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.