getting upgraded at AKL

[EricnJackie]

I think the best thing to do is ask! Last June, on our trip with the family and inlaws, we had standard room resies (Discounted for about $125/night). Upon check in I asked the CM if there was any way we could upgrade. My father in law gave me a look... He didn't want to pay any more. The CM came back and said I have 2 rooms together, but there would be an additional charge... I said I was hoping for some Disney magic... and we sure did get it... 2 deluxe savannah view rooms... JUST BEAUTIFUL... and still for $125. FiL made me call again after we got to the room 'just to make sure' we weren't paying the $300/night the room was advertised for...


Made the trip wonderful...

ask.. you never know...

Have fun!

 

[stacilee]

Just a little clarification here. We had never before asked for any sort of upgrade, free or otherwise. I don't think we even knew what an upgrade was until we started reading these boards a few years ago.
Last year when we driving down, I said to my DH, master trip planner and lover of all things Disney, "I'm just going to ask, just this once, on the off chance that there may be a possibility".

Had they said to me sure we can upgrade you for XX $'s per night I would have then asked if they would lend me a calculator or at least a pen and paper so that I could "do the math" since we had two rooms X 8 nights, and then we would have had to have a quick family conference on it since that $$ wouldn't have just fallen out of the a/c vents or something ( souveniers, nice meals, PINS for the kids etc.) - some part of the budget would have had to face an immediate revision, before we could have given them an answer.

I would say though that had it been a reasonable price we would have gone for it. The rooms we had booked were on an AP code thanks to you guys here and Mousesavers so they were already a great deal. At rack room rates though???? no way! Out of the ballpark!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's why we love the DIS!

Even if something like that never happens again that's okay. It was just so cool because it was such a surprise. When you get to be a grown-up there are only so many surprises left in store for you. Like: "you have termites", "guess what I'm pregnant", "we need a new transmission", "we're going to have to lay you off". These are not DISNEY SURPRISES!!!

When we are grown-ups WE do ALL the surpris-ING for our kids. I guess that's why so many of us love Disney. Whether it's the boardroom or the laundryroom we have left behind when we arrive at Disney, WE ARE TRULY KIDS AGAIN.

stacilee

 

[DonaldsGrl103]

We booked a standard view room in November 2002 for super soap weekend and when we checked in - we didnt expect to be upgraded since the hotel is usually booked at that event but we were and it was nice!!

 

[firefawnkimmy]

For those of you who said you paid 125/night for a savannah room how on earth did you get that price?

And did anyone ever hear of someone getting an upgrade if they had already booked a standard savannah room? Do they ever ump you up to a deluxe savannah room? Thanks so much!

 

[stina]

Thank you all for your posts about upgrades at AKL.
I really appreciate you sharing your personal experiences especially how to butter up the CMs!

This gives me great optimism. but I've decided to be realistic and I do want to stay at AKL regardless of what room I end up getting. If I get upgraded bonus, if not I'll still enjoy it.

One more question: For anyone who's stayed at AKL in September... how often do they do the fireside storytelling?

stina

 

[alecam]

I believe the storytelling is every night! Anyone else verify that?

stina, are you going there this September?We are going to be there 9/19-9/26!!

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!

 

[Mississippian]

I got upgraded from a standard to a savannah view room. It was the slow time of year and mid-week.

My then-4 son had little interest in viewing the animals from the balcony. I was surprised, but he just wasn't interested.

I thought the pubic viewing areas were very nice, and offered a much better viewing location.

AKL is very popular amongst locals as a weekend romantic getaway, so it tends to be fairly full on weekends even during the slow months.

 

[stina]

the plan is to be there 9/11-9/18
last year when i was visiting AKL to eat at boma i really got to look around and realized how much i liked it. it was evening and at the time i did not see any storytelling or the fire lit so i was wondering if they still did that. that kind of activity is a big reason why i would shell out to stay at a deluxe.

crossing my fingers for an upgrade!