Asking for "free" upgrades at check-in?

[G8r4evr]

So, banish all hope, all ye who enter here?

Either you were being overly dramatic, or said hope was pretty high on the priority list. LOL

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Either you were being overly dramatic, or said hope was pretty high on the priority list. LOL

Hope is high on my personal priority list, sure...but where did I say exactly that my hope of an upgrade in any way affected the outcome of my vacation?

Yes, a paraphrase was used to make a point, if that's what you mean. My point being, why must a person with the ability to know the difference (presumably) between what is deserved and what is hoped for, not even consider asking? What has been suggested is that even the tiniest bit of hope should be abandoned, lest it should not be satisfied and crush you entirely.

I mean no one should go in thinking there is a chance of a free upgrade, because if they do even if it's a little thought then they might set themselves up to be disappointed if it does not happen.

Now, that's being dramatic. (bolding mine)

 

[G8r4evr]

Hope is high on my personal priority list, sure...but where did I say exactly that my hope of an upgrade in any way affected the outcome of my vacation?

Yes, a paraphrase was used to make a point, if that's what you mean. My point being, why must a person with the ability to know the difference (presumably) between what is deserved and what is hoped for, not even consider asking?

Yes, I was referring to your paraphrase, if that is what you would like to call it. Typically when someone speaks of abandoning all hope, I gather that said hope was pretty crucial. I dont recall telling anyone that they shouldn't ask for an upgrade. Instead, I said if it is really that important to you, book and pay for it.

 

[kscottiemom]

Several times while we've been on the monorail or boats at the end of the day I've heard families (ok, always it's ladies) COMPLAINING that they were "where they should be" to get "freebies" and didn't get them. Then, every time, they say that the trip or day was ruined.

I think it's great fun to imagine what it would be like to be given an evening in the castle, I fantasize about everything, I even asked for extra sprinkles on my ice cream sundae, but to plant myself in a "secret" location and wait for the Dream Team (Squad?) to approach me just seems absurd. And to let it ruin a trip, well, that is too sad.

And what message does that send to the rest of the family?

So, no, I wouldn't ask for an upgrade, a change in my reservaton, unless I had prepared to pay for it, but if I recieved one AND IF I WANTED IT, I would accept it delightedly. Mostly it's just a joy to be there.

We did get a Magical Dream FastPass to ride certain rides in the Magic Kingdom last trip and we glowed the rest of the day. In fact, the lanyard is still on the bulletin board--seeing it guarantees a smile.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Yes, I was referring to your paraphrase, if that is what you would like to call it. Typically when someone speaks of abandoning all hope, I gather that said hope was pretty crucial. I dont recall telling anyone that they shouldn't ask for an upgrade. Instead, I said if it is really that important to you, book and pay for it.

And we don't disagree on that. If it's really important to you, AND you can afford it, by all means book and pay for that, and do not EXPECT an upgrade. I think we all agree on that point.

And no, you didn't say you shouldn't ask. Others did.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Several times while we've been on the monorail or boats at the end of the day I've heard families (ok, always it's ladies) COMPLAINING that they were "where they should be" to get "freebies" and didn't get them. Then, every time, they say that the trip or day was ruined.

I think it's great fun to imagine what it would be like to be given an evening in the castle, I fantasize about everything, I even asked for extra sprinkles on my ice cream sundae, but to plant myself in a "secret" location and wait for the Dream Team (Squad?) to approach me just seems absurd. And to let it ruin a trip, well, that is too sad.

And what message does that send to the rest of the family?

So, no, I wouldn't ask for an upgrade, a change in my reservaton, unless I had prepared to pay for it, but if I recieved one AND IF I WANTED IT, I would accept it delightedly. Mostly it's just a joy to be there.

We did get a Magical Dream FastPass to ride certain rides in the Magic Kingdom last trip and we glowed the rest of the day. In fact, the lanyard is still on the bulletin board--seeing it guarantees a smile.

It IS like expecting a magical dream. And why on earth would anyone expect one? But should you not ask for one? I did, by entering the contest by postcard. I didn't expect to win, and if I hadn't won, I wouldn't have whined. Of course, I did win...8 times. By entering. Which, in this discussion, is analogous to asking. I wouldn't have won unless I "asked".

 

[shellybaxter]

I voted for the first choice - but it didn't really fit. I never book a standard view if I don't want to stay in a standard room, and there are very few hotels where I book a standard room (Grand Floridian standards are great).

I would never ask for an upgrade - I think its tacky - but I always hope for special things to happen. Thats why I come to Disney - because there is always hope that special things will happen

BTW - I've never yet had a disappointing trip to Disney

 

[kscottiemom]

It IS like expecting a magical dream. And why on earth would anyone expect one? But should you not ask for one? I did, by entering the contest by postcard. I didn't expect to win, and if I hadn't won, I wouldn't have whined. Of course, I did win...8 times. By entering. Which, in this discussion, is analogous to asking. I wouldn't have won unless I "asked".

Mindy, the company INVITED you to enter a contest, they intended to award a prize. You entered and you won. That's great! Someone had to win, that was part of the idea of a contest, a competiton, there will be a winner. You didn't ask for a freebie, you competed for it by entering your postcard.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I would never ask for it, but when it has been offered for free, I was extremely surprised and grateful. To me, asking for it is rude. I book what I can pay for and pray for pixie dust.

 

[G8r4evr]

Mindy, the company INVITED you to enter a contest, they intended to award a prize. You entered and you won. That's great! Someone had to win, that was part of the idea of a contest, a competiton, there will be a winner. You didn't ask for a freebie, you competed for it by entering your postcard.

