Can you only get free upgrades if you book with Disney?

[wildabouttheworld]

I have read quite a few reports on this board about free surprise upgrades when you check in. It seams as if they have only come from those who booked the cruise with Disney Travel. Has anyone else ever had a free upgrade with Travelocity, Expedia, AAA, etc?

 

[Fay Ray]

I just got upgraded for the Magic 11/8 cruise from cat 8 to cat 5.
I booked through AAA.

 

[ez]

We booked ours thru expedia...the upgraded cabin #'s were on our docs so we knew before check in(upgraded from guaranteed category 11 to category 7 for all 4 rooms)

 

[westjones]

I have been on 4 cruises and never got upgraded. I have booked with AAA, direct through Disney, Dreams Unlimited and Disney Vacation Club. I had a Cat. 11 in the first three, and a Cat. 10 in the last.

So I don't know what the secret is to getting an upgrade, but it doesn't happen to everyone.

On the bright side, since we cruise every year, I'm afraid if we were upgraded to a verandah we might not want to cruise without one the next time, and would find ourselves booking them on future cruises. So by not upgrading us, we don't know what we are missing and are happy in our Cat. 11 and 10's.




DJ

 

[Favorite Auntie]

We booked through AAA and got upgraded from a cat 11 gty to a cat 8 for our 11/29/03 cruise! Can't wait!!!

 

[Mjasp]

I'll let you know next August when I get back, I booked through DCL directly. LOL

Joanna

 

[lbgraves]

There is no rhyme or reason to upgrades by DCL. We booked thru a small local TA and were assigned to a room when we made the reservation. We found out that we had been upgraded when we made the final payment at almost 3 months out.

 

[AnnMorin]

Our first was with a regular TA. booked cat. 6 stayed there.
2nd via DVC booked cat. 5 stayed there
3rd via DVC booked cat. 6 stayed there
4th comming up via DVC cat.6 my bet is staying there.......

The only pattern I have seen with upgrades is it happens more on the wonder and if you book lower cabins (ie cat.11) my best advice to anyone is book what you will be happy with and if you somehow are blessed than it is frosting on the cake!!!

 

[Verandah Man]

it is frosting on the cake!!!

We sure enjoyed our frosting, and the cake as well!!!

 

[Rohu13]

I just received a call today that we have been upgraded from a cat 8 to a cat 5. We are sailing on the 11/29 Magic and booked our resv through Dreams. I have no idea how upgrades are decided, but my family is sure going to enjoy it.

 

[Jeanny]

Originally posted by Verandah Man
We sure enjoyed our frosting, and the cake as well!!!