Wrong to ask for free upgrades?

[Aisling]

Inspired by the pool hopping thread, and the contention by some that you shouldn't get what you don't pay for, I wonder how Disers feel about asking for free room upgrades at check-in.

Since the advice is often given here on the Dis that it doesn't hurt to ask, I'm curious as to how you feel about it.

I vote that it's ok to ask, and if you get it, woo hoo!

 

[sugermouse]

Why not? I would! You can't go wrong at Disney. I mean, this is the only place in the world that you get taken seriously if you are wearing mickey ears and a tower of terror T-shirt. They really just want to make your vacation great, and if they can upgrade you, I'm sure they will. If they can't then, hey, atleast you tried.

GO FOR IT!

 

[safetymom]

Not enough choices. It's ok to ask for a free upgrade but don't arrive expecting one. If you really want an upgrade pay for it.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

I have gotten upgraded every time I go- except once, and they didn't have room. And I drove to the resort in my upgraded rental car (sometimes 2 car classes). This doesn't inconvenience anyone in any way, and the worst thing that can happen is they say no

Blessings,
mic_key_mouse

 

[Aisling]

Not enough choices. It's ok to ask for a free upgrade but don't arrive expecting one. If you really want an upgrade pay for it.

I'm not asking about the expectation factor. I'm asking if you think it's wrong to ask for something you're not paying for.

Someone mentioned on another thread that a value guest shouldn't swim in a deluxe pool because they didn't pay for it. I'm just curious if Disers feel the same way about getting a room upgrade that you didn't pay for.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

In all of our trips to WDW we have never been offered a free upgrade. We don't expect it and would probably faint if we were given one. We always book and pay for the view that we want and I know in my heart that I could never find the courage to ask for something for free. Next trip we are booking pool view at AKL because that's what we want. Now watch us get upgraded to a Savannah view. LoL Has anyone ever refused a free upgrade?

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by safetymom
Not enough choices. It's ok to ask for a free upgrade but don't arrive expecting one. If you really want an upgrade pay for it.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

The desk clerk is usually allowed to upgrade guests. In some cases hotels overbook and some guests HAVE to be upgraded. There is no downside to a hotel overbooking the lower priced rooms. The low price gets more bookings and guests don't object to a free upgrade. Las Vegas clerks get tips (bribes?) for upgrading rooms. Other guests don't suffer if others get their rooms upgraded.

Illegal pool hoppers contribute to pool overcrowding which DOES affect paying guests. There are signs indicating that pools are for registered guests of the hotel. People pool hopping are breaking posted rules. Going back to my Vegas example room keys are scanned to make sure it's current/active before you're even allowed to enter the pool area. BIG DIFFERENCE.

I think these boards give people an unrealistic expectation as to the chances of being upgraded. With the exception of AKL major upgrades are much rarer than people think. The major issue with asking for a room upgrade is you may be setting yourself up for a disappointment if you don't get what you really want.

 

[johnsonet]

I am torn on this one...if every now and then a guest asked whether there was any chance of an upgrade, I would vote "ok" but the problem is that so many people now ask - many of them really EXPECTING upgrades - that I believe the front desk staff and room assignors are sick to death of being asked and therefore dread each arriving guest and his many requests.
I personally do not ask for upgrades. I have gotten one at WL (woods to courtyard) and one at GF (garden to lagoon). But in this time of such widespread dishonesty (which people consider "harmless" - such as trying to get better rooms or special service with "it's our anniversary" and "it's my girlfriend's bday" when it's not or "my son is 8" when he's really 10 to get park passes at the youth rate, it goes on and on...) I just think it hurts everyone. And I also think I've been given upgrades because I DON'T ask. Some of the CMs are so fed up I think they reward the people who don't pester them!!
But people will never stop asking for "free upgrades" - especially once they're given one!!

 

[DMRick]

would vote "ok" but the problem is that so many people now ask

But how do you know that? I know the people on the Dis ask, but at any given time, we are such a very very small amount of the people at Disney..and most who go to Disney haven't a clue you could even ask for an upgrade. Heck, I meet people all the time, who know nothing about codes..and even less about upgrades

As I said on the pool thread..I'll take anything Disney wants to give me in the way of an upgrade. I won't demand they allow me to pool hop and I don't expect it, but I'll ask. Same with a room upgrade..you bet I'll ask. We've gotten some nice waterview and King beds that way. If I ask, and they grant permission, why not?

 

[Disneylvr]

What other people do is none of my business. I don't see any harm in asking although I have myself never done so.

 

[mamalle]

I honestly had no idea you could ask. we have had upgrades in the past due to my friend being a cm there and I never asked- I thought it was something special that she had to get approval for. otherwise I thought you had to pay for it.

as far as pool hopping- the thought never crossed my mind to even attempt. Now I'll be paranoid during my next visit- watching all the people at the pool- thinking they dont belong

 

[mic_key_mouse]

johnsonet.

