Hotel Upgrades

[BeaniesMom]

Ive read multiple posts about people staying at the Disney Resort properties and mentioning that they get upgrades. Here is my question and I apologize if its ignorant, but how do you get the upgrades, what do you ask for and do you have to pay for them? I feel like an idiot asking this, but I really dont know. Thanks for any replies

 

[LavenderPeach]

Oh, don't feel like an idiot for asking a question!

I think the upgrades you're referring to are free ones that people get when they check in. Sometimes the CMs might give you an upgrade to add a little Disney magic to your trip or they might upgrade you if there was some sort of problem checking in to make up for it. I've never stayed on site at DLR so I don't know how generous they are about giving upgrades when you ask for them, but when we went down to Sea World I asked at our hotel when we checked in if it was possible for us to get a complimentary upgrade and we did!

I researched a little before we went and discovered that hotels are more likely to give you a free upgrade if you check in not too early when they still have the majority of guests to check in but not so late that the manager, who may have to be consulted, has gone home (so maybe around 4pm). They are also more likely to upgrade if you are only staying one night or staying during a time when they don't have as many guests. Also, if you are celebrating a special occasion they might be more willing to upgrade you. We were celebrating our anniversary so we were sure to mention that.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

I think complimentary upgrades are totally random. We've stayed onsite 5 times (once at PPH, twice at DLH, and twice at GCH) and have only received a complimentary upgrade once(PPH). Every other time we got the room/view we've reserved and paid for. We didn't ask for the upgrade when we checked in and it was a nice surprise when we found our room.

 

[BeaniesMom]

Thanks for your replies... anyone else?

 

[bumbershoot]

You also have to note that there's only been a month+ worth of trip reports *after* the TWO years of a Gazillion Dreams celebrations...so many reports, like our last one, are still being colored by getting "dreams" or "magical moments" at check in.

We checked in at something like 6:30 or 7am to PPH, and although we didn't get our room at that time (people were still sleeping in it, I assume) we were upgraded by becoming their Big Kahuna Family of the Day, which meant we got leis, a picture, some stuff like pins, and we got to be in a *suite* rather than the rock-bottom AP-rate room we paid for. That was just in December, and there was a rash of Dis'ers getting similar upgrades at that time.

And that family of the day thing, at each hotel, might still be going on, if it was not a part of the year of a million dreams promotion.

We weren't celebrating anything in particular...and we didn't even check in as a family, only hubby went in! DS and I stood outside at the car, unloading things to leave stuff with Bell Services (our rental car had a hatch with a window, not a solid trunk, so we defintiely weren't leaving things in the car).