How to get room upgrade

[zoo2tycoon]

Best advice book what you want and be happy with it. Don’t ask for or expect upgrade - or be prepared to pay for one. They aren’t as common as people think and others post their upgrades because they are excited. Thousands check in weekly, resorts at capacity so upgrades are rare!

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you. This makes so much sense. I just have seen a lot of posts/ comments about it. Wasn’t sure if it’s a last minute “we have these rooms available so we will upgrade you if you ask” type thing- or a random fluke. Thanks for clarifying

I always book the view I am happy with. I know it seems like everyone is getting thee awesome upgrades, but if you thnk about the sheer number of families checking into WDW resorts, you have to figure the number of folks getting upgraded to better rooms is negligible.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

We have been lucky with upgrades over the years but I go into our stays not expecting them. If there is a specific view/location I have to have, I will book it and pay the difference however most of our stays, we are rarely in our room so views aren't a priority for us. Whether we check in online or not, it makes no difference whether we are upgraded.

BUT, and it's a big BUT...... the only way I'd stay again at AKL is to have the savannah view. For us, that view makes a difference since it's such a pivotal part of the resort. I love to have my morning coffee on the balcony.

But it's not a necessity, there are so many lookouts to see the animals and walking trails, that guests can still have a great visit without the upgraded cost. It just comes down to preference and budget. But if you really want to have it, just book it.

 

[jennyq87]

We've been fortunate to get a few room upgrades in the past without asking for it. We booked a Savannah view studio at AKL and we were upgraded to a 1BR savannah view. And we booked a Garden View at Yacht Club and we were upgraded to a Water View. Both were AWESOME and we felt very lucky.. BUT.. now we have a hard time going back to the regular rooms! So beware -- if you get an upgrade you may be spending more on rooms in the future lol. We must certainly be on their "upgrade suckers" list

 

[SharonZ]

If you want a Savannah room, book it before you leave.

 

[SharonZ]

If you want a Savannah room, book it before you leave.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I keep seeing people mention this but am confused

I booked a pool view for AKL. we land Saturday morning how do I request a savanna room? Do I have to pay more?

Upgrades from one category to another are luck, aka pixie dust. Asking doesn't increase your chances, unless you're also willing to pay.

Some officially standard view rooms on the Kudu Trail have great animal views, though. No pool view rooms do. If you're hoping to luck into an animal view & don't want to pay for an official savanna room, I recommend switching to standard view.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

We've been fortunate to get a few room upgrades in the past without asking for it... Both were AWESOME and we felt very lucky.. BUT.. now we have a hard time going back to the regular rooms! So beware -- if you get an upgrade you may be spending more on rooms in the future lol.

This. We were upgraded to club level at Beach Club last year, and now I will only book club level.

I think the upgrade fairy knows what she's doing...

 

[Luvs Mickey]

Guess this is a very common misconception that I can't quite figure out.
You and everyone else should realize, checking in online does not prevent you from going to the front desk, especially if you aren't happy with your room. But even if you want to too.

Yes, completely understand. I just don’t bother with online check in because I know I’m going to speak with a CM at the front desk.

 

[cwis]

Yes, completely understand. I just don’t bother with online check in because I know I’m going to speak with a CM at the front desk.

Have you tried performing the online check-in? The process is really easy, and will actually save you some time as you will be able to register a credit card to your room and make quick choices of room requests. You should give it a try on your next trip!

 

[ld4483]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this: We are staying at the BC September 1-8, then decided to stay an extra night for flight reasons and were (keyword WERE) booked at ASMo. I got a phone call from Disney yesterday asking if we wanted a complimentary upgrade to Coronado Springs in a preferred king room! Well of course I said yes! Not sure if it was for overbooking at the All Stars or actual pixie dust, but I'll take it for whatever reason!

 

[Babsy]

I keep seeing people mention this but am confused

I booked a pool view for AKL. we land Saturday morning how do I request a savanna room? Do I have to pay more?

when reading the replies to this post, it seems like there are a lot of upgrades happening. Until you notice that there were 2K views of this thread. Most of those 2K people didn't experience upgrades. We have been going to WDW since it opened, usually multiple times per year. Most trips involve staying at more than one WDW resort (split stays). We have had a grand total of 3 small upgrades in all that time and in each case was due to a problem that needed to be resolved and no other room in our category available.

