What could a great smile, pleasant attitude and a love of Disney get you at check in?

[gogo]

What could a CM at the airport possibly offer you? Are you referring to DME? I don't think they have a preferred seating section on the buses, which is the only thing they are concerned with.

As for the CMs at the Resort Check In, IMO they always try to provide the best possible customer service. 99.9% of the time they will be unfailingly courteous and try their very best to provide for your needs in a timely manner. THAT is good customer service.

A preferred room is a paid room upgrade. If you want an upgrade, then be prepared to pay for it. When a free upgrade happens it is usually because of operational requirements at the resort that day, not because they liked the look of your pearly whites. (Just like the airlines- when was the last time you got a free upgrade to first class just by asking?). I have never ever heard of a resort giving away park tickets. And fast passes are free to everyone.

If the success of your vacation depends on the ability to score freebies, then perhaps Vegas would be a more desirable destination for you.

I don't think the OP suggested that they needed freebies to enjoy their vacation. I understand the OP's question. And, in my opinion, I think its okay to ask for things such as a better room location, etc. I don't think you should expect it but what is the harm in asking?

OP, I don't think Disney is like other locations/resorts when it comes to getting upgrades as others have stated but you had a legitimate question. Not sure why some responses have to have a dig

 

[Missoutandabout]

I can only speak for myself, but no flames here. Just confusion over such high expectations.

I don't get it either. Of course, I'm of the ilk that'd rather pay for whatever room category we want and if anything above-and-beyond happens at check-in, we can chalk it up to getting a little dose of Disney magic. This subject tends to bring out the folks.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I don't see where anybody was flaming. OP got some straight forward and polite answers to his question though the answers weren't what he wanted to hear. Then OP went on to imply that it's poor customer service to not give things away for free and some of us questioned this thinking, again, very politely. How is anybody flaming, other than accusations of being mean for responding with anything other than "of course you're right in anything you say even if it doesn't sound reasonable"?

 

[Lynne M]

I travel a great deal for work and many times I have received great upgrades, even suites, by just asking. So I figured that may be a possibility here as well but I guess not.

I do not care or need a preferred room to enjoy my stay, but I didn't know if was even worth asking for if those so called perferred rooms are still available sitting there empty.

Ah, I got ya. The thing is, hotels that cater to business travelers are a totally different market than a mega-popular tourist destination.

The hotels you stay at for work need to do whatever they can to keep you staying there for future trips, instead of going to any one of the two dozen nearby Hiltons, Sheratons, Marriotts, Courtyards, Extended Stay Americas, etc. If throwing you a freebie now and then makes you book there next time in hopes you'll get another upgrade, it's all good. Hotels in that market have lots of competition and only so many ways to distinguish themselves from the hotel down the street.

WDW is a whole different story. They're one of the most popular destinations in the US, if not the world. They don't need to give away tickets, and they don't. They barely give discounts on tickets, let alone give them away.

Their resorts have built-in competitive advantages over off-site hotels: EMH, close proximity to the parks, onsite transportation, DME. That's the stuff they use to bait people into staying there, not free room upgrades. And if occupancy isn't where they want it, they break out the discounts and promotions like free dining.

 

[gogo]

I don't see where anybody was flaming. OP got some straight forward and polite answers to his question though the answers weren't what he wanted to hear. Then OP went on to imply that it's poor customer service to not give things away for free and some of us questioned this thinking, again, very politely. How is anybody flaming, other than accusations of being mean for responding with anything other than "of course you're right in anything you say even if it doesn't sound reasonable"?

Sorry, I think some of the responses imply that the OP thinks they are deserving of an upgrade when they simply asked if Disney does this. Believe it or not a lot of resorts and destinations other than Vegas do give upgrades when available and if you know to ask.

I agree that Disney gives upgrades when least expected and apparently not when asked. Can't speak for OP, but I think when someone states that you may want to vacation elsewhere if you are looking for freebies that was a dig. There is an undertone that if you ask for something more than you paid for you are greedy or cheap. Like I stated, some other destinations do this so I completely understand OP's question. Not everyone is a Disney expert.

