When should I inquire about upgrades?

Yellow Strap

Yellow Strap

Well-Known Member
Hey all,
Well the big family vacation is right upon us and we leave this Saturday for our 9 day stay at the Dolphin.
I have a small question...
How and when should someone ask about free upgrades at their hotel? You see this is a big vacation in more ways than one.
First besides my family(The missus and our son), my wife's Mom, Dad, sister(14) and her brother are coming too. This is might be the last BIG family vacation in a while as her brother will leave later this year for Military service.

As everyone knows budgets are tight, but I would love to make this a memorable vacation. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
 
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Y

ypcat

Member
Honestly, I'd find asking for a free upgrade in bad taste. What you could do upon check in is mention that your brother in-law will be entering the military soon and ask if any upgrades are available, knowing you may have to pay the difference. This leaves the possibility for them to surprise you without you asking for a freebe.

However, Dolphin is not Disney owned and may not be as likely to upgrade you. The worst they can say is nothing is available.
 
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maelstrom

maelstrom

Well-Known Member
Don't ask for a FREE upgrade. Just ask if there is anything better available. They may surprise you by giving you a free upgrade. Or they may tell you how much it would cost to upgrade. The Dolphin is owned by Starwood, not Disney, and I don't know how they are about upgrading people.
 
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Yellow Shoes

Yellow Shoes

Well-Known Member
Expecting something for nothing and then raising a ruckus because you don't get it is always in bad taste. (i.e., "Where's that Disney MAGIC I keep hearing about? I want conceirge, and I don't want to pay for it. Where is your manager!")

If you want some kind of upgrade, first off you need to do your homework.

What do you want?
How much would it cost to get it?


For example, a better view might be $50 per night more. If you know this, and are offered it for $20 more, that is a good deal.
But you wouldn't know that if you hadn't done some research.

My personal bottom line is that you should pay for what is important to you and not depend upon "the kindness of strangers."
 
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Jessie&Buzz

Jessie&Buzz

Active Member
I have no advice about free upgrades, but when we went in 2003 we got some cool things because my hubby had been in Afghanistan in the fall of 2002. He found out from a cm at our resort that if he went to guest relations at the parks they may do something for him. At MGM we were in the front row (behind the handicap section) for the Beauty and the Beast show. Return to Zero (opening act) called our family up in front of the stage and the whole stadium sang the National Anthem in our honor. It was an awesome and chilling experience! At AK we got to be setted for the Lion King show before the general public. We didn't return to Epcot after finding out about this and they didn't do anything in the MK. We did get to spend some extra time with Cinderella and Aurura in Toon Town, but that was because we were a large group (10) and the last let into the room. The mice needed some cheese so they didn't chase us out. Also Cinderella wouldn't give me my son back. He was 5 months old.

I suggest at least asking if they will do anything. I don't know if they still will or not. I must say that it was the best trip ever!
 
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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
Sadly the situation that Yellow Shoes described is not a parody or an exaggeration, I have witnessed people do this very thing while checking in. If you want to find out what upgrades are available and pay for them call the resort and inquire about them and reserve what you can afford.

If you are looking for free upgrades the surest way not to receive them is to ask for them. Disney's policy is to upgrade only for operational needs of the resort. If upgrades are available you will be charged the difference. The Dolphin is not a Disney hotel but I can't imagine their policy being much different.

The best advice I can give is be nice to the person checking you in. Engage in small talk about your vacation and hope for the best.
 
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tigsmom

tigsmom

Well-Known Member
I'm another that thinks asking for free upgrades is in poor taste. In all the years that we have been going to WDW we have been upgraded (for free) just once and that was because the specific room we requested was not ready for us when we arrived.

I'm a big believer in paying for the best vacation you can afford and then enjoying it. There are many things you can do for free (or at a low cost) once you arrive that will make this trip extra special. Take a ton of photos (make extra copies) and see that everyone gets an album when the trip is over. It is not the "whats" that make a trip special, but the "whos" that you share it with. Go relax, enjoy and make some memories!

Ps: if somebody else in your group offers to pay for a "treat", don't argue...just let them. :wave:
 
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Yellow Strap

Yellow Strap

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thanks everyone. You prove time and time again why this is the best Disney site on the web! Rest assured I will not be asking for any free upgrades. That really was never my intent. I meant upgrades, in general.
If there are some, we will pay the difference.

Thanks again.
 
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slappy magoo

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
I've never had the stones to ask for anything free anywhere, unless the resort in question (and this has never happened in Disney) screwed up reservations so badly-taken my deposit, booking me in a smaller resort than what I paid for, then losing my luggage before it got to my room-I actually felt it's within my right to raise a ruckus.

I think the best thing you can try to do (and this is in no way a guarantee, and could still make you look foolish if you're not cool about it) is to make a lot of small talk with the person/people checking you in. Schmooze away. Talk about the special occasion that brings you there, or the problems you had in getting there, to get the CM "on your side" so to speak. It also helps if a manager is nearby, and you can engage him or her in the conversation as well. Then, if upgrades or amenities are available, they might offer you something. But if you ask for anything special at all, never imply you expect it for free, or even at a discount. Don't mention money at all. This way, if they can upgrade you for free, awesome. If they can offer you a discount, swell. If they expect you to pay full pop, there's nothing wrong with saying "Wow, that sounds incredible, but I just don't think we can do it, but thank you so much for letting us know."

Even that, to a degree, is kinda jerky, but anything more than that is, IMHO, definitely jerky. If you're the type of person who likes to complain merely because the squeaky wheel gets the grease, more power to you, but personally, it'd make me feel like a complete and total jackass, and it's the sort of thing that makes your children grow up into even bigger jackasses.
 
