Upgrades at check in

[nikerbokers]

Hello everyone! This is my first post. I tried the search function for "upgrade" and let's just say 40 pages came in return but I couldn't see anything for this in particular. Hoping you can help!

Has anyone had any luck getting upgrades (complimentary or at least at an amazing deal) at check in at one of the property hotels at DLR? I know when my husband and I go to Vegas, I will put a $20 in between my ID and credit card and ask if their are any complimentary upgrades available. Half the time they give some sort of upgrade, it's a crapshoot I'm willing to try and it's just $20. Wondering if this will work at the DLR... specifically Paradise Pier or DL Hotel.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Girimama33]

They have been known to offer upgrades at times, but I certainly wouldn't expect it.
I would not provide a cash incentive to the Front Desk CM, they would not be allowed to take it likely, and may get in trouble.

 

[disneychrista]

Has anyone had any luck getting upgrades (complimentary or at least at an amazing deal) at check in at one of the property hotels at DLR? :

You can ways ask but I always feel that you should book the room you want.

 

[scothen]

Hello everyone! This is my first post. I tried the search function for "upgrade" and let's just say 40 pages came in return but I couldn't see anything for this in particular. Hoping you can help!

Has anyone had any luck getting upgrades (complimentary or at least at an amazing deal) at check in at one of the property hotels at DLR? I know when my husband and I go to Vegas, I will put a $20 in between my ID and credit card and ask if their are any complimentary upgrades available. Half the time they give some sort of upgrade, it's a crapshoot I'm willing to try and it's just $20. Wondering if this will work at the DLR... specifically Paradise Pier or DL Hotel.

Thanks in advance!

At Paradise Pier, I was upgraded from a standard room to the Malibu Suite, which had an amazing view of the parks.

 

[Malcon10t]

Has anyone had any luck getting upgrades (complimentary or at least at an amazing deal) at check in at one of the property hotels at DLR? I know when my husband and I go to Vegas, I will put a $20 in between my ID and credit card and ask if their are any complimentary upgrades available. Half the time they give some sort of upgrade, it's a crapshoot I'm willing to try and it's just $20. Wondering if this will work at the DLR... specifically Paradise Pier or DL Hotel.

Thanks in advance!

Most of us recommend you purchase the room view you want. If you opt to purchase a standard view, you can ask if there are any upgrades available. While offering a bribe works in Vegas (and many other areas) it won't in Disneyland. Front Desk Clerks are not allowed to accept bribes, and it could be counter productive to getting an upgrade as the clerk may want to be sure their lead doesn't think they accepted the bribe or that it influenced their "magical powers" in any way. If you want to book a standard and wait and see if you get upgraded, just be willing to accept a lower view room if nothing is available.

The hotels are generally booked to 75% capacity during the off season. Peak season, they are usually 90-100% booked. I wouldn't expect an upgrade during peak season.

 

[dcraythorn]

When we where there in May, we had a standard room. We were disappointed with the room and went down the next morning and asked if we could upgrade and we were more than willing to pay the price difference between the different rooms. The did upgrade us to the Huntington Suite at no extra charge. We had major pixie dust that we did not expect. We were just going to pay the price difference to have a nicer room.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Hello everyone! This is my first post. I tried the search function for "upgrade" and let's just say 40 pages came in return but I couldn't see anything for this in particular. Hoping you can help!

Has anyone had any luck getting upgrades (complimentary or at least at an amazing deal) at check in at one of the property hotels at DLR? I know when my husband and I go to Vegas, I will put a $20 in between my ID and credit card and ask if their are any complimentary upgrades available. Half the time they give some sort of upgrade, it's a crapshoot I'm willing to try and it's just $20. Wondering if this will work at the DLR... specifically Paradise Pier or DL Hotel.

Thanks in advance!

If you want to insult the front desk CM, ensure you get absolutely no upgrades whatsoever, and be talked about by staff behind your back for your entire stay, do that. Upgrades only happen by surprise (i.e. pixie dust) based on information you supply in your reservation (such as celebrating a special occasion), or by politely asking. CMs take a dim view of guests trying to get preferential treatment for themselves in ways like this. This has been discussed many times in the DLR and WDW forums. Disneyland isn't Vegas.

 

[GeneralTso]

I think you get the hint here--don't get all Sopranos and slip them a 20.

Call it pixie dust, dumb luck, good timing or whatever.....we have been upgraded every time we stay at GC or DLH. They are SO nice at check in. I don't even ask. It makes me think they offer it if it's available. I've booked standard rooms, deluxe and concierge. Each time, there has been a wonderful surprise at check in.

I say, see what happens and hope you get lucky.

This is part of the allure of staying onsite. It's just a great experience all the way around. We stay offsite at times, it's just fine. It's not magical, it's fine.

 

[BensWife]

We just got back from a trip a couple weeks ago. DH surprised me with a stay at DLH. He had booked a deluxe pool view, but when we checked in we got upgraded to a premium pool view. I think the difference between the 2 is just a higher floor, but it was still very nice!