Exactly! IMO, there is no comparison between entering a contest and asking for a free upgrade. I dont ever recall seeing a sign at the check in desk saying "free upgrade requests welcome"

 

[kscottiemom]

I would never ask for it, but when it has been offered for free, I was extremely surprised and grateful. To me, asking for it is rude. I book what I can pay for and pray for pixie dust.

Pixie Dust is wonderful! Thank you for putting a smile at the end of this.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

We stayed at the Beach Club, and at check in asked if there was any upgrades,
the nice lady behind the counter said she would upgrade us to concierge level at no extra cost. Saved a lot on food.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Mindy, the company INVITED you to enter a contest, they intended to award a prize. You entered and you won. That's great! Someone had to win, that was part of the idea of a contest, a competiton, there will be a winner. You didn't ask for a freebie, you competed for it by entering your postcard.

You are right, they are not exactly analogous. There is the difference of invitation.
However, there is the correlation (which I admit is not enough to support a full debate) of your statement that "someone had to win". Well, someone will be getting that upgrade (if it's available). There is no method for determining who that might be, so what is the harm in asking? It might swing the pendulum of opportunity your way...or it might not. No harm done. Like I've always taught my children, "you never know until you ASK". That's rude? (not you, another poster) Since when is asking questions rude???

 

[mygirl]

i usually book standard b/c we don't spend tons of time in our room. however, last fall we arrived at the CBR for the first time only to be shocked by its size. we asked if we could pay for an upgrade to a preferred location. the wonderful CM who worked with us came back to say that we had been upgraded at no charge !

i would NEVER expect anything for free, but it was pleasant to be awarded an upgrade.

 

[kscottiemom]

You are right, they are not exactly analogous. There is the difference of invitation.
However, there is the correlation (which I admit is not enough to support a full debate) of your statement that "someone had to win". Well, someone will be getting that upgrade (if it's available). There is no method for determining who that might be, so what is the harm in asking? It might swing the pendulum of opportunity your way...or it might not. No harm done. Like I've always taught my children, "you never know until you ASK". That's rude?

I think the presumption that it's an upgrade and "someone will be getting that upgrade" is faulty. It presumes that Disney will automatically award all available "upgraded" rooms.
Rooms are a commodity and they are sold.
It further implies that at the end of the day, when the audit report or night run report is run, standard rooms should be the most available and all the rooms we are referring to as "upgrades" should be filled.

As for your asking if it's rude, I don't know. I guess every family sets its own standard for manners. I imagine Disney has come to expect it.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We just stick with our original booking. We may ask for a specific view or building, and have been very successful with that.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I think the presumption that it's an upgrade and "someone will be getting that upgrade" is faulty. It presumes that Disney will automatically award all available "upgraded" rooms.
Rooms are a commodity and they are sold.
It further implies that at the end of the day, when the audit report or night run report is run, standard rooms should be the most available and all the rooms we are referring to as "upgrades" should be filled.

As for your asking if it's rude, I don't know. I guess every family sets its own standard for manners. I imagine Disney has come to expect it.

I have to admit to your points. I do not know enough about the booking process from that end to presume that they'd be giving out those rooms anyway. But that is simply a red herring, drawing us away from the contested points of asking, hoping, and expecting.

My point is this...there is no harm in asking. If asking is done with no presumption of expectation, and is done without rudeness (I do wonder at how those who classify "asking" as rude...how are you posing the question that it would be construed as "rude"?), and it sometimes results in a free upgrade, why is it considered a bad or (as it seems to some) immoral thing?

 

[Leigha]

Mindy, give up! There are a multitude of "askers" out here who agree that asking is not the same as expecting. It is done in a polite way with no pressure. IMHO, it takes mousekeepers the same amount of time to clean one room as another. If some room is going to go empty, why not let it be the one without a view? We're never going to convince some other people out there that it isn't rude though so why bother. My motto is also, you never know until you ask. We'll lead a richer life for it in more ways than one! I HOPE you have a good trip on the cruise!

 

[mommyluvsnoah]

Hmm. . . I would feel uncomfortable asking for a "free" upgrade. Not sure that there is anything wrong with it but just wouldn't do it. It's kind of like going to a restaurant and ordering a less expensive dish and asking them to upgrade you to a more expensive dish for free. Now if they offer me the free upgrade to a then great. But I wouldn't ask. However, I told Dh about this thread and he said he would have no problem asking for a free upgrade. So I think it comes down to what you are comfortable with and whatever you do just don't expect it but be pleasently suprised if it happens.

How's that for a noncommital answer.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Mindy, give up! There are a multitude of "askers" out here who agree that asking is not the same as expecting. It is done in a polite way with no pressure. IMHO, it takes mousekeepers the same amount of time to clean one room as another. If some room is going to go empty, why not let it be the one without a view? We're never going to convince some other people out there that it isn't rude though so why bother. My motto is also, you never know until you ask. We'll lead a richer life for it in more ways than one! I HOPE you have a good trip on the cruise!

Thanks, Leigha! I do have a hard time giving up on these things. I believe it to be a dangerous precedent to not question things, simply because opening one's mouth in some circles is considered "improper" or "rude". In this case it's certainly not an essential thing to ask for an upgrade...far from it. But to say that one should not open one's mouth because it's rude to ask for something, just sets me off. And to say one should not HOPE for something, just because one may likely be disappointed...that opens up a whole 'nother can of worms.