Be aware that downgrades occur as well. People have had to take a lesser view than booked when availability was lacking in their category. It isn't fun, but it has happened. I am always relieved and thrilled when I get what I booked and paid for - if I get requests met also, I am delighted. I don't even think about upgrades anymore.

I fear for people hoping for upgrades, that they will be disappointed with their room assignment. Personally, I book our room category after investigating the worst possible room in that category and deciding that I would be content to stay in that room. Someone booking that category has to stay there. It could, and has been, me.

If you really want a savanna view, I would try to change my reservation to that view now and pay the ext ra. OR, I would choose standard view and book that with a request for a partial savanna view. AT least then your request matches rooms within the category booked. If. the resort is full, it is best to have a category booked that you will be happy with as that is extremely likely to be the type of room that you will stay in.

Good luck!

 

[cdoc29]

The thing with message boards is, people tend to post about unusual stuff. Nobody goes to the trouble of posting to say "I got the room type I booked!" Upgrades get talked about here because they're really rare. They're sort of the vacation equivalent of hitting the lottery, and people love to talk about that pixie dust.

LOL I am going September 3-9 (already on roll call), Booked a garden or woods view. I will post after I get back that I got the room type I booked........ Along with other thoughts for others to share

 

[bloomcruisers]

I’ve stayed on property dozens of times over 4 decades and have had a total of 1 upgrade and 1 downgrade.
The upgrade was from preferred to a suite at ASMu. The CM told me at check in that I would really like my room assignment.. She didn’t tell me it was a suite. And I very much did! It was awesome having a separate room for the kids along with the kitchenette. A great experience for sure.
The downgrade was a different story. I had a water view room at CBR booked and paid as part of a package. When I checked in and looked at my room assignment on the map I was given, there was no water anywhere. When I questioned it, I was told sorry no water view available. When I said I paid for water view, the CM picked at her keyboard and said sorry, nothing available. And she simply shrugged. So I showed her my printout of having paid for it already and she seemed at a loss. I had to ask for a manager, so she disappeared for a while. Then she came back and said I would be refunded $10/ night as the difference. So, yes, I understand that they cannot manufacture a room if none are available. But I had the feeling if I hadn’t had my printout, I would have gotten nothing back. So definitely make sure you get at least what you already paid for.

 

[Sandiz08]

We've received a few upgrades. I feel as if your chances are higher if you book a standard room, and/ or it's your first time staying there, because they have asked us at the front desk before. But I could be reading too much into it, I'm sure its mostly chance.

 

[Disneylover99]

We've received a few upgrades. I feel as if your chances are higher if you book a standard room, and/ or it's your first time staying there, because they have asked us at the front desk before. But I could be reading too much into it, I'm sure its mostly chance.

Booking a standard room makes sense. You’ve got nowhere to go but up.

 

[cwis]

I'm still confused about all these upgrade threads. Do people that wish for upgrades at WDW also wish for a free upgrades from Tall to Venti when going to Starbucks?

Book the room you want. If, for operational reasons, you'll get upgraded, then, nice. If, for no operational reasons, you'll get pixie-dusted to an upgraded room, nicer.

 

[rangerxenos]

When we were at AKL last December, we checked in at the desk. We booked a pool view and I asked the CM if it was possible to have a partial savanna view, which is still standard view.

They got on the phone and the CM stated with some pixie dust we were upgraded to savanna view.

As others have stated, it does happen but should not be expected.

I may be one of the exceptions here but I like checking in at the desk instead of online and working directly with a CM. If we don’t get a location request, for example, it never hurts to ask if that location is available because it’s likely things have changed since our room was assigned days prior.

Same here, I want to see where my room is, in case I have an issue with where they put me. I never ask for a free upgrade, but have been pixie dusted several times. I will, however, ask for an area that is within the category I booked.

 

[rangerxenos]

Upgrades from one category to another are luck, aka pixie dust. Asking doesn't increase your chances, unless you're also willing to pay.

Some officially standard view rooms on the Kudu Trail have great animal views, though. No pool view rooms do. If you're hoping to luck into an animal view & don't want to pay for an official savanna room, I recommend switching to standard view.

Yep, this is where our Standard view rooms have been every time, Kudu Trail.

 

[rangerxenos]

This. We were upgraded to club level at Beach Club last year, and now I will only book club level.

I think the upgrade fairy knows what she's doing...

Truth! We were upgraded to CL on our May trip at Grand Floridian, first time ever at CL, and I considered it when booking AKL because it was wonderful, LOL! Ultimately the price difference made me reconsider, but damn, it was nice to be at CL!