Room Requests or Not?

[Ktharee]

Just wondering if you have faxed in room requests or went with the luck of the draw in hopes of an upgrade. I've heard some say that the less you request the more likely you are to get an upgrade. We are staying at the Poly March 5-8 and would like a room near the TTC, but the chance of being upgraded to concierge is pretty attractive also. Would like your thoughts, suggestions, advice. Thanks!

 

[wilde_oscar]

if it is something that Disney can sell, they are not going to give it to you for free. I have had best luck with a smile and being nice at check in to get a better room location.

 

[disneyaggie]

if it is something that Disney can sell, they are not going to give it to you for free. I have had best luck with a smile and being nice at check in to get a better room location.

Flowers and chocolates are also a nice touch.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'm moving this over to the Resorts and Booking Board, it's a better fit there than here on ThemeParks!

Thanks,

Knox

 

[disnut8]

I can tell you that in all my times staying on Disney property which includes most of the deluxes, all the moderates and all the values, I have never had an upgrade for anything. Not even to a king bed room at check in (we were told one was available but it would cost more). However, in all those trips, I think there was only one time where my room request wasn't met at all. And that wasn't even my trip - that was my husband's trip with a friend at All Stars and I requested Mighty Ducks and they ended up in Toy Story. Not the greatest for two male adults.

Best thing to do for you is to request close to the TTC and then see what you can do at check-in. But there's no way I would ever count on an upgrade.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We never made room requests and have never received an upgrade.

 

[Mr. Pig]

Requesting a room near TTC at Poly is a very reasonable request and you probably would have a very good chance of getting it. I don't think that is a highly requested area of Poly so you should be good. I really don't think upgrades are tied to how many requests you have. Upgrades to concierge are mostly due to overbooking of regular rooms and space in concierge. The assignment is random and set before you check in.

 

[Family24]

Just wanted to let you know we were just at the Polynesian January 25th thru Feb. 2 and had requested Tahiti as we had a Theme Park view. When we got there with our family of four two adults and two children we were upgraded to the Concierge building. It was a very nice surpise and our family was so excited. As we were sitting on our patio one night we heard our neighbor say they were upgraded also. I think it just depends on when you go and how the rooms are booked or overbooked. This was our family's third time at Disney and when I was a child have gone many times, so this was our first upgrade ever. Just wanted to let you know it does happen. Wherever you stay you will have a great time.

 

[Lynne M]

Upgrades are not common, especially ones that involve giving you hundreds of dollars worth of freebies, like an upgrade to concierge. There are far fewer concierge rooms than non-concierge at the Poly, and concierge might well be fully booked when you arrive. The odds are NOT with you.

Why inconvenience yourself for your entire trip, passing up the chance to be close to the TTC, on the tiny chance that you might get an upgrade?

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I find that nothing matters - if I make requests in advance or just have the luck-of-the-draw, it makes no difference. I usually get rooms in least desirable areas no matter what I do. Maybe because I travel solo or because I am at the end of the alphabet? Who knows. It's so predictable nowadays that it's almost laughable among my family. In the past I requested some simple things - like a balcony at WL - and was refused. Often requests are clearly never even looked at.

At the Poly, Rapa Nui is the closest to TTC, and many people don't like it since it is the only building that have close parking lot views.

I find the only thing that may help is being nice at check-in, and do your best to politely beg for the room you want!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

If you want the upgraded room, why not pay for it now?

 

[westcoastdisfan]

Room requests always received, never an upgrade - Disney World or Disneyland.

 

[westcoastdisfan]

I have received my request for ground floor, Rapa Nui facing Tahiti (not the parking lot) 4 years in a row. As previous poster noted, it is not a "popular" longhouse. First 2 years, I did have to wait a bit as the CM would go through the available rooms and we would "review" where the room was vs my preference. By year 3, they were literally putting me in the exact room I had stayed in past years! I was impressed that the Poly CM staff did appear to read the notes made by Reservations. I faxed the first year, but not sure that made a difference.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Room requests have nothing to do with you getting a free upgrade. A Cast Member told me free upgrades happen when your name is typed in the computer at check-in, if you are to get the free upgrade something will come up on the screen. So I agree with TheRustyScupper it's best to make a reservation for the Club Level room, this way you know before what your getting and won't risk being disappointed if the free upgrade does not happen and chances are it won't happen.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . A Cast Member told me free upgrades happen when your name is typed in the computer at check-in . . .

1) Just to clarify, your name doesn't just pop-up for an upgrade.
2) The "ROOMS" person had already assigned an upgrade and room number.
3) This could have been done from 0-4 days ahead of check-in.
4) Typical reasons are
. . . a large group wants rooms together, so you get bumped to make space
. . . the resort is overbooked for a room type
. . . they want to make room for full-price sales of lower price rooms
. . . to more easily fill up the resort (occupancy percentage is a measured metric)
5) When ROOMS upgrades, there are specific reasons for the upgrade.
6) The upgrades are recorded and tracked.
7) They must be justified.
8) A "pixie dust" upgrade can be made by any CM, but it is also tracked.

NOTE: People think that upgrades are more frequent than they really are. I have been yelled at by folks who read about upgrades and thought that they deserved one. (Ya, right!)

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

1) Just to clarify, your name doesn't just pop-up for an upgrade.
2) The "ROOMS" person had already assigned an upgrade and room number.
3) This could have been done from 0-4 days ahead of check-in.
4) Typical reasons are
. . . a large group wants rooms together, so you get bumped to make space
. . . the resort is overbooked for a room type
. . . they want to make room for full-price sales of lower price rooms
. . . to more easily fill up the resort (occupancy percentage is a measured metric)
5) When ROOMS upgrades, there are specific reasons for the upgrade.
6) The upgrades are recorded and tracked.
7) They must be justified.
8) A "pixie dust" upgrade can be made by any CM, but it is also tracked.

NOTE: People think that upgrades are more frequent than they really are. I have been yelled at by folks who read about upgrades and thought that they deserved one. (Ya, right!)

I guess I should have said it the way you described #3. If it was determined a few days before that a guest would be getting a free upgrade, it would show once they check-in and their name was typed into the computer.