 

[sndral]

I think some people don't realize the shear volume of people checking in and out of WDW resorts on a daily basis - they have over 25,000 resort 'rooms' of various sorts. I believe rooms are assigned by computer these days a few days before you arrive, and while they can be changed @ the guest's request but only w/in the same category if there's other rooms in that catagory available. If it's a very slow time the computer may have upgraded your room to a more expensive one as a marketing tool (hoping you'll pay for the upgrade next time,) or if they've oversold cheaper rooms the computer may have moved some people into pricier rooms to make room, or if an issue has developed w/ the room you were assigned you might be upgraded because no rooms in your category were available.
It's like a house of cards, different rooms are needed for different length stays, thus simply moving one assigned room can create chaos w/ other rooms down the road, especially when multiplied over thousands of rooms, hence the need to adhere to the computer's assignments. Stand alone resorts have less of a problem juggling a much smaller inventory of rooms than the huge Disney Resorts. People also sometimes get downgraded, especially from preferred rooms at the values and get a refund of the difference, irrespective of how friendly they are @ check in.
If you ask, please report back and let us know how it worked out for you.

 

[aaarcher86]

These threads just blow my mind.

It's so tacky to ask for something you didn't pay for. It's such an immediate turn off for the worker. And it's uncomfortable.

Pay for what you want and if something special happens then great.

 

[gogo]

Some are just afraid that others may get something that they didnt'. I personally would not ask and never have on any trip but to OP or anyone that does ask and get an upgrade of any kind, good for you and enjoy!!!!

 

[I Love Pluto]

If you want a preferred room I suggest paying for it.

When we want a Preferred room, that's what we do! We PAY for it - and smile, and act politely, etc.

 

[disnut8]

I travel a great deal for work and many times I have received great upgrades, even suites, by just asking. So I figured that may be a possibility here as well but I guess not.

I do not care or need a preferred room to enjoy my stay, but I didn't know if was even worth asking for if those so called perferred rooms are still available sitting there empty.

I get this. But you are on vacation now. You can ask but I wouldn't count on anything. You are at a vacation destination, not downtown New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles or San Francisco. Disney will assume you are a leisure traveler and will help you out just as much as the next guest.

Does that say Pixie Dust doesn't get spread around? No - but, you are more likely to get it by NOT asking for it.

We once had a horrible drive down to Florida, complete with my husband getting a speeding ticket for doing 73 MPH in a 70 MPH zone. Once we got to Disney World, the front desk person asked us how our day was going. We relayed the story and she responded by giving us a balloon from the lobby. Not an upgrade but it sure the heck made our day.

That's what you can expect at the most, the very most, with a smile and charm.

 

[lucas]

At check-in, they might ask if you are celebrating anything. If you are, they might give you a free button and write your name on it.

If you are staying at the Poly, you might get a free Hawaiian lei at check-in.

 

[DaisyD]

I can understand where the OP is coming from. We travel a great deal too but for pleasure and a nice smile and simple asking can get you free upgrades. Especially in Vegas. In WDW, not so much. LOL I've stayed there over 100 times checking in with a great attitude and smile and got just that back which was fine. I've been upgraded once and that was when we checked in online with nary a smile! You have to figure that there is so many people going to WDW greedy for the freebie whether it be a room upgrade, a stale cupcake for their Bday that happened 6 months ago that Disney just doesn't give stuff anymore. We were asked last week if we were celebrating anyting and indeed we were. It was a last minute trip for our anniversary which was check in day. We got buttons and I tell ya we had the best time with those. Everyone said happy anniversary to us and we met a lot of nice people doing that. Forget the room upgrade, that was much more fun!

 

[eliza61]

I can understand where the OP is coming from. We travel a great deal too but for pleasure and a nice smile and simple asking can get you free upgrades. Especially in Vegas. In WDW, not so much. LOL I've stayed there over 100 times checking in with a great attitude and smile and got just that back which was fine. I've been upgraded once and that was when we checked in online with nary a smile! You have to figure that there is so many people going to WDW greedy for the freebie whether it be a room upgrade, a stale cupcake for their Bday that happened 6 months ago that Disney just doesn't give stuff anymore. We were asked last week if we were celebrating anyting and indeed we were. It was a last minute trip for our anniversary which was check in day. We got buttons and I tell ya we had the best time with those. Everyone said happy anniversary to us and we met a lot of nice people doing that. Forget the room upgrade, that was much more fun!

Vegas is a different animal because the goal in Vegas is to have you STAY inside at the resort. They want you throwing you hard earned cash at those casinos downstairs. That's why they comp you all over the place with free booze, great rooms and great food at good prices. During the summer you can routinely get a fabulous room at the Bellagio or Cesears for under 200 bucks a night, without pin codes. Not so with Disney, disney is the opposite. they don't want you staying in the room or the resort, they want you in the parks and on site.
Also Disney has you as a captive audience. No matter what level you stay at, it's all disney profit.
Vegas once again is not like that. Most the of the properties are owned by seperate entitites so the competition is fierce to get you to come to their property. The headliners, the gourment chefs, the lounge headliners all are competing against each other. So there is a major incentive to get the reputation of upgrading your room.

