Tell us your upgrade story from regular room to suite!

[White Rose]

Everyone loves to read about unexpected fortune...now let's see who has ever been upgraded from a regular room to a suite?

What's the story? How excited were you? How did your family react?

Disclaimer: This post is not about getting what you paid for - we should all remember these are magical, unexpected, and amazing experiences of pixie dust. We should never walk into a resort expecting to get an upgrade, and should pay for what you expect to receive.

I have never been this blessed with this type of upgrade at WDW, but my hubby and I have both had experiences of the surprise and delight in other places!

The best surprise was when we checked in near midnight in Atlantic City for my birthday. We got an upgrade that was a 2 bedroom suite, with a happy birthday wish from the desk clerk. Our room was two rooms with a dash in-between, like 1102-1103. Inside that main door, was two more doors, one labeled 1102, the other 1103. (that's just an example, I forget the room numbers!) The first room had a dining room, kitchen, wetbar, living room, a huge bathroom, it had a hottub that could sleep 3 and two showers!! One stall one and one with a bathtub!

The other bedroom was a regular hotel room, but it was attached to our room. We had live plants in the room, a foyer, a power room - it was insane!

So.. what's your WDW resort suite upgrade story?

 

[TDC Nala]

Upgraded from a regular room to a family suite at Allstar Music last July. So that does happen. Possibly because they had a lot of South American youth groups staying there, and they needed the regular rooms to accommodate them.

 

[bowbat]

Our first trip to Disney as a family, we booked a Bay Lake-view room at the Contemporary (with a 40% off PIN code, I might add) and were celebrating my son's 5th birthday. I did online check-in, and was actually irritated about the line at check-in as there was no one in line for regular check-in. Then a CM asked my name and another CM said, "Oh, I was waiting for you!" She pulled us out of line and said we were being upgraded.

Mind you, at that time I wasn't really on the DIS except to find out about discounts, so I really had no idea what was going on.

She took us up to the 14th floor and showed us into our two-bedroom suite on CL. It was AMAZING. Huge, open living room and full dining room with a small kitchen flanked by a normal CR room on either end plus an entry foyer with another full bath off it. Oh, and four balconies overlooking Bay Lake. There was even a full-size Christmas tree in the room (our stay was end of Nov/beginning of Dec).

Honestly, I don't think we gave the CM quite the reaction she was used to or hoping for because we were sure it was a mistake. We patiently listened while she explained everything and showed us around the CL lounge, then the minute she left I dug through paperwork. We thought either she had the wrong people or we were being charged for it. But nope! It was for us, no mistake.

Of course, that experience got us hooked on CL and we've been paying for it ever since. Disney knows what they're doing, that's for sure. Occasionally my husband will even say, "Why don't we just get a suite like that one we had at the Contemporary?" Then I tell him the price.

 

[Alexsandra]

We got upgraded to river view at POFQ. We had requested building five with connecting rooms. They had put my parents in a separate building so they decided to upgrade us so we could have a connecting room. The view was spectacular. It was my favorite view as of yet!

 

[momofboyz3]

Our 1st WDW vaca, myself and my 3 boys. I booked a GV room @ POR. This was 2 weeks ago when we got into the room, I thought it was a mistake. It was facing the pool and it was a Royal Room! I told my boys not to touch anything that there was a mistake. So when the bellman came up with our groceries from GG, I asked about the room he said "looks like this really is your room, you were probably upgraded. Enjoy!!!"

 

[ginerjenny]

we booked a standard room at wilderness lodge for our 10th wedding anniversary.. Our daughter was born on our actual anniversary and she was turning 8. Double celebration Our kids really wanted the bunk bed rooms they saw online but I wasn't paying extra for bunkbeds. They didn't say anything about us being upgraded when we checked in. When we got to our room not only did it have bunk beds but it was near the bear face overlooking the pool. Courtyard view! I couldn't of asked for a better room. If we ever get to stay there again I would want to be in the same section.

 

[mskermit]

wow so i am going in august, LM at AOA 4 adults and one 2 year old. it is a surprise trip for my daughters graduation. since we went last year, funding for this year was tight, so were decided on AOA. my daughter is also handicap. I am so worried we may be squished up in a LM room, there is hope to get an upgrade if I ask and maybe because we are celebrating her graduation?? ugh,, it would be an absolute gift from heaven with pixie dust scatter all over it!!! what are my chances ??

