How to ask for room upgrade

[DaisyD]

I have been to WDW probably 30 trips so far and have never asked for an upgrade. I have gotten one upgrade in all those trips. It was the first time that I never made any requests. We were staying WL wood view and I left it up to them where I would be. We checked in online and upon going to the online check in desk we were told we were upgraded to concierge! I was shocked. This just happened last year after 29 trips to WDW. I don't think I will ever request anything again and just leave it up to them. This trip is the Poly CL TPV so I can't get better then that and don't need to make any requests anyway. LOL

 

[sydneysmom]

Maybe someone should start a sticky on this subject so it doesn't keep coming up every 5 minutes......

I totally agree.

My opinion on the subject, if you KNOW you want a certain veiw, book it and pay for it. Because someone else is already booking that view and paying for it and not "expecting" to get it for free.

I don't mean for this to come out rude in any way, but I don't understand why people are so "fixated" on getting something for free from Disney. Disney doesn't owe anyone a free upgrade. It's nice when something nice happens, but I certainly wouldn't go in expecting them to do something out of any obligation.

 

[florep1]

I NEVER ask for an upgrade, and go to WDW once or twice a year. We've never been upgraded at a WDW resort but get upgraded each time we go to Swan or Dolphin. Good business decisions.

 

[FanO'TheMouse]

This seems to be such a sore point but certain words keep popping up in these and other similar posts..
Don't ever expect anything for free...
Be nice

If you have reasonable expectations, and are pleasant I can't understand how asking for something is bad. I mean- asking for the presidential suite is ridiculous.. but asking for a nicer view if something is available is not really so bad.

 

[kaligal]

I always book what I want for that trip. I'm never hoping for better. Sometimes I get upgraded...but I have never, ever asked for it.

If I were going to ask, I'd just ask. "Is there any chance of getting a free upgrade?" Trying to be smooth about it is silly. They hear so much of that. You're not going to be the slick one who just now thought of being nice and asking for something, lol. Might as well just ask.

 

[mickaholic4077]

Having just gotten a very big upgrade, I can tell you that #1, it was because Disney screwed up, and #2, we didn't ask for it.

You know someone is going to ask,so it might as well be me! What did Disney do to screw up??

 

[tallen429]

You know someone is going to ask,so it might as well be me! What did Disney do to screw up??

Sorry, it's a very loooong story. Basically they never did the deep cleaning to our room that we requested two months in advance (a service Disney offers for free) due to my severely athsmatic and allergic son. Let's just say they were more than a little apologetic because of course they saw that it was noted on our reservation.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I totally agree.

My opinion on the subject, if you KNOW you want a certain veiw, book it and pay for it. Because someone else is already booking that view and paying for it and not "expecting" to get it for free.

I don't mean for this to come out rude in any way, but I don't understand why people are so "fixated" on getting something for free from Disney. Disney doesn't owe anyone a free upgrade. It's nice when something nice happens, but I certainly wouldn't go in expecting them to do something out of any obligation.

Yes, you are right. Disney doesn't owe anyone a free upgrade, but I can understand why people are fixated on getting something for free from Disney. Disney is all about being a place "where dreams come true." Probably, more people "dream" about something wonderful coming their way out of the blue than about receiving what they purchased.

I have received a number of free upgrades without ever asking at Disney.

One time, at AKL during check in, I asked how much it would cost to go from a standard room to a savannah view. I liked the price that the CM quoted me, so I said, "Let's go for it." And I handed him my credit card. He never charged it, though, and I never paid for it. I have no idea why, because I fully thought it would be on my statement at the end of the month. That was really unexpected.

 

[Lynne M]

Well, given the number of current and former front-desk cast members who've posted here that a) they find it offensive to be asked outright for a free upgrade, and b) they will not upgrade anyone who asks for a freebie, even if they have the power to do so, I would never advise anyone to ask for a free upgrade.

I have no doubt that some cast members don't mind, and would give an upgrade if asked. I also have no doubt that some cast members do mind, and will give the upgrade just to make the problem go away.

Note, though, that there's a distinction between asking about the availability of upgrades, and asking about a free upgrade. There's nothing wrong at all with asking if better rooms are available. The problem comes in when you make it clear to the CM that you don't want to pay for the upgrade.

