How do you manage a free room upgrade?

[DisneyBugs]

Hello fellow disers!
I keep reading threads where guests score free room upgrades.
How is that accomplished? Do you have to ask? -- or is it just luck being at the right place at the right time when the cast member offers it?
And -- let's say I'm staying at AKL in a bunk bed room...What would an example of a room upgrade be from that?

 

[DisneyWisher]

Hello fellow disers!
I keep reading threads where guests score free room upgrades.
How is that accomplished? Do you have to ask? -- or is it just luck being at the right place at the right time when the cast member offers it?
And -- let's say I'm staying at AKL in a bunk bed room...What would an example of a room upgrade be from that?

Whats your catagory now? We booked standard at AKL and were given a Pool view. Loved our room. When leaving the room you would turn to the left go about 8-10 feet and turn left again and there would be the pool area, Mara's, and the arcade. It was perfect. I had heard of people being upgraded to a savannah view but I like our location better. We couldn't use the patio, too many shrubs and trees to give our room privacy but with the pool right there who needed the patio. Plus considering the location we didn't hear any noise. Loved it. But a word to the wise don't go expecting an upgrade, there is no guarantee you will get one.

 

[tinkerbelle_rox325]

Hello fellow disers!
I keep reading threads where guests score free room upgrades.
How is that accomplished? Do you have to ask? -- or is it just luck being at the right place at the right time when the cast member offers it?
And -- let's say I'm staying at AKL in a bunk bed room...What would an example of a room upgrade be from that?

It is kind of both. You have to be at the right place at the right time, but sometimes if you ask and they have available preferred rooms, they will give them to you. And also, what happened to us was that all of the standard rooms were sold out, so we got upgraded for free

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Well we got a free upgrade twice when we told them it was my DH first time at disney and then when it was our anniversary (It really was)
We let them know when we made our reservations. good luck.

 

[Mary2e]

In many many trips I have never been offered an upgrade. Ever.

We just stayed at the poly and all we could reserve was garden view. We were celebrating our 25th anniversary while we were there and it was acknowedged when we arrived. I asked if there were any upgrades available, even for money, and the clerk said that there might be one available for$100 per night, he would have to check.

I do suspect the hotel was sold out or nearly sold out.

But, considering the number of times we've stayed at the Poly, it was a bit disappointing that they did not do anything else for us.

We did get every other room request we asked for - building and room location and were pretty satisfied with where we ended up. We even got a card from the hotel.

 

[gigi1313]

my rule of thumb is this: reserve and pay for what i want... if it get more, BONUS, if not i'm not disappointed... i don't think there's any "trick" to getting a free upgrade, it's likely luck of the draw, availability, "power" of the cm checking you in, etc...

 

[Skroops]

hehehe, I'd like to know the "trick" too!

I know the vast majority does not get an upgrade, but gee, that would be fun to get one!

Maybe an upgrade to Cinderellas castle?

I'm happy to be there with my view of the parking lot! Usually there is gorgeous landscaping adjacent to the parking lot!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hello fellow disers!
I keep reading threads where guests score free room upgrades.
How is that accomplished? Do you have to ask? -- or is it just luck being at the right place at the right time when the cast member offers it?
And -- let's say I'm staying at AKL in a bunk bed room...What would an example of a room upgrade be from that?

Do they even have bunk bed rooms anymore? Those were deluxe category and those have all been taken over by DVC to turn into DVC villas.

 

[GOOFYDONALDMICKEY]

The only luck that I have had is a notation on the reservation of a special event such as anniversary or 1st timer. Also, if it is low season you will have a better chance.

 

[bab31]

I think you just have to be at the right place right time. I agree book what you want and if you happen to get an upgrade- well great pixie dust! We were upgraded to a suite at CSR- We arrived in the evening and had reserved a king nonsmoking room thru AAA. There was only one left and it was smoking. Originally they offered that or a double room for the night at half off and be moved in the am. I had a sinus infection that I was on antibiotics for. They put us in a suite for the week. It was a wonderful upgrade.

I always say it doesnt hurt to ask- We had stayed at a resort in Grand Geneva once and I asked if they had any complimentary upgrades available. The clerk was looking when the manager came over- he must have thought I was willing to pay...there was nothing available except they moved us from the parking lot view to a view over the green of the golf course. It certainly made a difference in our stay!

