Hilton Honors Gold upgrade

[matthew_hull]

We are new Hilton Honors members (Gold Level), and we are researching an off-site stay at WDW. One of the perks of Gold Level at some Hilton properties is a free "room upgrade". Has anyone successfully used this perk to get a suite at a decent price? Would you mind sharing your experience, successful or not, with this perk for a WDW stay?
-- Matthew

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

It depends on room availability. Once, we stayed at the Doubletree in DTD and were upgraded to a two bedroom suite. It was awesome and bigger than some apartments. Many times, however, those types of rooms are booked, so no upgrade is available. You won't know until you check in.

 

[momto2js]

We have been platinum members with Marriott for the last 2 years (like DH spent every other day at a marriott for year) and we have gotten a nicer room once. It depends on availablilty and most of the time it seems there isn't much for upgrade. My best advise is that if you need the space you need to book it and pay for it.

 

[matthew_hull]

We were also wondering which hotel to stay at. It looks like the Doubletree might win out. It needs to be a Hilton (because we are trying to see if our choice of a rewards card was wise or not, so staying at Hilton properties), and it also needs to be less than a moderate at Disney, because I usually stay on property but we are trying to be less extravagant (that is, wiser with our expenditures) and so off-property this year, and it really should be one of the Hilton properties that grants room-upgrades to Gold HHonors members, because that was my justification for paying the $100 for the Gold level when we signed up for the HHonors VISA card. That eliminates the "Grand Vacation" properties.

So, does anyone have advice on which Hilton property might meet these needs? We can afford the $250 per night, but $150 per night would be much better. There are only us two adults, so the need for a suite is a "want" and not a "need."

 

[tiggersmyguy]

You might want to look into DTD Hilton. We've stayed there 3 times, it's a short walk across the street from DTD. It's also the only DTD hotel that qualifies for Extra Magic hours at the parks. When we have stayed there in the past, I believe Gold and Diamond Hilton Honors guests receive upgrades when available and either breakfast vouchers or access to business floor lounge for breakfast. (They used to offer club level but changed this to "business floor").

 

[matthew_hull]

Is that the "Hilton Orlando", the "Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista", or the "Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek", or some other?

 

[tiggersmyguy]

Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista is the one at DTD. I think the most we've paid for a room is about $130 nt, but depends on time of year. We've also stayed at Hilton Bonnet Creek, absolutely beautiful but you really need a car there and if you're doing the parks, they do not offer Extra Magic hour at Bonnet Creek.Also, Hilton also offers E-upgrades based on room availability. When we stayed at Bonnet Creek I think I paid an extra $9 per night for a Disney View Pure Allergy room. It was amazing.

 

[jeff968]

If you aren't doing a 100% Disney trip then check out the Hilton Park Soleil. Fantastic timeshare resort.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

As a gold member don't book solely based on "upgrade" There are LOTS of Diamond members higher on the list they you. I used to get upgrades as Diamond but haven't gotten anything at the lower levels. Same for Marriott, I do pretty well now at the top tier, but back when I was gold it was rare to get anything but access to the lounge (and none of the Disney area hotels for Hilton have a lounge)

You might go over to FLyertalk.com and do a search on the Hilton board, there are probably threads on all the various options where folks talk about their stays and 'upgrades'

 

[matthew_hull]

Thanks for all your help ;-) In the end, we abandoned the idea as silly, and will just get a vacation rental home instead. More space and facilities for less money, and it fits our current style better anyhow. And we'll be ditching the HHonors credit-card too.