Room Upgrades?

[nancy drew]

I've read a lot of trip reports and posts here from people who mention getting a room upgrade upon check in. I have always wondered, do you ask for an upgrade? Do they just say "Surprise! We've upgraded you to a ___ room!" We are staying at PPH and DLH next week (!) and I'd love to be upgraded, but I don't want to appear greedy or high maintenance.

 

[PrincessIM]

I've never had to ask for one. Our first visit there, I had booked a city view at PP and we were upgraded to Theme Park View and at the Grand California we were upgraded to a DD view. I think with the PP they told us we were being upgraded to a theme park view right before they gave us our keys and for the GCH we didn't find out until we went up to our room.

 

[Sherry E]

I've read a lot of trip reports and posts here from people who mention getting a room upgrade upon check in. I have always wondered, do you ask for an upgrade? Do they just say "Surprise! We've upgraded you to a ___ room!" We are staying at PPH and DLH next week (!) and I'd love to be upgraded, but I don't want to appear greedy or high maintenance.

I, too, have also noticed an abundance of upgrade stories lately - especially at the Paradise Pier! I was the lucky recipient of one such upgrade last December - and honestly, in all of my onsite stays over the last 23 years or so, I've never been upgraded at any of the hotels until this past December! I had read about it happening here and there, but I was just never lucky enough. So I can't say that it happens easily, from my own personal experience, but it does seem to be happening in a wave lately, doesn't it?

Anyway, when I got my upgrade to park view at PPH, I did not ask for it. I simply showed up early for pre-check in. Very, very early. Literally, before sunrise. I was the only one at the front desk checking in and there was no one around in the lobby. So the CM handling the paperwork basically said, "You've been upgraded to a park view room," and "Your room is ready now!" (Those are two sentences you want to hear when you check in anywhere!) I went upstairs and watched the dawn break from the window, and then anytime I was in the hotel room over the next 3 days, I was obsessed with staring out the window at DCA! That view kept beckoning to me!

I think other people have tried to ask for upgrades. Sometimes it may work; sometimes it may not work. I suppose it largely depends on timing and the particular CM who checks you in (some of them are friendlier than others). I can't help but think that the chances might be higher for upgrades if you show up well before your official check-in time, as early in the day as you possibly can. Once people start checking in or showing up in droves for early check-ins, more rooms of all types will be booked up.

 

[Dobie]

I was upgraded last summer to a high view room at DLH. I have also been upgraded to theme park view at GCH. I did not ask, either time.

Last week, I asked if an upgrade was available at PPH; the lovely CM checked but the hotel was fully booked. She did, however, ask if I preferred a high or low floor.

I think it all depends on whether the hotel is booked.

 

[jetskigrl]

On our last stay at GCH, we had a standard room (with bunk bed) booked. Usually a standard room means a view of the front of the hotel (valet area, etc) or courtyard. When we got to the room, it was two queens with a view of the courtyard (nice, but not the bunkbed the kids were hoping for). We called downstairs to see if there were any bunkbed rooms available and were told that there weren't any right now but if we wanted to wait a bit, we could get one later.

Well, later turned into 4:00. We didn't really mind since we were out by the pool anyway but they still apologized for making us wait. Then when we finally got into the room, we had a view of the pool and DCA. Oh how we loved seeing the Mickey's Fun Wheel all lit up at night. Definitely made it worth the wait for the room.

 

[DahliaRW]

I was upgraded last summer to a high view room at DLH. I have also been upgraded to theme park view at GCH. I did not ask, either time.

Last week, I asked if an upgrade was available at PPH; the lovely CM checked but the hotel was fully booked. She did, however, ask if I preferred a high or low floor.

I think it all depends on whether the hotel is booked.

I think they'd rather upgrade some because it's probably easier to fill the standard rooms (lower rate) than the view rooms at the last minute.

I do think length of stay will have something to do with it too. If you're stayig 2-3 nights it's not a biggie to tie up a more premium room. Longer they might want to leave it open or they might be full one of your other nights.

