Recent upgrades at AKL

[Crash1207]

I'm in a similar boat as many on here...wondering if I have a shot. I have a reservation at AKL for the June 5-12 with a standard room. I booked it through a travel agent using one of the recent discount codes.

Well, since then I've made the purchase of an engagement ring and would love to do the proposal overlooking the Savannah at sunset. I've called the travel agent and asked if she could help get us upgraded (at the additional cost) and she said she's called and they can't do it because I'm on the discount code.

So I'm now I'm hoping to get a super romantic CM when I check in that can help me out. I almost feel stupid telling him/her this story because it almost sounds like I'm making it up just to get the upgrade. Any suggestions?

 

[DISNuts]

Crash,

I'm leaving for AKL this evening. Should arrive after midnight, so I'm hoping they'll feel pity on me and my family and upgrade us to a Savannah view. I'm not counting on it, so if I don't get upgraded, I'll ask how much to upgrade to Savannah. Hopefully, they'll give me a good deal on the upgrade (anything less than the normal $75/day extra it wold cost for Savannah). I've read in some threads where upgrades were offered for less than they would have been if booked earlier. Anyone experienced this before? Thanks.......BTW, Good luck Crash...I also asked my wife to marry me in WDW. I flew us down for a weekend just to do it!

 

[daniluvsdisney]

crazy question but anyone ever upgraded from pool to deluxe pool... really this would delight dh

 

[eeyore1226]

For the poster asking about an upgrade with a discount code booked for standard view; we got one back in July '02. I had booked with the AP code for $124 a night and we were upgraded to Savannah view when we checked it. I had faxed in a request though about 2 days out. Our room I think was on the 3rd floor - right off the lobby and overlooked Arusha Rock - I think Anyhow, it was awesome and I stopped by the front desk twice during the week to thank the cast member who checked us in. We're headed back on June 25 and hoping for another upgrade but not counting on it. Celebrating DD 14th birthday while we're there and bringing her best friend who has never been to WDW Can't wait!!

 

[1melanie]

Crash1207,

We were at AKL 5/20 - 5/25. We loved the resort. We booked a savannah room and our location requests were met, except the room assigned to us had bunk beds. My kids are not old enough for bunkbeds so I requested a change. We were reassigned to a room with two queen beds but the location was a different savannah and the veiw was not as good. It was my choice not to take the bunk beds so I could deal with the view not being as good, but the CM we were working with was not very helpful. He did not try to reassign us to the same savannah. I tried to be as nice and polite as possible, but he had an attitude problem. My kids were with me at check-in and he did not speak to them at all. He basically ignored them and got rid of me as quickly as possible. He did not give me any info about the resort or activities.

My point in all this is to tell you to avoid CM Mikee at check-in.

 

[Crash1207]

Thanks to everyone who has replied. This is giving me a little more hope than I had last week. I think I will take the suggestion of faxing down the request and hope that helps out. I know that getting this would really make the moment better.

Fingers crossed!!

 

[Carole]

Hi! We're at the AKL for 3 nights now. Booked a standard room - I asked for an upgrade and was told it was $11 (per night) for pool or $60 for savanah. I turned it down then went back later and upgraded for $11 for the pool view.....

 

[wdwfan]

We added an extra day to the beginning of our vacation which will just be a resort day. I've decided that we'll stay at the AKL for one night. Do you think it is worth the extra money to book savannah view for just one night? We'll be switching over to the BWI early the next morning. What are your opinions?

 

[stina]

so... for all you mouseketeers who have been upgraded...
what's the best method to get an upgrade?

FAX ahead of time
or
ASK in person upon arrival

there have been other posts on the board (can't find them) about how faxing AKL is worthless because they don't pay attention to their faxes
AND
i wouldn't want to be too presumptious about asking for a free upgrade 3 days in advance.
BUT
but i wonder how significant advance notice is versus just showing up the day i check in and asking for a better room.

also...
if i arrive at say, 10am and check in isn't til 3, can i leave my luggage then and come back? how/when do i do check in? exactly at 3, or do i check-in in the morning (assuring room assignment) knowing i can't access my room until 3?

please help!

 

[mhelsley]

Last Dec. we spent 2 night at AKL before going to BWV. My goal was to book concierge level for the sunrise safari but they only had pool view for the first night and then concierge for the next night and would let us go on the safari but we had to recheck in before the safari to get the card that would let us go to the level the lounge is on. Well when i checked in he showed me where my room was located and i thought he'd made a mistake(savanah view) so i informed him i was suppose to have a pool view and he informed me we had been upgraded at no cost. I also want to include how nice he was to arrange that we get to stay in the same room the next night so we didn't have to move our luggage in the morning to another room or bell services.

 

[Pluto2003]

June '03 and May '04. Both times with codes. Booked standard and were upgraded to savannah views. I did not fax or even ask at check in. Made no requests. I was prepared for a standard room. ALK is our favorite. Enjoy whatever view you receive........

 

[flyball]

I'm not sure I understand what you did mhelsley. Were you checked into a concierge room on the first night, or were you given a standard savannah room on the first night? If you were given a standard savannah room, did they reduce your concierge rate for the second night because the standard room is smaller than the deluxe-size concierge rooms?

 

[minnie56]

I always go prepared to get exactly what I have paid for. If I want pool view or Savannah I will request that and pay for it.

I have booked standard 3x and each time been upgraded to a pool view. Last time I booked Savannah and of course that is what I got!

I am grateful to receive an upgrade to a better room however I could never bring myself to ask for it ahead of time or at time of check-in.

That's just me.

 

[Crash1207]

Actually, I would never ask for an upgrade under normal circumstances. But my situation isn't exactly what I would call "normal circumstances". I've tried getting my reservation changed with no luck, I guess this is my last hope and I'll have to suck it up and ask and see what happens.

 

[disneychick05]

Well we're back and ....YES we did get an upgrade to a pool view. We were very happy with the pool view and would probably book that view again just to be safe. When we went down to look at the animals, there wern't really any out anyway. I would have been dissappointed to have booked a savannah room and only been able to see one giraffe and one wildebeast. The pool view was beautiful!

 

[disneychick05]

One more thing....

I don't think that we should all start faxing requests and calling ahead of time for a comp. upgrade. JMO. I can see the guy trying to propose...yes. But they may get annoyed if everyone starts swamping the fax machine with requests for upgrades.