Getting an upgrade...what's the etiquette?

[aubriee]

I've received several free upgrades, but would never ask for one. To me that's just rude and puts the CM in an uncomfortable position. Looking at it from a CM's view that would be the one person I would not upgrade (would feel like they were asking for something for free, that they were not willing to pay for). Plus there have been numberous resort CMs that post here on the DIS, say that asking for a free upgrade is the best way to assure you do not get one. Saying that, as an AP holder I go to WDW 4-6 times a year and have been upgraded from standard views to water/pool views multiple times (usually have the best luck at CSR for some reason). However, I have also been upgraded to water views at YC and BW and just last month (Sept 1st-8th), we had booked a pool view at AKL and found we had been upgraded to wonderful Savanna view facing the Arusha Savanna. We arrived at AKL around 4:00pm, so was not a early check in. We had been apparently been upgraded prior to arrival, by the room assigner, because as soon as the desk CM put our info in, he smiled and told us we had been upgraded to a really nice savanna room, in that first pod of rooms, so really close to the lobby. I thanked him and asked why. He smiled back, said "Pixie dust abounds here", then laughed, pointed at my 79 y/o mom, who was with me and said, "No, really it was because of her". In other words, he didn't know. I always book the category I know I will be happy with, and if I get an upgrade it's just pixie dust. I'd definitely book a pool view, instead of a standard room at AKL. The price difference is only like $10.00/night.

 

[DebbieB]

I was told recently by a CM that they actually encourage asking for upgrades. She told me they would rather see an empty room get used than it just sit there. I figure it doesn't hurt to politely ask if there are any rooms available and how much it would be to upgrade. If they come back and the price is too high, then you can politely decline. But I am guessing that in the end, they will probably give it to you anyway, depending on your attitude. I would think most of the CM's like to pass along some magic to people. My guess is your attitude will help with them wanting, or not wanting, to pass that magic along to you!

I used to travel on business frequently to St Paul MN and always stayed at the same hotel. I got to know the front desk guy and one time I was given a complimentary upgrade to a small suite. The last 2 or 3 times I stayed there, they were asking if I wanted to pay for an upgrade. I said no, I'm on business. The front desk person said "well you can pay the difference yourself". No, sorry. The way they were pushing it, my impression was they were getting compensated for each one they sold.

One thing to keep in mind is there might be empty rooms on your arrival day but they have to look at the entire length of your stay to be sure that they don't take a room that is reserved later. So the longer your stay, the less likely there will be an upgrade available.

 

[reiella]

Somebody would ask to be moved just because a snake was in the room? Cowards, cmon dudes, it's Florida.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2116495 is a fun thread. It does have the fun link to someone finding a snake's nest in a room at the Contemporary.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

On a prior trip staying at ASMu we were traveling with family members who had a family suite reserved (we had two standard rooms reserved). At check in I nicely asked the CM if it would be possible to be upgraded to be placed near the other family members and they cheerfully accommodated us--one family was upgraded from standard room to family suite and the other (DH and I) were in a preferred room just a few rooms away. It was greatly appreciated!

 

[fla4fun]

While I sort of understand what you're saying, I have to wonder. If I checkin at POR, and ask if there are any upgrades available, you are saying that the CM say it's better to fill an empty room?? But, the room I would have been in is now empty as well. So, there are still going to be the same number of empty rooms.

Think of it from this angle . . . .

If you booked a standard view room, that is the cheapest room in the resort. If they can move you to a more expensive room that didn't sell, then someone else looking for a bargain may book that standard view room (hotels do still get walk in traffic). They would be more likely to sell the lower priced room to a walk in at rack rate than they would a higher priced preferred or water view room. They might also want to free up the standard view rooms to allow upgrades from an overbooked value resort. The POR guest is happy because they got a preferred or water view room upgrade, and the value guest is happy because they got a value to mod upgrade. If the lower price room goes unsold, then they are no worse off financially because the same number of rooms are occupied.

Of course, they could have just been overbooked in a specific category and not wanted to say so, and so given the "empty room" story instead. No hotel wants to admit they overbook, even though they all do.

I don't see anything wrong with asking how much it would cost to upgrade from your current room category to a higher one. I do think it's a bit rude to expect to get the upgrade for free. If they give it to you free, great, but paid upgrades are often cheaper than it would have been to book the higher category in the first place, so it can still be a winning situation.

 

[reiella]

I don't see anything wrong with asking how much it would cost to upgrade from your current room category to a higher one. I do think it's a bit rude to expect to get the upgrade for free. If they give it to you free, great, but paid upgrades are often cheaper than it would have been to book the higher category in the first place, so it can still be a winning situation.

While this holds true for many hotels, I feel it's important to clarify for Disney Resorts [at WDW anyway] upgrades at the desk are going to be at rack-rate. However, that is a scenario that is pretty unique to Disney so it works as a polite way to probe without coming off as "what can you give me for free?".

As you said, a lot of the time at Disney it's overbooking. Another aspect that's harder to pin down is when the cost of operating the rooms is actually similar or the same. Waterview doesn't cost Disney any more to operate than standard view, you're really just paying a premium for demand. So it can build good customer relations with an upgrade at negligible cost to the resort. Or there are instances like CL where the other services tied to the room have a cost rate that's going to be felt if the room is attended or not [the CL cast member is going to get paid even if they're doing the maytag repairman schtick all day].