How much is too much to ask for???

[phanomouse]

Ok so I am used to dealing with Disney Resorts, I have received some of my resort request and as all of us I have not been granted my requests. I pretty much know my limitations when sending in a request to a Disney Resort but... We decided to stay at the Dolphin now I feel like I just started school again. I would really like to know "how much is too much" when making request for a complimentary upgrade? If I booked a standard or a lake view is it stepping out of line to request a resort view if one is available? Or if I booked a resort view and would really like a corner room and I request this are they going to look at me and chuckle???( I know they wouldn't)... I don't know, I have read a couple of posts here and on other sites in which people have booked a standard view and ended up in a concierge room with a gorgeous view. At first I thought this might have a isolated experience but I have read too many and to me with having "don't request too much" ingrained in my brain, this seems unimaginable. Help me out with any suggestions or experiences... Thanks everyone!!!

 

[amw5g]

It never hurts to ask, as long as you remember your manners. What can be accomodated is based not just upon the gap between what you paid and the value of the upgrade, but also upon availability.

Does a person who pays $100/night for a room receive the same upgrade potential as someone who pays $200/night? Also, if you were CRO, would you perhaps want to look out for upgrading families & honeymooners as opposed to the business traveler in for a broommaker convention? The whole thing is a lesson in pschology and customer service, I imagine....

Of course, upgrades shouldn't be assumed or expected, but you sound like you already know that.

Regards,
Andrew

 

[GoldenOldie]

Many of the Swan/Dolphin upgrades you read about were obtained by people who have a Starwood SPG membership.

Personally, I wouldn't request an upgrade in a fax. Your best bet is to have a Starwood card. But if you don't, just ask nicely upon check in. If you can get it, great. If not, it shouldn't be a vacaton ruining experience.

 

[erikthewise]

Asking nicely if a view upgrade is available is fine.
Asking for a free upgrade to concierge level would be greedy, and you won't get it. This happens, but rarely, and only by luck (e.g. it's all they have left).

 

[mkymouse4ever]

I would defienately get the starwood card, points don't expire and they carry over. It is free, and just pull up www.starwood.com and it will be listed the starwood prefered points! They have some great deals, and the up-grades are well worth the time it took to sign up! Good luck, MKY

 

[Winniemouse]

O.k. O.k., this is a new one. Could you please tell me what a
Starwood card is? I've never heard of this being used at Disney.
Is it only for use at Disney?
Winnie

 

[gepetto]

Swan/Dolphin are not owned by Disney. They are owned by Starwood.

 

[Eloise@the Plaza]

The Starwood Preferred Program is like every major chain hotelier's frequent guest program, where your earn points for ever $ you stay at a Starwood Resort.

Remember, the Swan and Dolphin are the only 2 properties located on Disney property that are not owned or operated by Disney, but owned by Tishman and Metlife, and operated by Starwood.

The SPG program fee is free for the standard program. To upgrade to a gold level I believe it is $25 or $50 dollars. With a gold membership you are entitled to an upgrade - based upon availibility at your check-in at the front desk.

If there is availibilty, the upgrade usually consists of an upgraded room view, and / or a balcony room. The are times when the hotel is not full, that they do offer suite upgrades at an additonal $99 +tax per night. But that is based upon occupancy.

Another perk with the SPG gold club membership is a late 4pm check-out, guaranteed at hotels, but based upon availibility at resorts(such as the Swan and Dolphin).

So the membership may help, or you may just get a nice agent who upgrades you for the fun of it! Good Luck!

 

[Ityldu]

The S/D has one of the smartest marketing teams ever. For whatever reason - mostly rumor, S/D didn't have a very good rep. It was thought to be gaudy, too convention-like, too huge. Their marketing team started lowering prices and those of us who swore we'd never stay there tried it out and fell in love with the place.

S/D realizes that getting their business to grow depends on good word of mouth. Upgrading a room from standard to Resort/Lagoon view doesn't cost them any more money, but makes for a very happy customer.

We've been twice as fantastic discounts and both times were upgraded, for free and w/o asking to the most fabulous views in Disney.

I believe that if they have to room available, they will upgrade you w/o asking. Your chances probably go up if you have a starwood card and they go up slightly higher if you ask upon check-in. Maybe someone overlooked upgrading you and a little reminder if there's an empty room sitting there, wouldn't hurt.

I also think asking to upgrade to conceirge for free is going to far, because that does cost the resort more money.

 

[phanomouse]

ok so I am enjoying these comments... I am a current starwood member have been for about 7 yrs...
The reason I posted this message is because we requested a club level room, but we were told that all they had available was a standard view room for the dates we would be there... I asked if that meant that a club level room was not available 1 or 2 nights of the 15 we would be there or if that meant they were booked up for the whole trip (I have had them do this at many hotels when the requested room is not available for 1 night out of your entire stay) she told me they were book all but 2 nights but if I wanted to reserve the standard view, I could call back weekly to check for cancelations. I have been calling for months without any luck... so I spoke with the hotel directly and ask them what they could do they told me that they were sure, due to my good standings with starwood that they would be able to upgrade me, but like I said in my first post I find it hard to believe that the hotel would upgrade from standard view to club level like I had requested in the first place (fully willing to pay for it).
In all honesty I guess it wont matter what view I have (as long as I don't see the parking lot) I mean I am in WDW how could I not be happy. Well Thank you everyone that has posted I appreciate your comments, and welcome any further comments that will help!!!

 

[Ityldu]

Phanomouse - when are you going that the Dolphin is totally booked? I'm wondering if they aren't holding club level rooms for a convention they are expecting, not knowing exactly how many of those rooms they will need and once that convention passes their deadline, those rooms will open up. That seems to happen often, so that might help you.

Why not take the two nights that are available and keep calling back and adding rooms as they become available. All the while keeping your current ressie so you have something to fall back on. My mother used to do that on every trip to Disney when the only options were Polynesian and Cont. and they were booked more then a year in advance. Persistance always paid off and she got what we needed. Hopefully the same is true for you, but if not, like you said, you are in Disney after all. How bad could it be?

 

[phanomouse]

Believe me I have been trying hard... I did book the two nights, and have been calling them every week at least once. I thought that might be the case, holding the rooms for a conf, in fact she told me they had a couple of large conf. going on at that time. But usually they start freeing up held rooms within 60 days, I know this because of personal experience with not booking in time for the ICSC multiple times, and it is well within that time and either I have missed them or there just not opening up.

Just today I found an excellent rate for annual pass holders. So depending on what happens in the next couple of weeks we might be moving to the board walk or maybe the beach club who knows...

 

[Ityldu]

One other thought - When a rep. from S/D used to frequent these boards more often, he mentioned that the best day to call for room availability was Friday's. For whatever reason they put the rooms back in the system mostly on one day each week and that would be Friday. Don't know if that will help with the amount of calls or maybe getting a room sooner after it opens, but wanted to put that out there. Good Luck!