How much luck have you had getting a room upgrade at a Disney resort (specifically PO

[NC Disney Fan]

My family will be going to POFQ for the first time in September and we are particular in the rooms we like (as we have our room preference down to a science) The problem is, the rooms that fit our bill are all above the standard room. I have read that if you have a long vacation, it is harder to get an upgrade. We are going for 9 nights so this definitely may hurt us.

So my fellow Disney lovers, the questions are:

Have you had luck requesting an upgrade and getting it?

and

Any hints on how you got it?

 

[LostArk1405]

Call the Disney number that you call to schedule a trip the old fashioned way. They will tell you to call back closer to your trip. Call every now and then and you might get lucky. It works for us sometimes. Id say half the time it worked. They will sometimes apply a special that hasn't started yet. They did that for us in 2009 at the Contemporary. It was like buy 3 nights get 4 free or vice versa. It was AWESOME and we made out like bandits! I like PO

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I've only ever gotten an upgrade once and that was from a standard room at BWI to a pool view room there. And you can see how many times I've gone in my signature.

I'd just book the room you want because I'd say the odds are slim to none based on my experience.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I think if you're really THAT picky about the room you want, you need to splurge and pay the difference. You can then request a specific building/room, but there are still no guarantees you'll get exactly what you want. You'll get something within your room level, but not necessarily the exact room.

If room is so important that not being where you want will impact your vacation, go ahead and pay for the right level of room!

 

[disnut8]

I think if you're really THAT picky about the room you want, you need to splurge and pay the difference. You can then request a specific building/room, but there are still no guarantees you'll get exactly what you want. You'll get something within your room level, but not necessarily the exact room.

If room is so important that not being where you want will impact your vacation, go ahead and pay for the right level of room!

I agree. The chances of booking something like a standard room and then hoping an upgrade would be available at check in are very low. Since you say you have your requests down to a science and know what you want, just do it now. Why wait and not be happy for nine nights?

To put this in another situation, I have a co-worker who said she would "never in a million years" get regular seats a our local baseball stadiums. She would "only" get box seats, which, of course, cost more. Do you think she would get regular seats and hope she could upgrade at the ball park? I don't think so.

 

[Nancyg56]

My family will be going to POFQ for the first time in September and we are particular in the rooms we like (as we have our room preference down to a science) The problem is, the rooms that fit our bill are all above the standard room. I have read that if you have a long vacation, it is harder to get an upgrade. We are going for 9 nights so this definitely may hurt us.

So my fellow Disney lovers, the questions are:

Have you had luck requesting an upgrade and getting it?

and

Any hints on how you got it?

What kind of upgrade would you want at POFQ? I only ask because I cannot figure out what you need that is above standard and that you will not pay for at this resort. The price difference is not that much.

Also, because there are no balconies, and because there are no interior hallways, there are walkways that make viewing a little difficult, Personally, I would not pay a penny more for a view there, not after I did the first time.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

If you are hoping for a FREE upgrade I would have to say it's probably 99% not going to happen.

So for instance you are booking a standard room but hoping at check in to get bumped to a preferred room for FREE. No.

Disney charges $25 more per night for the preferred rooms because it is a perk they make money off of. They very rarely if ever upgrade you just because you ask nicely.

If you know what room you want, you need to book that room.

You can however book standard and then pay to upgrade at check in if they have availability.

I could careless about my VIEW on vacation but at Disney I do want to be in a preferred location. I would never book a standard room.

 

[Nancyg56]

If you are hoping for a FREE upgrade I would have to say it's probably 99% not going to happen.

So for instance you are booking a standard room but hoping at check in to get bumped to a preferred room for FREE. No.

Disney charges $25 more per night for the preferred rooms because it is a perk they make money off of. They very rarely if ever upgrade you just because you ask nicely.

If you know what room you want, you need to book that room.

You can however book standard and then pay to upgrade at check in if they have availability.

I could careless about my VIEW on vacation but at Disney I do want to be in a preferred location. I would never book a standard room.

POFQ is so little that unless you really need a certain spot, preferred is a nonissue. Now if we were discussing a resort the size of CBR???? There, I'll pay anything to be close to OPR and the pool.

 

[siskaren]

So for instance you are booking a standard room but hoping at check in to get bumped to a preferred room for FREE. No.

Disney charges $25 more per night for the preferred rooms because it is a perk they make money off of. They very rarely if ever upgrade you just because you ask nicely.

Actually, POFQ doesn't have preferred rooms. You can upgrade to garden view for $10 a night, pool view or king room for $25 a night, or river view for $30 a night. And if you're looking for the closest rooms to the food court and bus stop, the only room categories that will get you that are standard and garden view anyway; pool and river view rooms are further away.

 

[Missytara]

My family will be going to POFQ for the first time in September and we are particular in the rooms we like (as we have our room preference down to a science) The problem is, the rooms that fit our bill are all above the standard room. I have read that if you have a long vacation, it is harder to get an upgrade. We are going for 9 nights so this definitely may hurt us.

So my fellow Disney lovers, the questions are:

Have you had luck requesting an upgrade and getting it?

and

Any hints on how you got it?

