Asking for "free" upgrades at check-in?

[CoachBagFanatic]

I would never ask for an upgrade as we would pay for ours from the start which we always do. As far as it being rude to ask, I don't see that it is rude. It can't hurt. I personally would not ask but that's just me.

 

[murphnjamie]

I guess, with my personality, I just couldn't ask. But that's me.

However, I did mention a couple of times in booking my resort that it is our 10th anniversary. Maybe she put it in the notes and we'll get lucky with an upgrade.

I did book a standard room at WL, and since there is only about 50 of them, I may have a chance. If not, as long as they aren't pumping deisel fumes into our room, I won't mind it a bit. We got a 40% discount for the trip, so the fact that we couldn't have afforded deluxe without it, I've already been upgraded.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I book what I want
I dont like asking for upgrades.

 

[Disneylvr]

In my 20+ trips to Disney World I have never requested an upgrade and have only received one and that was at the AKL from a pool view to a savannah view. At first I was thrilled until we found out how far away it was from the main area and how few animals actually came near our balcony.

 

[Mrsjvb]

I voted, but I did have a problem with the wording: asking for a FREE upgrade.

If I ask for an upgrade( and for the record, I choose not to, I book what I want..no, let me rephrase, I book what I can afford which is quite frequently NOT what I want ) I would ask with the expectation of being charged. if I should be so lucky as to NOT be so charged, wonderful, fantastic, terrific, Hooray! but to ask for a FREE one smacks, TO ME, of entitlement.

then there is the definition of upgrade. To me, a poolside room would NOT be an upgrade. a higher floor would NOT be one as well. nor would a glorious view of the Castle superbly lit by the nightly fireworks. Booking a standard room and getting a King suite or Concierge..would be, to me.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Gosh - I am so pleased to have so many people post! To clarify my initial question/position, I am a woman who pays her way and doesn't ask for freebies. If freebies come to me, I'm certainly delighted, but I don't count on them. But when I saw another poster in another discussion mentioning that he/she usually asks for an upgrade and usually gets one, I wondered if this is something many people do. I also wondered what success rate these people have.

Like other posters said, I'm not sure that I could be one of those people. But the suggestion of being a very friendly guest (I generally am, especially in WDW) and being very enthusiastic about the resort (read the parenthetical above) is a good one! I might have to try that But I would definitely accept "no" for an answer and would continue to be a happy, friendly, and enthusiastic guest.

Any more opinions?

 

[jess20k]

I never ask. I do make certain requests, for preferrances, but I never flat out ask for any type of upgrade. If one is given to us, then that is terrific, but since I do not have the best luck in the world, I usually don't hold my breath that we will get one.

Like others have mentioned, I think if someone has their heart set on something, then it is worth it to just pay for it, so you are guaranteed that you will get what you want.

 

[Wendi2000]

I have never requested an upgrade, but we've gotten them for both stays at AKL. In fact, I posted a poll last year to find out what other guests have experienced as far as upgrades at AKL and they are very common. Here's the post if you are interested: AKL Upgrade Poll

We didn't get an upgrade at Pop, but they only have standard or preferred rooms, we were in the 50's anyway, which is close enough to preferred (and probably quite a bit more quiet anyway).

At AKL we had a Pool view booked the first year and got a Savanna view room when we checked in. Last year I booked a Standard view and ended up with a really, really good Pool view room. I just booked a Standard view at AKL again for next year and I'll keep my fingers crossed, but I am completely satisfied with a Standard anyway, so the upgrade is a bonus to me. If I was set on having a specific room type, I would not count on an upgrade to get it.

 

[idlewoman1]

Have never asked but when we stayed at AKL one year after the second night my DH said it was so dark in the room and lodge itself he had such a hard time seeing in the room he went to ask if they could switch us to another area that was brighter and they switched us over to the BCR!! Loved it and the room was alot larger at no extra cost.

 

[deej696]

I spent several years behind the front desk of a luxury hotel, and I can tell you when I got asked for an upgrade, the guest never got it. Never. I always found it very annoying.. I would be more apt to give an upgrade or a preferred room to people who were just nice in general, as opposed to those who came in asking for an upgrade and telling me how often they stay in the hotel, or why they are just special and should get something better.

Sorry for a vent, I just always found it very frustrating , so I guess it still gets my blood flowing even though I got out of that business a few years ago!

Striking up random conversation with a desk agent will go a long way to perhaps getting an upgrade of some sort. It was rare when someone took an interest in where I was from, etc so those people often got the better rooms....

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I spent several years behind the front desk of a luxury hotel, and I can tell you when I got asked for an upgrade, the guest never got it. Never. I always found it very annoying.. I would be more apt to give an upgrade or a preferred room to people who were just nice in general, as opposed to those who came in asking for an upgrade and telling me how often they stay in the hotel, or why they are just special and should get something better.

