Upgrades?

[Disfamguy]

I had a friend tell me that when they went a few years ago, when they checked in to their resort, the person at the desk told them they had received a free upgrade to a different room. Had something to do with concierge service and something specific with the room.

Why exactly would they do that and is that the normal deal at Disney?

 

[mmmears]

If the room you booked isn't available (due to Disney overbooking, renovating, etc.) they may choose to move you to a different room, maybe with a better view, better services, etc. They can't ask you to pay one price and then downgrade your room (at least they cant without giving you a refund).

It happens at Disney and most other hotels we've stayed at. It does not happen very often. Please dont assume that you will ever receive this kind of upgrade, or you will most likely be very disappointed.

Many people are so excited about getting an upgrade that they post about it on the boards. But, in reality, it doesn't happen all that often. We always book a room category we are happy with -- that way we know that we'll get what we want.

If you do get an upgrade, it's just a little bit of that pixie dust!

 

[RMulieri]

As pp it happens occasionally when Disney has reasons to do so.Please be aware that though it seems by hanging out here that upgrades happen alot, they DO NOT. The disboards represent a very small fraction of disney world visitors.I myself have had 21 trips so far with 2 more planned this year, and have never ever received an upgrade.Some people just luck out and get upgraded alot.The only thing you can do is be nice and courteous to the CM when checking in, maybe you will ,maybe you won't.My advice is that if there is something you have your heart on like a waterview room or a stay at a deluxe, book it and then youwon't be disappointed.

 

[doconeill]

We are one of those that got an unexpected upgrade at the Poly in 2006. Went from Garden View to Concierge (no lagoon view though ). I think they were still renovating some of the outlying buildings then.

It really is something that you cannot count on or expect in any way. It appears to be done at random, and purely based on bookings.

Of course, they are more likely to happen at the Deluxe resorts where there are multiple classes of rooms, as opposed to the Values where there is little difference.

 

[HelenParr]

Agree with PPs that upgrade is rare, and that the posted frequency on the DIS boards is not representative. Do not get your hopes up if you will be disappointed without it. WDW sometimes overbooks and sometimes needs to move rooms around to make the occupancy fit correctly (all hotels do this).

We have been extremeley lucky and have been upgraded a few times, usually water from standard view, or concierge from not... and only at YC, never anywhere else. It seems very random, but I've tried to weigh factors such as: there are only two of us in my travelling party (some YC concierge rooms and water view rooms sleep only two w/o portable bed so that probably increases chances); we go at off peak times of year (more rooms available); we have APs (so never a package); we almost always book online and well in advance. I have no idea if those things play into it -- it could be just the Disney gods have been kind to us.

 

[TaraPA]

Another DIS-er here that has never received an upgrade at a WDW Resort. I have received them at Swan/Dolphin but that's only because of DH's Gold Status there. I go expecting only what I've paid for - and hey if there's an upgrade wow wouldn't that just be amazing!

A good friend of mine is in reservations with a hotel chain (NOT Disney) and she said in the last few years people have become more demanding about free upgrades. She said there is a sense of entitlement about it. She said if someone comes up & is rude about it, she will deny the upgrade even if there is one available. She said her system assigns rooms in the morning, and if an auto upgrade has been given to someone that she can see, and they are being rude to her, with one click she can actually downgrade them back to their original category. So always be kind to the desk clerk!

 

[Minnie824]

We were upgraded our one and only time this past Thanksgiving. We had booked the Sugar Loaf Concierge at GF and they upgraded us to Royal Palm Club with a perfect view of the MK! The CM asked if we had stayed at RPC before, which we had, and he said then that could have put us on the top of the list to upgrade. Who knows. I was not expecting it at all and thrilled either way! As other posters have said, its not something to expect though, you wouldn't want to be disappointed.

 

[LiamsDISMom]

I have never gotten an upgrade and never really thought about getting one, but I am wondering since I will be staying in the Garden Wing Contemporary, and an upgrade would be really nice, does anyone ever try to ask the CM (nicely of course) if they are able to give you a free upgrade, or is that being too upfront? Is it best to just not mention it unless the CM does first?

 

[SharonZ]

I agree with the other posters that free upgrades are few and far between. Unfortunately, the boards sometimes lead you to believe that you only need to ask to receive one, and that is definitely not the case. Personally, I would never ask for a free upgrade. You can always ask if there are any room upgrades available and what the cost difference is. It's always best to initially book the category that you want and can afford and then you won't be disappointed.

 

[Disfamguy]

Thanks everyone. I hope I didn't give the impression that I was "expecting" one. Just that it was mentioned to me and not much else was known about it.