You can request it and the CM will quote you the difference. You can decide whether it is worth it to you to pay the additional money. If you booked with a discount, you will basically lose it because it is a new reservation.

If you want another booking category, you should book it now. Disney got very savvy a few years ago with the mods and created booking categories based on requests over the years. They know people will pay for it.

 

[Missytara]

You can request it and the CM will quote you the difference. You can decide whether it is worth it to you to pay the additional money. If you booked with a discount, you will basically lose it because it is a new reservation.

If you want another booking category, you should book it now. Disney got very savvy a few years ago with the mods and created booking categories based on requests over the years. They know people will pay for it.

Ultimately, you are asking for a free upgrade which will not happen. Free upgrades happen at the convenience of the resort and issues beyond your control. The least possible way to get a free upgrade is ask for one outright; the CM's, for obvious reasons, like to sprinkle pixie dust as a surprise, not to someone who expects something for free we already paid for.

Be happy you are at Disney and enjoy your trip.

 

[MinnieMSue]

We stayed at POFQ last July for 10 nights and booked a standard room and were given a free upgrade at check-in to garden room. We did not ask for it and did not expect it. Honestly it really didn't matter to us at all since we keep the curtains closed so people can't see into our room. But I do have the pleasure of knowing I got a free upgrade for once in my life anyway

 

[mousefan73]

We were there last year got upgraded from standard to blg 5, river view. Wasnt even thinking about it and to be honest I dont think we realized it until we got to our room. I wonder if they do that maybe to 1st timers when available as a promo. Worked for us as next time we stay there we will most likley request ( pay) for this blg/view as we really liked it.

Dont know if AKL does it, but I could, see them doing savanagh upgrades when available to get guests hooked.

 

[Mama Who]

My family will be going to POFQ for the first time in September and we are particular in the rooms we like (as we have our room preference down to a science) The problem is, the rooms that fit our bill are all above the standard room. I have read that if you have a long vacation, it is harder to get an upgrade. We are going for 9 nights so this definitely may hurt us.

So my fellow Disney lovers, the questions are:

Have you had luck requesting an upgrade and getting it?

and

Any hints on how you got it?

I'm confused. Why would you book not-what-you-want instead of what you want? Wouldn't it be easiest to just book the room you want?

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I'm confused. Why would you book not-what-you-want instead of what you want? Wouldn't it be easiest to just book the room you want?

Because the not-what-you-want is cheaper and they're hoping to be upgraded for free!!!!

 

[spacemountainmom]

Our last trip to POFQ was January 2011. We booked standard view and checked in online. We arrived at the resort and the CM told me that we'd been upgraded to River view. It was a nice treat, but I certainly was not expecting an upgrade, nor did I request one.

We were there during the renovations so maybe there weren't enough standard rooms available at the time. Building four was being renovated at the time and I believe there are a huge chunk of standard rooms in that building.

It was nice to be sprinkled with a little pixie dust!

 

[minnie mum]

Have you had luck requesting an upgrade and getting it?
and
Any hints on how you got it?

We have received unexpected, and UNREQUESTED upgrades several times- from standard to garden view, or from garden view to water view. Pixie dust. And undoubtedly a result of room assignment issues that the resort was having.

If you request an upgrade, the CM at the desk will quote you the cost of that upgrade for your stay (rack rate) if it is available.

The surest way to NOT get any pixie dust is to ask for it.

If a particular room category is necessary in order for you to enjoy your vacation, then pay for it, like everybody else. If it is too expensive for you, then perhaps you will have to wait until a suitable discount comes out, or until you can save up enough money. Kind of like the rest of us do.

 

[Mama Who]

Because the not-what-you-want is cheaper and they're hoping to be upgraded for free!!!!

Ahh... not an "upgrade" a "free upgrade." Got it.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

At POR, we always kept our shades closed like the OP mentioned so that people walking by could not see into our room. Even with the shades open, I can't recall being able to see anything of interest outside. Personally, I think you will be just as happy with the VIEW from a standard as you would a water room because there really isn't a view until you walk outside. Not sure how many people stand out on the walkway and look at the view for any length of time, we sure didn't! We noticed the beauty of the POs while walking to the food court, onthe boat to DTD and while making the big circle on the bus rides LOL!

 

[Nancyg56]

At POR, we always kept our shades closed like the OP mentioned so that people walking by could not see into our room. Even with the shades open, I can't recall being able to see anything of interest outside. Personally, I think you will be just as happy with the VIEW from a standard as you would a water room because there really isn't a view until you walk outside. Not sure how many people stand out on the walkway and look at the view for any length of time, we sure didn't! We noticed the beauty of the POs while walking to the food court, onthe boat to DTD and while making the big circle on the bus rides LOL!

I think that this is true at POFQ as well. I paid for water view the first time we were there since I did not realize how the walkways would impact what you can enjoy from the room itself. Never again. The same is true at CBR. I paid for a preferred room for proximity, not view.

There are benches placed around the resorts so that it is possible to relax and enjoy the scenery, but from the room? Not so much. As you said, the walkways are not constructed for sightseeng, no chairs or benches, so not much standing around.

If I had my resort needs "down to a science" I would just pay for what I want. I would never leave it to chance.