On-line check in - upgrade

[JusticeDisney]

Using that type of logic I guess it's also unfair that some guests at WDW are getting 35% off their room rate and during that same time others might be getting 25% off. For example this December I got a 35% pin code that I used for a reservation the Boardwalk Inn, however a few weeks ago WDW released a 25% room only public offer for the same set of dates. It's not my fault I was able to take advantage of a great offer like that and WDW decides to drop it by 10% for the public offer.

I hear what you're saying, but that's not a true apples to apples comparison. In my hypothetical, one person consciously chose a lesser room for a lesser rate, yet despite that got a random upgrade. In your example, nobody intentionally chose a lesser room, only to be given a random reward. Plus, I presume (although I readily admit that I might be totally wrong) that you received the pin code with that better deal based upon your past visits to WDW and the resulting customer loyalty to you based upon that. Kind of like when a Vegas hotel/casino gives select customers better deals based upon their past business. Anyway, no matter how you want to look at it, I certainly wasn't saying that it is your fault (or anyone's fault for that matter) for being on the receiving end of a sweet deal. More power to you, is what I say!

 

[Master Yoda]

Why would an unsolicited upgrade be given? I mean, is it just a case where the hotel is not at full capacity so they just fill up the "better" rooms?

It hardly seems fair that one person has to pay, for example, for a water view, whereas another person is just handed the same view without having to pay for it. But I know, I know, life's not fair.

They are given for operational needs of the resort.

If a resort is at 100% capacity they are obviously not going to upgrade anyone. The free upgrades can come when they are not a full capacity and moving guests from one type of room to a better one will make things easier on the resort staff and overall operation.

It also happens when rooms go out of service for one reason or another. If that room happens to be the last standard room, the guest will get upgraded to the next available, better room.

Lastly it can also happen when a resort gets overbooked. In those cases guests are often upgraded to a higher resort level in a process called walking. I have seen guest go from a value resort to Saratoga Springs or Old Key West due to this.

 

[JusticeDisney]

They are given for operational needs of the resort.

If a resort is at 100% capacity they are obviously not going to upgrade anyone. The free upgrades can come when they are not a full capacity and moving guests from one type of room to a better one will make things easier on the resort staff and overall operation.

It also happens when rooms go out of service for one reason or another. If that room happens to be the last standard room, the guest will get upgraded to the next available, better room.

Lastly it can also happen when a resort gets overbooked. In those cases guests are often upgraded to a higher resort level in a process called walking. I have seen guest go from a value resort to Saratoga Springs or Old Key West due to this.

Thanks for that explanation. Makes total sense to me now.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

I hear what you're saying, but that's not a true apples to apples comparison. In my hypothetical, one person consciously chose a lesser room for a lesser rate, yet despite that got a random upgrade. In your example, nobody intentionally chose a lesser room, only to be given a random reward. Plus, I presume (although I readily admit that I might be totally wrong) that you received the pin code with that better deal based upon your past visits to WDW and the resulting customer loyalty to you based upon that. Kind of like when a Vegas hotel/casino gives select customers better deals based upon their past business. Anyway, no matter how you want to look at it, I certainly wasn't saying that it is your fault (or anyone's fault for that matter) for being on the receiving end of a sweet deal. More power to you, is what I say!

Maybe I have been lucky to get pin codes because of my previous trips to WDW. However I also read you might get them just by sending away for those Disney Parks planning DVD's or for just having a My Disney Experience account.

Also to my previous point don't you think some people might be upset if they found out other guests were paying less per night for the same room category, because some got 35% off and others got 25% off.

 

[dvitali]

Question : would free dining perk be consider a upgrade?
This November I tried to book a package deal with free dining at Pop Century for myself only but was told no room was available. Yet when I tried to a regular quick service or no dining there was rooms available. Both cases I ask for a prefer room vs a standard room. Still not understand why I as a single person was not able to get free dining.

 

[DaisyDoesDisney]

Question : would free dining perk be consider a upgrade?
This November I tried to book a package deal with free dining at Pop Century for myself only but was told no room was available. Yet when I tried to a regular quick service or no dining there was rooms available. Both cases I ask for a prefer room vs a standard room. Still not understand why I as a single person was not able to get free dining.

......because only a certain number of rooms at each qualifying resort are set aside for the free dining promotion (or any promotion). Once those are booked, there are no more rooms available for the promotion, even though there may still be vacancy in that room category.

Edited to add: ....and no, free dining is not something given as an upgrade. At least I've never heard of it being so.