Thanks again, the information on this board and the people here are great.

BTW,, is there a Disboard college I can enroll in to figure out all the abbreviations???

Some times I have no idea what people are saying.

 

[mousefan1972]

I have never gotten an upgrade and never really thought about getting one, but I am wondering since I will be staying in the Garden Wing Contemporary, and an upgrade would be really nice, does anyone ever try to ask the CM (nicely of course) if they are able to give you a free upgrade, or is that being too upfront? Is it best to just not mention it unless the CM does first?

You would be much better off asking how much it would cost to upgrade to the tower. When I asked when we were checking in to the CR last spring, the CM sprinkled pixie dust on us and, after a lengthy phone call, said we would be upgraded to the Tower, Bay Lake side at no charge. (I was fully prepared to pay for it, btw) And if they don't offer it to you for free and you don't wish to pay, you can always politely decline.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I've had 12 trips to Disney and have been upgraded three times. Twice concierge! Once at BC and once at YC. The other time we got upgraded from gv to TPV at the Polynesian.

My in-laws have been to Disney twice and once got upgraded from standard view to waterview at YC.

We never, ever expect an upgrade and are always thrilled if we get one.

 

[Lynne M]

I have never gotten an upgrade and never really thought about getting one, but I am wondering since I will be staying in the Garden Wing Contemporary, and an upgrade would be really nice, does anyone ever try to ask the CM (nicely of course) if they are able to give you a free upgrade, or is that being too upfront? Is it best to just not mention it unless the CM does first?

I would never ask. I've seen posts from CMs on this and other boards stating that they sometime are able to give 'pixie dust' upgrades on check-in, but that they won't give a free upgrade to someone who asks for one.

The whole point of the pixie dust upgrade is for the CM to give a nice surprise to a guest. So, it would be sort of like walking up to someone and asking them to give you a present.

 

[Disfamguy]

I've had 12 trips to Disney and have been upgraded three times. Twice concierge! Once at BC and once at YC. The other time we got upgraded from gv to TPV at the Polynesian.

My in-laws have been to Disney twice and once got upgraded from standard view to waterview at YC.

We never, ever expect an upgrade and are always thrilled if we get one.

Thanks.....

BC
YC
gv
TPV

I need an aspirin.

 

[catne]

we were just upgraded in January - our original reservation was Contemporary, Garden wing/garden view for 2 nights with the regular dining plan. 4 weeks before arrival, we decided to splurge so I called and changed to Magic Kingdom Tower View with the Deluxe Dining Plan. Now our stay was for a Tuesday & Wednesday night, not the ever-popular weekend stay.

When we checked in, early on Tuesday, they told us our room was ready & we were getting a free upgrade to Magic Kingdom Tower View Club Level (concierge)

Going on the assumption that the other reason free upgrades are given is to encourage potential customers to book the upgraded rooms themselves for the next trip (and pay the fancier price ) So my theory is we were upgraded because we had already paid to upgrade ourselves (from garden view to tower MK view) which was showing we were willing to spend more $$ ourselves, and we were upgraded because upgrade rooms were available for a mid-week stay, and because we already had the deluxe dining plan, so we wouldn't be using up a whole lot of the freebie foods in the concierge level. (We had fun with the adult beverages, though ) I suspect if we'd been booked for a weekend stay we might not have been upgraded...

 

[catne]

Thanks.....

BC
YC
gv
TPV

I need an aspirin.

Here's the link to the abbreviations sticky:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660743

BC is Beach Club, YC is Yacht Club, GV is garden view...and TPV is something view at the Polynesian resort...but that one's got me too.

 

[doconeill]

Here's the link to the abbreviations sticky:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1660743

BC is Beach Club, YC is Yacht Club, GV is garden view...and TPV is something view at the Polynesian resort...but that one's got me too.

Toilet Paper View? Totally Pathetic?

Actually Think it is "Theme Park View". I think they may have changed the name of one of the views...

 

[Disfamguy]

Here's the link to the abbreviations sticky:



BC is Beach Club, YC is Yacht Club, GV is garden view...and TPV is something view at the Polynesian resort...but that one's got me too.

Holy Cow, there IS a handbook.

Thanks.

 

[RMulieri]

We are the DIS we have FAQ's and guides for everything

 

[Dazer22]

BC
YC
gv
TPV

I need an aspirin. [/QUOTE]


Don't feel badly. When I first got on these boards I thought a girl named "TIA" was signing off on many posts.

Little did I know TIA meant Thanks in Advance.

I'm getting better with all the general computer acronyms.