 

[Sherry E]

I think they'd rather upgrade some because it's probably easier to fill the standard rooms (lower rate) than the view rooms at the last minute.

I do think length of stay will have something to do with it too. If you're stayig 2-3 nights it's not a biggie to tie up a more premium room. Longer they might want to leave it open or they might be full one of your other nights.

I think you're on to something, DahliaRW. I was sort of thinking along these same lines the other day. As you said, for a 2- or 3-night visit (maybe even 4 nights), it's probably not a huge deal to give someone a better room at no extra cost.

But I would bet that when I hit the PPH for my 7-night stay during the holiday season this year, I will most likely not be upgraded unless the PPH is half empty that week! Probably anything over 4 or 5 days is too much for a free upgrade. Now if the guest was willing to pay for the upgrade, that would be a different story, of course...

 

[jetskigrl]

I think they'd rather upgrade some because it's probably easier to fill the standard rooms (lower rate) than the view rooms at the last minute.

I do think length of stay will have something to do with it too. If you're stayig 2-3 nights it's not a biggie to tie up a more premium room. Longer they might want to leave it open or they might be full one of your other nights.

I agree this is most likely the case. We had a similar experience in Las Vegas. We came in for one-night only (a Friday) to see a show. We had a two-queen room booked and they upgraded us to a suite. It was pretty easy to figure out that they must have had open suites that night and the need for the 2-queen room for weekend arrivals was higher.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Please remember that it feels like the upgrades happen a lot because *everyone* (OK, how about upwards of 90%?) who gets an upgrade is excited and races over here to announce it. If everyone who got the exact room they booked, no surprises positive or negative, started a thread about "Hey, no upgrade!" we'd see that upgrades are a smaller portion of the DLR hotel population. You see upgrade stories *because* they are DISboard newsworthy. Getting your reservation fulfilled? No story.
Having said that, I ca't lie and say I don't have dreams of getting an off-season upgrade....

AJ

 

[mrswh]

I'm not sure there is anything you can do (short of paying for it) to get an upgrade. Like PPs have said, it all depends on your length of stay, the occupancy level during your stay, and just plain luck. Next week I'm guessing is going to be pretty high occupancy (all three hotels are sold out this week), so I wouldn't have any expectation of an upgrade. Last year in August I did not get the bed configuration I had requested at GCH (well, that Disney Travel told me I had actually reserved, but that's a whole 'nother story), and they very nicely told me I could either take what I got or pay for an upgrade to a suite (to the tune of $1000 a night).

But . . . you never know. Keep your fingers crossed and maybe you'll get lucky. If not, oh well, you'll have a great time anyway!

 

[Liat]

We booked a standard room at GCH in the first week of June and I guess we got upgraded to a DTD view. We didn't even think about it until it occurred to us that we hadn't paid for it. My mom just asked nicely if there was anyway that we could see the fireworks from our room and they shuffled us around I think.

 

[brianjonesmusic]

There is no point in "asking" for an upgrade. They will just give you a better room if they need to sell your room. It is magical, but really just a business decision. You always want to book in advance exactly the room type you have your heart set on, and let disney surprise you if possible.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

There is no point in "asking" for an upgrade. They will just give you a better room if they need to sell your room. It is magical, but really just a business decision. You always want to book in advance exactly the room type you have your heart set on, and let disney surprise you if possible.

I completely disagree! I work at the front desk of a hotel (not a Disney hotel) and if people nicely inquire if there is an upgrade available, and there are, we will often give it to them. I agree short stays are more likely to have upgrades available for long stays, but unless it's a suite it costs the same to clean a standard view room as it does a theme park view so if they are available you may get automatically upgraded and it certainly can't hurt to ask (very nicely) if there might be an upgrade available.

 

[mrswh]

I see no reason not to ask. The worst they can say is no! Odds are they probably will say no, but you never know . . . it's not like you get penalized for asking!

 

[bondgirl007]

Last summer we were upgraded from least expensive room I could book to 10th floor Adventure Tower facing DTD and Parks. I didn't ask. The CM just said we have upgraded you to concierge level. Yipee! Super exciting. Great room!