Does the $20 trick work at Disney Resorts?

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Who was talking about free meals?

We got a free ice cream sundae with toppings once. Giant size for sharing.

It was a few years ago. We were walking in Frontierland during PM EMH to ride BTMR. A CM taps me on the shoulder and said, "Sorry, but your daughter looks so cute in her Cinderella dress, I just had to come out and give her this!" She hands me the ice cream, and then said, "Sorry, you guys were walking on the fast side, and I was trying to catch up to you, and the wind blew most of the whipped cream off. I promise it looked much better when I started after you!" She really felt bad about the wind and whipped cream.

Still tasted great! It was so huge, DW, DD, and myself working together couldn't finish it.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

I have never heard of people getting free meals at Disney not even as a surprise compliment, sure room upgrades (rare) and maybe some unlimited 1 day fast passes, and some ice cream from DVC after sales tour, but full on meals? never. If someone has please share.

Check in day 2016, the Saturday after Thanksgiving we arrived at Contemporary and it was after 3:00, our room wasn't ready. My wife was questioning what we could do, where we could wait etc. The CM asked if we were hungry and of course after a 7 hour drive we were starving! They called over to Chef Mickey's and covered the meal for all 4 of us. Within 10 minutes of sitting down to eat our room was ready lol!

Edit: I almost forgot, Same trip when we checked out, I went to get my vehicle and had a flat tire! I will never forget the CM Brandon who came out to help me and sent my wife and kids back in and paid for them to eat at The Wave. He offered me food also but I declined. He waited outside with me until the tow truck driver came. He couldn't get my spare on (lifted truck) so I puled out a $100 bill and asked the driver to please take my tire, fix it and bring it back and he could keep the change which ended up being about a $60 tip. After it was fixed, Brandon informed me he credited my account $100 and said he felt that we shouldn't leave Disney with a bad memory.

We have had a ton of pixie dust and never ever once have asked for it. IMO, giving a CM a bribe to get something is a slap in their face.

 

[Dizzytime]

Alright, I didn’t mean to get everyone all triggered, I was just asking is all. If you google the concept, you’ll see that it’s not an uncommon practice. Many desk clerks have a very wide discretion when it comes to what a customer gets assigned. If a twenty (which if you look it up, you’ll find is the standard) gets the ball rolling, it’s well worth it.

Disney doesn’t do that. Fine...that’s all you had to say. You don’t have to get hot about it.

It's a fair question to me, because there's a real world outside of DW. I'm glad Disney doesn't allow that, but flipping the question is more interesting to me, in that would Vegas, or a lot of other places, be better of not allowing it? Probably they would, but the horses are out of the barn on that one, I'm afraid.
Hope you are all having a magical day!

 

[Wubar]

It's a fair question to me, because there's a real world outside of DW. I'm glad Disney doesn't allow that, but flipping the question is more interesting to me, in that would Vegas, or a lot of other places, be better of not allowing it? Probably they would, but the horses are out of the barn on that one, I'm afraid.
Hope you are all having a magical day!

Yes, I am glad that Disney is outside of that bubble. But in many places around the world, it is common practice - money talks. Grease the palm, slip an envelope, etc. A big motivator, a little extra money can be, extortion, blackmail, etc. Ethics be damned.

And no, I was not comparing Vegas to police extortion in foreign countries or pay to play schemes, just referencing the "money as a motivator" aspect.

 

[StageTek]

Disney doesn’t do that. Fine...that’s all you had to say. You don’t have to get hot about it.

You're new here. It's what many people do here. They live to show off their superior ways and put people in "their place".

Try not to take it personally. But you have no control over how some people will react to a simple and legit question.

 

[QueenElinor]

Nope, front desk CMs are not allowed to accept gratuities. Ain't nobody gonna risk their job for 20 bucks.

As a practical matter, complimentary upgrades are tightly controlled at Disney resorts. The great majority are done by the room assigner in advance of your arrival, and they're done to serve the resort's operational needs. On the less-common occasion that the front desk has the ability to upgrade a guest, we've been told by a number of current and former CMs that they much prefer to surprise guests, and are much less likely to give free upgrades to those who ask outright about getting upgraded for free.

This is pretty much true everywhere. I've never had to pay a fee to change my airline tickets, for example. On the other hand, I've never tried to wiggle out of it. If I truly have a good reason, and am nice to the phone rep, most of the time they find some rule where I can change it without penalty. Even going so far as to "lose" my reservation and book an entirely new one.

Today I asked for a change on my new Disney Visa because I found a better promo rate. She said she'd have to "escalate" it to account management & call me back- but I bet I get the new promo bonus. Being decent and patient still goes a long way. And even if I don't get a sweet deal, I at least helped some overworked customer relations person have a tiny bit better day.