 

[mskermit]

now that i think about it , last year i think i paid for a standard room at CBR, we had a water view in the Jamaica building that was beautiful,..hmm must have been an upgrade and i didn't even notice !!!!

 

[Nikki21]

3 years ago, my BF and I stayed at Coronado Springs. It was his first ever trip to WDW and it was his 30th birthday!!! We had booked a standard KING room. We checked in and were placed in the casitas section. The CM never saying anything else about our room. So, We grabbed all of our stuff, walked on over and when we walked in, we discovered that we had a suite!

It was 2 rooms. One room had a giant living area with couch, chairs, coffee table, a large TV, a large round table (dining) with 4 chairs, and a bathroom with seperate toilet, shower/tub. The second room (seperated by giant sliding doors) was the master bedroom. This was similar to the standard room i had stayed in before - king bed, couch, table chairs and a large bathroom.

It was very unexpexted and a great surprise. Especially since this was darling BF's first ever trip to the world. Except now he thinks all "standard" rooms are this gigantic

 

[mskermit]

3 years ago, my BF and I stayed at Coronado Springs. It was his first ever trip to WDW and it was his 30th birthday!!! We had booked a standard KING room. We checked in and were placed in the casitas section. The CM never saying anything else about our room. So, We grabbed all of our stuff, walked on over and when we walked in, we discovered that we had a suite!

It was 2 rooms. One room had a giant living area with couch, chairs, coffee table, a large TV, a large round table (dining) with 4 chairs, and a bathroom with seperate toilet, shower/tub. The second room (seperated by giant sliding doors) was the master bedroom. This was similar to the standard room i had stayed in before - king bed, couch, table chairs and a large bathroom.

It was very unexpexted and a great surprise. Especially since this was darling BF's first ever trip to the world. Except now he thinks all "standard" rooms are this gigantic

did they know it was his birthday and first trip?? I'm just wondering how they pick and chose to upgrade. I always wonder as I go on the endless conversations with the reservation people on the phone are they noting my reservation??? uggghhh .. I need some pixie dust this trip !!!

 

[cluvsdisney]

For our honeymoon, we were upgraded from whatever room we booked at the BW to one of those super charming garden villas. It came about through a series of obstacles when we were checking in that included being overcharged for what we requested which was when our frustration level elevated to requesting a manager. The CM at the desk went back to the office and came back with this upgrade. The room came with concierge service which I was completely unfamiliar with so we didn't take full advantage of that but otherwise it was a wonderful surprise.

A few years later, we started chatting with a couple who was on their honeymoon and they were upgraded to the same room.

 

[Missytara]

did they know it was his birthday and first trip?? I'm just wondering how they pick and chose to upgrade. I always wonder as I go on the endless conversations with the reservation people on the phone are they noting my reservation??? uggghhh .. I need some pixie dust this trip !!!

Upgrades at mostly done at the convenience of the resorts and will be beyond your control.

Here is my example:

There are three standard rooms in a moderate resort and a preferred room.

1. Maintenance calls and takes one of the standard rooms out of inventory due to a maintenance issue. They say it should be fixed by noon and back in inventory.

2. A value resort calls and they are overbooked; a moderate resort would be an upgrade to that person, so the resort agrees to give them the second standard room.

3. You check in and are in a standard room; you get the third standard room.

4. I check in for a standard room. Room no. 1 is still out of inventory for maintenance, a value took the second one out of inventory, and the third one is occupied by you. The CM can choose to tell me I have to wait for a standard room or give me the upgrade to preferred.

They are not busy that week and decide to magically upgrade me to preferred.

I could have checked in no more than 10 minutes after you; it is always the luck of the draw.

 

[Nikki21]

did they know it was his birthday and first trip?? I'm just wondering how they pick and chose to upgrade. I always wonder as I go on the endless conversations with the reservation people on the phone are they noting my reservation??? uggghhh .. I need some pixie dust this trip !!!

no! BF is NOT big on people making a fuss over him. Once i had told him if they knew it was his birthday he would get a pin to wear, he said ABSOLUTELY NOT. haha

just pure pixie dust for us!!

 

[mskermit]

no! BF is NOT big on people making a fuss over him. Once i had told him if they knew it was his birthday he would get a pin to wear, he said ABSOLUTELY NOT. haha

just pure pixie dust for us!!

