free upgrades?!?!?

[rt2dz]

Twice I have received a free upgrade at check-in at WDW. I did not ask either time; I was simply pleasantly surprised. I always book the least expensive room I'd be happy with. At AKL that would be a Savannah room (CL being the only possible upgrade). At the Poly, a garden view will do just fine (leaving anything as an upgrade).

IF I were to ever ask for an upgrade, I would ask how much for... That would give the CM an opportunity to offer it for free and if not, if I don't want to pay for it, I can say that's more than I wanted to spend and decline.

At non-Disney resorts, we receive free upgrades all the darn time without ever asking.

 

[PrincessNP]

Another story.....we were checking into the Contemporary for a conference I was attending I was laughing and joking with the cast members helping me. There was a young guy in business attire who was standing next to me and I commented that he must be there especially for me to give me my complementary upgrade! He and the cast member behind the desk laughed. When I was given my room assignment he told me I had received a complementary upgrade to Bay Tower and we had views of the lake and pool that were amazing!

I did let them know what a great Disney fan I was and that we come multiple times every year. I am not sure if they can see those things in the computer or not. It was a great experience and we were very thankful! But we do not expect it. just a pleasant surprise!

 

[WDWKOOK]

About the best you can do is to ask what it would cost to upgrade to the view, level, etc. that you want. They may quote you a discounted price, if you're lucky.

I thought that guest initiated "upgrades" and/or any room changes made upon arrival or mid-trip are priced by WDW at the prevailing rack rate? That has been our personal experience and I thought I had read that as well

 

[Nicole721]

Last year, we were doing a short stay at the Contemporary after a (non-Disney) cruise and we booked a Tower/Bay Lake View room. We checked in and the lady checking us in didn't say anything and when we got upstairs, I made an offhand comment to my sister about Bay Lake and she said "Nicole, Bay Lake is on the other side of the hotel." I totally didn't believe her (but I also lack any directional instinct) and when we went to open the door, the keys didn't work so I was convinced it was a mistake.

Alas, it wasn't (the keys weren't programmed right) and we were upgraded to the most amazing Disney view ever.

I'd be lying if I said we didn't hope for an upgrade every time we check in because really, who doesn't? That said, we always book the type of room that we need and if we get upgraded, great, but if we don't, we have what we need. That's why we booked a 1BR at BLT for our trip next month- it would be great (but highly unlikely during opening week) to get upgraded, but we would NEVER ask for an upgrade (I think it's kind of tacky, no offense to anyone) and we *need* a 1BR so we wouldn't risk booking a studio and hoping for (or asking for) what we really needed and be at the mercy of the booking system and/or CM.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

We have had a few upgrades and also some bad room allocations. For us the distance to amenities far outways the need for a good view.

Trust me it is very hard to say thank you for that lovely room could you move us somewhere less good so we can manage the distance.

 

[Aliceacc]

My sister got an unasked, unexpected upgrade last year at the GF.

She booked Garden View and got Lagoon view-- she was thrilled!!!

 

[marie1203]

I worked in the hotel industry for a while now and here is how upgrades happen. Disney being so big and having so many room choices am sure they have an inventory manager. Basically this person job is to make sure that all guest have a room when they get there and to have back to back reservations in each room so there is not wholes on the inventory. There is only a certain # of rooms of each view and he/she wants to fill them all in so everyone gets what they book for but sometimes if things are not done right or stays are too long they might not fit the puzzle so what do they do upgrade. Who do they pick to upgrade priority 1) the person that fit a whole in the inventory, 2) the shortest stay (they lose less revenue) 3) returning guest or the person paying the highest rate. They will always try to upgrade just one level up and bump someone up of the level above you so they lose less revenue. Busy times room will be assigned before you get there, they can't afford to not assign them. Slower times they might choose to do it or not so there is more room to get request and move you around. Other upgrades happen because they are trying to apologize for something they did wrong. The system does link all the notes of past stay too. Now the other thing to keep in mind is that at the front desk each CM has different levels if they are leads they can do the upgrade without a manger level 1 and 2 can't there is no way for you to know this as you check in.

 

[tami82]

I have asked in other places and alot of the time gotten one but not sure i will at Disney being our first trip. I really hope that we do because we are in the garden wing.
When we stayed at Great Wolf Lodge for my daughters birthday i just came out and asked if they gave upgrades for birthdays and got the greatest room which i believe was 2 or 3 upgrades from what we paid for. The second time for my other girls b-day gave me one but wasnt as nice as the first. But it was an upgrade and so appreciated that makes me really want to go back. I think they also may do that because people will book the cheapest rooms and they are always the first to go. Now if they upgrade you that becomes one more available for them to sell to anyone looking to go last minute that doesnt want to spend a fortune and they dont lose out (the better rooms can be awfully expensive for one night).

 

[PaulaSB12]

I have asked for a higher floor room, if I got given a ground floor room would it be ok to ask if they had one on a higher floor? Being female and solo I prefer not to be on the ground floor.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Absolutely. That is a room preference request and not an upgrade request.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I never ask and have never been upgraded. However I have school age children so am always there a peak times. I would imagine off times would have a better chance.

