4th stay at AKL no upgrade until ..........

[CindyBella]

Let me start. We travel to WDW 3-4 times per year. Our 1st AKL we recieved a comp upgrade. Same thing on our 2nd visit. 3rd, not so lucky resort was BOOKED! Not a problem, we booked a pool view, got a pool view. It was great.

On our 4th stay CM George checked me in. We were celebrating DS8 birthday. He wanted to make it special so he went to the back to see if a savannah view was available. He came back and said no. It was fine. We were lucky enough to be back at WDW within 60 days I felt like a lucky girl.
THEN IT HAPPENED!.......The people next to me at check-in got it.....a free savannah upgrade!! I knew because they were jumping around and screaming like animals. The guy to my right, upgraded to pool view. What was going on???

I asked George why they were "chosen" and not me. He got a manager (Roberta- not a very nice lady) and she explained that I already had a discount (my AP rate) ,and that rates are not negotiable. I understood that. I was not arguing. I just really wanted an explanation, How are upgrades decided? There was no real explanation given but, I did get an upgrade. I guess they thought it was easier to give me an upgrade then answer my question. I felt weird about it knowing I could afford to pay the difference. But, I got over it.

I still would like to know how it works???...!!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I'm guessing they upgrade those who pay rack rate first. They probably can see who paid what for each reservation.
Had a friend who went last year and paid rack and got a Savannah upgrade but she had no idea that there was anything but rack rate at WDW.

 

[wdwhooked]

hi, has anyone ever been upgraded with AP rates , thanks
we will be there the week of July 4th

 

[maryliz]

One of my DSis got a pool view upgrade at WL in January and she was booked with an AP rate. Funny thing was, a different DSis (also AP rate) got to WL first ... room not ready, no upgrade ... the other DSis arrived about 20 minutes after us, her room was not only ready, but was the one upgraded to a pool view. And we ALL go to Disney about the same number of times. So no, I don't think there's much rhyme or reason to any of it.

MaryLiz

 

[llij]

We got upgraded in January at the GF and I had an AP rate attached to our rooms. It was DD's 9th birthday, so I attributed it to that.

I'm not expecting an upgrade at the WL in three weeks.

Glad to hear that they ended up upgrading you!

 

[Minnie's Mate]

We have stayed at AKL 5 times on AP rate and this last time (three weeks ago) was the first time we weren't upgraded. With one exception, each time before, we booked standard and have been upgraded to pool view once and savannah two times; the other time was our second trip and we wanted to make sure we got savannah view for our son's sixth birthday so we booked savannah view (this was Easter week).

This trip we booked pool view and got pool view. Each time we requested Zebra Trail with bunks when making our reservation. There aren't any standard views with bunks on Zebra. The time we were upgraded to pool view with bunks was during Christmas to New Year's week. Once we were given savannah view with bunks on Ostrich trail. Once we were given savannah with bunks at the far end of the Zebra trail (actually was a good room where the animals go for their check-ups twice a day and congregate often during the day).

There has been a definate increase in attendance in the last two trips we made so Disney may have adopted a policy about giving priority upgrades going to rake rate guest.

 

[Lives4Disney]

CincyBella- I would have wanted to know what the deal was, too!! Especially since you are frequent guests. My sister is a concierge at a Ritz and they keep track of frequent guests and give them some perks.

I don't think Disney has any system of recognizing frequent guests. It would be nice if they did. We used to always pay rack rate (duh - didn't know about codes/ap discounts) and were NEVER once upgraded even though we also stayed 2-3 times a yr at the same MK deluxe resort.

I am glad you got your upgrade anyway.

Lives4Disney

 

[pandora174]

Of all our past stays free upgrades were almost non-existant. Poly, BWI, CSR, POR, POP, WL (1rst stay), AKL nothing ! Then 1x at WL we were upgraded from woods view to courtyard view (awesome view). We usually book FL resident or AP rates. Next year we're doing the MYW package + dining & splitting our stay, let's see if our luck improves. We just expect whatever view we paid for & if we get an upgrade it's a nice surprise. Oh & we have never gotten towel animals either ! For real, not a one in all our years of going to Disney !!

 

[TammiMcMan]

I don't work in the hotel business, so I have no idea if this is true, but I thought that Disney resorts employed a room assignor who handled the reservations. Isn't that why at one time, folks were advised to fax their requests in 3-4 days before arriving, because that's when the room assignor would be processing your reservation?

From years of reading these boards, it doesn't appear as though there's any system for giving out upgrades. It seems to be a matter of simple luck. Maybe the people standing next to you booked their trip a few days before yours and their reservation popped up on the room assignors screen ahead of you. The room assignor had a savannah room available and upgraded them. I don't know why the manager was able to give you an upgrade when the CM checking you in couldn't find one. Perhaps she went into the system and upgraded a savannah view guest to concierge. Someone out there might owe you a 'thanks'.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

We were upgraded at AKL last fall when booked under the FL rate -- which was better than AP. It was our first visit. (I do think you're more likely to get upgraded on your first visit.) When we returned in the spring, we were not upgraded on the one night we booked standard. We even expressed dissatisfaction with the room (dark 5th floor room). Note: The CM at check-in made reference to our prior trip. We did not bring it up.