LOL I made my BF wear the anniversary pin last year!! and not just one day it was like 4 or 5 until he had enough!! he was a good sport about it

 

[FancyNancy]

Last April I was upgraded from a regular standard view room at POR to a Courtyard/River View Royal Room. We were celebrating my DD's 9th birthday and the person checking us in (we did online check in) told me that there was a note attached to the reservation saying "We want April's 9th birthday to be extra special with a Princess Room. We were so excited!

 

[SoonerSean]

3 years ago, my BF and I stayed at Coronado Springs. It was his first ever trip to WDW and it was his 30th birthday!!! We had booked a standard KING room. We checked in and were placed in the casitas section. The CM never saying anything else about our room. So, We grabbed all of our stuff, walked on over and when we walked in, we discovered that we had a suite!

It was 2 rooms. One room had a giant living area with couch, chairs, coffee table, a large TV, a large round table (dining) with 4 chairs, and a bathroom with seperate toilet, shower/tub. The second room (seperated by giant sliding doors) was the master bedroom. This was similar to the standard room i had stayed in before - king bed, couch, table chairs and a large bathroom.

It was very unexpexted and a great surprise. Especially since this was darling BF's first ever trip to the world. Except now he thinks all "standard" rooms are this gigantic

Same thing happened to my youngest son and I. I've taken each of our kids for a long weekend with Dad. His time came up in 2011 and we went for a Star Wars Weekend. I booked a two-doubles room for us. We opened the door and came into a living room with couch/tv/bathroom and then through the connecting door was a king bed with it's own bath. He loved it - felt like he had his own room and slept on the couch the four nights we were there. To this day he tells people he and I went to Disney and had separate rooms.

One other trip as a family we were upgraded to the concierge floor at CR. We didn't see another soul for a week. I think that was March of 2009. We came out near the end of our stay and sat on the balcony watching the fireworks and my wife started poking my arm and pointed to the side and not 5' away was Celine Dion and her family. The CM that sits at the desk by the elevators told us our two families were their only guests at the time. We never saw them again.

 

[GaBelle]

So there seems to be a theme here. Most if not all of these unexpected upgrades coincided with celebrations. Has anyone had pixie dust on a non celebration trip?

 

[DznyCrzy11]

So there seems to be a theme here. Most if not all of these unexpected upgrades coincided with celebrations. Has anyone had pixie dust on a non celebration trip?

My experience is the other way around. We have gone for our anniversary the past 3 years, always had it noted as a celebration and even got a pin and a signed "happy anniversary" picture from Mickey, but we have yet to be dusted with pixie dust. This year we'll be on the Dream, 1st DCL experience, so maybe then. Who knows, I don't expect it and am still just as happy without it!!!

 

[Wishes Count]

I used to work front desk at Pop. Most upgrades will be based on operational needs or because the resort has been overbooked.

One time I pulled up a reservation and it said "Don't check in!! Call back office!!" So I call the back and the told me to ask the guest if they wanted a free upgrade to AKL for the entire length of their stay!! Of course the guests were thrilled!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[evilqueenmindy]

Last year, Super Bowl weekend, I was working half a day and meeting my sisters & nephew, I'm the Disney planning-nerd of the group, none of them knew upgrades even happened, I've never mentioned it. We booked 2 garden view rooms at Beach Club.

Because I was working, I came in a separate car from everyone else, when I got on property, I text them, they say they just got there, they'll text me the room number. I get to the hotel, still have no text. I'm annoyed. I see their cars in the porte-cochere, tell the greeter my party is checking in. . .walk all over the lobby, cannot find them. Texts all completely unanswered. Now I have NO idea what is going on, so I start calling around. . .the THIRD one I call finally answers "Hey, where are you guys??"
"Uuuuum, we don't really know, something weird has happened, they're making us check in up here at some desk on the 4th floor. We don't know what's going on."
I almost scream at my sister on the phone "DESK?? 4th floor?? We got UPGRADED TO CLUB LEVEL??? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???"
She still has ZERO clue what this means "Yeah, I have no idea what's going on. Apparently they have breakfast up here though."
No one had ANY idea how big a deal this was. (until I finally got up there and explained it)
It was AMAZING, we didn't just get concierge level, we got the most amazing view of Boardwalk and Stormalong Bay, it was pixie dust and a half.