$20 Trick ??

[Terry B]

Anybody ever try the "20 dollar trick" ? This is where you discreetly ask about an upgrade to your room, either a better view or maybe even a suite. If they deliver for you then the front desk clerk gets the $$$. I have tried this several times on my travels to Las Vegas and have done quite well. You never know until you ask, all they can say is no... Thanks.....

[TFMont]

I know people who have done it at the Hard Rock Hotel and they've gotten an upgrade but I don't know of anyone who has tried it at a Disney resort. You are right though, it is worth a try!

[DeeP]

I sincerely doubt it would work at Disney. I would not be surprised if that would not be grounds for the CM to be terminated or at least put on suspension.

[TigrLvsPooh]

I've never heard of that one!

[WDW2002]

IMO, if you want the view or a certain room, then reserve that room and pay for it.

[Kermit]

I don't think that kind of stuff is supposed to work at WDW. I know it goes on at hotels and restaurants all over the "real world," but WDW employees have strict rules about who can accept tips and gifts. They have to decline 3 times, and then they can accept it, but they have to give it to charity. I guess it's possible with that many employees that it could work with someone, but I wouldn't even try.

[the Legend]

Which trick did you do?

I hear the one where you rip the $20 up in front of the CM and then pull it from there ear goes down a charm ...

The even better trick is the showing the $20 note that looks like a $100 note ... that one works everytime!

:p

[dalepool]

Quick story; midnight check in at Disxie landings. no room--they put us up for 10 nights at OKW 1 bedroom. (boy did we get spoiled) food service at OKW closed. Now for the Magic...our bell man sees myself DD and DD friend waiting for a bus somewhere to pick-up some kind of food---he tells us no more bus service for the evening. As we start to figure out we are going to have to go to bed hungry---Bell guy returns with the WDW van. Asks if he can drive us to goodings. ( now I would never get into a van with a stranger--I had over heard him ask the desk manager if he could help us out) What a great guy----he even pushed the grocery cart for me and carried bags of food into room during a thunder storm. ( kids were only 9) Well here is the good part as I went to tip him $30.00 he refused----I think it took me 10 minutes to finally talk him into accepting the gift as it was only money where he had given the best gift of all his kindness!!!!!!I don't think Disney upgrades by slipping a $20.00 to the desk clerk---I think they up-grade when the opportunity comes open---becasue those upgrades really spoil you. Like I said we were spoiled by their kindness and after that first visit we have always stayed deluxe--1 bedroom. I would ask at check-in and I might think the only thing needed would be a smile. Sorry turned in to a long story.

[RobinLyn]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful story dalepool!! Now that's a Magic moment we all would like to have happen in our time of need (at midnight, in the rain!), especially at the start of a vacation. These kind of employees is what Walt Disney had in mind to hire and what can make WDW stand out when it happens. I'm glad to hear he finally took the tip!

RobinLyn :D

[kel3420]

Are you perhaps a Vegas traveller, lol?

This is a common thread on Vegas boards, but I have never seen it done or even discussed at Disney :)

[Yachtman]

Originally posted by WDW2002
IMO, if you want the view or a certain room, then reserve that room and pay for it. Hi WDW2002- Havent you ever heard of Capitalism and the free enterprise system? There is nothing wrong with trying to improve your situation in the most expedient and direct manner. If you can get a nicer room or view by slipping somebody a $20 or a $50 I say go for it. Greasing the right person is a long standing American tradition.

[sha_lyn]

If you can get a nicer room or view by slipping somebody a $20 or a $50 I say go for it. Greasing the right person is a long standing American tradition.
SO cheating the system and breaking hotel policies is an American Tradition? Oh please. Just because a few ruthless people get away with cheating does not make it right.

[Trekker]

My, My it appears another thread is headed down that horrible avenue that so many have recently.

Please keep comments on the topic at hand, tipping to recieve an upgrade. Which is common at many hotel locations, but unheard of as far as I know at WDW!

Please refrain from comments directed as a critizism of other posters...

[BrianD]

If I were to fax a $20 bill with my room requests, would that increase my chances of getting what I want?

[Trekker]

Brian

I think it would depend if it was a two sided - color fax or not!

[RobinLyn]

LOL!!

