ( but never got notice of it ). Apparently my email has been "turned off". I tell them to please turn it on, but then each time I call back for something and check on this issue, it's still turned off....sigh. If the dates coincide when we'll be there, I'll call and ask about this one. ---Kathy

Seems to be folks who are booked at value resorts over the labor day weekend.

 

[n2mm]

Ok I lied, I have one more question: Since these are DVC resorts but we are not DVC members, if we got the upgrade would we have daily housekeeping? I know DVC members only get housekeeping every 4 days, but I don't know how it works in this kind of situation. Anyone have any idea? Not that it's a dealbreaker or anything... heck at this point I don't think I can think of anything that would be a dealbreaker!!

Yes you get daily housekeeping because these are the DVC rooms that Disney owns, these are not the rooms that members own. Disney actually owns a percentage of each timeshare that they rent out. The rooms they rent are the same as any Disney resort and gets daily housekeeping.

After reading this thread, it does appear that only folks who are there over the Labor Day weekend are getting this offer.

Last year we were upgraded from Pop at checkin to the CSR and thought that was cool. So this is much better. Congrats!

 

[heath-and-javens-mom]

For everyone who booked package with TA, I just called and CM told me this offer is not avaliable to us (TA bookings). Shoot ,Had I known that we would not receive any pixie dust booking threw a TA I would have booked everything myself. Kinda upsets me a little! Anyway congrats to all of you!

 

[Davidsmommy]

Congratulations to all that hit the Disney Lottery!

I do have one question, why would anyone consider not upgrading? For the life of me I can't figure that one out. Those one bedroom villas are great and offer so much more room. Loved the washer and dryer in our villa too.

Congratulations again.

Well, for me, I didn't know I could get a 1 bdrm at the time - I thought I would get a studio. Which I still knew was a nice upgrade, but I was thinking the transportation would be spottier - plus I really didn't know much about either SSR or OKW. This trip for us is just my son and me, and will be pretty commando, so we won't be spending too much time at the resort anyway.

Of course, now that I have a 1 bedroom, I am STOKED and realized no matter what it is nice to try other places. Plus, I am thinking we may slow down a bit and relax more now. Lol!

 

[Davidsmommy]

Oh - I chose SSR because I live 30 minutes from the REAL Saratoga Springs, so I have always wanted to see it! So, I am excited about that.

 

[MiaSRN62]

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?

Both OKW and SSR have kiddie pools/play areas and both main pools have a slide (not that a 2 yo could use them though). But, SSR has zero depth entry which would be easier for them to enter and exit. So this is the only reason I think SSR might be better for a 2 yo. OKW room will be bigger, but SSR is practically brand new so may feel more modern---though it also feels more formal. OKW has more of a light, tropical feel.

I'm a DVC Member and have stayed at OKW several times. We have never had any trouble with bus transportation. I've noticed a few comments about the busses not running as late as other resorts or it being "spotty". We frequently do late EMH and stay until we're practically the last in the park, and the busses are always waiting for us.
I've stayed at many different wdw resorts (Contemp, WL, BC, BWV, POR, all the values) and I don't notice any difference. Average bus times are 10-20 min. OKW and SSR are very large resorts, but no more so than CBR, POR etc.

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

After I posted this (in extreme excitement... so much so i didn't read anything else) I came across the other thread and I realized I wasn't alone. I got our "upgrade" last nite and then found out i should've "asked" for a 1 bedroom villa (heck I would of been happy with a linen closet! ok... maybe not really...) but this morning when I called to verify and "ask" she very politely explained all villa's were already taken, so i guess i'll just HAVE to settle for a studio For just the 3 of us, we couldn't be happier

We booked our trip the moment free dining opened for Visa card holders... it loooks like that seems to be the only real reason those of us got the code, got it. also the general public offers that got their ressies in on those first couple of days seem to of gotten them too. I NEVER have this kind of luck so I'll take it and couldn't be happier... looks like alot of us Dis'ers will be at SSR and OKW on the 26th of August!!

 

[OneBadApple]

Congrats to all of you who were lucky to receive the upgrade!!!!!

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

after being told i could only get a studio.. you guys inspired me and now we have a1 bedroom too!!!! thanks guys!!!!!!!111

 

[LBelle]

Hi everybody!!!

Congrats to all who have received this fabulous upgrade!!!

I called last night as I was curious about the upgrade situation. Spoke to a really sweet CM and she told me that:

A) the emails are totally random.....luck of the draw and nothing else. We live in Canada and she said that there MAY be more sent out into next week, including being offered to us. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

B) the reason behind the upgrades is that there are still a ton of people trying to book for Free Dining. All the Values are long gone and that is what the majority are looking to book for this offer. Most people don't want to or cannot spring to stay at the OKW and/or Saratoga. Instead of all those units sitting EMPTY, WDW would prefer to take a hit on the cost of those units and then re-sell the value resorts to the folks still wanting to book. That is the reason for the timing. They need to give it enough time to see IF their units at OKW and Saratoga will sell or not. Looks like the OR NOT has won and those of us lucky enough to be bumped are the big winners!!!!

Now....needing some Pixie Dust for our Grand Gathering!!!!!

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Ok.... I called AGAIN and now we have a 1 bedroom too!!!!!!!! I am soooo not telling the big kids this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111

 

[OneBadApple]

Ok.... I called AGAIN and now we have a 1 bedroom too!!!!!!!! I am soooo not telling the big kids this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111

Congrats!!!!

I see that you are from Rochester. So am I.

 

[cocowum]

Woo hoo 1BR at OKW for us

 

[WendyisDarling]

B) the reason behind the upgrades is that there are still a ton of people trying to book for Free Dining. All the Values are long gone and that is what the majority are looking to book for this offer. Most people don't want to or cannot spring to stay at the OKW and/or Saratoga. Instead of all those units sitting EMPTY, WDW would prefer to take a hit on the cost of those units and then re-sell the value resorts to the folks still wanting to book. That is the reason for the timing. They need to give it enough time to see IF their units at OKW and Saratoga will sell or not. Looks like the OR NOT has won and those of us lucky enough to be bumped are the big winners!!!!

My bet is you are right on target with this logic. I have seen SO much advertising for Free Dining lately.

We were there last year the first day of free dining and for a few after. To be sure your trip remains magical, be warned to get those ADR's in place. While we were there, the folks that didn't have them were in a sad shape. I saw so many people turned away who thought they could just walk in and wait a bit. Disney called me twice before our stay to be sure we had ADR's (of course, we did. I am on the Dis Boards ). One TS we had was for a lunch and we wanted to switch while there. We were CL so I had them look at the spreadsheets...there were less than 6 openings for lunch anywhere that day! They were trading 2 CS for 1TS to accomodate (or I think you could get a lanyard and a CS in exchange for a TS credit) those w/o ADR's the whole time we were there. Do what we do best, plan.
I am absolutely thrilled for all of you who received this great upgrade. Hope even more Dis members get that email.

 

[mom2jacob]

Yes you get daily housekeeping because these are the DVC rooms that Disney owns, these are not the rooms that members own. Disney actually owns a percentage of each timeshare that they rent out. The rooms they rent are the same as any Disney resort and gets daily housekeeping.

After reading this thread, it does appear that only folks who are there over the Labor Day weekend are getting this offer.

Last year we were upgraded from Pop at checkin to the CSR and thought that was cool. So this is much better. Congrats!

From my email it looks like guest arriving 8/26 to 9/1. Our check in date is 9/1.