Have you ever had a room upgrade?

[tinkerjo]

I know it would never happen to me, but just wondering if you have ever got a room upgrade. We rented points for a trip to Copper Creek and DD keeps asking how cool it would be if we got some pixie dust and upgraded us to a cabin (right now it’s a 2 bedroom villa which we are very excited about) just wondering if it has ever happened to any of you out there

 

[SleeplessInTO]

I got upgraded from standard view at Boardwalk to a pool/garden view. Still a studio. Two nights. I was pretty thrilled.

 

[Boopuff]

A few years ago I booked a "dumpster" view room (kidding! standard view) at BC. When we arrived, checked in at the desk, CM asked if we were celebrating, Yes! my DD college graduation. Well we went up to our LAKEVIEW room! Now whether or not the CM worked magic, who knows. Loved the balcony view!

 

[Sandisw]

DVC upgrades are rare and pretty much only happen when there is an issue with your room.

Since Covid, they have happened more often but still rare.

It’s not like when going on a cash stay because DVC occupancy is close to 100% most of the time.

And, as a renter, if you asked and was granted, there is a good chance the owner could get charged the extra points, because your reservation is with that owner and not Disney.

In over 13 years if ownership, I have gotten upgrade twice…both since Covid..and both because my room had an issue..one was a two night trip at VGF and the other was a one night trip at RIV.

 

[Sandisw]

A few years ago I booked a "dumpster" view room (kidding! standard view) at BC. When we arrived, checked in at the desk, CM asked if we were celebrating, Yes! my DD college graduation. Well we went up to our LAKEVIEW room! Now whether or not the CM worked magic, who knows. Loved the balcony view!

This must have been a cash stay correct as BCV does not have views

 

[MsT82]

DVC upgrades are rare and pretty much only happen when there is an issue with your room.

Since Covid, they have happened more often but still rare.

It’s not like when going on a cash stay because DVC occupancy is close to 100% most of the time.

And, as a renter, if you asked and was granted, there is a good chance the owner could get charged the extra points, because your reservation is with that owner and not Disney.

In over 13 years if ownership, I have gotten upgrade twice…both since Covid..and both because my room had an issue..one was a two night trip at VGF and the other was a one night trip at RIV.

I assume this doesn’t happen (2nd to last part) if you don’t ask but get upgraded for operational reasons?

 

[Sandisw]

I assume this doesn’t happen (2nd to last part) if you don’t ask but get upgraded for operational reasons?

If they have to move you because the room booked was out of service, then no, the owner does not get charged. Sometimes people have to be moved to a different resort.

Typically if the move needs to happen it simple shows up on MDE and doesn’t come up at check in.

Many owners now even include it in contracts that a renter agrees not to ask because CMs in the hotels don’t always make it clear it will be a change in points because the guest asked.

We did once ask ti upgrade the day we arrived atBWV because we had a different view than our guests and because they had a room in the category they had, and I had the points, We got the new room and were indeed charged the extra points.

 

[MsT82]

If they have to move you because the room booked was out of service, then no, the owner does not get charged. Sometimes people have to be moved to a different resort.

Typically if the move needs to happen it simple shows up on MDE and doesn’t come up at check in.

Many owners now even include it in contracts that a renter agrees not to ask because CMs in the hotels don’t always make it clear it will be a change in points because the guest asked.

We did once ask ti upgrade the day we arrived atBWV because we had a different view than our guests and because they had a room in the category they had, and I had the points, We got the new room and were indeed charged the extra points.

Thank you for clarifying. I appreciate it. I have no plans to ask for an upgrade but I have rented points from a friend and would be mortified if they were charged should I be moved by Disney.

 

[Simba's Mom]

In 20 years of membership. we've never been upgraded in the size of the unit. However, just once, on a one night solo trip I was upgraded in the view I had. I had reserved a value studio, but when I checked in I found that they'd upgraded me for the one night to a full savanah view studio overlooking the arusha savannah.

