Upgrades...How does it work?

[flipflops42]

Our family of 4 will be staying at the WL, starting at the end of Sept, for 10 days. We are booked for a bunk bed/wooded view.

We stayed at Disney many times with no upgrades ever offered. What is the deal? Do we ask? Is it given just given at check-in? (We usually check-in early - 11:00am...Does that matter too?) It seems that others have had a lot of success....I would like to be one too.

I would apprecite any feedback...Thanks!

 

[grannyminnie]

Upgrades seem to be, from what other posters say, at the whim of the resort. Some folks ask, some think that is not right. I have asked. I got sort of an upgrade at the AKL this year. Had booked a standard room, and asked for and received a (restricted) Sav. view. Meaning that it was a view of a part of the Sav. on the back side of Kudu. We saw animals, so I counted it as a Sav. view and rejoiced!
Now, my dream is to be upgraded to club level...so far, it hasn't happened to me, but it has to others. Doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[DisneyNotes]

It does seem to be erratic. Some are notified in advance, some are surprised when they arrive at the check-in desk and some ask and are granted.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

It may also have to do with when you are going, when you book, what discounts if any you are getting. I would think anybody booking at one of the busier times of year, or booking at the last minute, or booking with a discount package would be less inclined to get a room upgrade.


But those are just hunches. The thing with Disney is you can never go expecting something like a free upgrade. Those who get them are likely to brag about getting one here (if they are even honest), but that doesn't mean the majority of folks going to Disney get them, and certainly don't get them every time.

 

[AllyGirl_79]

I don't think that upgrades are as common as they appear on the boards. Remember that when we see posts, it's often the case that people post about the same upgrade multiple times or are asked about it multiple times. Also, it's not really that many people that claim to have experienced it, particularly given the masses of people who visit WDW each year.

Also, as someone who enjoys reading lots of those posts because I like hearing about other people being happy and surprised, I feel pretty confident saying there is no trend in when or how it happens. I don't think there's anything you can do to "position" yourself for an upgrade.

 

[DisneyNotes]

I don't think that upgrades are as common as they appear on the boards.

That's probably quite true and a good thing to keep in mind.

 

[cjsmom5]

It all depends ... is the best answer out there, I think. I know that in the past it used to be much easier for CMs to give guests an upgrade to Club level. Now, however, Disney realizes that there is a cost to this upgrade in terms of food, service, etc. and I think that there are ... and going to be fewer and fewer in the future.

As far as view upgrades, it depends on how full the resort is and what type of rate you have (they can not upgrade any "group" rate that you might have unless they upgrade everyone in the group).

It nevers hurts to ask if there is an upgraded room available and what the cost would be for example - a courtyard view with bunkbeds at WL or a savannah view at AKL or waterview at BC. That way you don't appear to be asking for a free upgrade but are inquiring about what might be available. Then if they tell you the cost you simply can decline or accept ... and be sure to thank them.

Last week we asked about paying to upgrade to concierge while at the Disneyland Hotel. She left and came back to let me know there was no availability.

The best strategy is to pay for the view you really want ... and then if you do get upgraded you are pleasantly surprised.

 

[C-CMom]

It nevers hurts to ask if there is an upgraded room available and what the cost would be for example - a courtyard view with bunkbeds at WL or a savannah view at AKL or waterview at BC. That way you don't appear to be asking for a free upgrade but are inquiring about what might be available. Then if they tell you the cost you simply can decline or accept ... and be sure to thank them.

The best strategy is to pay for the view you really want ... and then if you do get upgraded you are pleasantly surprised.

Nicely put.

 

[Mr. Pig]

I don't think that upgrades are as common as they appear on the boards.

I have to totally agree with this also. I think upgrades are actually few and far between. You see a lot of people saying how often they have went and never got one. People like to talk about it when they get one but that is still a small minority of actual guests. We actually got a free one once at CBR (went from regular to preferred location) when we asked for it but that was the only time. I think the most common upgrade is AKL or WL from standard to wooded/courtyard/savannah view because there are a lot fewer standard view rooms and Disney tends to overbook them.

 

[bellebud]

Last october, we stayed at the CR for the first time. We booked tower MK view, and upon check-in got a surprise upgrade to the 14th floor (conceirge). I couldn't believe it! I'm one of those people that never, ever, ever win anything, never get lucky with anything, etc, etc. I pay fully for every single thing i've ever gotten, and I believe that's how the world should be, so I've never even asked for an upgrade because if i'm not paying for it up front, I would never even think about getting it.

I had to ask the cm though, if it was still MK view, because I would have declined it if it wasn't. I didn't want to sound like I didn't totally appreciate it though.

We had an awesome trip (of course every trip has been an awesome trip though).

 

[tinkerbell60]

We checked into the YC on August 10th. I had booked a Standard view, and was told upon arrival that I had a terrific water view. It surely was!! Overlooking the wedding gazebo with a direct view of the bridge that connects the Boardwalk to the Beach Club area near Epcot. We could see Illuminations from our balconey (the higher fireworks). This was our 4th trip and we had never received and upgrade before.....

 

[mb1976]

I have a cousin who has been there three times. Two of the three she was upgraded. First time it was from a value to POR. This last time it was from POR to Poly. Both times she was given advanced notice.