Strategy for an upgrade at the pier

[VbChristy]

I'd like some tips for the best strategy for buying & securing an upgrade at the pier. There are still 3 1br cabins available for an upcoming cruise and I'd like one. We are staying at the Marriott at the airport the night before and I planned to ditch my family (I don't want my son spending too long waiting so he will go with my husband a little later) and get to the pier on the first (or one of the first) DCL busses. What time do I plan on being at the Magical Express area? What would the process be for securing one of those cabins. If I don't get one, we will be fine, but I'd like one and I have the time to do it. Tips please!! Eek! The anticipation is exciting!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'd like some tips for the best strategy for buying& securing and upgrade at the pier. There are still 3 1br cabins available for an upcoming cruise and I'd like one. We are staying at the Marriott at the airport the night before and I planned to ditch my family (I don't want my son spending too long waiting so he will go with my husband a little later) and get to the pier on the first (or one of the first) DCL busses. What time do I plan on being at the Magical Express area? What would the process be for securing one of those cabins. If I don't get one, we will be fine, but I'd like one and I have the time to do it. Tips please!! Eek! The anticipation is exciting!

The DCL transfer buses depart from the Magical Express bus loading area (but the check in is separate). The check in desk there opens at 9:00. First bus departs when full (generally around 9:10-9:15), arriving at the port about an hour later. Check in at the terminal doesn't usually start until 10:30, although the sign on the desk on our last cruise said 11:00.


You have to check in first, then go to the supervisors desk (to the right, I believe) to ask about upgrades. Or there may be a sign on the check in desk saying "no rooms available for upgrade".

Good luck.

 

[VbChristy]

The DCL transfer buses depart from the Magical Express bus loading area (but the check in is separate). The check in desk there opens at 9:00. First bus departs when full (generally around 9:10-9:15), arriving at the port about an hour later. Check in at the terminal doesn't usually start until 10:30, although the sign on the desk on our last cruise said 11:00.
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You have to check in first, then go to the supervisors desk (to the right, I believe) to ask about upgrades. Or there may be a sign on the check in desk saying "no rooms available for upgrade".

Good luck.

I love you - thanks!!!

 

[VbChristy]

@PrincessShmoo Is there usually a line of more than 1 bus around 9 when the desk opens?

 

[iambrink]

We did exactly what you are describing this past April. We stayed at the airport and were on the second bus...and this stressed me out! i kept thinking everyone ahead of me was trying to get the upgrade too, but that is not usually the case...i was driving myself crazy though! I checked in at the port and asked them about upgrades and was sent to the managers desk which is the last spot on the right if looking at the desks. There were concierge available and we landed cabin 12000 on the Fantasy. So the best tips are things you are already doing...stay at the marriott, be downstairs to take the bus at least by 830am...i find people start lining up to check in for the bus and we didn't even realize it. and then after you check in at the port ask about upgrades. some will tell you to just go straight to the managers desk, but i have read mixed reports on whether or not that will work...good luck!

 

[iambrink]

@PrincessShmoo Is there usually a line of more than 1 bus around 9 when the desk opens?

We did this in April and again 2 weeks ago...There were more people in line for the April cruise then most recent...i don't think there is any reasoning behind it; depends on how many are staying at the hotel for a given sailing. There was maybe double the number of people waiting by 9 am in April than a couple of weeks ago...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

@PrincessShmoo Is there usually a line of more than 1 bus around 9 when the desk opens?

The times we've taken that bus, there has been more than one bus, but only one bus at a time leaves. Usually every 20 minutes or when full. The first 2 buses may be separated by 10 minutes if there are enough people to fill them. If the first bus leaves at 9:10, say, and there are not enough people to fill the second bus, they will wait the 20 minutes. If there are enough to fill it, then it may be about 10-15 minutes behind the first bus. And so on.......

 

[ChicosWife]

We did exactly what you are describing this past April. We stayed at the airport and were on the second bus...and this stressed me out! i kept thinking everyone ahead of me was trying to get the upgrade too, but that is not usually the case...i was driving myself crazy though! I checked in at the port and asked them about upgrades and was sent to the managers desk which is the last spot on the right if looking at the desks. There were concierge available and we landed cabin 12000 on the Fantasy. So the best tips are things you are already doing...stay at the marriott, be downstairs to take the bus at least by 830am...i find people start lining up to check in for the bus and we didn't even realize it. and then after you check in at the port ask about upgrades. some will tell you to just go straight to the managers desk, but i have read mixed reports on whether or not that will work...good luck!

Did you have to pay the difference for the upgrade?

 

[lanejudy]

Did you have to pay the difference for the upgrade?

It is not a free upgrade, you will pay but not the full amount as if you upgraded prior to embarkation morning. There is some sort of scale specific to your cruise, based on booked category and upgrade category they will reference for the upgrade price.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[VbChristy]

Anyone have first hand experience of the whole party has to be there for the upgrade. I was going to leave my son (who is 2 and officially in my cabin) with my husband and mom and they would arrive later. But someone on F B said everyone has to be there together. (Meaning my son and I.) I know for a fact I arrived around 2 once and my son and I checked in without my husband, even though he was in the reservation too.