 

[Karel]

We were upgraded last August at YC. We had a code rate. We arrived early, like 10 am and made polite small talk while we checked in. I asked about a water view room and the nice lady said 'Let me call." She was on the phone and said something like ...are there any upgrades available this morning.

The desk was very quiet that morning and I don't think anyone else was checking in at that point.

 

[cocowum]

In April, we received an upgrade with a pin code. Pool view to Savannah view.

 

[mpbs]

I have stayed at AKL, CBR, ASMu, and have never received an upgrade. I have been to WDW every year for the last 9 years. What am I doing wrong? I always ask.

 

[kwdietrich1]

Well, I am really not sure how they assign upgrades, but every time we have traveled to WDW during very busy times (ex. Christmas!) we have been upgraded to the best view available with our AP ressie. And to make it even more bizzare, we have checked in early. I just hope our luck doesn't run out. We booked a package for Christmas this time. The dining plan will save us mucho money! We like to eat grand.

 

[Marseeya]

When we got our upgrade, I thought it had already been done by the way our CM said, "Ooh, you got upgraded to savannah view" when she looked in the system.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

CincyBella- I would have wanted to know what the deal was, too!! Especially since you are frequent guests. My sister is a concierge at a Ritz and they keep track of frequent guests and give them some perks.

I don't think Disney has any system of recognizing frequent guests. It would be nice if they did. We used to always pay rack rate (duh - didn't know about codes/ap discounts) and were NEVER once upgraded even though we also stayed 2-3 times a yr at the same MK deluxe resort.

I am glad you got your upgrade anyway.

Lives4Disney

Disney does keep track of how many visits you have made. Last year when I was booking the CM came out and said "Wow! I see you have stayed with us just over 100 times" I was shocked, not that they kept track, but the reality of how much I go! I have gotten an upgrade with FL resident rates. I was a CM at one time & even got an upgrade then. I think it is just a matter of what they have open & who is doing it. I haven't gotten many upgrades & with the amount of times that I have gone, you would think I would have gotten more than 3 or 4

 

[Lives4Disney]

Disney does keep track of how many visits you have made. Last year when I was booking the CM came out and said "Wow! I see you have stayed with us just over 100 times" I was shocked, not that they kept track, but the reality of how much I go! I have gotten an upgrade with FL resident rates. I was a CM at one time & even got an upgrade then. I think it is just a matter of what they have open & who is doing it. I haven't gotten many upgrades & with the amount of times that I have gone, you would think I would have gotten more than 3 or 4

I know that CRO knows, because they asked me and I told them - but the front desk at the resorts don't seem to know. I have actually been asked by CRO how many trips I have made and they seem to use that info that I have given them. As I have made more trips, CRO is still repeating back to me my original number of trips that I told them when they say "gee, I see you have been here a million times...." Not really, but it seems close!

If the CR kept track of how many times we have been there - and paid full price, we would be treated like royalty. (if it was a Ritz) We have spent a fortune at the CR over the years. I really haven't felt like the individual resorts have access to that repeat guest info. They have such outdated computer systems it wouldn't surprise me that they cannot keep track.

Lives4Disney

 

[mama221]

we just got an upgrade at the akl. we had a standard room booked with ap rate. got an upgrade to a pool view.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Let me start. We travel to WDW 3-4 times per year. Our 1st AKL we recieved a comp upgrade. Same thing on our 2nd visit. 3rd, not so lucky resort was BOOKED! Not a problem, we booked a pool view, got a pool view. It was great.

On our 4th stay CM George checked me in. We were celebrating DS8 birthday. He wanted to make it special so he went to the back to see if a savannah view was available. He came back and said no. It was fine. We were lucky enough to be back at WDW within 60 days I felt like a lucky girl.
THEN IT HAPPENED!.......The people next to me at check-in got it.....a free savannah upgrade!! I knew because they were jumping around and screaming like animals. The guy to my right, upgraded to pool view. What was going on???

I asked George why they were "chosen" and not me. He got a manager (Roberta- not a very nice lady) and she explained that I already had a discount (my AP rate) ,and that rates are not negotiable. I understood that. I was not arguing. I just really wanted an explanation, How are upgrades decided? There was no real explanation given but, I did get an upgrade. I guess they thought it was easier to give me an upgrade then answer my question. I felt weird about it knowing I could afford to pay the difference. But, I got over it.

I still would like to know how it works???...!!

Complimentary upgrades are usually done well in advance of the guest checking in. They are typically given to those who are paying rack rate, VIP guests, or sometimes it's just random. Since they are assigned ahead of time, it's very well possible for you to have a CM check, and find no availability, and then 5 minutes later, another guest does get it. Those guests would have gotten it regardless of if they checked in 2 hours prior, or 2 hours later.

Complimentary upgrades are certainly a nice thing, however, even for special occasion, they should never be counted on. If one wants a particular category room, the best bet is to book it.

 

[Janet2k]

If one wants a particular category room, the best bet is to book it.

Chip 'n Dale Express, I couldn't agree with you more.