You make some pretty broad assumptions as to how the CMs feel when an upgrade is requested, as well as how people go about asking for upgrades. Unless you are sure of that, why speculate?

I, for one, am not going to make assumptions about people's behavior, or the way CMs react to a person's request- unless I have first hand knowledge. If you aren't a front desk CM, then you can't know- and based upon your post, you aren't.

This thread is TOTALLY different from pool hopping. Asking to be upgraded doesn't affect the quality of your vacation (or anyone elses on this board) and it costs you absolutely nothing- it is really up to each person. If you want an upgrade, ask for one. If not, that's OK, too. I ask every time, and I get one every time (except once). And I do so by being polite, not by lying about a non-existent special event. I never expect it, but I get it nonetheless.

Let's not 'label' people unless you have direct knowledge, please

Blessings,
mic_key_mouse

 

[johnsonet]

Room upgrades are not unique to Walt Disney World - Disers are hardly the only travelers who request them. I recently saw a "travel expert" on The Today Show discussing room upgrades and encouraging people to request them. I also read an article in the Weekend section of the Wall Street Journal this year specifically aimed at helping guests get the very best room at the very lowest price (great, right?)- the author bragged that she had no problem demanding different rooms 3 and 4 times at the same hotel at check-in. She "inspects" the room and decides whether she likes the view and location..if not, it's off to the front desk. This mentality makes me sick but more power to her! I don't consider that a vacation. However, as someone else mentioned - it's no one else's business, so why "sweat" it. I was just answering with my personal opinion.

 

[DMRick]

Room upgrades are not unique to Walt Disney World - Disers are hardly the only travelers who request them.

I agree..I didn't mean to give the opinion that no one but Diser's knew about upgrades. However, I do seem to run into a lot of people who do not travel often when I'm at Disney chatting amoung guests.. I only meant that sometimes we (or I) think that everything that is posted on this board has an impact on Disney, when, in fact "we" are only a very small part of the hugh amounts of people who visit Disney. I think about how many people are registered (not posting or reading..registered) on this board in comparison to the amount of people checking in and out of the Dis resorts in one day and I think it's mind boggling..I always think we are a lot of people, but in the overall scheme of things we aren't. I bet a lot of people, even those who travel a lot, wouldn't think of faxing in their Disney resortroom request. I know when I talked with amanagement in the food court last month about a concern on these boards, he remarked that people on these boards seem to worry about the everyday running of the Disney Resorts a lot more than management does in Disney: )

 

[Aisling]

This thread is TOTALLY different from pool hopping. Asking to be upgraded doesn't affect the quality of your vacation (or anyone elses on this board) and it costs you absolutely nothing- it is really up to each person.

I was actually comparing the act of getting a room you didn't pay for to swimming in a pool you didn't pay for. Some people have specifically said it bothers them that people get what they didn't pay for. And I wonder why it's accepted more as far as rooms but not with pools. It's the get-what-you-pay-for issue that I'm wondering about.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

I understand that Aisling. What I don't understand is why you deliberately started another thread that you knew people would have strong feelings about shortly after the pool hopping thread was closed. You've been around a while, and should use better judgement IMHO.

Blessings

 

[johnsonet]

Originally posted by mic_key_mouse
I understand that Aisling. What I don't understand is why you deliberately started another thread that you knew people would have strong feelings about shortly after the pool hopping thread was closed. You've been around a while, and should use better judgement IMHO.

Blessings

mic_key_mouse:

Between your ridiculous post aimed at me and this last one to Aisling, I really think you're missing the point of the POLL. Your self-righteous, uninformed remarks and embarassing "Blessings" sign-off and smiley face are totally passive/aggressive and I'm really wondering why YOU don't "use better judgement".

 

[Aisling]

What I don't understand is why you deliberately started another thread that you knew people would have strong feelings about shortly after the pool hopping thread was closed. You've been around a while, and should use better judgement

mic_key_mouse,

You're probably right that I shouldn't have started this thread. I didn't mean to start another debate, but I just want to understand how people feel.

I have been helping some friends plan their vacation, and I've told them to ask for a free upgrade. I've also said here on this boards that it doesn't hurt to ask.
Now I feel like maybe I've been wrong. I'm concerned about some some of the attitudes, and I just don't want to give people the wrong advice. I only wanted a poll to see the percentage of opinions. But I can see where this can go, and I apologize.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

johnsonet.

I called you on your 'labeling' of people, as did another poster. Feelings get hurt? Need to vent? Thanks for providing reinforcement for my comments to Aisling. The purpose of the thread is obvious- and your comments are a perfect example of why it was started.