Asking for an upgrade

[tiredsigh]

Wow! I loved the Teena's story. Very sweet!

I've never asked for an upgrade Wouldn't do it. I always book in a resort that I am cool with. I've never booked at a Value because I was some of the extras at a mod or deluxe. As long as I have a clean room with working air conditioning and hot water, I'm feeling pretty I've had to have room changes though for non-working air, broken toilets, or bathrooms so dirty that I saw short hairs that I don't want to see all over the bathroom Once, we found underwear in the bed

Those times, I nicely pestered the desk until I got a new room. Didn't care where. Just wanted clean and working.

Now if you want to talk about airline upgrades... I ask when I check in for every flight how much it will be to upgrade.

 

[declansdad]

Best thing to do is always book what you actually want. Don't book a Standard hoping for a free upgrade to a view room or whatnot, book what you really want so there are no disappointments. Sometimes it can't be helped though... maybe the particular view room might not be available for your stay, then you just kinda hope that something opened up at the last minute and you get upgraded (whether paid or free) or something.

This is the best piece of advice on this thread and it should apply to everything, not just rooms. If you don't set yourself up for disappointment, the likelihood of being disappointed is going to decrease.

 

[nazym86]

Teena is a greeter at BC/YC...

Thats tory was my little upgrade. I came to this board "looking" for an upgrade but really///those are the people who really deserve it. I actually got a bit teary-eyed! Very nice story goodfood4ursoul!

 

[Wendy5055]

Aaaaawwwww...what an amazing story!

I received my first free upgrade at the Grand Floridian last year. I had booked a trip for myself dd8 and my mom. When we arrived and began check-in the CM told me that we were upgraded (2 levels) from standard GV to Tower Room...the whole trip was amazing!!!

 

[shellybaxter]

We never ask for an upgrade - in fact we never even request anything on our reservation. We have had some WONDERFUL rooms and some acceptable rooms. Our last trip we spent a week at AKV Kidani - we booked a savana view room because that is what we wanted. Its location turned out to be great for us but I'm sure others wouldn't have loved it. The room was in the last "bead" closest to Jambo house - far from the lobby and buses, but we had a car and we were close to an elevator. We walked to Jiko for dinner one night -perfect.

Our second week we stayed at Bay Lake Towers - MK view. I didn't make any requests but hoped for a high floor. We got our room assignment (8226) and I assumed it was on floor 8 - about half way up. I was happy with that - I was thrilled when I discovered that our room was actually on floor 12, almost at the top.

I enjoy Disney no matter what - we book what we want and then enjoy the surprises when they arise.

 

[carolinamama]

In September 2006, I called to make sure our room at WL was a non-smoking room (they weren't all at the time) for health reasons. I heard the CM clicking and clicking and clicking away for a long time. Then she said it wouldn't be a problem. When we checked in, we were told that we had been upgraded from a standard view room to woods view.

Other than that one time, we haven't been upgraded. We did ask at Poly if there was anything better was available, and the CM said no, and that was that. I'll take it if they give it to me, but it's certainly never expected.

 

[weheartdisney]

That is so awesome. How wonderful for that family!!

 

[ppony]

If Teena is reading this, you and CMs like you are EXACTLY why we keep coming back over and over and over. You and your collegaues like you are why we can't bring ourselves to vacation anywhere else and why we finally bought DVC. We can't see us ever wanting to go anywhere else. To us, WDW is justa s much about the people that work the magic as well as the actual property itself. No, MORE SO! Thanks to ALL the cast members reading for doing what you do best!!!! You are not unnoticed nor unappreciated by many!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Big mistake you made is trying to clean the room yourself. That's not your job (those nine hours wasn't going to result in nine hours of Housekeeper pay given to you) as a Guest and you should have called Housekeeping (if you really wanted to stay in the same room and just wanted the room cleaned while you were off at the Parks) or the Front Desk (if you wanted a room change) immediately to have that resolved. I'm sorry that happened to you!

I would bet that the room was down for rehab (for whatever reason) and Housekeeping just cleared it without really checking. It happens every so often but I wouldn't let that deter you for asking for upgrades or for staying at the AKL. You wouldn't have happened to stay at the AKL during or right after the pool rehab they just had recently did you?

