Silly question re: upgrades

[amycakes]

How do people get upgrades? I see it mentioned here all the time that people ask whether they should upgrade eg. from a value to a moderate for $500 dollars more. How does this happen?

 

[gatorfreud]

I think they just mean to pay the difference to stay at a "better" resort....

 

[eeyoregon]

Last year during the free dining promotion the value resorts sold out so Disney upgraded (at no charge) some folks to a moderate or DVC studio in order to free up more value rooms.

Several of my friends were upgraded but me not so lucky.

Waaaaay back in 1998 we had booked rooms at the ASMO and 2 weeks before our trip we received a call saying they "had" to move us to Dixie Landings (POR) and asked if that would be OK (no additional charge). I don't know why it happened?

 

[mmmears]

The free kind of upgrade, when you check into the hotel and they give you a better view than you paid for or a bigger room, etc. does not happen as often as people would think reading these boards. It's just that people who dont get upgraded dont write about it as often -- so the percentage chance of a free upgrade is not that great.

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

Free upgrades from one resort level to another resort level (ie. being magically whisked away from POP to the GF) are extremely rare and only happen during overbooking.

Free room upgrades from one level (ie. standard to water view etc.) are a little more common, and I think randomly assigned by a computer, esp. if one type of room is sold out.

How do people get them? Luck. But if you really have your heart set on something, you should book it.

 

[Allison]

The posts you are referring to are people trying to decide if they should change their reservation to a more costly resort. It's just a matter of changing the resort they booked, not a special upgrade of any kind.

 

[disnut8]

Free upgrades do happen for various reasons For example, back before the smoking ban in the resorts, we were "upgraded" to a preferred room because there were no non smoking rooms available. Another time, a friend was upgrade at Animal Kingdom Lodge from a standard view to a savannah view because (1) it was their anniversary (2) they mentioned at check in they were childless for the first time in years and (3) there was a room available.

You read about upgrades all the time on these boards. What you don't read about are the thousands of people who go to Disney World and don't get upgrades (like me saying "do you have a king bed room?" and being told no).

You write the positives.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Two years ago we planned our first trip ever to WDW. I booked a value to save $. It was during the spring and we then recvd an email telling me to call for a free upgrade.

Turns out that it was some cheerleader week and they offered us a 1 br villa at OKW. I even had to take time to talk to DH about this

So for $94 per nite we stayed in a 1 br villa at OKW.

Now, did WDW do some profiling? We have an excellent credit score, live within our means and love WDW.

Yes, by the end of the year I bought a DVC at OKW resale. They got the money back on the upgrade.

 

[RMulieri]

I have never gotten an upgrade ever.Heck, I don't even get my requests.Better luck this time maybe...but then again I am staying at the BCV , don't think there is anywhere to get upgrade to

 

[amycakes]

Thanks everyone!

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Our January 2007 trip our travel agent upgraded us from Pop to POFQ due to a mistake she had made when doing our booking. We only had to pay the price for a value. When we got to check in at POFQ, they told us our room was being rennovated and upgraded us to AKL! Wow - we got to stay at the gorgeous AKL for the price of a value - now I think that's what they call good luck!