Resort Upgrades

[patrick9261]

Has anybody ever gotten and free upgrade at a resort? Are they random? Is worth asking for an upgrade?

 

[CanadianPaco]

We've never been offered one but there are countless reports of it happening. The one thing I have notced is that the people haven't asked for the upgrade.
It just happens as a magical surprise. No science behind this - just my observations.

 

[mickeynut1]

Upgrades aren't given as often as they seem and are usually given for things like maintenance issues, overbooking, etc. If an upgrade is given, it is usually done prior to the guest's arrival as the front desk CMs don't usually have the authority to give free upgrades. If you ask for an upgrade, be prepared to pay for it as the CM will most likely quote you the difference between that and what you originally booked.

 

[disney20082011]

We received a free upgrade on our first Disney visit. We booked a garden room at the Contemporary. Got upgraded to the conseirge floor in the tower! Over $2,000 upgrade!! Sweet!! I think the CM at the desk was in shock too. She had to go to the back to check before she told me. Of course, that is what my kids have except everytime we go now!! It was completely random!!

 

[skeeter31]

I've been to Disney near 50 times and have only been upgraded once, and it was probably close to 15 years ago.

It was the first time we were ever staying at the GF and we had booked a normal room for 1 night before we then went to OKW (was just the DVC Resort back then) for the remainder of the trip. When we went to check in, we were told that we were upgraded to a suite with 2 balconies that had a spectacular view of the castle and we were able to watch the fireworks from our room. It was beyond cool, but we've never been upgraded since.

 

[lojikal1]

This conversation always comes back up! You will not get an upgrade simply by asking. Something has to go wrong (very wrong) and then somebody will usually step in an upgrade you to make it better. We got totally done over on a trip CSR once and due to the kerfuffle we got upgrade to BC... luck of the draw.

 

[TJA]

I think a lot has to do with how many rooms are filled at the particular resort. We just did a split stay over Easter break and got upgraded at both of our resorts -- we did not ask for an upgrade either time. At WL I had booked just the standard room and got upgraded to courtyard bunkbed. Then we moved to BC CL standard view and we got upgraded to BC CL lagoon view. I commented at BC that we have been lucky regarding upgrades and the CM's told me many resorts were not even half full. So my guess is when there is a lot of availability, the resorts may do some upgrades.

 

[Gr8Luv4Disney]

In 2007, I had booked a room at one of the value resorts probably around March, our trip was scheduled for the end of Aug/first of Sept. A couple months later, I received a call from a CM asking if I wanted to upgrade to a 1 bedroom villa at Saratoga Springs for our entire stay (1 week)!! I was hesitant at first because I couldn't believe it, I actually thought there was a catch to it, I even asked if this was entirely free, did I have to do some type of timeshare presentation or anything and to my surprise she stated "no"!! She did tell me it was due to the value resort we were booked for being overbooked. About a month later, I received some type of Disney advertisement in the mail offering free dining during the time we were going to be there, so I called Disney and asked if we could add the free dining to our stay and it was also added!! We were very lucky that year!! Talk about Disney Magic!!!

 

[bluejasmine]

In 15 trips the ONLY upgrade we have ever gotten was last Sept at the POLY CL but that was only b/c we had some MAJOR issues with the service we recvd at check in and then the room they gave us had issues as well, so when DH just got fed up and called for a manager he moved us from our GV CL room to TPV CL room! It was amazing and we kept thanking him!

But like I said we have never recvd upgrades, we always book what we want.. We have done on our honeymoon, anniversaries, birthdays, grad trips, 1st ever trips.. NOTHING..

Not to sau I dont hope each time.. especially reading the many reports of upgrades..

 

[tstidm1]

I am going in Mid-July to Pop Century. Are they more likely to offer upgrades that time of year? That is considered a peak time (not peak of peak at July 4th or Christmas, but close). Does a lot of overbooking happen that time of year?

 

[katrina1122]

We have 2x.

Once was in 1996 at the WL we had a gardenview room. When we walked all our luggage to our room (poor recent college grads stupidly trying to save a buck by not using the porter) and opened our door someone else's stuff was in there. So we had a maid call the front desk. A porter came and got us and our stuff and moved us up 2 floors higher and to a pool view. Ended up paying that tip after all, lol.

Currently we booked with AAA for our upcoming 10th Anniv trip to POFQ. Originally AAA was able to stack their discount on an email pin we got from WDW and WDW auto upgraded us from standard to gardenview. But then we had to change the dates. We were able to keep our stacked discount but lost the gardenview upgrade, but were upgrade to a king bed room for free. Why? Who knows.

I've asked on every other visit and gotten no where.

 

[UberGoofy]

I just booked a standard room at the Pop Century for 8/6-8/11, it would be awesome if we got upgraded, but if not its ok cause it would be our first trip to WDW in almost 10 years.

 

[CraigInPA]

If you're going Saturday to Saturday, the chances of you getting a room upgrade are virtually zero unless something *really bad* has happened to you.

Let me also say that if something *really bad* has happened to you, you need to talk to the front desk manager. These guys and gals have tremendous lattitute to make things right for you. When we arrived (3 days late due to a snow storm), we found we were given a water view room at the Poly which had NO view because of bushes in front of the window. We spoke to the manager, who apologized profusely. Apparently, people were not leaving Disney on schedule due to the snow storm up north, and the ENTIRE hotel was booked. He promised to move us the next day and he gave us the room with no view for free. Two days later, on my wife's birthday, we got a HUGE chocolate gift courtesy of the manager as well.

 

[GATORinaZ28]

We have never asked nor received an upgrade. But I dont care...I'm still at Disney World!

 

[tinkmom76]

We have been upgraded numerous times. I think it is just a random thing because we have never asked to be. We have always booked a standard room when we stay at AKL but have always been placed in a Savannah View. Our last trip to WL was the first time we haven't been upgraded in years.

 

[klarlee]

We just got home yesterday and were upgraded upon arrival. My SIL booked a standard room at AS Music (least expensive room of all the resorts during that time period). When we checked in the CM told us that we would receive a free upgrade to WL! Then she told us that room would be upgraded to a "deluxe garden-view"! She said it was because we were celebrating a birthday in our group but I noticed several large BTG's in the lobby, so maybe they were over-booked? I don't think it hurt that my SIL is a huge repeat customer. Either way, we were in shock and beyond excited! Best Magical Moment yet!

 

[2ofUs]

Not really an upgrade, but in 2009 on our first mother/son trip, the Front Desk Manager came to our room after we had checked in and handed us an envelope. Before we opened it, he wanted to explain that he was so touched by our story that he arranged a 'gift' for us.

We got into a conversation with him during check-in and spent 30 min together. Tim had mention how it was we came to be at WDW on this trip. He had been adopted at birth, but we were reunited in 2004 and have become very close since. Though I have been many times, this was his first ever trip to WDW - and it was to celebrate his 43rd birthday. There is a lot more to the story, but apparently he was just touched by our relationship and wanted to do something special for us.

He had arranged for a Segway Tour at Epcot - free of charge - and also for a taxi to insure we arrived early enough. Now, to me, that was way better than any upgrade and we have never forgotten him!

By the way, the picture of us below was taken on the day we were first united face-to-face.