I think you misread her post I believe she was saying she was trying to get housekeeping to clean her room - but they forgot.

 

[wezee]

DH and I always stay at POFQ, king room....so it's kind of hard to ask for an upgrade, since there are no other type of rooms to upgrade to. Also, we have found, that the mods rarely get upgraded, other than maybe to a waterview. I have read that a few have gotten upgraded from a value to a deluxe, but rarely do they upgrade a moderate to a deluxe.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Typically, at least to my knowledge at the Deluxes, most connecting rooms wouldn't be of the "two queen" connecting to "two queen" variety... but of something like "two queen" connecting to "one king + daybed" or "two queen" connecting to "one queen + bunks" variety.

Except at the Poly. The Poly does not have any king beds, except in the suites. So if you request a King bed, and the cast member tells you there aren't any, it's not that there aren't any available, it's not that they don't want to move you into one, it's that there are NO king beds.

 

[honeydiane1953]

We never ask for an upgrade - in fact we never even request anything on our reservation. We have had some WONDERFUL rooms and some acceptable rooms. Our last trip we spent a week at AKV Kidani - we booked a savana view room because that is what we wanted. Its location turned out to be great for us but I'm sure others wouldn't have loved it. The room was in the last "bead" closest to Jambo house - far from the lobby and buses, but we had a car and we were close to an elevator. We walked to Jiko for dinner one night -perfect.

Our second week we stayed at Bay Lake Towers - MK view. I didn't make any requests but hoped for a high floor. We got our room assignment (8226) and I assumed it was on floor 8 - about half way up. I was happy with that - I was thrilled when I discovered that our room was actually on floor 12, almost at the top.

I enjoy Disney no matter what - we book what we want and then enjoy the surprises when they arise.

I find that is the best policy. I book what I want and then don't ask. SOMETIMES at the counter I receive pixie dust with an upgrade. Not asking works. Asking for one usually jumps up the price so u stand there either saying yes or no. Don't ask then tell .

 

[Disneyadore]

In all the years I've worked at a Front Desk, I've NEVER given a free upgrade to folks who blatantly ask for one. That is about the WORST thing you could do.

There have been folks who have asked for a free upgrade (which isn't very often, to be honest) and I might have gotten them one, except that those few people who's asked for a free upgrade have either been really snotty or would talk down to me.

I HAVE given plenty of free upgrades to folks that have been 1) super nice to me, 2) are there for a special occasion/event, 3) asked if there was any paid upgrades available and also fit in the first two points I listed, and 4) had super cute kids that did random super cute stuff. I do this all the time, unless the hotel is completely sold out and my freedom to do so was either non-existant or was very limited.

Chances for upgrades (whether paid or free) are also greater in non-peak/non-sold out periods. If the hotel is sold out for your length of stay, chances are slightly better that you might have already gotten an upgrade anyways because your room category that you booked might be oversold or whatnot.

Best thing to do is always book what you actually want. Don't book a Standard hoping for a free upgrade to a view room or whatnot, book what you really want so there are no disappointments. Sometimes it can't be helped though... maybe the particular view room might not be available for your stay, then you just kinda hope that something opened up at the last minute and you get upgraded (whether paid or free) or something.

However, point-blank asking for a free upgrade to me is a definite no-no. If you do decide to ask for a free upgrade, PLEASE for heaven's sake be super sweet and nice to the Front Desk clerk... please don't talk down to them.

I really don't get the last point. "Don't talk down on them"?
That makes me curl up my toes.
We always see the CM as the ones that work there butt of so we have a nice vacation. I don't get the random complaints you read here all day. I always ask myself, if they were sitting behind the counter or desk would they handle the situation different? Would they also make such a hassle of a minor problem in another hotel?
I have the very strong impression that there is a very large amount of people that presume Disney "owes" them....... and that they are entitled to.......
We just book the room we like and that's it.