 

[dvitali]

......because only a certain number of rooms at each qualifying resort are set aside for the free dining promotion (or any promotion). Once those are booked, there are no more rooms available for the promotion, even though there may still be vacancy in that room category.

Thank you

 

[Master Yoda]

Question : would free dining perk be consider a upgrade?
This November I tried to book a package deal with free dining at Pop Century for myself only but was told no room was available. Yet when I tried to a regular quick service or no dining there was rooms available. Both cases I ask for a prefer room vs a standard room. Still not understand why I as a single person was not able to get free dining.

......because only a certain number of rooms at each qualifying resort are set aside for the free dining promotion (or any promotion). Once those are booked, there are no more rooms available for the promotion, even though there may still be vacancy in that room category.

Edited to add: ....and no, free dining is not something given as an upgrade. At least I've never heard of it being so.

This ^^^

Availability of a promotion often has little or nothing to do with the physical availability of a room.

I have never once heard of free dining being given as a free upgrade or even as compensation for that matter.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Using that type of logic I guess it's also unfair that some guests at WDW are getting 35% off their room rate and during that same time others might be getting 25% off. For example this December I got a 35% pin code that I used for a reservation the Boardwalk Inn, however a few weeks ago WDW released a 25% room only public offer for the same set of dates. It's not my fault I was able to take advantage of a great offer like that and WDW decides to drop it by 10% for the public offer.

I wonder if getting a discount on the rooms gives you less of a chance of an upgrade. We always get the discounted rooms. We've never gotten an upgrade, and often go for special occasions. That's fine, I'm happy with just going. Also we typically only book 2 nights on property at a time, not a whole week.

 

[Master Yoda]

I wonder if getting a discount on the rooms gives you less of a chance of an upgrade. We always get the discounted rooms. We've never gotten an upgrade, and often go for special occasions. That's fine, I'm happy with just going. Also we typically only book 2 nights on property at a time, not a whole week.

I would suppose that it is possible, but I have never seen any data to suggest that it is happening.

I don't think I have paid full price for a room since the late 90's and I periodically receive upgrades. There was even a time when I was upgraded from a garden wing room to a tower room with a theme park view when staying at a convention rate.

It is also worth noting that upgrades are becoming increasingly rare because the resorts are running rather high occupancy making moving people around less necessary. This is is stark contract to the 3-4 years following the downturn after 9/11 where occupancy was in the basement and CM's were upgrading people left and right to increase guest satisfaction. During that time it was all but common place to be able to book a standard room at AKL and get upgraded to a Savannah room.

 

[Minnie's BFF]

I wonder if getting a discount on the rooms gives you less of a chance of an upgrade. We always get the discounted rooms. We've never gotten an upgrade, and often go for special occasions. That's fine, I'm happy with just going. Also we typically only book 2 nights on property at a time, not a whole week.

Nope, as I posted above, we have been very fortunate to get several upgrades and we don't go unless we get a room discount. We generally book 4 nights, arrive Monday, checkout Friday.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Thanks, Minnie & Yoda - good info.

Wow, my memory is getting so bad. I just looked at our old folios. Although I've been going almost every year since 1999, and every year since 2006, Our first time staying on property was just two years ago for one night LOL. Then the following year for one night. Early this year for 2 nights. Upcoming trip in 3 weeks will only be our second time staying 2 nights in a row. I don't think we've earned an upgrade, objectively LOL. But two more trips planned in the next 4 months...

Actually getting a resort at all was considered a big splurge. We usually stay off property at some $40 a night places - hardly ever in the room, anyway.

But you miss something when you're there for a day (even though they let us check in early both times) and then have to check out the next day when you go to the parks and not have a room to go back to LOL. That's why we started with the whopping 2 nights.

But we prefer the short trips, we're 3-ish hours away, don't have to take a whole vacation to do it, always leave wanting more - and it's easier to justify a higher end meal when you're only there for a couple of days!

Enjoyed this thread!

 

[polynesiangirl]

I have gotten surprise upgrades several times, and I do online check in every time with no (or basically no) "special" requests -- I almost never ask for a particular building or location, etc. just check in and show up.

 

[DisneyGigi]

I wonder if getting a discount on the rooms gives you less of a chance of an upgrade. We always get the discounted rooms. We've never gotten an upgrade, and often go for special occasions. That's fine, I'm happy with just going. Also we typically only book 2 nights on property at a time, not a whole week.

We were booked under the free dining pin code when we got upgraded last year.

 

[Ragetti]

I did recently. I booked a regular concierge room at the GF, checked in online and we got a lovely theme park view room. Very nice surprise!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

We were booked under the free dining pin code when we got upgraded last year.

Cool. Fingers crossed for September!