Sorry for a vent, I just always found it very frustrating , so I guess it still gets my blood flowing even though I got out of that business a few years ago!

Striking up random conversation with a desk agent will go a long way to perhaps getting an upgrade of some sort. It was rare when someone took an interest in where I was from, etc so those people often got the better rooms....

Good to know...schmoozing works better than asking....I'm not at all surprised.

I am curious, however...did those who ever ask, do so nicely? Did it still aggravate you? Or were they all just rude, entitled jerks?

 

[vickyBaby]

Going off on a tangent...

Several years ago, we were booked at WL standard view. DH inquired if there were any concierge rooms available and what the additional charge would be.

The CM gave him a very reasonable rate (less than what it would be if it was booked upfront) and DH opted to upgrade.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I have never asked for them but have recieved a few and they were all a very nice surprise!!!

 

[froggygrrrl]

Ugh, the thought of hinging a Disney vacation on getting a free upgrade at check in gives me an ulcer. That being said, I see no harm in inquiring about whether or not an upgrade is available (and expecting to pay any difference). So far I have not done so (I prefer to already have booked the exact room type that I want), but I would if needed.

 

[angey77]

I have never asked for a free upgrade, however, I have asked after chatting it up with the CM while checking in (and while they have my credit card in hand before giving my room number), "How much would it be to possibly upgrade?"

I have done this twice. At CR, we had booked a standard view in the north wing and were "upgraded" free of charge to preferred view. I use the word loosely because our view of Bay Lake was right above the playground. My in-laws stayed in the standard view and could watch Wishes from their room. Also, it was our honeymoon and we did get married at Disney, so that may have helped in the freebie. We would have gotten tower if avail, but it was all booked up with a medical convention. And it may have been a mistake, but our room keys, my DH discovered on the last night, worked to access the concierge level! He said he got up there (it was late) and there was no one around who could have pushed the button at the lounge. Of course, when we tried it later, it did not work. So weird.

Other time we asked and received an upgrade was from pool view at AKL and got savannah view for a whopping $10 more per night (on an already discounted AP rate!!!). That was awesome!

Last time we stayed at AKL in May 2007, my DH did the checking in and the CM told him it would be $70 more per night to upgrade from pool to savannah view. She also was not very informed on a lot of stuff and my DH could pick up on that. So, later, after we had moved into our pool view room, I just tried out the "how much would an upgrade be?" My DH did not want to repack and unpack, but I believe they told us it would only be about $15-20 more per night on top of our AP rate once again.

Moral of the story ... don't expect a free upgrade ... but don't be hesitant to ask if one is available and if so, how much it would run.

 

[jgates]

Depending on the area of the country, the upgrade request is almost more an 'expected' thing - such as in Vegas. Only there it is usually accompanied by a $20 bill between the ID & the Credit Card OR a low cut shirt and a smile for the check-in clerk.

I have never yet been gutsy enough to try it though, LOL.

However, we were upgraded to a water view room at POFQ last trip. I had elected to not pay for an upgrade because you can't really sit outside the room and watch the water anyway, however, it was a wonderful site to walk out to in the morning. But not worth paying extra for so I would just book standard again.

 

[grannyminnie]

Personally, I'm a "shmoozer" but I also like the approach someone posted above...ask if there are upgrades to CL available and at what cost. If you are nice, and have a friendly CM, ya might get lucky!

 

[RMulieri]

I book what I can afford..I won't ask because that is the ytype of person I am.But I don't think it is rude to ask, as long as it is done nicely and tactfully.....I actually heard someone at check-in loudly ask for an upgrade because " I know you give them out and I Think I deserve one cause I am a good customer so it ain't fair if I don't get it"The man practically threw himself on the floor having a tantrum.

 

[boardom]

Personally when I've asked for an upgrade (not at Disney) I do it in a way that suggests I'm expecting to pay for it - "do you have any xxxx rooms available, and how much extra would that be?" Sometimes - especially if I'm a member of their frequent customer club - they'll just say, oh yes, and I can accommodate you for no extra charge. But I wouldn't act like I expect that.

I'll probably ask if there are any 1BR villas or deluxe rooms available when we check in, since I would really like to have one (and wouldn't mind paying for it) but there are currently none available....but I certainly don't expect them to hand me one for free. Not that free would be a PROBLEM to me.

 

[Andrea]

i have never asked at disney, i book what i want.

but in vegas that is a different story!!!! I will always ask for a free upgrade, and 99.9% of the time I will get it!!! ( but I think that is very common in las vegas)