What are the odds to upgrade room at check in ?

[GERBSPA]

we are arriving at GF in 2 weeks and I was wondering what the odds are to upgrade our room. Would concierge be alot more expensive or could they give you a better deal depending on availability ?

 

[kdibattista]

I doubt they would upgrade you at no charge to concierge and I don't think they would negotiate a price. I think concierge would be a take it or leave it type situation - UNLESS... they could not accomodate your original reservation and concierge was a way to "make amends". But, from what I hear, the crowds are very minimal so I doubt they would not be able to accomodate your reservation. If you are willing to pay regular price, I am sure they would upgrade you. With that being said, they will probably upgrade your room from say a standard to maybe a garden view or something like that.

 

[freediverdude]

I don't know if this would help you, but I'll relate what happened to me when I asked about upgrades and whether they discount any unsold rooms for the night. A few weeks ago I checked into a Contemporary wing room, standard view (least expensive room at Contemporary). While she was in the computer checking me in, I asked about what all rooms were available, and got no answer. When I thought she hadn't heard me, and said something like, "are there any other views available for tonight", she checked and offered me a couple of other rooms (I believe one was a garden view and also a tower room) at regular price using the code I was using at the time, the florida resident rate. I asked if they ever discounted rooms that aren't sold for the night, and she was very taken aback by that, and just said something like, "all i can offer are the rooms i told you about at the florida resident rate, would you like one of those", and when I declined, she was already motioning the next person to come over and pressure me to get out of the way and move on. I noticed she seemed very indifferent right from the start, didn't even smile to welcome me or anything when I first walked up, so it may depend on the cast member, but it sounds like they try to offer you something else at the same code if you ask for it, but otherwise they don't care if rooms sit empty instead of negotiating a price or upgrading. In the tens of times that I've stayed at WDW value, moderate, and deluxe resorts, I've never ever been upgraded, so I never even hope for something like that. I hope this helps you- like I said, it may be possible for you to upgrade at checkin using the same type of discount on a better room.

 

[freediverdude]

I don't know if this would help you, but I'll relate what happened to me when I asked about upgrades and whether they discount any unsold rooms for the night. A few weeks ago I checked into a Contemporary wing room, standard view (least expensive room at Contemporary). While she was in the computer checking me in, I asked about what all rooms were available, and got no answer. When I thought she hadn't heard me, and said something like, "are there any other views available for tonight", she checked and offered me a couple of other rooms (I believe one was a garden view and also a tower room) at regular price using the code I was using at the time, the florida resident rate. I asked if they ever discounted rooms that aren't sold for the night, and she was very taken aback by that, and just said something like, "all i can offer are the rooms i told you about at the florida resident rate, would you like one of those", and when I declined, she was already motioning the next person to come over and pressure me to get out of the way and move on. I noticed she seemed very indifferent right from the start, didn't even smile to welcome me or anything when I first walked up, so it may depend on the cast member, but it sounds like they try to offer you something else at the same code if you ask for it, but otherwise they don't care if rooms sit empty instead of negotiating a price or upgrading. In the tens of times that I've stayed at WDW value, moderate, and deluxe resorts, I've never ever been upgraded, so I never even hope for something like that. I hope this helps you- like I said, it may be possible for you to upgrade at checkin using the same type of discount on a better room.

 

[Tara8595]

We always take an early flight so we check-in around 10:15am. We always ask, after giving them our information, in a very polite but hopeful voice, "Any chance that you have any no-charge upgrades available?" Best if you have a woman asking, smiling pleasantly, eyebrows raised as if to say *please*. We've been fortunate on a few occassions to get upgraded to a nicer view. Of course, this is always during a slower season.

Additionally, free upgrades to concierge on occassion do happen. It happened to us last December at the Yacht Club - the cool thing was that we were there for Walt's birthday - Dec. 5, and it was my Mom's birthday too, and she told them this when we checked in. We're not sure if that's why we got upgraded or not. It may have been because there was a big convention at the Yacht club the same time, and they needed a block of rooms that we were slated for. Also, Michael Eisner was there, staying at Yacht Club Concierge level and maybe they wanted it to look full to him or something. Though we never saw him during our stay, we had several cast members tell us that he was there. We never did find out why/how this happened for us.

So anyhow - go ahead and ask, the worst they can do is say no. But, you know, if they have the rooms sitting empty and have a chance to make guests extra happy, why wouldn't they give you a better view? Makes good business sense. Just make sure you word it well and be super nice. We like using the term 'no-charge' instead of 'free' - there's just something better about that term even though it means the same thing.

Tara

 

[las3888]

I don't want this to sound too negative, I just know I have hopes so many times to be upgraded with very polite requests, and it just never happens to us.

I read here and there on the boards here about people being upgraded, and also have a friend that works the front desk at GF, and when I add it all up, I think free upgrades to better view or concierge are pretty rare.

It never hurts to ask, and you never know, but I would keep it in your mind that it is probably not going to happen (at least that's what I think).

Good luck!!!

 

[freediverdude]

I hope this doesn't sound mean, because I don't mean it to be, but in my opinion, Disney should have either one of two policies: either A. everyone gets upgraded if it's available until the upgrades are gone or B. no one gets upgraded unless they pay for it. It just doesn't seem fair to the people who scrimp and save and charge up their credit cards in order get that upgrade, that other people come in, and for whatever reason, seem to frequently get upgraded for free. This past time at the Contemporary, as discussed in the above post, I tried for the first time to actually ask and see if I could get a discount or upgrade. I usually am a very timid person, especially with strangers like in that situation, but that time I decided to try it, after reading about all these people who seem to get upgraded if they ask. What I ended up getting in return, was an almost rude cast member, and ended up getting humiliated at the front desk. This next time (planning on either Poly or Contemporary for Jan.), I'm going to pay the going rate for an upgraded room, and know that I'm entitled to it. I'm not putting down anyone else's experiences, and God Bless if Disney gave them an upgrade, but I think Disney should decide one way or another, so that it's fair to everyone.