Free Resort Upgrades

[PurpleDragon]

I was talking with my wife the other night about our upcoming trip to WDW and she and I got on the subject of the free resort upgrades. Are these still given out? If they are do they just give them out randomly or is there usually a code you have to give the CM? I would love to stay at a deluxe resort but we can't afford it this year, would be nice to get an upgrade somehow. Anyone got any info on this sort of thing?

 

[luv]

Based on what I've heard from others, I've received a lot more upgrades than most. I think it's just a matter of luck...I probably showed up when they were short on rooms and lucked into it.

I never asked for an upgrade or if they were available. I never put a bunch of special requests and never added any sort of celebration to anything. I'm fairly pleasant IRL, but not peppy, enthusiastic or upbeat. So it wasn't my awesomely-excited Disney self, either. Didn't chat up the staff or tell them how much I just loooove Disney in order to push them into it.

I am never even thinking "upgrade." I'm just thinking, "Soon I'll be in the room and done traveling."

I really and truly think its just luck.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Also, be aware that an upgrade is virtually impossible if you have kids -- they tend to upgrade single travelers and couples if it can help them arrange blocks of rooms for other groups or meet other requests. People who normally stay in only Moderates might be offered a discounted upgrade to a deluxe (like Wilderness Lodge or The Polynesian) if the moderate they normally stay at is sold out, or if they have blocked off a building at the resort (French Quarter used to be the best for this -- at off-peak times they would close off Buildings 6 and 7 entirely and offer an upgrade to WL or Poly)...
You should also be aware that upgrades at some of the resorts might NOT be what you want...if you prefer to be close to the main building at Riverside, for example, an "upgrade" might put you in a building twice as far away as the building you normally request to stay in.
I always travel by myself, and go 4-5 times a year. I always stay at POFQ. I have been upgraded to river view rooms I would say at least half of the time. I have been offered upgrades to Wilderness Lodge at the same rate as POFQ on two occasions over the past 5 years. I never ask for upgrades, they are just assigned.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

My brother got an upgrade at AKL. They were booked in a standard room and there were computer glitches delaying check in, so they bumped him up to savannah room for free. My friend also got a really nice upgrade...they were staying at the GF and her now hubby had put on the reservation that he was proposing. Not sure what kind of view they had, but they were booked up from a room to a really amazing suite for free. NICE!

 

[Tiggerfanatic]

On my '08 trip, I took my sister and her grandkids to their first ever trip to the World. I booked a Garden room at the Contemporary. When they asked if I was celebrating anything special, I told them I had 3 first-timers. When we checked in, the CM handed Deb and the kids First Visit buttons, we left our luggage with Bell Services and headed for the MK. Went back to the the resort that afternoon, and found out the we had been upgraded to a MK view tower room, which was pretty sweet.

 

[disneygirl1]

Yep pretty much like Yoda said, I think they are rare and are only done on an as needed basis. We were lucky enough to get upgraded from a standard view to a savannah view at AKL in Dec 2010. The resort was at capacity, and we were told that savannah view was all they had available at the time. I for one sure didn't complain!

 

[CarlFredricksen]

I have never not been upgraded. In fact, twice we've been upgraded to the presidential suite - once at Wilderness Lodge and once and Coronado Springs, each for a week. I recognize it may be rare for some, however politeness and persuasiveness go along way.

 

[coachwnh]

we were upgraded at the YC this past Christmas. We were the last ones to check in that night (after midnight on Dec 21, actually 22) and had the ME to ourselves. They knew us by name. I joked we must be the last to check in. they said we were but they saved the best for last. we got a corner room overlooking the water. Windows on all sides and a great view of the BW!! we loved it!! This was our view.


Untitled by coachwnh, on Flickr