Free room upgrades?

[jnfr2424]

One Thanksgiving we were staying at BLT (just opened that year) paid with cash for a Studio - got upgraded to a 1 bedroom MK view! We had no idea and we did online check in.

 

[autismmom1]

Got our first upgrade this past trip (Sept 30-Oct 5). We had booked a Tower Lake view at CR and were upgraded to Club Level Lake view! It was lovely to have access to the free sodas and food, and the view was beautiful. We were right above Chef Mickey's but we couldn't hear a thing. It really did spoil us, which is what they might be hoping, but we can't afford it on our own, so it may be the only time we have that experience. I am grateful for it though!!

 

[rcraw45425]

Got our first upgrade this past trip (Sept 30-Oct 5). We had booked a Tower Lake view at CR and were upgraded to Club Level Lake view! It was lovely to have access to the free sodas and food, and the view was beautiful. We were right above Chef Mickey's but we couldn't hear a thing. It really did spoil us, which is what they might be hoping, but we can't afford it on our own, so it may be the only time we have that experience. I am grateful for it though!!

You'll be surprised, a couple years back I was able to book atrium club with a 40% discount. Upon arrival they had bumped us to tower club one bedroom suite.

 

[Belle83]

We were upgraded a few times at the Dolphin in May 2011.

Booked a standard room with 2 double beds. They put us in a resort view (or maybe theme park view since we could see the Tower of Terror). After the first night we asked to be moved to a king bed room, which they did free of charge. After one night with the king bed room, they realized they put us in a room that wasn't supposed to be occupied because of fire alarm testing, so they upgraded us to a huge suite with a resort view. It was pretty awesome

Pics here:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=41316388

 

[wdwfan1]

We have had several upgrades over the years. Three times we were upgraded from a standard room at WL to courtyard view. Once we were upgraded from standard view to concierge.

Then we booked Pop for $69 a night with a PIN. When we arrived the CM who was checking us in said we had a call from the Manager of the Yacht Club. The Manager asked me if we would "do him the honor of staying at the Yacht Club instead of Pop". Hmmmm, let me think about this, So we stayed at YC for $69 a night. Works for me.

We were also upgraded at OKW from a studio to a one bedroom.

 

[kaulds]

We have been there at least three times a year for the past 5 years, we have never received an upgrade. We have stayed at various resorts.

 

[maroo]

My favorite upgrade was for Free Dining one year - I booked a Pop room for Free Dining and was upgraded to SSR! I received an email before we ever left... When I called to respond to the email they asked if I wanted a "studio or a one bedroom" and of course I said "one bedroom" - so we got upgraded from a Pop room to a one bedroom villa at SSR with a lovely jacuzzi tub! It was awesome!! And the best value I have ever had at Disney!

 

[Rustyroo]

So the takeaway here is don't ask for a free upgrade, expect nothing, hope to get lucky, and don't be disappointed if you're not, correct? Or does asking for an upgrade and getting a quote for the price difference sometimes yield a free upgrade?

 

[rcraw45425]

So the takeaway here is don't ask for a free upgrade, expect nothing, hope to get lucky, and don't be disappointed if you're not, correct? Or does asking for an upgrade and getting a quote for the price difference sometimes yield a free upgrade?

I wouldn't ask unless I was prepared to pay rack rate for the difference in price. We have received numerous free upgrades both in room category and also to concierge. Never have we inquired for one. As others have stated, book what you can afford and be happy with.

 

[pegrad1]

All of these upgrades! How exciting! May I ask how you originally booked? Direct or through a travel agent? I just have to wonder if the upgrades are b/c a person has booked direct to start with? Curious....
BTW, First trip ever as a family with almost grown kids!


Mom Dillon Madisen
5 months 27 days!

 

[Missytara]

All of these upgrades! How exciting! May I ask how you originally booked? Direct or through a travel agent? I just have to wonder if the upgrades are b/c a person has booked direct to start with? Curious....
BTW, First trip ever as a family with almost grown kids!


Mom Dillon Madisen
5 months 27 days!

How you book has no bearing.

Before you get all excited, realize that there are what - about 60 people who posted here - that represents experiences over a couple of year span - that got upgrades.

Disney has over 32,000 rooms, that people check into weekly. I would say that 60 upgrades on one thread represents very, very, very few chances to get one.

 

[autismmom1]

You'll be surprised, a couple years back I was able to book atrium club with a 40% discount. Upon arrival they had bumped us to tower club one bedroom suite.

Wow! Here's hoping the magic happens again...but if it doesn't, I'm still happy to have had the experience at least once!

 

[autismmom1]

All of these upgrades! How exciting! May I ask how you originally booked? Direct or through a travel agent? I just have to wonder if the upgrades are b/c a person has booked direct to start with? Curious....
BTW, First trip ever as a family with almost grown kids!


Mom Dillon Madisen
5 months 27 days!

I wondered this myself...this was the first time I booked direct instead of going through AAA, but like the previous poster said, I doubt that has any bearing on it. I also did online check-in, and I did not have any "requests", other than tower/lake view (though that is a category, not a request).

 

[1stvisit0909]

How many of you have ever had a room upgrade? What time of year was it? What resort was it and what was you upgraded to. I am just curious how often it happens.

Also if you have got an upgrade when did you first hear about it. Did you get asked before you arrived or surprised on arrival?

We booked value, and were offered a free 1 bd room in OKW. When we got to check in, OKW upgraded us to a 2 bd rm 2 bath villa. In September during free dining. Didn't ask for it.

 

[1stvisit0909]

My favorite upgrade was for Free Dining one year - I booked a Pop room for Free Dining and was upgraded to SSR! I received an email before we ever left... When I called to respond to the email they asked if I wanted a "studio or a one bedroom" and of course I said "one bedroom" - so we got upgraded from a Pop room to a one bedroom villa at SSR with a lovely jacuzzi tub! It was awesome!! And the best value I have ever had at Disney!

Yep, happened to us too! I was like SCORE!

 

[earthelves]

Few years ago @ Christmas i had a SR CL @ WL booked upon Check in i was upgraded to "Presidential Suite" i nearly fainted

 

[sndral]

For all of you dreaming of an upgrade, keep in mind that Disney has been known to downgrade as well. We certainly read of more upgrade reports than downgrade reports, not sure if that's because the downgrade people have sworn off Disney after the downgrade and don't post or that downgrades are less common.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2986550&highlight=downgrade

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I had an upgrade in April at AKL - standard view upgraded to savannah view.