 

[Hundredacre]

Do they ever give discounts for upgrades prior to embarkation day? We switched rooms recently for an upcoming cruise and it was cheaper talking to disney agent than I could have gotten if I had done it myself online. I am thinking now I missed something online.

 

[VbChristy]

Do they ever give discounts for upgrades prior to embarkation day? We switched rooms recently for an upcoming cruise and it was cheaper talking to disney agent than I could have gotten if I had done it myself online. I am thinking now I missed something online.

They do drop the price sometimes. But I don't know when they do this. I feel as though it happened on my cruise on the Magic once.

 

[Muskegon78]

If they don't drop the price then why not just book it that way originally?

 

[mmouse37]

Do they ever give discounts for upgrades prior to embarkation day? We switched rooms recently for an upcoming cruise and it was cheaper talking to disney agent than I could have gotten if I had done it myself online. I am thinking now I missed something online.

The price should be the same whether you talked to a Disney rep or did it online yourself (unless you booked with a TA then they would have to make the change).

Also, if you upgrade your cabin before your cruise you should be locked in to the price tier the upgraded cabin was on the day you originally booked your cruise. Meaning, you won't pay the current rate for an upgrade but the rate the upgraded cabin was originally. Hope that makes sense. Some TA's don't realize this. At least this has always been the policy.

To get the least expensive upgrade will be at the pier on the day of the cruise....if available.

MJ

 

[VbChristy]

If they don't drop the price then why not just book it that way originally?

As the poster below stated- the price at the pier (if a cabin is available) will be significantly lower than booking at any point prior to the cruise.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Anyone have first hand experience of the whole party has to be there for the upgrade. I was going to leave my son (who is 2 and officially in my cabin) with my husband and mom and they would arrive later. But someone on F B said everyone has to be there together. (Meaning my son and I.) I know for a fact I arrived around 2 once and my son and I checked in without my husband, even though he was in the reservation too.

Hi! I don't have any experience trying to upgrade without the entire party there but I do know the policy changed in May where others can't check others in, even with ID. We were on the 12/21-12/24 Dream cruise and I could not check my DH in and I had read this sparingly prior to our cruise so it was in the back of my mind but she confirmed it was a customs security change (and honestly makes sense) so I checked myself and DS in and then she added a note to my file so when DH returned from dropping off the rental car he walked up and it probably took a minute or less. I am Platinum so the line wasn't long at all whereas the other lines were pretty decent. I'm not sure how this would impact trying to upgrade though.

Can you report back to us? I hope it all works out for you

Heather

Ps. To answer a few of your questions - I've stayed at the Hyatt MCO several times so I've taken the DCL transfers several times. I'd say just as others mentioned, be there at 830am as that's typically when people arrive. There really isn't a formal process for lining up so yes, some people who show up at the last minute can "jump your spot". The CM's seem to do a good job most of the time instructing people to start a line right before 9am and it's usually between where the chairs are grouped together in that area. If you are on the first or second bus I think you'll be fine and yes there is often a 2nd bus right behind the 1st when there is enough people waiting. Food for thought - sometimes more cabins open up later in the day as well so even if you get there and try and upgrade and there are none, I'd say to keep checking. I'm not sure they keep a list (I don't think they do) but I've read in the past some have secured upgrades by checking in *later* not earlier so keep checking

 

[ladypiph]

Anyone have first hand experience of the whole party has to be there for the upgrade. I was going to leave my son (who is 2 and officially in my cabin) with my husband and mom and they would arrive later. But someone on F B said everyone has to be there together. (Meaning my son and I.) I know for a fact I arrived around 2 once and my son and I checked in without my husband, even though he was in the reservation too.

I can see where they might need your DS there, probably mainly to take his picture. They take a picture of my DS each time since kids change so much, but we always check in together so I am not 100% sure.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I can see where they might need your DS there, probably mainly to take his picture. They take a picture of my DS each time since kids change so much, but we always check in together so I am not 100% sure.

Yes, that's another good point. They did take another picture of DS and I together last week and they took a group picture of the three of us on the Magic over the summer as well. I can't remember if they took a picture of DH solo when he checked in a little later or not but I honestly don't think they did. Again, not sure how that would impact the checking of upgrades however or if it does or doesn't.

Heather

 

[iambrink]

Did you have to pay the difference for the upgrade?

I had originally booked a guaranteed veranda about 2 months prior. When we went to the manager's desk, we were offered a few different options, but we took cabin 12000 for an additional $2000. I had a number in my mind i would be willing to pay for an upgrade which was $1500 for a 1-bedroom, but given that we only paid $4000.00 for the cruise to begin with, it was still a great bargain and an awesome experience we would have never been able to afford had we booked it upfront.

 

[Muskegon78]

As the poster below stated- the price at the pier (if a cabin is available) will be significantly lower than booking at any point prior to the cruise.

I was referencing this post

They do drop the price sometimes. But I don't know when they do this. I feel as though it happened on my cruise on the Magic once.