Upgrades at check in

[sheetz]

Tell them ahead of time that you'll be celebrating a special occasion during your visit and was wondering if they could put you in a special room. An anniversary, Graduation, Job Promotion, Birthday, First Visit to California, etc. I'm sure you can think of something and it doesn't even have to be completely true, although it would be nice if it were!

 

[SMD]

Tell them ahead of time that you'll be celebrating a special occasion during your visit and was wondering if they could put you in a special room. An anniversary, Graduation, Job Promotion, Birthday, First Visit to California, etc. I'm sure you can think of something and it doesn't even have to be completely true, although it would be nice if it were!

If everyone lies to get a room upgrade, then there won't be any rooms left.

I'm in the book the room you want camp.

 

[Sherry E]

Tell them ahead of time that you'll be celebrating a special occasion during your visit and was wondering if they could put you in a special room. An anniversary, Graduation, Job Promotion, Birthday, First Visit to California, etc. I'm sure you can think of something and it doesn't even have to be completely true, although it would be nice if it were!

So now we're suggesting lying to score a free upgrade? Yeah...we won't be advocating that kind of thing here on The DIS. I'm not naïve -- I know what people do and say to get things in life, but that doesn't mean we will be encouraging it here.

There are people out there who have legitimate, real things to celebrate, who don't give untrue or not-completely-true info to CMs, and they end up with just basic, standard views. I'd hate to think that someone else is stretching the truth or fibbing to try to get a better room, and in the process is taking away the chance to get a great room from someone who took the more honest approach.


ETA: I was typing as SMD was posting, I guess, but I agree with SMD.

 

[whoever]

So now we're suggesting lying to score a free upgrade? Yeah...we won't be advocating that kind of thing here on The DIS. I'm not naïve -- I know what people do and say to get things in life, but that doesn't mean we will be encouraging it here.

There are people out there who have legitimate, real things to celebrate, who don't give untrue or not-completely-true info to CMs, and they end up with just basic, standard views. I'd hate to think that someone else is stretching the truth or fibbing to try to get a better room, and in the process is taking away the chance to get a great room from someone who took the more honest approach.
.

100% agree. Sign of the times I guess... people these days don't understand honesty and honor.

 

[sheetz]

If everyone lies to get a room upgrade, then there won't be any rooms left.

I'm not sure what you mean by not having "any rooms left," but upgrades are only given day of check-in on a space available basis, so it's not like you'd be blocking anyone else from reserving those upgraded rooms. The only thing telling the front desk about a special occasion is to let them know in advance you'd like an upgrade if one is available. There's really no need to lie because anyone can come up with some type of occasion they might be celebrating.

 

[sheetz]

So now we're suggesting lying to score a free upgrade?

I wasn't suggesting outright lying, but that if you think hard most people will have some type of event that they might be celebrating on their trip.

 

[Sherry E]

I wasn't suggesting outright lying, but that if you think hard most people will have some type of event that they might be celebrating on their trip.

I know what you were suggesting, per your quote:

"I'm sure you can think of something and it doesn't even have to be completely true, although it would be nice if it were!"

And, as I stated, we will not be advocating that here on The DIS.

 

[sheetz]

I know what you were suggesting, per your quote:

"I'm sure you can think of something and it doesn't even have to be completely true, although it would be nice if it were!"

And, as I stated, we will not be advocating that here on The DIS.

So if you have a birthday coming up a few weeks after your visit is saying you are celebrating your birthday a lie? It's not completely true but I think that's close enough.

 

[SMD]

There are people out there who have legitimate, real things to celebrate, who don't give untrue or not-completely-true info to CMs, and they end up with just basic, standard views. I'd hate to think that someone else is stretching the truth or fibbing to try to get a better room, and in the process is taking away the chance to get a great room from someone who took the more honest approach.


ETA: I was typing as SMD was posting, I guess, but I agree with SMD.

This is what I was trying to say. If everyone claims their trip is celebratory for the purposes of a room upgrade, then the upgraded rooms won't be available as pixie dust to most of the people asking for them. And if the CMs do use celebrations as a factor in giving room upgrades, I'd like to see them go to someone where it will make a celebration trip nicer/more meaningful. We're all celebrations or commemorating something most of the time, and a trip to Disney can always be nice or meaningful in a standard room. It's al what you make of it.

 

[whoever]

So if you have a birthday coming up a few weeks after your visit is saying you are celebrating your birthday a lie? It's not completely true but I think that's close enough.

THat scenario is not a lie. For example, when we go in October, we will be celebrating our eldest and youngest daughter's birthdays. One will be the week before we are there, the other's, the week afterwards. We'll be there celebrating their birthdays.

 

[LizzyS]

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

I have to agree with this line of thought.

In saying that, we stayed at PPH in February and it was our fifth wedding anniversary and they DID give us a theme park view room instead of the City of Anaheim view room that I had booked. It was only on the third floor, but I appreciated the pixie dust, nonetheless.

