Upgrades?

[PLUTO2]

How exactly do upgrades work? I was reading about someone who upgraded to a savannah room at AKL and saved $200. Do you get charged for upgrades? Are they rooms that were not available when making your reservation? How exactly do you go about the process of upgrading?Thanks

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

I have never gotten and upgrade. Always booked the room I wanted and then I was guarenteed to get it. I wish I knew the secret to save some extra $$$$$$$$

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by PLUTO2
How exactly do upgrades work? I was reading about someone who upgraded to a savannah room at AKL and saved $200. Do you get charged for upgrades? Are they rooms that were not available when making your reservation? How exactly do you go about the process of upgrading?Thanks

There seem to be two different types of upgrades that you can get at check in.

1. You paid for let's say a standard view at the AKL. At check in you ask how much it would cost to upgrade to a savanna view. They would quote you a nightly fee that might be below rack rate but there is no garuntee.

2. Free upgrades. Free upgrades are given out either by the room assigner or the front desk clerk and the way I describe them is random. There is no way to figure out why one person might get a free upgrade over another.

My rule of thumb is that if I want the better view I pay for it.

Over the years we have never asked for an upgrade and there were times when we were upgraded and then like last year we stayed at the AKL twice and booked water/pool view rooms twice and that is what we got. Which was fine because that is what we paid for.

My advice to everyone who asks about discounted or free upgrades if you have your heart set on a certain view then pay for that view in advance.

 

[Terriw]

We have been lucky enough to get free upgrades the last two trips to WDW! We have put in a request for particular room (non-smoking, bunkbeds at WL, etc.) in particular locations, as well as asking nicely for any free upgrades available. Last year, we arrived late (2:00 a.m.) after flight delays and were upgraded to a water view deluxe room at BC!!! Our friends traveling with us who were recently married got upgraded to a suite! At WL (same trip) we were upgraded to courtyard/pool view at no extra charge. It never hurts to ask, as long as you are cheerful and grateful. We shrieked when we got the good news and really complimented the staff. Give it a try!

 

[Southernswthrt]

Exactly, how to you phrase it when you ask for these free upgrades? "Are there any free upgrades available?" Do you call them "complimentary" or "invitational"

just curious....

 

[karensi]

I would be willing to pay for an upgrade on our upcomming trip in Oct to the CR. Would I be more likely to get an upgrade,(to concierge), if I indicated that I would be willing to pay for it? And how do people phrase that? Do you just say "are there any upgrades available ?I would be willing to pay for it"? Maybe there is a better more diplomatic way to say it??

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by karensi
I would be willing to pay for an upgrade on our upcomming trip in Oct to the CR. Would I be more likely to get an upgrade,(to concierge), if I indicated that I would be willing to pay for it? And how do people phrase that? Do you just say "are there any upgrades available ?I would be willing to pay for it"? Maybe there is a better more diplomatic way to say it??

You could say "how much would it cost to upgrade to concierge"? Don't count on a free upgrade to concierge level because they rarely happen especially at CR.

 

[Mary Ellen]

Originally posted by karensi
Maybe there is a better more diplomatic way to say it??

I asked exactly what gepetto suggested ("how much would it cost to upgrade to concierge"? ) when we checked into the AKL last December. The $ was reasonable so we took it. Now, I had booked a deluxe savannah view and would have been QUITE happy with that if concierge had been too expensive. I'm just not comfortable asking for a free upgrade - I expect to get what I pay for and pay for what I get.

 

[PLUTO2]

Originally posted by Terriw
We have been lucky enough to get free upgrades the last two trips to WDW! We have put in a request for particular room (non-smoking, bunkbeds at WL, etc.) in particular locations, as well as asking nicely for any free upgrades available. Last year, we arrived late (2:00 a.m.) after flight delays and were upgraded to a water view deluxe room at BC!!! Our friends traveling with us who were recently married got upgraded to a suite! At WL (same trip) we were upgraded to courtyard/pool view at no extra charge. It never hurts to ask, as long as you are cheerful and grateful. We shrieked when we got the good news and really complimented the staff. Give it a try!

When you went to check in did you just ask if there were any free upgrades available?

 

[E.Jane]

When we were checking into CBR, I was very excited and told her we had just left 6 feet of snow behind, had never seen palm trees before and we'd really appreciate the absolute best view she could find us. We booked and paid for a standard view, but were given a free upgrade to water view. I wasn't expecting it, and it wasn't what I was asking for, but I sure appreciated her response!