Upgrading or Room Request Question

[whalenj]

I have never asked for a room upgrade or done a room request before so I have a few questions.

I understand that you can request a room in a certain location with a certain view but there are no guarantees that your request will be filled. I understand that this is typically noted when you reserve your room. It also sounds like you shouldn't use the online check-in if you would like to discuss your room location at arrival (although it looks like this is in debate per some other threads I've read). If you did not make a request when you reserved your room can you do so before check-in or do you have to wait until you are at the counter?

Room upgrades. Do room upgrages occur at check-in also? Do you wait until check-in to request one? If there is an upgrage do you pay the difference in room rates? I would think so (unless the resort made a booking error then it sounds like Disney covers the difference), but I haven't seen anyone discuss this. Our situation is we booked a room only with a discount and it is a standard room. At check-in if we want a room with a view would we be charged the full rack rate difference (like an additional 40-50%)? I understand some people are lucky with the Disney magic, but I tend not to be lucky. Is this something that I just won't know unless I ask at check-in?

Don't get me wrong. We are happy to just be going to Disney and are thrilled to be able to stay in the resort we have our reservation at!!! I'm just trying to understand how some of this works.

Sorry for all of the questions! Thanks if you can help answer some of these for me!

 

[milmore104]

I have never asked for a room upgrade or done a room request before so I have a few questions.

I understand that you can request a room in a certain location with a certain view but there are no guarantees that your request will be filled. I understand that this is typically noted when you reserve your room. It also sounds like you shouldn't use the online check-in if you would like to discuss your room location at arrival (although it looks like this is in debate per some other threads I've read). If you did not make a request when you reserved your room can you do so before check-in or do you have to wait until you are at the counter?

Room upgrades. Do room upgrages occur at check-in also? Do you wait until check-in to request one? If there is an upgrage do you pay the difference in room rates? I would think so (unless the resort made a booking error then it sounds like Disney covers the difference), but I haven't seen anyone discuss this. Our situation is we booked a room only with a discount and it is a standard room. At check-in if we want a room with a view would we be charged the full rack rate difference (like an additional 40-50%)? I understand some people are lucky with the Disney magic, but I tend not to be lucky. Is this something that I just won't know unless I ask at check-in?

Don't get me wrong. We are happy to just be going to Disney and are thrilled to be able to stay in the resort we have our reservation at!!! I'm just trying to understand how some of this works.

Sorry for all of the questions! Thanks if you can help answer some of these for me!

First if there is a room view you really want then I would book it and pay for the upgrade.
If you dont really care if you get the view or not but are just hoping for it then... I would request it on your reservation. Always put your most important request first. I would NOT us online check in as I hear it is all done by a computer now. And well a computer can't see your requests. I had one request on our reservation and did the online check in. Of course it wasn't what we had asked for. No worries the CM was real nice and called w/out me asking about our request. We did end up getting it.
Upon check in if you don't get the view your loking for you can ask if there is any upgrades. They may or may not have any. And you may or may not have to pay for it. Really it's luck of "DISNEY MAGIC". We have been upgraded for free before but then we were also told there is an upgrade avalible but we needed to pay the difference.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

 

[Missytara]

You have to have your requests attached to your reservation. You can make requests anytime from the time of booking until about five days before you arrive, which is when the information is transferred over to the resort.

You should list your requests, if you have more than one, in order of importance to you. Don't be specific, be general, close to pool, close to transportation, close to parking lot, etc.

Upgrades may or may not be available at time of check-in, depending on how busy the resort is that week. Also, be prepared, you will lose any discount you might have had with your previous reservation and then you will be paying FULL rack rate for that season. It isn't really very beneficial to not book what you want or hope for that unexpected upgrade for free. It best to book what you want now, since you might be paying a reduced rate for that particular room, but when you check-in, you will be paying in full.

 

[Sue M]

Don't know what resort you are booked at, but yes, you can phone the reservation line and ask to have room requests added onto your reservation.
As mentioned, don't wait longer then 5 or 6 days before arrival. Best to add it right away.

Your requests should be within your booking category. For instance, you've booked a standard room at WL, you can't request a courtyard view on your reservation. That is a different room category.

I find it's best to book a room category I will be happy with, and if I get some extra pixie dust sprinkled on me, with a free upgrade, great. But it's not something you can ask for, unless you're willing to pay for the upgrade.

At WL, I'll book a woods view, and if I get a free upgrade to courtyard, I know I wouldn't be happy with the standard view.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When free upgrades happen at check-in the decision to upgrade the guests was made a few days before by the Cast Member doing room assignments, because I was told that's how the process works. So the Cast Member checking you in won't know about it until they enter your name in the computer and that's what makes them random. However no one should go to WDW thinking they are going to get a free upgrade because they had read about a few people on here who got them, because you aren't reading about trip reports from people who don't post on Disboards and from others who never got a free upgrade. So I say if there is a specifc room category you want then reserve it, this way you won't be disappointed and can get exactly what you want.