How possible are upgrades?

[LisaDougKaylee]

I've seen many write here how they were lucky enough to be upgraded upon checkin without asking. I was just curious how possible an upgrade would be at CR 9/19/03-9/27/03. Its not too important, but we would like a tower room, only its a bit out of reach for us finacially. Could there be any glimmer of hope? If not the c'est la vie!!

 

[gepetto]

I think upgrades at CR are very rare. Sorry.

 

[CarolA]

While you see a lot about upgrades, that is NOT the rule but the exception. The majority of people don't get upgraded so they never post.

 

[goofy4tink]

Have a question....why do the resorts offer upgrades in the first place? I was just wondering what the reasoning would be. Is there any rhyme or reason to it?

 

[WDW2000]

I agree with the previous poster, Upgrades are rare, but you usually only hear those people post who get them. I was under the impression that it would be easy to get an upgrade, but in the four trips and 7 resort stays at WDW, I have never been upgraded. However, When politely faxing in special request for views and room location, I have always received that!

Goofy4Tink - I think the reason why hotels offer upgrades is because they want to make their guests feel special whenever they can. Especially at WDW that is very much apart of the "Magic" everyone refers to when going there. Why not make a guest happy by offering them an upgrade on an otherwise unsused room if it is available? They lose nothing, and the guest will have a positive experience that will more likely than not mean a return visit or at the very least - good word of mouth.

 

[kidzmom3]

i have been offered upgrades at check in, but more payment was always required.

 

[Deborah_Mary]

I just thought I'd let you know that it does happen. This is our story...

Dh, dd & I went and stayed at CR last July and we booked a standard view room. We stayed there for our honeymoon in one of the garden wing rooms and even though they hadn't been redone at that time (1995) and it was pretty drab we decided it would be neat to be back on the monorail with dd (then 3 1/2.)

We check in the morning about 9:30-10am or so for our stay and it went quickly and smoothly and handed us the little map with our room number circled. Nothing was said or requested by us and we took the sheet and left the desk. We then headed towards the back doors to head out to our room when we looked down and saw that it appeared our room was in the tower! Dh & I looked at each other in disbelief and shock and found our way up. Of course we were thrilled beyond belief since we never thought such a thing would happen and when we got up there to make things even better (like if that was even possible...) we were on the MK side and had a breathtaking view of Cinderella's Caste and Space Mountain!! Talk about a magical-magical stay. I hopped on our cell phone and called my mom and was just so excited.

We were only there 3 nights but with a room like that I wish we had been there much longer. We watched the fireworks from our balcony and dd had a awesome time (so did we!)

Of course now I'm totally want to book a tower room, but there's no way that is in our budget if we stay there again. We don't ever expect that to happen again, but if it does/did we would be equally as thrilled.

So it does happen - hope you are equally as lucky as we were.

Deb*

 

[kimmar067]

....a happy WDW guest is a RETURN guest, so, if the upgraded room is available (it's not being utilized, anyway) chances are, they will give you a complimentary upgrade. Again, it is the exception, not the rule.....

 

[NHBelle]

Who knows why they give upgrades. My dh and I have usually been pretty lucky with at least getting a great room location BUT this last August we had no luck at CBR (parking lot view) and even the Poly. would not upgrade us when we found a diaper in our room, had a wripped bed spread, the elevator broke, and having to call the front desk several times to have such things taken care of. On the other hand on that very same trip we hated the CBR so much we were having dinner at the AKL, which we fell in love with and decided to ask if we could switch there and we didn't care how much it would cost and they were so awsome they put us in a pool view room, no extra cost, that very night. We were so impressed and excited. Sometimes the Disney magic happens when you least expect it.

 

[ducklite]

Well...

We are at the AKL right now. The one BR suite was more than the budget allowed on this trip, so we were originally booked into a concierge room. When we checked in, I enquired about the cost of the upgrade to the suite, and it was much lower than the rate that CRO had offered, so I took it. They then upgraded us for free from a 1BR to a 2BR! So the three of us are currently bouncing around in a 2BR suite at the AKL I've taken a bunch of photo's and they'll get posted in the next few weeks.

Anne

 

[MinnieGi]

Oh can't wait to see your photos Anne!

The AKL seems to be the most generous in upgrades. I've heard reports on these boards from them than any of the other hotels. We in fact were upgraded ourselves at AKL in Feb. We had booked a standard view and they upgraded us to a pool view at no extra cost. It was a gorgeous 4th floor view. It definetly started our trip with alot of magic!!

Gi

 

[jeffemy]

Originally posted by ducklite
Well...

We are at the AKL right now. The one BR suite was more than the budget allowed on this trip, so we were originally booked into a concierge room. When we checked in, I enquired about the cost of the upgrade to the suite, and it was much lower than the rate that CRO had offered, so I took it. They then upgraded us for free from a 1BR to a 2BR! So the three of us are currently bouncing around in a 2BR suite at the AKL I've taken a bunch of photo's and they'll get posted in the next few weeks.

Anne

Wow, LUCKY you! Hope you have a great time, though I can't imagine why you wouldn't with that phenomenal upgrade! I am a little curious though as to why you are posting on the dis while at WDW Have FUN!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by jeffemy
Wow, LUCKY you! Hope you have a great time, though I can't imagine why you wouldn't with that phenomenal upgrade! I am a little curious though as to why you are posting on the dis while at WDW Have FUN!

Regretfully DS is a bit under the weather, and napping, and the weather is rainy, so I'm catching up on my email, and yes, actually doing some work for my job as well...

Anne

 

[jeffemy]

Originally posted by ducklite
Regretfully DS is a bit under the weather, and napping, and the weather is rainy, so I'm catching up on my email, and yes, actually doing some work for my job as well...

Anne

I hope your DS feels better soon and the weather clears!

 

[vbfamily]

Ducklite,

We have a 1br suite booked for 9 nights in October. You mentioned that you were offered the upgrade to a 1br suite-do you mind telling me what they offered to upgrade you for? You can PM me if you want. I'm not counting on any upgrades of any sort, being in the suite will be enough for us. I'm just curious because I know that the resorts themselves sometimes upgrade people for much less than the upgraded room costs through CRO-this happened to us at WL.

I'm really excited about the 1br suite-we need the seperate sleeping areas for that particular trip and the rate will be worth it.

Looking forward to hearing more about your trip.

Enjoy your stay. I hope your DS feels better.

 

[mickey7861]

We have been to WDW yearly (at least) since 1987 and have only been upgraded once. Last August we were staying at BCV and we hated it. We decided to tour the AKL and have lunch....we loved it. DH called and we got a great rate for that weekend (originally scheduled for POR). At check in we recieved a complimentary upgrade to savannah view.

 

[vbfamily]

I'd love to hear about more upgrades people were given so I'm bumping this up.

 

[mickeyworld]

We are coming in June to AKL. ANy advise about rooms selection? We booked a savannah view!

 

[cindala]

After reading this thread, I had to post. We have been fortunate enough to have been upgraded several times on our visits to WDW.

Stayed twice at POR - not upgraded
Stayed once at WL - upgraded from standard to woods view
Stayed at YC 7 times - upgraded 5 times; 4 times from standard to waterview, and once from standard to concierge!!

These were all during the July 4th week.

I really believe that if the resort has an upgraded room to offer you, they will. Maybe some resorts try harder than others!

 

[kimmar067]

...BTW ~ how did you make out with your ressies ??