Does Disney ever give room upgrades?

[Mississippian]

We are staying in a 1br villa at SSR at the end of the month, and im wondering if they ever upgrade (free of charge) if asked? Although Disney doesnt seem to give many handouts. Just curious if anyone has ever asked and gotten an upgrade. Thanks.

I got an upgrade from a BWV studio to a 1BR when staying there as a CRO guest years ago. I strongly suspect that these upgrades are targeted and subsidized in an effort to "sell" DVC. It worked, although it took me several years to decide to buy.

I find it far less likely that you would get an upgrade from a 1 BR to a 2 BR. The upgrade from a studio to a 1 BR lets someone get a taste of the DVC experience. There's really no benefit to their upgrading you to a 2 BR.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Hope you all get upgrades.

I like the upgrade I gave myself

 

[Allison]

I got an upgrade from a BWV studio to a 1BR when staying there as a CRO guest years ago. I strongly suspect that these upgrades are targeted and subsidized in an effort to "sell" DVC. It worked, although it took me several years to decide to buy.

I find it far less likely that you would get an upgrade from a 1 BR to a 2 BR. The upgrade from a studio to a 1 BR lets someone get a taste of the DVC experience. There's really no benefit to their upgrading you to a 2 BR.

And to add to this, many of the 2 bedrooms are called "lock-offs" meaning they are a 1 bedroom with a connecting door to the studio next door which then makes it a 2 bedroom. Therefore, if there aren't that many dedicated 2 bedrooms, there isn't a very good chance of getting upgraded to one. If someone needs a 2 bedroom, they unlock the connecting door, if not you don't get access to it and it remains a 1 bedroom.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There aren't any fireworks at DTD anymore. And when they did have them, I think they lasted all of three minutes or less. By the time I heard them pop and I went to the balcony to watch, they were over.

If you want a DTD view, just ask to be placed in Congress Park.

 

[KatMark]

When we stayed at the Contemporary way back in 1989, we had paid for a standard view in one of the wing buildings (I think that is what they are called), and we were upgraded to the Tower with a view of Cinderella's castle (our boys were 1 and 3 at the time). We have since been upgraded from a garden view to a water view a few times...mostly at the Coronado Springs.

 

[inaminute]

I've been going to WDW multiple times each year since 1989. I've yet to receive an upgrade, or a special postcard, or a special rate o fany kind (other than the old AP rate). That's another reason we're no longer staying on property. There just aren't any incentives for long term repeat guests.

We get points at Hilton and Best Western. So far we've earned two nights in Hawaii, a couple of nights in Las Vegas, and two nights in New York City. We're going to South Beach for another two nights prior to our cruise in December. This time it's courtesy of Best Western. And, we usually get free upgrades because of our point "status."

So we'll continue to stay off property earning points for a couple of free nights at another location!

 

[raven69david]

My last 2 trips to AKL i've been upgraded from standard view room to Savannah view by simply asking while checking in.

 

[dclfun]

I have a feeling that there will be far fewer upgrades from AKL standard view due to the DVC villas taking quite a few rooms from the "regular room" inventory and filling with DVC members booked on points. When we were there in September I was surprised to see so many lights on in the rooms overlooking the parking lot, aka "standard view"- usually it seemed that those rooms were empty. As to the possibility of the OP being upgraded, while it might be slim to none, it never hurts to ask! A one bedroom villa though is gorgeous and calling to request a view of DTD is a good idea.---Kathy

 

[livie1205]

just got back..got free upgrade to savanna view from standard...at gf,got upgraded to magic castle view from standard..at poly same thing (all dif vacations over the years) everytime i stay at port orleans i get upgraded to waterview..all you can do is ask....it also helps that i go value season..GOODLUCK

 

[Got Quattro?]

i get have gotten free upgrades 5 of the last 6 trips.

#1 - I dont expect them

#2 - i dont ask for them

so how do I get them? I always book the ceapest room. Then as we are checking in, my cute little (now 6) daughter comes over and asks, "daddy, can we see the pool from our room? that would be awesome if we could" I just tell her i dont know and llok to the CM checking me in for help.

3 of 3 trips to wilderness lodge have been upgrade from woods to courtyard

1 of 1 Animal kingdom lodge have been upgraded from standard to savanha

1 of 2 at yacht / beach club upgraded from standard to pool view.

The key is to not ask. People hate when you ask for free stuff. you have to get the cm to give it to you without you asking.

 

[disyady]

I've been staying on property since 1989 and have been unexpectedly upgraded twice. Once was Aug 06 at BC from std to water view and the second was this past Aug at the GF from garden view to Sugar Loaf Concierge. This one was really a shocker because it was such a huge upgrade and we had taken advantage of the 40% discount postcard (and we are a family of 5). It was such a magical surprise I cried the whole way to our room and kept asking the CM who was escorting us if she was sure she hadn't made a mistake. I believed her when she handed us our 5 gold keys to the world!!!! You just never know.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

We have been upgraded twice in 15 years. Once probably due to a booking problem. Booked waterview at BC and upgraded to CL waterview. The other time was AKL booked standard and got upgraded to Duluxe Pool view. I never asked just found out when I arrived in my room. The AKL CM had a huge grin on his face and now I know why. It is always magical when it happens.

 

[applechips]

upgraded unexpectedly in Dec 2006 from garden view at the Polynesian to Magic Kingdom view, Concierge level at the Polynesian. It was the best trip to date.

 

[LauraAnn630]

Unexpected upgrade from All Star Music to Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.
They e-mailed us the free upgrade.

Second upgrade at check-in from a 1 bdrm to a 2 bdrm!
Sept 1 - 7, 2007

So YEP!

 

[dbarker]

In May 2003 we got an upgrade at AKL from standard view to water view.

In May 2006 we got an upgrade at BWI from standard view to water view

 

[bookgirl2632]

I have a friend who got an upgrade to a preferred location room at CBR with a water view a couple of years ago. They didn't ask and it wasn't a special occasion. I'm guessing that the room was available and the resort was pretty full. It was the summer season.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) DVC's do not upgrade room sizes (eg. 1-bdrm to 2-bdrm).
2) That is policy.
3) An exception might be a mechanical problem with the first room.

 

[lindsroc]

What would be a reason that they would just randomly upgrade? I know our next trip we will be on a tighter budget and definitely wont be staying in a 1 br at SSR, but thinking of maybe AKL or even Carribean Beach or something.

 

[DisneyLover75]

Sounds like heaven. I can't imagine getting to be concierge level! Wow! What an incredible treat that would be.

 

[bab31]

We were upgraded to a junior suite at CSR- We booked a nonsmoking king room thru AAA and when we arrived they did not have one. They offered us a standard room or smoking king room for half off for the night- I didnt bite- I did have a sinus infection that I just took my last prescription med that am. told them that and moved us to the suite- I was fully expecting to move in the am and they said we would be there all week!