 

[tinkerjo]

I would never ask for an upgrade. Like I said, we are thrilled with the villa. We have never rented DVC before. It was just something I was wondering about, and if it ever happened. (Not that I would ever turn down an upgrade mind you)

 

[Mle8308]

I would never ask for an upgrade. Like I said, we are thrilled with the villa. We have never rented DVC before. It was just something I was wondering about, and if it ever happened. (Not that I would ever turn down an upgrade mind you)

I was at Wilderness Lodge, BR cash about 2 weeks ago when we were awoken by literally jackhammers demolishing the room next door. We did not get upgraded. We had a 4th floor 1BR lake view and they offered a first floor "woodland" view for our remaining 4 nights (again, there are no view categories at BR, we requested a lake view and got one). We did receive other compensation, but no room upgrade. Not sure if I would have even moved to a cabin if offered, depending on the location. Some are just way too far away from everything - you are closer to Fort Wilderness than the Lodge in some!

 

[MinnieSueB]

We bought during Covid (4/20) was upgraded from a standard view studio at VGF to a 1 bd lake view and upgraded twice to preferred view at RIV which was great b/c fireworks weren't back yet at Epcot.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

We’ve had a safari view upgrade from a standard view at animal kingdom. Then one year our standard view 2-bedroom was literally turned into a safari view overnight in the middle of our stay. One morning no grass, no animals. Next day, poof! Full blown safari! Grass and trees included plus animals. It was a nice surprise! (In the picture below where the line in the grass was a fence, then it was gone)

 

[iteachlit]

We were upgraded in April 2021, from a SSR standard studio to a preferred one bedroom in The Springs. We almost felt guilty that the kids weren't with us. Almost.

It was a four-night trip and the only time we have been upgraded in 15 years of membership.

 

[PolynesianPip]

We booked a DVC room at Beach Club recently and hadn’t gotten assigned a room by check in time. Right about the time I was walking to the front desk to check on it, I got a phone call from a manager asking if we would be ok with a king bed room.

I said that would be fine and they said they had a room for us up on the fifth floor— club level. We had full club level access and amenities for the whole trip (4 nights) and it was AMAZING!


P.S.— I should also add the front desk was INCREDIBLY accommodating and helpful when it came to days of unexpected flight cancellations and frustration. They helped me extend and even allowed us to keep our room and our club level access without charging us the club level price for the additional nights we had to stay.

 

[lizziepooh]

Have owned for 20 years and NO upgrades.

 

[Best Aunt]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/free-room-upgrades.3834910/

 

[bobbiwoz]

I had booked a studio for one night after our DCL cruise for our 50th anniversary. The studio points were used, but nothing else, and we had two bedroom lake view.





Our view!

 

[crisi]

Not in 20 years.

The patterns seems to be that you are more likely to get upgrade if its a very short stay - i.e. if a room goes out of service it will be back in service in a day or two - barring something catastrophic. DVC books at a high occupancy rate and its unlikely that an upgrade is available for all nights of a week long stay, but there is often a night here and there available, So they will upgrade someone who is doing a single night before or after a cruise rather than tie up the room for a week (which isn't likely to be available).

It is also possible with DVC to find yourself in a different resort if the room gets pulled from service and nothing is available at the resort you booked. It RARELY happens, but it can.
And yes, asking for an upgrade can result in the upgrade - and points being removed from the owners account to cover the upgrade.

 

[AvidDisReader]

I was upgraded twice, both times at Animal Kingdom. First time we had a studio, and they were doing a soft goods refurb of the studio so we were upgraded to a 1 bedroom. The second time we had 2 studios and requested rooms that have connecting doors which we were assured could be done. However upon arrival the front desk advised there are No connecting studios in the resort. We asked to speak to a manager who quickly gave us an upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite. Both times no additional charge to us. Both times the Cast Members were extremely helpful and professional. The 2 bedroom was the first time we had ever stayed in one and made us sold on booking this anytime we traveled with another family. I kid you not in stating the 2 bedroom at Kidani Village had more square feet of living space than the first 2 bedroom house we bought when first married in the 1970's.