 

[DaisyD]

Vegas is a different animal because the goal in Vegas is to have you STAY inside at the resort. They want you throwing you hard earned cash at those casinos downstairs. That's why they comp you all over the place with free booze, great rooms and great food at good prices. During the summer you can routinely get a fabulous room at the Bellagio or Cesears for under 200 bucks a night, without pin codes. Not so with Disney, disney is the opposite. they don't want you staying in the room or the resort, they want you in the parks and on site.
Also Disney has you as a captive audience. No matter what level you stay at, it's all disney profit.
Vegas once again is not like that. Most the of the properties are owned by seperate entitites so the competition is fierce to get you to come to their property. The headliners, the gourment chefs, the lounge headliners all are competing against each other. So there is a major incentive to get the reputation of upgrading your room.

I guess I wasn't clear in my post you are referring too. I was saying exactly that. That WDW is not like Vegas and don't expect anything free there. Heck, in Vegas we never pay to stay at the Bellagio or Wynn, any time of the year. We get comped for all food, rooms and sometimes plane tickets. it's kind of funny to go to WDW and know you better not even hint for an upgrade when you are paying 1000s to be there. LOL

 

[Deb & Bill]

I guess I wasn't clear in my post you are referring too. I was saying exactly that. That WDW is not like Vegas and don't expect anything free there. Heck, in Vegas we never pay to stay at the Bellagio or Wynn, any time of the year. We get comped for all food, rooms and sometimes plane tickets. it's kind of funny to go to WDW and know you better not even hint for an upgrade when you are paying 1000s to be there. LOL

You must be a big spender in Vegas to get all those comps.

 

[Sue M]

Ah, I got ya. The thing is, hotels that cater to business travelers are a totally different market than a mega-popular tourist destination.

The hotels you stay at for work need to do whatever they can to keep you staying there for future trips, instead of going to any one of the two dozen nearby Hiltons, Sheratons, Marriotts, Courtyards, Extended Stay Americas, etc. If throwing you a freebie now and then makes you book there next time in hopes you'll get another upgrade, it's all good. Hotels in that market have lots of competition and only so many ways to distinguish themselves from the hotel down the street.

WDW is a whole different story. They're one of the most popular destinations in the US, if not the world. They don't need to give away tickets, and they don't. They barely give discounts on tickets, let alone give them away.

Their resorts have built-in competitive advantages over off-site hotels: EMH, close proximity to the parks, onsite transportation, DME. That's the stuff they use to bait people into staying there, not free room upgrades. And if occupancy isn't where they want it, they break out the discounts and promotions like free dining.

Exactly. And I have hotel rewards to Sheraton, etc. and. With being a hotel member, some include a free room upgrade if available.
But as explained, Wdw is different then regular hotels.
And I have heard also that asking for an upgrade at wdw is frowned upon by CMs. I'm sure they get sick of people asking.
I've never heard of giving free park tickets

 

[5mouseketeersforus]

It's the happiest place in the world. What more could you ask for?

Requests for certain floors or whatever make sense - flat out asking for upgrades? Mmmm not so much.

Personally, if i worked in the hotel industry (WDW or Hilton) - i would be annoyed if people asked for freebie upgrades. It is much nicer to just surprise people.

 

[sydneysmom]

The OP's question is perplexing. There are thousands of people each day that smile and are friendly to CM's (and do it not even expecting anything), yet the OP seems to feel they're more entitled to something for free because they are going to smile ? I have to admit, this cracks me up.

 

[DaisyD]

You must be a big spender in Vegas to get all those comps.

Yes i'm not that lucky but it sure is fun. LOL

 

[Dizzytime]

Is it worth it to ask for a preferred room at that time even if you didn't pay for it. Are there any perks one could ask for or hint at, or is it not worth it?

Seems like bashing is continuing with the laughing at OP...as if some are smarter, more sophisticated, more in the 'in' with Disney etiquette.
Honest question, deserves the honest answers, but the judgment for the reasons for asking seem unfair. Plus, the smirking is repelling.

JMHO, and I hope you have a wonderful trip, nuge67!