Free Upgrade

[qman]

What is the best way to get a free upgrade at checkin. We have booked a "standard view" at the CSR in 11/05, what's the best way to end up with a free water view?

 

[safetymom]

Just ask nicely if there are any upgrades to water view available.

 

[Katems]

But when you ask, do they assume you want to PAY for an upgrade, or do they realize you are hoping for a FREE upgrade? Should you specifically ASK if there are any free upgrades, or simply ask if there are any upgrades and hope they realize you want free??

 

[SB in KY]

Actually I do not know why anyone would care whether they had a water view at CSR or not....there are no balconies, just the window in front of your room that opens onto the walkway that everyone going by uses....translation....unless you are an exhibitionist you have to keep the curtain closed when you are in the room and the only way to sit out and enjoy the view is to pull a chair outside and sit in the walkway (which reminds me of the Beverly Hillbillies or something)... if you want to enjoy the water view you really have to go sit out on one of the benches by the lake...which anyone is welcome to do regardless of your room view. The rooms themselves are identical.

I sure would not be let down if I did not get a water view....neither would I be terribly excited if they "upgraded" me. It is no biggie either way. I would not even bother asking.

 

[melindaandrob]

If you want a water view why wouldn't you just pay the extra few dollars for the view?

 

[Jennasis]

Oy! If the poster wanted to pay the "few extra dollars" for a water-view then they would have done that when they booked. The OP wants to know about free upgrades. As far as the exhibitionist or Beverly Hillbillies comments, both were unecessary. I've stayed at the mods plenty of times and enjoyed the water view from my room with the curtains open without feeling awkward.

I was actually wondering the same thing the OP was. How to ask for and get the upgrade without upgrading the price!

 

[badhairday]

Hi! In response to you questions regarding how to ask for an upgrade - when we checked in at the Dolphin, I just asked if they were offering an room upgrades - he said "sure!", and proceeded to give us the keys to two other rooms - one with a view of the fireworks at Epcot, and the other was a lakeview/poolview. He told us to come back and tell him which upgrade we would prefer. We took the room with the lake/firework view at Epcot. You could see the fireworks perfectly and the Mickey hat. The kids loved it!

It was free (I think they know that is what you are asking for, and it depends on their occupancy rate at that time). He also gave us a punch card for our children to get free ice cream for 2 days at their Ice Cream Parlour.

I think if you just pleasantly ask, if they have rooms available (other than conceriege level) they would be happy to give you the upgrade.

Good luck!!

 

[bballdiva]

I was wondering the same question. I was always told it never hurts to ask all they can say is no. So why not, go ahead and ask. I would just ask "are there are complimentry rooom upgrades today?" I dont consider myself cheap by any means. I would drop $300 on a purse with no prob, but if they were offering a change pouch at no cost i'd take it too. I'll prob get flames for comparing a purse to a disney situation but thats ok. I'm a disney and purse addict.

 

[qman]

I understand that "there are no balconies, just the window in front of your room that opens onto the walkway that everyone going by uses". We stayed at CBR which (from what I've read) is set up the same way. Given that I wouldn't want to pay for the water view but if (for free) I could look at water or a parking lot I'll take the water everytime.

 

[safetymom]

CBR is heavily landscaped so even if you are on the parking lot side of the building it is hard to see the cars.

 

[AJKMOM]

Just so you know, the Dolphin, while on Disney property, isn't Disney-owned. I have read here about lots of people given free upgrades at the Swan and Dolphin. I don't think Disney is quite so generous anymore.

 

[bicker]

Hehe... that's probably because Disney's load-levels are a lot higher than Starwood's!

 

[thelionqueen]

I was wondering the same question. I was always told it never hurts to ask all they can say is no. So why not, go ahead and ask. I would just ask "are there are complimentry rooom upgrades today?" I dont consider myself cheap by any means. I would drop $300 on a purse with no prob, but if they were offering a change pouch at no cost i'd take it too. I'll prob get flames for comparing a purse to a disney situation but thats ok. I'm a disney and purse addict.

What I always do is just ask very politely. I usually say something like "are there any open rooms with a ____ view available we could switch to instead". I have always been given the upgrade, every time, WDW & Disneyland, but we always go off season. If they are available, I'm pretty sure they always give them out.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We were given a free upgrade last trip at CSR to a water view in the Casitas. We didnt ask-they noticed it was our honeymoon and said Congratulations! They didnt even tell us, bell services drove us to our building.
To comment on why would anyone care if they had a waterview- we didnt thats why we didnt pay extra or think to ask. But, I have to say, when we got to our room on the 3rd floor (our only requests were non smoking, anything but ground floor), we could see the lake and everything lit up. It was beautiful. The next morning, we watched the sun coming over the lake from our bed. So yes, it does add to the atmosphere to have a waterview. We also realized every other room on our floor facing the lake had some obstruction of sorts blocking a direct room view-trees, pillars, etc. Our room had a clear view from inside the room.
I suggest you ask nicely at checkin. If they have something, they will give it to you.

 

[Buzz2001]

You best chance would be to request a cabana room.