How To Get an Upgrade?

[kc717]

Hi, I'm new to the site and this is the first time I've used a discussion board. I apologize if this topic has been covered before. We are planning a trip to Disney World the last week of January/first week of February 2006. We are planning to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter. However, I would love to upgrade to Animal Kingdom Lodge. I don't know anything about the discount codes, but I have read that it's possible to call Reservations several weeks before the start of vacation and ask for a resort upgrade. Has anyone done this? Have you been successful? What type of cost was involved? Ultimately, I'd like to stay at a deluxe resort for a moderate price. I thought I might get lucky since I believe January/February is a slow time of year at Disney. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Hi kc717,

Welcome to the DIS

You will probably want to go the the "Codes and Rates" section of the DIS http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=93 and read some posts to get a feel for how discounts come about.

In my own experience I've found that you usually have to know a discount code in order to book it. I've never had a CM give one out to me. You'll see a lot of posts about people who called Disney to find they had a pin number for a specific discount attached to their name - I think that's an entirely random thing. Subscribing to disney.com and requesting a vacation planning video might help. I've received postcards and emails with discount offers.

Checking mousesavers.com for discounts also helps, here's a good link for you http://www.mousesavers.com/wdw.html . The people here on the DIS will start posting when anything comes out! Feb 2006 discounts probably won't be released until late this year. If you have AAA that's another option, book a AAA discount until you see a better promotion.

Good luck and happy planning!

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Also, check out this fact sheet on the Animal Kingdom Lodge

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_akl.htm

scroll down to the box with the 2006 resort rates. You'll want to note that the season (and price) changes from value season to PEAK season on Feb 16th. If you can go in value season that will definitely save you some $$$.

AKL is a great resort BTW, we stayed there shortly after it opened and had a great time.

 

[disneyworld!]

I just had 2 upgrades this week from stanard view to warerview.....I did nothing...both were given to me ahead of time! they told me at time of check-in...looks like you have been given an upgrade!!!
it was kewl

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

That's wonderful disneyworld! Someone sprinkled some pixie dust your way

kc717, the title of your original post might be a little misleading as people on these boards generally consider an "upgrade" to be from a lower category of room to a higher category within the same resort. As disneyworld! mentioned she got some from standard view (usually parking lot depending on the resort) to waterview - which is great and doesn't always happen so lucky her but not from one resort to another.

You'll want to look for codes, promos, that kind of thing to go from POFQ to AKL. Once in a great while, due to lack of availability of rooms, people have gotten to move from a moderate to a deluxe for unbelieveable prices, but that usually had to do with part of the moderate resort being closed for rehab after people had already booked it. So they got great deals to upgrade to a deluxe - not something that's really very likely to happen.

Good luck!

 

[NCombs]

That's wonderful disneyworld! Someone sprinkled some pixie dust your way

kc717, the title of your original post might be a little misleading as people on these boards generally consider an "upgrade" to be from a lower category of room to a higher category within the same resort. As disneyworld! mentioned she got some from standard view (usually parking lot depending on the resort) to waterview - which is great and doesn't always happen so lucky her but not from one resort to another.

You'll want to look for codes, promos, that kind of thing to go from POFQ to AKL. Once in a great while, due to lack of availability of rooms, people have gotten to move from a moderate to a deluxe for unbelieveable prices, but that usually had to do with part of the moderate resort being closed for rehab after people had already booked it. So they got great deals to upgrade to a deluxe - not something that's really very likely to happen.

Good luck!

Just what I was thinking of saying!!