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blackerbys17

blackerbys17

New Member
Luigi said:
Rest assured I will not be asking for any free upgrades. That really was never my intent. I meant upgrades, in general.
If there are some, we will pay the difference./
Ummmm, I hate to be a stickler here but in your original post you actually wrote "How and when should someone ask about free upgrades at their hotel?" How could that not have been your intent if that is what you asked??? :confused:

I'm not saying it is wrong to ask, only I think it is wrong to say that it is not what you meant when clearly, it is what you meant. Please don't change your story just because you may be embarrased due to other people's reactions, it is better to be honest.

At any rate, I can understand wanting something for nothing. It is nice to get a freebie and I enjoy it as much as the next person. However, I would be horribly ashamed of asking for something for free. If I were you, at check-in I would say, "I'm really trying to make this trip special for my family. I would love to surprise them. Do you know if there are any upgrades available?" If the person checking you in says yes, ask "How much will that be?" If they say it is free, great! At least thay way you won't look like a jerk who was expecting something for free. And if there is a cost, you can decline the upgrade graciously.

I for one would never upgrade someone for free if they bluntly asked me for a freebie unless it was to make up for an error on the hotel's part. I know money is tight and this is a special vacation for you and your family but if Disney, or any other hotel for that matter, upgraded everyone who was in the military, served in Iraq, leaving for Iraq, celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, etc. for free, they would probably go out of business! After all, why would the rest of us pay for an upgrade when we could simply say we are celebrating a special occassion and not have to pay for it?

The point is, if anything is even available, the way you ask will be the deciding factor in what you get. Have a great trip!:wave:
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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slappy magoo

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
blackerbys17 said:
I for one would never upgrade someone for free if they bluntly asked me for a freebie unless it was to make up for an error on the hotel's part. I know money is tight and this is a special vacation for you and your family but if Disney, or any other hotel for that matter, upgraded everyone who was in the military, served in Iraq, leaving for Iraq, celebrating a birthday, anniversary, honeymoon, etc. for free, they would probably go out of business!
Click to expand...

I don't know if THAT is true, but it would leave them without expensive rooms for the people willing to pay for them, that's for sure!
 
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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
Luigi said:
Is there anyway to delete my post and this thread? I feel like a jerk, now. I really meant no ill-will by it.:(
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Not really. You could edit the original post but that is about it. I would not stress over it to much. It was a legit question. If there was a guaranteed way to get bumped from a standard room to a suite with concierge for free I sure would want to know about it.
 
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Yanks07

Yanks07

Well-Known Member
Luigi, Your post is fine. I go to WDW at least 2 or 3 times a year and always kindly ask about upgrades. Sometimes I pay a small upcharge and sometimes they just give it to me, sometimes I get nothing. I do not expect it, and if I don't get it I'm fine. Have a ball and keep posting. (ask when you check in)
I think you asked How to upgrade, not for everyones opinion on upgrading.:wave:
 
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slappy magoo

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
Luigi said:
Is there anyway to delete my post and this thread? I feel like a jerk, now. I really meant no ill-will by it.:(
Click to expand...


Dude, it's the internet. NO ONE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE! Relax! Nobody is pointing or giggling, you're amongst friends. Your question had no malice behind it or anything. As far as I'm concerned, you've been told by well-meaning but ill-informed people that there are things you can (nay, SHOULD) do to get some sort of better value out of your WDW vacation, the same way friends of mine tell me that a smile & 50 dollars to my cable installer will get me free HBO forever. And now you have a differing opinion from other people (who may or may not be better informed).

Look if it'll make you feel any better, my high school's choir was to supposed to play at the Mall in Washington, DC. I naturally assumed they meant a giant shopping mall, and I was held up to ridicule by the rest of the choir, plus the choir director and the bus driver.

How embarrassing was it? So embarrassing that I lied about it happening in high school. It was college. I definitely should've known better by then.

OK, everyone else, most embarrassing personal story. GO!

Feel better? :)

EDIT: I'm only editing my post to promise NOT to edit this post any further. I'm even going to let spelling errors slidde. <------- See?
 
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Yellow Strap

Yellow Strap

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
slappy magoo said:
Dude, it's the internet. NO ONE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE! Relax! Nobody is pointing or giggling, you're amongst friends. Your question had no malice behind it or anything. As far as I'm concerned, you've been told by well-meaning but ill-informed people that there are things you can (nay, SHOULD) do to get some sort of better value out of your WDW vacation, the same way friends of mine tell me that a smile & 50 dollars to my cable installer will get me free HBO forever. And now you have a differing opinion from other people (who may or may not be better informed).

Look if it'll make you feel any better, my high school's choir was to supposed to play at the Mall in Washington, DC. I naturally assumed they meant a giant shopping mall, and I was held up to ridicule by the rest of the choir, plus the choir director and the bus driver.

How embarrassing was it? So embarrassing that I lied about it happening in high school. It was college. I definitely should've known better by then.

OK, everyone else, most embarrassing personal story. GO!

Feel better? :)

EDIT: I'm only editing my post to promise NOT to edit this post any further. I'm even going to let spelling errors slidde. <------- See?
Click to expand...



Thanks!:D
 
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Yellow Shoes

Yellow Shoes

Well-Known Member
Luigi said:
Is there anyway to delete my post and this thread? I feel like a jerk, now. I really meant no ill-will by it.:(
Click to expand...

My dear, you have just PROVED that you are not a jerk!

Real jerks think that their behavior is just fine and that the rest of us are losers for not being obnoxious.
 
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