 

[nicolispicoli]

I'm with GeneralTso, I've gotten an upgrade everytime I've stayed at DLH and GCH. I never go to DL at peak, so maybe that helps. I also always book a standard room because I honestly don't care if that's what I end up with. I have asked a couple times, especially at the GCH if it's in any way possible to avoid getting a room looking at the parking lot. I don't ever say upgrade as there are plenty of standard rooms that don't face the lots. I suppose that has caused them to look at what's available. Obviously, I am always super polite while asking. Seems everytime they've taken mercy on my simple request and tossed some pixie dust my way, giving me a deluxe instead of a nicer standard.

 

[nikerbokers]

Thank you for those who answered in a polite way. I truly appreciate it. For those that imply that is is a bribe or "roll their eyes"... first of all, I let them keep the money whether or not they can upgrade or not. It was just a simple question that I was curious about. This is not my first Disney trip, just the first time staying at a Disney property.

Thanks again for the productive responses!

 

[Geemo]

Save your $20 for your next trip to Vegas.


If your wanting an amazing deal, just keep looking.
I heard something about a 20% discount special for premium rooms. Can't remember the dates though.


Geemo

 

[figment_jii]

Save your $20 for your next trip to Vegas.

If your wanting an amazing deal, just keep looking.
I heard something about a 20% discount special for premium rooms. Can't remember the dates though.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3310503

 

[DVC_Mater]

The "$20 trick" seems to be a Vegas only thing. I've tried it around different cities and hotels (including Disneyland) through the years and it only works in Vegas.

 

[Sherry E]

As has already been stated, don't try to slip the CM any cash.

I have been fortunate enough to get upgraded (without asking or saying anything about it) at the PPH the last 4 times I stayed there, and had wonderful DCA views each time (the last time was the best view so far). I also had a pool view room at one point, which was not bad.

I always go in expecting to get a basic, standard room. I don't want to set myself up for disappointment. But I've been sprinkled with pixie dust, I suppose, and I got lucky.

Some folks have spoken of getting upgraded to suites, when they booked regular rooms. So, you never know. It could happen.

 

[Rubygoose]

On our trip to DLH in July 2013 we got upgraded from a standard room to a premium view. I had requested the adventure tower when I booked our room because I didn't want a parking lot view. We checked in at around 1pm, so I think they probably didn't have any standard rooms left in Adventure, so that's why they upgraded us and put us in Frontier (which we loved!) It was also my birthday and DD's birthday during the trip, so that probably helped. This year I booked a standard room with the 10% AP rate and now they have a 25% AP rate, so I called to see if I could get that discount applied to our stay. They didn't have any standard rooms left at that rate for our dates, but they offered us Deluxe at $140 less than what I was originally going to pay for standard! So, I feel we've been Pixi-dusted already by getting an upgrade and a lower rate!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Thank you for those who answered in a polite way. I truly appreciate it. For those that imply that is is a bribe or "roll their eyes"... first of all, I let them keep the money whether or not they can upgrade or not. It was just a simple question that I was curious about. This is not my first Disney trip, just the first time staying at a Disney property.

Thanks again for the productive responses!

I think you need to look up the definition of "bribe". Because I assure you, that's exactly what you're talking about attempting at DLR.

 

[abminer]

Do they ever do upgrades if you book with a group rate? We're going to DLH for gay days so I used that (awesome) discount which was on a standard room or we wouldn't be staying onsite at all. We're thrilled to be staying at DLH for our first DLR trip so a standard room is fine, but I'd love some pixie dust if it happens to fall on us (especially if it prevents us from a parking lot view). Are group rate rooms exempted from the possibility of upgrades?

 

[Malcon10t]

For those that imply that is is a bribe or "roll their eyes"... first of all, I let them keep the money whether or not they can upgrade or not. It was just a simple question that I was curious about. This is not my first Disney trip, just the first time staying at a Disney property.

Thanks again for the productive responses!

Not trying to be negative, it is just that is what it is. I've done it in Vegas and Tahoe. It is expected there. Like I said, doing it in DLR will probably guarantee you won't get an upgrade.

 

[larina]

You can ways ask but I always feel that you should book the room you want.

Yes. If you want a view, book one, don't leave it up to chance. The view really makes our stay at PPH.

Thank you for those who answered in a polite way. I truly appreciate it. For those that imply that is is a bribe or "roll their eyes"... first of all, I let them keep the money whether or not they can upgrade or not. It was just a simple question that I was curious about. This is not my first Disney trip, just the first time staying at a Disney property.

Thanks again for the productive responses!

It IS a bribe. What else would you call it? I thought that only happened in movies and with a hundred dollar bill. At Disney (and anywhere, really), your essentially asking someone to risk their job for $20. If you want an upgrade, pay for.it or wait to have it offered. I would think it would be offensive anywhere but Vegas, and maybe Reno. And, honestly, even there I don't get why they would allow it and not just take the tip and say there were no upgrades available.

Just because you weren't thrilled with the responses doesn't make then unproductive. I'm sorry, but when you ask a question on a public message board, you're going to get all kinds of responses. I thought folks were pretty straightforward.