 

[Burnt Toast]

I really don't get the last point. "Don't talk down on them"?
That makes me curl up my toes.
We always see the CM as the ones that work there butt of so we have a nice vacation. I don't get the random complaints you read here all day. I always ask myself, if they were sitting behind the counter or desk would they handle the situation different? Would they also make such a hassle of a minor problem in another hotel?
I have the very strong impression that there is a very large amount of people that presume Disney "owes" them....... and that they are entitled to.......
We just book the room we like and that's it.

You wouldn't believe how many Guests have talked down to me when I worked at the Front Desk... especially when asking me to give them something for free.

Honey and vinegar.

 

[Disneyadore]

You wouldn't believe how many Guests have talked down to me when I worked at the Front Desk... especially when asking me to give them something for free.

Honey and vinegar.

Did you also work in Paris? (according to your signature?)

 

[SharonZ]

I'm always shocked as to why people believe they deserve an upgrade more than everyone else that is currently staying at the hotel.

 

[Missytara]

Me too; I would be very upset if I paid a great deal of money to stay somewhere and then someone expected to stay at the same place having paid a lot less.....

I believe it is fun to have one as a surprise rather than begging at the desk for something you didn't pay for, that someone else did.

 

[rastahomie]

I'll share the experience Mrs. Homie and I had the one time we stayed on-site, at Pop in October 2005.

When I made the reservation, I asked for a room in the 80's section, because, you know, Class of '88 Rekonize! When we checked in, the CM checking us in didn't mention our room preference. We were given our room assignment, told it was in the 90's section, and given a map. I was bummed because the 90's (the decade, not the section of Pop), you know, sucked.

We get to our room and it's on the ground floor, facing the pool, literally steps away. Hand to God, I think we got one of the best rooms at Pop! We hadn't requested such a room, either when reserving or checking in, and we certainly hadn't asked for (or paid for) an upgrade. I don't know if this was just luck of the draw, or if the CM liked us, or what.

And now Mrs. Homie is spoiled and thinks that we're going to get a ground-floor pool-facing room when we go this December. I don't think we're going to be so lucky, however.

 

[Missytara]

I'll share the experience Mrs. Homie and I had the one time we stayed on-site, at Pop in October 2005.

When I made the reservation, I asked for a room in the 80's section, because, you know, Class of '88 Rekonize! When we checked in, the CM checking us in didn't mention our room preference. We were given our room assignment, told it was in the 90's section, and given a map. I was bummed because the 90's (the decade, not the section of Pop), you know, sucked.

We get to our room and it's on the ground floor, facing the pool, literally steps away. Hand to God, I think we got one of the best rooms at Pop! We hadn't requested such a room, either when reserving or checking in, and we certainly hadn't asked for (or paid for) an upgrade. I don't know if this was just luck of the draw, or if the CM liked us, or what.

And now Mrs. Homie is spoiled and thinks that we're going to get a ground-floor pool-facing room when we go this December. I don't think we're going to be so lucky, however.

Good one!

I have a similar experience, but on the cruise.

For the first three years I went to Disney, I did the 4/3 land/sea package. Each year, I chose the same cabin - 5585 - inside stateroom, mid-ship, deck five.

Third year, get there with my mom and lo and behold, KTTW card doesn't work and someone else's luggage was outside the door. I went up to the registration desk and this poor, new girl working the counter waited on me. She said my cabin was unavailable and I had been moved to deck 7 (cannot remember the cabin number). I had a adult-sized meltdown right there; someone had taken MY special cabin.

Imagine my surprise when I got to deck 7 and there was our luggage at an OUTSIDE stateroom. We opened the door to a lovely ocean view room, with separate bathrooms. We were in heaven.

And I slithered back downstairs to the registration desk and begged that poor youngun's forgiveness......

And my mom and I have had an oceanview room on all of our cruises now.

 

[Ecboyd]

1st let me say I would NEVER ask for an upgrade. I pay for what I want and expect that and that only. (did'ent even know about the upgrade thing until I read it here)

That being said.
I called POFQ yesterday and asked for a corner room, no water view, did not much care where at and.... well it seemed like I was being rude asking.

It is considered rude to call ahead and ask for a specific room type... I really felt like I was a little kid begging for more desert. : (

(I can also say that it was not a first call maybe that was why they {yes they} seemed "short" with me)

Did I breach Etiquette?