Anyone ever NOT get upgraded at AKL?

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I actually think we had been upgraded before we even arrived. It seemed he just looked up where we would be and told us! He was then happy we were happy! Perhaps the room assigner put us there and some of you too. I know at CBR we had been preassigned and that room was not ready, so the CM moved us to another room in that building.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Gillian
Why make any assumptions?

because OP had indicated that 2 different employees had told her that the hotel was not busy and they were surprised she wasn't upgraded. I wasn't aware that the people posting about not being upgraded were in the AKL at the same time as OP. Sounds like you're the one making a big assumption.

 

[Efastpitch]

The only time that we ever got an upgrade, is when the rooms that we had reserved was over booked or not ready when we check in. We never expect to get the upgrade, put are pleased when it happens. I have in the past ask if a better view was available, and that I was willing to pay for the difference. Sometimes this get you an upgrade with no price increase and sometimes not..

 

[MarkLem]

We booked a standard room a couple of weeks ago for 3 nights followed by 2 nights in a Savannah (rate change).

A pool view is an upgrade from a standard?

 

[tjmw2727]

Never been upgraded at a WDW resort. We have been visiting 2-5x a year for about the past 7 years and stayed at many of the deluxe, all the mods and the values only once. I have never asked nor been given any kind of upgrade! I have usually gotten my room requests with the exception of CBR and CSR.

The Dolphin on the other hand has upgraded me every time, (knock wood) and we are returning in Feb.

TJ

 

[SondraD11]

I agree with the other posters who advise booking the room you want. I've been traveling to Disney since 1988 staying both onsite and offsite and have only been upgraded once. On my last trip, I stayed at the WL for the first time and was upgraded from standard view to courtyard view close to the elevator. It was a pleasant surprise and I didn't know about the upgrade until I opened the door to the room.

On one visit to POFQ, I got a corner room with two windows which was another pleasant surprise although not considered an upgrade. I've always taken the room that I was assigned and been more than pleased.

Sondra

 

[bobbiwoz]

We stayed in Dec. '02, weekdays in the middle of December, and weren't upgraded. Our room was down by the bus stop, it was a long walk down the corridor. Had a great time, didn't know about upgrades, would have liked a nicer room, but we were just so happy to get the rate we did, about the same as teacher's rate at Dolphin.

Bobbi

 

[heffalump9]

We were upgraded in 2002 not 2003, but we love AKL so much it didn't bother us, there are plenty of outlooks and chances to see the animals.

 

[RescueRanger]

Hey Lewisc- you might want to go back and reread the threads. The OP that you keep referring to is not the one who made those comments. It was someone answering the OP. Although I agree you should never expect anymore than what you are booked for, I believe in general that it makes good business sense to upgrade someone if available. If they really like the room, they will probably book it the next time. JMHO

 

[jlieblaw]

We stayed at POR in '02 and we were upgraded to water view because the first room we were given was already taken when we went to it. We stayed at WL and AKL in '03. At WL we were upgraded to courtyard, I think because we didn't get our request of a castle view. In Dec. we had a ressie at ASMo but weren't happy and switched to AKL. We were very happy to have a std. there. When my mom went to the room with my sleeping toddler, someone else's stuff was in the room so she went back to the front desk. They gave us a deluxe savannah view for our inconvenience. It was great. We didn't expect that at all but it was definately the best thing they could have done since now we'll always book savannah view when we go to AKL.

 

[macs4us]

That may account for why I have seen many posts on various boards about people getting upgraded there. We stayed only one night there, and since it was a birthday trip for my mom, I booked a savannah room. We had a great view, but I also experienced some problems with staff there - room in disrepair/not clean, rudeness in the counter service restaurant by more than one CM, etc. We will probably not stay there again.

Now, we travel a lot - at least 10 weeks a year - and we usually get upgraded. At WDW we have been upgraded to the honeymoon suite at WL from a standard (one night stay), from standard to king or waterview at moderates and deluxes, from standard to a suite at CSR. There are times we are not, and it is no big deal. However, if a room is really not acceptable to you (noise, cleanliness, etc) you should call the front desk and asked to be moved.

I worked a hotel front desk when I was a senior in high school, and if an upgrade was available, I would give it to people, as I wanted our customers to have a great experience. And I must concur with what others have said about upgrades making good business sense, as I had that conversation with the Director of Rooms at a Four Seasons property - they almost always upgrade people so they will get "spoiled" and want to pay for that room next time.

You need to make the decision of what you will be happy with, and you may or may not get more.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[susy]

I was upgraded from standard to deluxe-pool. We didn't ask and I was surprised as we checked in on the friday afternoon of Labor Day weekend. The pool view was VERY nice (especially at night). We booked a woods view at WL over Thanksgiving. At these two resorts it may be best to book at least a woods or pool view. I know the other deluxes have "garden views". At the values and mods there is no view, as far as I'm concerned. I would not keep my curtains open, anyway. At these resorts I always book standard.

As for the other... I just think it makes good business sense to upgrade people if available. The front desk is one of the first impressions you get and an upgrade is a nice "surprise" and the room may get someone "hooked" on your hotel. I think that the people working the front desk may put their own attitude at the moment in front of what is best for the hotel. That's unfortunate.

 

[airhead]

....we'll hardly be in it!!!! We are wicked whipped up about our trip!!(...ok,well,its really me that's so whipped. Too early for my SO to get psyched!). I am going to celebrate my last week being 49 in a wicked big way!!!!!!!! Being at WDW for that is just gonna be totally awesome!

I gotta stop! I'm workin' myself into a Disney buzz!!!!!!!!!



airhead( sit and stay!!)

 

[Tiffany]

We have stayed at the AKL three times and have never been upgraded. Our first two trips we booked pool view rooms and that is what we got. They were still great views in our opinion and have outstanding trips. Our third trip we booked concierge so there was nothing to be upgrade to unless you count the suites and for just the two of us in my opinion that would be over the top. We will be at the AKL Concierge again this Friday, Jan 23rd so unless we get upgraded to a suite we will once again get the room we paid for.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Last March we booked Savannah View and that's what we got. This April, we are booked for Pool View, and all the posts I have read have stated these are beautiful room views as well, so I will be happy with whatever I get.

We have stayed at WDW many times and have never been upgraded, however I have never asked, so maybe that's why!

We loooove AKL, and WDW, so we're usually just so happy to be there!!!

 

[johnsonet]

As others have posted, the vast majority of rooms at AKL are savanna views and many have gotten an upgrade b/c it was easy for the resort to do. The hotel isn't usually full like, say, the GF, WL, etc. I think the attitude at the front desk, although definitely unfortunate, is from dealing with presumptuous people who have come to EXPECT an upgrade and are then disappointed/mad when they don't get it and it then ruins their trip. It's like the people who are put off when they "mention" it's their anniversary at a rest. and the rest. "does nothing". People really must realize that all they should really expect is what they have reserved and ordered and paid for - not what they've read about happeneing occasionally to others.