The best part was that it was at the end of the third floor hallway, right next to the stairs, so we used those to go out to the parks every morning!

 

[DisneyBiskit]

Once again, we have people on these boards that judge, criticize an OP for asking a question with a "You should know better than that" attitude. If they knew, guess what? They wouldn't have asked the question!! Why is this thread 3 pages of back and forth over semantics? (yes, thats exactly what this is!)

I believe the OP has had their question answered.

 

[ginodeyoung]

This thread has me thinking of the morals around travel and service and leaves me a bit uneasy; I admit that I had no strong reaction to the OP's sly slip of a bill for the front desk crew. The word that came to mind (that I haven't seen here yet) was "tip."

Forbes article on utilizing a concierge:

"While there’s no wrong way to tip, some of the concierges we spoke to said the most attention-getting gratuity is the one that slides into their palms within minutes of a guest entering the lobby. Not only does it hold the promise of further recognition, it shows a genuine appreciation for the time and effort that the concierge will then be sure to lavish."

Seems no different to me, but I'm not sure my thoughts are fully formed. I also agree with the "book the room you want" crowd. And I think there are many ways to stand out during check-in: recognizing something unique and thoughtful about the CM, being appreciative or even merely nice.

I feel that every travel magazine and book I've read contain the advice to tip your hotel staff. Personally, a workforce waiting for a tip in order to make a stay special turns my stomach a bit- I wish it was all just automatic. But that seems to be the norm.

OP: do whatever you think will make your stay the best, and have a great trip - but I'm sure that there are things you can do that will speak louder than a $20 at DLR

 

[nikerbokers]

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.

Maybe I should have been more clear. I sandwich it between and I ask them when I give them my ID and credit card. I ask if they can look for any upgrades. If they say they cannot or there aren't any, I let them keep it... in fact I insist even if they try to give it back. I think of it as a tip for going above the basic by taking a look for me. If that's a bribe in your book, then so be it.

Thanks again for all the new responses- they have been very useful and appreciated! I'm very lucky to have found this board.

 

[disneychrista]

If they say they cannot or there aren't any, I let them keep it... in fact I insist even if they try to give it back. I think of it as a tip for going above the basic by taking a look for me.

Very few positions at Disneyland are allowed to accept tips, doing so could get them into trouble or even fired. I do not believe that Front Desk is one of the positions. My understanding is that if a tip is given and the giver "insists" the tip must be turned over to their supervisor.

 

[whoever]

Maybe I should have been more clear. I sandwich it between and I ask them when I give them my ID and credit card. I ask if they can look for any upgrades. If they say they cannot or there aren't any, I let them keep it... in fact I insist even if they try to give it back. I think of it as a tip for going above the basic by taking a look for me. If that's a bribe in your book, then so be it.

Thanks again for all the new responses- they have been very useful and appreciated! I'm very lucky to have found this board.

Tips are offered after the fact for exemplary service, not up front to attempt to guarantee service. That would be a bribe.

 

[LizzyS]

I think some of you are getting torn up just because they OP mentioned how it works in Las Vegas. She's obviously asking your advice because she doesn't know what the protocol is at DLR, so no need to be snarky in your replies.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I think some of you are getting torn up just because they OP mentioned how it works in Las Vegas. She's obviously asking your advice because she doesn't know what the protocol is at DLR, so no need to be snarky in your replies.

Except that people have told her how it works at Disney and she's still trying to explain how it's done. Everybody is clear on the procedure and has said not to do this in Disney, which is the answer. It seems the OP feels it's more important to convince people this isn't a bribe.

FWIW, I absolutely agree this is a bribe. A tip would be given after the fact, regardless of the outcome of the request. OP, as others have said, do what you feel is right, but please take the advice of the people here that this would not go over well in Disney.

 

[larryz]

The word that came to mind (that I haven't seen here yet) was "tip."

To my mind (and I believe this is true for most people):

Gratuity "up front" = bribe.

Gratuity recognizing good service delivered = tip.

Megallo gratuity recognizing great service delivered = TIP!!!

That's why I hate the newer trend of ordering and paying for food up front where there's a "tip jar" on the counter or a space for a tip on the receipt -- I wonder (maybe it's the paranoia in me) if by not tipping before food and service occurs, I'm setting myself up for "special" treatment by the staff...

 

[Rubygoose]

Maybe I should have been more clear. I sandwich it between and I ask them when I give them my ID and credit card. I ask if they can look for any upgrades. If they say they cannot or there aren't any, I let them keep it... in fact I insist even if they try to give it back. I think of it as a tip for going above the basic by taking a look for me. If that's a bribe in your book, then so be it.

Thanks again for all the new responses- they have been very useful and appreciated! I'm very lucky to have found this board.

From my experience and my understanding of Disney, I think their approach appears to be that people get "magic" when they least expect it. So, you would be more inclined to receive special treatment by not asking for it.