If I were inclined to ask, I'd phrase it as "How much would it cost to upgrade to club level?", or a better view, or whatever you're looking for. That makes it clear to the CM that you're not trying to get something for nothing, and it gives the CM the option to offer you the upgrade at a discounted rate, or for no charge, IF they are able to do that.

 

[mjp12831]

I always make it a fun conversation and say something like does the mouse have any kind of upgrades available for me?

Very George Costanza esque.

 

[LILOLO]

Very George Costanza esque.

 

[Missytara]

There was a great post by one of the CM's several months back; regarding assistance to someone in the parks.

A little boy had dropped his ice cream down the front of his entire shirt and unfortunately wiping it off was making it worse.

The CM replied, if you asked me where the restroom was located, I would have grabbed a shirt from one of the stores near by and offered it for him to change into.

He said, now if you asked me for a free shirt, I would have told you where the restroom was located.

I think this sort-of fits the bill - if I were a CM and you asked for a free upgrade, I would tell you that I don't have anything available. If you didn't ask for a free upgrade and I had one available, I would offer it to you.

Never, ever expect to get something for free, that I already paid full price for.

 

[Big_Disney_Fan]

Do not ask, just be pleasant, be excited. You have a better chance of an upgrade. How would you like it if over half of the people you speak to in a day wanted something from you for free (your kids do not count). Odds are you would be more likely to upgrade the person who does not ask for it. Besides it is just tacky. Go to WDW with the expectation of getting what you paid for. If you go expecting an upgrade and do not get it, then you will be disapointed and that is no way to start a trip to WDW. That is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

 

[mrbghd]

Never, ever expect to get something for free, that I already paid full price for.

If you fly this happens all the time. Prices on flights vary widely and the person next to you may have paid as much as 55% less or more than you. The same idea with hotels, cars, jewlery, pretty much any big ticket item. This also happens everyday in business--the best negotiator gets the best rates.

My advice to people is to never expect a free upgrade, but with the right attitude and the right circumstances free upgrades can be had-even at Disney. I have received numerous free upgrades at Disney resorts. I have also not received as many times as I have. It didn't make or break my trip.

 

[mrbghd]

Besides it is just tacky.

I disagree with that statement. It can be when people act obnoxious in an effort to get what they want but that is not always the case. Reasonable people can disagree. I find it tacky that people look to find all of the free things to do at resorts they are not staying at in an effort to take advantage of perks they did not pay for. Some people think this is perfectly acceptable while I do not.

 

[ms mouse]

I really wonder if the upgrades arent assigned before you ever get to the desk and how much leadway the front desk really has. The one time we got an upgrade the cm at the desk seemed very surprised and said oh look you have been upgraded. He seemed very new and I really dont think he had anything to do with it. We were upgraded to CL and he even asked the person next to him what he should do.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

When my husband booked AKL, the only available rooms left was standard (he wanted to take me for Mother's Day week and planned it one week). I was thinking the worst view or no view but I told myself that was sweet of hubby to book this trip within one week and I would spend Mother's Day at Disney. When we were checking in my husband said to me asked if they have any savanah view available and he would pay for it. Two people before us asked for upgrades and the CM told them we are book full the whole week so sorry no rooms available except the ones you have booked. So we checked in and we went to our room and our son looked at the balcony and said mommy there is a zebra and giraffe. We didn't asked and they upgraded us.

 

[mousefan1972]

Very George Costanza esque.

Thread win.

 

[Sandisw]

We were checking in the CR for a garden room and were hoping we might be able to get a tower room.

We phrased it simply and said "We are thinking of moving to a tower room if they are available. Can you tell me how much extra that would be?". Once they told us (full price difference), we opted out.

However, instead of a SV room, we did end up with a Garden View room so while it was not the tower, it was an upgrade so for us, asking with the intent to pay ended up getting us something a bit better!

 

[catne]

I really wonder if the upgrades arent assigned before you ever get to the desk and how much leadway the front desk really has. The one time we got an upgrade the cm at the desk seemed very surprised and said oh look you have been upgraded. He seemed very new and I really dont think he had anything to do with it. We were upgraded to CL and he even asked the person next to him what he should do.

this is exactly what happened all 3 times we have been upgraded. If the CMs had any leeway at all, it was before we got there and had nothing to do with our Pollyanna-sunny-dispositions (yeah, we're grinning idjits at Disney)