 

[Sammie]

Do they even have bunk bed rooms anymore? Those were deluxe category and those have all been taken over by DVC to turn into DVC villas.

There was two room types with bunkbeds at AKL. One had just one queen bed and a bunk bed and as far as I know they are still available.

The other deluxe rooms had one queen, one bunkbed and a daybed, they were the rooms that would sleep 5 and are no longer available.

 

[minnie61650]

There was two room types with bunkbeds at AKL. One had just one queen bed and a bunk bed and as far as I know they are still available.

The other deluxe rooms had one queen, one bunkbed and a daybed, they were the rooms that would sleep 5 and are no longer available.

Sammie is correct the AKL had two types of buck bed rooms.

The deluxe room which is no longer avalible.
Here is the layout of the old (no longer availble) deluxe room which use to sleep 5:

This the layout of the standard buck room at AKL that sleeps 4:

Have fun at Disney!

 

[fla4fun]

I have received upgrades a few times, and there wasn't anything special about my reservation and I didn't ask for it. The last one was in April, when I booked a standard view at BC and ended up with a great water view room instead. Of course, it could have been easier to do that because we were there for three nights mid-week, so someone checks out, and they are blocking it for another coming in, and we just happened to fit in the middle. In fact, the room wasn't ready when I checked in, so I had to call back to find out the room number. I happened to have a map of the resort and I was dancing around the living room when I figured out what had happened.

 

[Sammie]

As to upgrades, most are assigned before the guest arrives and while Disney will present the upgrade as a dusting of pixie dust, in reality most are given to benefit the resort. It can be due to over booking a certain category, almost always the least expensive room category. A room taken out of service due to maintenance issues, etc.

One can certainly ask for an upgrade at check in but be clear as to whether you are willing to pay for it.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Maybe an upgrade to Cinderellas castle?

Yeah, dream along with me.

I've been upgraded a number of times. I don't ask for it and I don't request anything I haven't paid for. I just make a reservation and show up. Sometimes I think the *trick* is to not ask for anything at all.

IMO, you either get lucky or they sell out of whatever you booked and have to move you.

 

[princessesrule4]

Yeah, dream along with me.

I've been upgraded a number of times. I don't ask for it and I don't request anything I haven't paid for. I just make a reservation and show up. Sometimes I think the *trick* is to not ask for anything at all.

IMO, you either get lucky or they sell out of whatever you booked and have to move you.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[cara loves the poly]

I have read a few posts where people "think" they have received an upgrade, but really haven't. Disney has such beautiful views, they have really thought they were upgraded! So I'm sure you will be happy!

 

[fla4fun]

Sometimes I think it has to do with the time of day you check in as well. For example, lets say with my upgrade at the BC from standard to waterview, that they knew the standard rooms were overbooked, and the waterview were available. It would stand to reason that as they are assigning rooms, they would move people from standard to waterview to fill those up, leaving as many standard rooms as they could available to cover the overbooking. I was checking in around 11:30am, figuring the room wouldn't be ready, but it was on the way to pick up my Mom who was going with me, so it just made sense to stop and check in on the way. If they upgrade the earlier check-ins, then they have more of the overbooked inventory to issue. Just a guess on my part though.

 

[DisneyBugs]

Thanks everyone for the replies!!!
I've always just booked what I was willing to pay for, and will do the same again for our trip next April or May... I suppose it doesn't hurt to ask if there are any complimentary upgrades -- the worst they can say is no, then I'm still getting what I wanted originally.
I wish I had something special to mention at that time of year! (anniversary, birthday, etc...) ....someday, my free upgrade will come...someday I'll be luc--ky!!...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

In the past my family and I have had free upgrades at the Wilderness Lodge from a Standard View to a Courtyard View and at the Contemporary from the Atrium Club to the Tower Club. What is significant about the upgrade to the Tower Club is that at the time the Atrium Club was light Concierge and the Tower Club was full Concierge, so at that time the Tower Club offered guests a lot more things in terms of foods they served. I should also mention we were only upgraed to a standard room since that is what we originally booked on the Atrium Club, so we did not get a Suite.

We were also told that upgrades happen based on how many times guests have stayed in a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel and the other factor being is if there is room where the guests are going to be upgraded to.