 

[PrincessMama605]

I worked in the hotel industry for a while now and here is how upgrades happen. Disney being so big and having so many room choices am sure they have an inventory manager. Basically this person job is to make sure that all guest have a room when they get there and to have back to back reservations in each room so there is not wholes on the inventory. There is only a certain # of rooms of each view and he/she wants to fill them all in so everyone gets what they book for but sometimes if things are not done right or stays are too long they might not fit the puzzle so what do they do upgrade. Who do they pick to upgrade priority 1) the person that fit a whole in the inventory, 2) the shortest stay (they lose less revenue) 3) returning guest or the person paying the highest rate. They will always try to upgrade just one level up and bump someone up of the level above you so they lose less revenue. Busy times room will be assigned before you get there, they can't afford to not assign them. Slower times they might choose to do it or not so there is more room to get request and move you around. Other upgrades happen because they are trying to apologize for something they did wrong. The system does link all the notes of past stay too. Now the other thing to keep in mind is that at the front desk each CM has different levels if they are leads they can do the upgrade without a manger level 1 and 2 can't there is no way for you to know this as you check in.

I had never thought of this.....we were upgraded for free on our last two trips which were both short stays. I actually turned down both and asked just to be put in the type of room we had requested and paid for. Very Un-magical of me I know, but I really just wanted the room we paid for, if I had wanted a better room, I would have booked it.

The first was at Pop last Dec and they upgraded us to preferred. We usually drive so that put us far from the parking lot, plus when we were there it was very hot and being that close to the pool is too noisy for us.

The second time was last month at CSR. All I wanted was a renovated room in the Cabanas section. I had seen pics of the rooms and hammocks on here and fell in . Plus, we would be close to the parking lot. Well, they upgraded us to a suite in Casitas. I hated the room decor, the murphy bed, and the very long walk to the parking lot. I went back to the front desk and after talking to the manager, I got the room I had wanted. She didn't understand why I wasn't happy with the upgrade and told me several times that some other family will be very happy to have it. We were thrilled with our new room and I hope that whoever ended up with the suite was happy too.

 

[whenuwishuponastarr]

We were upgraded once but not by asking. We were booked at CBR and it was overbooked so the put us at the BC!! free woohoo! We love the BC but never think it is in our budget!

10 wks till dd surprise bday trip!

 

[burberryplaid]

We've stayed at Wilderness Lodge twice and both times we were upgraded unexpectedly, and without asking. I personally would never ask because I always book the room I'd be happy with. If you have to ask, it's not magical.

 

[Jenna319]

I have been to Disney prob about 20 times in my life and never been upgraded nor have I ever expected to be.... however, people that have gotten these calls from Disney within days of their trip asking to be upgraded from value to deluxes..... if this happened to me, I literally think I would pass out! What a wonderful surprise! I would DIE to stay at Polynesian but could never afford it..... Not that I'm not thrilled with just being able to afford staying at any Disney resort but if the opportunity arose to be upgraded to a deluxe, I would be ecstatic! Has this happened to a lot of people where Disney calls you asking you to switch from a value or moderate to a deluxe? How nice!

 

[fizzywater]

I've not requested "free" upgrade, but have been given free upgrades. At CBR I asked how much it would cost to upgrade to water view, was given it free. At Beach Club, had asked for room with full balcony on reserveration, with nice view, and got patio looking right into a bush. Was celebrating birthday, wanted something special, asked nicely how much to upgrade, was given free upgrade to Boardwalk view. Both of those stays were for one night only. (we are Florida residents).

 

[krismom2000]

Both times we got upgraded were at resorts undergoing rehabs...once at GF and another at BC. I am sure it was due to certain areas being closed down and perhaps to make up for the noise... both times it was from standard to Concierge level- and it was wonderful!

 

[sherabby]

We paid for a standard room and when we arrived at the CBR we were in Martinique 26 which is preferred! Someone must have liked us!

 

[Burnt Toast]

We've had cast members post on other threads here that it does hurt to ask. I really would not recommend asking for a free upgrade, it's just about going to guarantee that you won't get one.

When I worked at the Disneyland Hotel Front Desk and a Guest asked me for a free upgrade, that pretty much sealed the deal that I would not even try to get them an upgrade. Even if I tried, I would have gotten lots of resistance from the Leads and Managers on duty. Besides, there are plenty of other Guests to upgrade (based on needs of the business and occupancy levels) that weren't pushy about it.

We were always told that if a Guest asks for a free upgrade, they didn't even need to be pushy about it, then the answer would most always be no. I have, on numerous occasions, went to the room assignor/Lead on duty and asked for a free room upgrade on behalf of the Guest (without the Guest knowing... the whole "I'm sorry, I need to check up on something in the back, if you'll excuse me?") if I know there was a very special occasion, but if the Guest asks about a free upgrade upfront then I definately wouldn't do it. It also really helped if the Guest was super sweet and nice to me and asked about the cost of an upgrade first.

Sometimes free upgrades are done because the room category you booked is oversold, certain bedding types for your party are not available, your length of stay (think of booking rooms like playing Tetris, you don't want rooms sitting empty for a day or two but fill in every available room for every available day), or even if your room isn't ready at the time you check in.

 

[Acklander]

It's not just the shorter stays that have a better chance of an upgrade, but also the guests that have the least amount or no special requests. The CM who is doing out the room assignments would have already blocked off for the special requests to the best of their ability (i.e. a room in a certain building, near the elevator, by the pool etc....) If the hotel/category is overbooked it's those that have no requests that are leftover that need to be bumped up to the next category or better hotel.
Also, when I worked at Disney it was pretty much a given that if a guest asked for a free upgrade they only time it was done if it was going to help us out of a booking situation. The reasoning behind that was, Disney likes to create magic for their guests. You can't create magic, if the guests are asking for it. It was much more fun to surprise a family with an upgrade.