[helenk]

My last trip to WDW I got a free upgrade at the YC, I had not even asked. I made mention that during our last trip we had stayed at the GF but the YC was much nicer...maybe that did the trick. I would not have thought to offer money to upgrade.

[CaliforniaDreaming]

My aunt (a frequent Las Vegas traveler) tried this one time at Coronado Springs, to go from a standard room to a junior suite. She wrapped a $10 bill around her credit card, and handed it to them and asked for an upgrade to a junior suite. They told her what the upgrade cost would be, and asked if she wanted the $10 applied to her room account. She figured it would work just like it does in Las Vegas (she's gotten upgraded to junior suites at the MGM Grand every time). :rolleyes: Not sure how often this works at Disney Resorts, I've never personally tried it.

[babar]

I'm just wondering if $20 is enough anymore!! If it was me, I'd look at you like, yeah right, try again!!


Good luck if you try it! If it doesn't work, just chalk it up to experience!

[travelitis]

"Ruthless people ...cheating the system"

Exactly what system do you mean? Is that the one where the hotel companies offer discounted rates they don't tell you about unless you ask after they've offered a higher rate? (Holiday Inn and the Great Rate for one) As long as you got the room type you booked, what does it matter to you if someone else is saavy enough to ask if upgrades are available? I hope you didn't think that just because someone has a better room at the hotel they necessarily paid more than you. The hotels, cruiselines, and airlines made the game rules, and some people just play them better than others. I've never used the $20 tip approach for upgrading, but I don't begrudge anyone who does.

[Trekker]

One more time...........

Please keep comments on the topic at hand, tipping to recieve an upgrade. Which is common at many hotel locations, but unheard of as far as I know at WDW!

Please refrain from comments directed as a critizism of other posters...

[Poohfanatic]

I see nothing wrong with doing this. It is not "cheating the system," it's just being smart. It seems as though some people would rather "do the right thing" and pay more rather than have a little cunning and save some big bucks. I think this is at least worth a try and if it works, then so be it. It's bad for Disney, not you, and it isn't your fault either, it's the receptionist's.

[Geoff_M]

Tip: A monetary gift given personally to an employee in appreciation after a service is rendered.

Bribe: Monies paid personally to an employee in advance as a quid pro quo for preferential treatment or service.

The "$20 Trick" isn't part of "the system" I care to engauge in. Bribery and corruption are things that keep a lot of countries from pulling themselves up into the industrialized world and I don't care to encourage it here. If you like this trick, see if an "Andrew Jackson" along with your drivers license will get 5 MPH knocked off your next speeding ticket.

Poohfanatic,

I "did the right thing" at the Dolphin in May and it paid off and didn't cost me a dime. I told the clerk that this was my family's first time at the Dolphin and if there was anything she could do to make the stay a memorable one I'd be enternally grateful. She checked with the manager and we were selected as one of their "100 Honorary Check-ins" as part of WED's 100th BD celebration. We got an upgrade in our room, a free large plush Mickey, and a special pin to boot. All for free.

[Poohfanatic]

I'm not saying that you should try use money as a bribe. I'm saying that if you feel the need to, there isn't anything wrong with doing so. I probably wouldn't. And your case is probably the exception, not the rule.

[Geoff_M]

And your case is probably the exception, not the rule.
You'd be surprised how often it works! We've gotten lots of extras just by being nice and asking politely. The nicest thing is that our kids have picked up on it too. It's good for them to know that you don't have to have money to get perks and priviledges.

You never know until you try!

I'm not saying that you should try use money as a bribe.
Well, what exactly then is the "$20 Trick"???

[Poohfanatic]

All I meant was that I'm not suggesting this "trick," but I feel there is nothing wrong with doing it. And I still do not feel that asking for an upgrade/special treatment works all that much.

[Geoff_M]

Well, I'd guess that works for us at WDW and non-WDW hotels alike about as much as trying to bribe people does. The difference with my approach is I'm not out $20!

[dg39]

How to get an upgrade......A complete mystery..........Good luck to all of us. If your able to get an upgrade, regardless of the tactics you use, good for you. If you don't get an upgrade, regardless of the tactics you use, your still at disney getting what you paid for, so everybody wins. Hope everyone enjoys their vacation and hope everyone gets alittle extra magic.