I've also never had a speeding ticket in my life. Not that I haven't been stopped, mind you.

I just always try to be upbeat and patient. No one, from a cop to a CM wants to feel manipulated, but they do want to be seen as human beings. More often than not, the pixie dust just seems to follow.

 

[Lewisc]

One poster said the desk clerk wanted to add the $20 to their account.

You're looking at opposite ends. It's a firing offense at wdw but expected in vegas.

It's called a sandwich in vegas, you put a 20 bill between your credit card and drivers license as you hand it to the clerk

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm so glad Disney isn't Vegas for many, many reasons.

 

[Networth]

I am surprised the $20 bucks even worked in Vegas. What resort were you staying at? Yes, throwing some money around in many places around the world will help with upgrades etc, but $20 bucks?

I mean this is with no snark what so ever, as someone who has done this before (not with Disney). I feel like the employee would just look at the $20 and roll their eyes due to the amount.

 

[gwynne]

I am surprised the $20 bucks even worked in Vegas. What resort were you staying at? Yes, throwing some money around in many places around the world will help with upgrades etc, but $20 bucks?

Some of the properties in Vegas used to give the 20.00 folks an "upgrade" that was actually a downgrade. (Smaller room, worse location etc.) Maybe they still do...

 

[StageTek]

The "trick" is usually $50 these days. It kinda depends on the hotel. $20 isn't going to work at the Venetian...

 

[buzznina]

The "trick" is usually $50 these days. It kinda depends on the hotel. $20 isn't going to work at the Venetian...

This!
Back before our wonderful DDs were born (over 15 years ago), we went to Vegas 2-3 times a year and and the times we tipped the check-in person we were bumped up a level or two, and no we did not get a "downgraded" room (ridiculous). But like StageTek mentioned, i'm pretty sure it will take a $50 bill to get their attention now a days.

 

[armerida]

Today I asked for a change on my new Disney Visa because I found a better promo rate. She said she'd have to "escalate" it to account management & call me back- but I bet I get the new promo bonus.

Sorry to go off topic for this thread, but what is the new promo/where did you find it? I’m about to apply via an email invite from a friend, $200 bonus after spending $500...

 

[Professor_Cookie]

$20. wow. High roller there.

Yeah, the going rate here is $100.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Alright, I didn’t mean to get everyone all triggered, I was just asking is all. If you google the concept, you’ll see that it’s not an uncommon practice. Many desk clerks have a very wide discretion when it comes to what a customer gets assigned. If a twenty (which if you look it up, you’ll find is the standard) gets the ball rolling, it’s well worth it.

Disney doesn’t do that. Fine...that’s all you had to say. You don’t have to get hot about it.

I don't think the idea of tipping in exchange for an improved experience is what got people "triggered". Most people are aware of bribes and tips. I think the idea that $20 is what you consider enough to be bribe worthy is the "trigger". $ 20 doesn't buy a tank of gas, let alone make it worth my trouble make your day magical. I'd probably do like PP said and give you a crummier room for thinking I was so cheap.

 

[Disnsyncey]

Yeah, the going rate here is $100.

makes me shake my head, because that $100 is what they would be paying if they asked about an upgrade anyway (or any other amount really, but Vegas practically gives rooms away anyway haha)

 

[QueenElinor]

Sorry to go off topic for this thread, but what is the new promo/where did you find it? I’m about to apply via an email invite from a friend, $200 bonus after spending $500...

It's on the WDW Deals & Discount page. Only Disney has the $250 credit, if you go to Chase to apply it's still only $200. Applied after you spend $500, annual fee of $49 (which works for us since we don't go to Disney often enough for me to keep the card after our trip. I'll just go back to using the Chase Sapphire).

I checked this morning and the offer was still there.

 

[_19disnA]

Must have been a long time since the OP was in Vegas. $20 now pays for 1 day of parking (used to be free) or 1/2 of the daily 'resort fee' (i.e $40) they now tack onto every room. You are more likely to get a Vegas room upgrade by showing your player's club card and seeing what you might be eligible for.

 

[buzznina]

The OP is just using the terminology, "$20 trick", that has been used for a long time. Secondly, $20 is still a decent amount to a worker who is making less than that an hour. Average hourly pay for a Front Desk Agent is between $15-$20, and the $$ is considered a tip not a bribe. And yes if I had that job and I could make an extra $20 for just giving a person a better room or view, I would not hesitate unless they were a jerk about it. If you do not think $20 is a lot, then good for you, but a majority of the people including myself still thinks $20 is a good amount of money.

 

[focusondisney]

And yes if I had that job and I could make an extra $20 for just giving a person a better room or view, I would not hesitate unless they were a jerk about it.

Except that as has pointed out, at Disney World, accepting that $20 tip could get you fired. Would you really put your job on the line for $20?