Hotel upgrade

[GATORGIRL]

Several threads have mentioned that Disney seems to be hurting for guests. If this is the case how easy do you think it is now to get hotel upgrades? Leaving for a trip in a week and just wondered if it would be worth calling.

Thanks for the info.

 

[NCWDWFAN]

My experience has been that Disney doesn't give upgrades too often when asked for. They tend to be initiated from Disney's side. When we stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, they upgraded us from a standard view to a savannah room. But that was when we were at the desk...and we didn't ask for it. But that's just my 2 cents.... Have Fun!

 

[DivineMadness7]

First, I was just there 3 weeks ago and to say they are hurting for guests....well, bookings may be down but don't expect parks or resorts to be empty. They struggled to find 2 rooms next to each other for us at POR.

Second, It's not really something that you (should) ask for and it's not really something they are going to do in advance. In happens at the desk, when you check in, if it happens at all. Honestly, if I were a desk CM and someone asked for something for nothing....I would be less likely to try to get it for them.

In all our trips to Disney, someone in my family was only ever upgraded once. My grandfather was upgraded from a Contemporary garden standard room to a suite in the garden wing.

I've read the stories about people being upgraded but I think it's few and far between. We've always hoped but never asked, because to be honest, it's a bit rude to ask IMHO. Just go and enjoy yourself.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I've never heard of anyone calling and getting a free upgrade.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I've never heard of anyone calling and getting a free upgrade.

Gatorgirl didn't mention "free".

If there's room at the Resort then you'll get an upgrade when you ask - 99% of the time you'll be paying for it

 

[ToTBellHop]

Gatorgirl didn't mention "free".

If there's room at the Resort then you'll get an upgrade when you ask - 99% of the time you'll be paying for it

That's true...I assumed she meant "free."

 

[Gig 'Em Mickey]

We got "upgraded" on our honeymoon. Moved up to concierge level. The only difference I noticed was they had some snacks for us every afternoon. But it was the Swan so technically not a Disney resort.

 

[GATORGIRL]

I certainly didn't mean free and didn't expect anyone to "GIVE" me anything. I simply meant that others implied that you could call and ask to "upgrade" resorts and get a better deal. For example, someone mentioned upgrading from Pop Century to Port Orleans for about $64.00. That is the kind of upgrade I'm in reference to.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I've only ever heard of that happening if there are new deals out--for example, the stay 4 nights, get 3 free promotion meant that many people already booked for the first half of 2009 could upgrade to a higher-tier resort for very little money. If there are any promotions available during your stay, it never hurts to call and ask.

 

[TowerOfTerp]

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=313944&highlight=upgrade

While Master Yoda is 100% correct, let me add that the Front Desk Cast Member is not the one who would determine a complimentary upgrade. This is done by the room assigners / managerment prior to your arrival. Past visits does not factor in as a first time visitor will have the same equal chance of an upgraded room. It is simply a randomly dertermined Disney Magical Moment!

I can't remember ever getting an upgraded room at WDW. DLP offered to upgrade us to one of their nicer hotels and when we declined they upgraded our room.

 

[Jekyll_Baker]

As far as I can remember, I've been upgraded most times I've stayed at WL or AKL, usually just a category up. Never asked for it (and I never would - that's rude). Just last week I stayed at WL, the reservation I made was for a woods view. I checked in, nothing special was said by the front desk CM, and I got to my room which turned out to be a courtyard view.

 

[krankenstein]

As far as I can remember, I've been upgraded most times I've stayed at WL or AKL, usually just a category up. Never asked for it (and I never would - that's rude). Just last week I stayed at WL, the reservation I made was for a woods view. I checked in, nothing special was said by the front desk CM, and I got to my room which turned out to be a courtyard view.

This was my experience at AKL as well. I had to book a standard view room because of the AP discount I was getting. I checked in, nothing was said by the CM at the front desk until she pulled out the map and told me we were going to be on one of the savannas. I have to admit that it was a nice little surprise.

 

[wesTcoastY]

Several threads have mentioned that Disney seems to be hurting for guests. If this is the case how easy do you think it is now to get hotel upgrades? Leaving for a trip in a week and just wondered if it would be worth calling.

Thanks for the info.

You can always try the "sandwich method"

When you hand the desk clerk your credit card and I.D. have a folded up $100 bill between the two. Or $50...depending on size of group and upgrade you are hoping for...

Works in Vegas!

 

[Scar Junior]

The only room upgrades we experienced were because of connections from someone "higher up." Ahh! Gotta love name dropping!

There was one exception: About 8 or 9 years ago we had a room that was just plain unacceptable... everything from broken A/C to cigarette smells. My mom complained about 5-6 issues within the first two days and we were upgraded. We were convinced the CMs just didn't want to have to deal with her anymore! We were also offered a better room at a MK Resort (but we don't really like those resorts, so we took the upgrade for the resort we were staying at). Keep in mind, this was during Easter/Spring Break.

I don't know that much about the upgrade process, but it can't hurt to ask for one.

 

[kennygman]

We were upgraded twice on our most recent trip. First was GF from standard to MK view and second was AKL from standard to Savannah view. Didn't request either, but was happy to receive them.

 

[kjd469]

How is this a "news or rumor"?

 

[pketelaar01]

I got a free upgrade last week at the Contemporary. Flew in on friday night stayed at pop, saturday am we went over to the contemporary and checked in, we had a garden wing room from expedia for $260. Ended up in the atrium level of the tower with a lake view. Beautiful. And the CM's were great, they held breakfast for us, then saved us a few beers during the fireworks. was great. and the upgrade was free. CM said bookings were turning in the higher end stuff need to keep numbers up.

 

[tecowdw]

I've been fortunate enough to receive complimentary upgrades quite a view times. AKL, WL, BC, Poly, OKW just to name a few. The AKL & WL are usually just a category higher (such as woods to courtyard or standard to savanna) but sometimes the Poly and BC have been up to concierge level. Every time I've stayed at OKW, I've been upgraded. In fact my last visit to OKW was a free upgrade from a studio to a 2-bedroom. Wow!

I always enjoy these nice surprises. Sometimes they tell me at check-in and sometimes they don't. It's always appreciated though. Now, I have asked for upgrades before too. At WL I asked if any concierge was available at check-in and they told me the rack rate price difference...I said okay to it (something like an extra $140 per night). However, she went to the backroom to upgrade it and came back to say it would only be $80 (upsell rate). I still like the complimentary ones best though.