Wrong to ask for free upgrades?

[mic_key_mouse]

Aisling.

I am sending you a PM. Check in a few minutes

 

[Aisling]

The purpose of the thread is obvious- and your comments are a perfect example of why it was started.

You have misunderstood the purpose of this thread. If you know me from my posts, you know I'm not a debate starter. This is the first time I've been accused of starting a thread to cause trouble, as I understand from your quote above. This was not my intention at all.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by DMRick
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.

During my last stay at PBH they actually had a sign that said no upgrades. It seems like everyone was asking for a free upgrade; hotel card, repeat visitor, birthday....you get the picture. The hotel was almost completely sold out and the clerks were tired of everyone's story. The hotel was almost sold out and there were no upgrades available.

I normally just ask for a "nice room" on an upper floor. I found the "good" standard rooms can be better than the "bad" preferred rooms. Some of the standard rooms in the BC have a view of EPCOT which is nicer than some of the water view rooms which are pool view rooms.

BUT as was previously posted there is a BIG DIFFERENCE between upgrading a room which is generally accepted by the hotels and allowing non-guest to use hotel facilities (pools) which is generally not accepted.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by 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

Actually there have been CMs here in the past that worked the front desks and have said too many people ask for upgrades. They went on to say that those that ask have less chance of getting one then those that don't. I think the CMs are pretty much sick of the begging for upgrades. I don't think one should ask for anything. If you want a better view then pay for it.

 

[mic_key_mouse]

You are right, Aisling, I should not have made assumptions about the purpose of the thread. I am sorry

 

[Sammie]

Does it bother me that someone asks for an upgrade, absolutely not unless they are expecting to be in the room that I "paid" for. That is my problem with pool hopping. You are over crowding the space I paid for and lounge chairs I paid for.

I do agree that certain CM's contribute to the problem by not caring. But then we all know lately there are way too many of that type of CM floating around. We can only hope Disney will eventually weed them out.

I do know that upper management at the resorts cares about the rules and policies being ignored. I mean why would Disney resort management want to anger someone paying in excess of $200 to make someone not even staying there happy. I don't thing so. If the pools continue to be overcrowded at Deluxe resorts by pool hoppers eventually Disney will have empty resorts but full pools. If they didn't care SAB would have never been closed to DVC members.

As to many requesting upgrades, I do thing the Internet has had an effect on this, as recently AKL put a sign on the check in desk, saying: Please Do Not Ask for an Upgrade!

 

[Southern4sure]

"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: )" SO TRUE!!! ...enough said 'cause I don't want to step on toes and get flamed.

This is my 2 cents.......The Disners is a relatively small group in comparison to the overall volume of disney guests. We all want to get the most for our money and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is some don't know when enough is enough. 1 freebie does not entitle a lifetime of freebies. I'm gratefull for anything that if offered to me, esp. while vacationing. I personally don't see anything wrong with asking for a room upgrade. I do have a problem with lying about a child's age or pool hopping and etc. But it is really non of my business what others do. Eventually we all pay the price when the prices increase. If I didn't do a search about disney tips, I would never have found this site. It has helped me tremendously in planning my vacation to WDW. I never knew WDW had codes and packages and all the little things I have learned from these boards. So I'm taking this opportunity to say "SAY THANK YOU" to all the Disners. This is going to be a fabulous trip.

Southern4sure

 

[tjmw2727]

Ask for, yes, expect no - pay for the room you want, yes, complain if you don't get what someone else got, no..........

TJ

 

[Figaro]

There is no point in me asking for an upgrade, since I'm pretty sure the room I will get is blocked out fairly early (need a roll-in shower and handicapped accessible room). But I have no problem with people asking as long as they don't get upset if no upgrade is possible.

We also always bring along boxed candy or cookies to give to the desk clerks at hotels we stay at. Not because of a room upgrade (see above)(smile), but because they aren't allowed to receive tips and I like to share some of the happiness I feel at being lucky enough to stay at such great hotels.

The pool issue is something I've paid very little attention to, since I really can't use most pools(smile), and I'll leave that particular discussion to people who know more about it.

 

[Sirius]

I see nothing wrong with asking for an upgrade. It really bothers me when someone doesn't get one and they get all upset. They act as thought they've been cheated.

 

[tinkerbeth]

Originally posted by DMRick
. 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: )

Amen, sister. But seriously, I am starting to get my feet wet here on the DIS and I'm really surprised how people just can't seem to have a difference of opinion without it becoming a personal mud-slinging event. You can disagree with someone and still be polite, or at least that's what I've heard...

 

[fran99999]

I just book the room I want AKL Deluxe Savanah View Concierge. This way I know I will get what I want at the price I agreed to pay. If I get a different view or room size then I will be able to say "Hey I want an upgrade, to what I booked for."

I will be very happy with my original booking

When I stayed at CR I had a Standard view wing room on the Poly side. That is what I requested, and where I stayed. I did not want a pool view as I knew it would be noisy with people in the early am and in the late pm. I wanted to enjoy my sleep. Not the best room but I paid for it

When people go shopping for a something they expect what they paid for not an upgraded version. I mean can you see someone going into Walmart and buying a 19" TV and saying " Can U upgrade this to a 27" for me for free LOL

 

[eljojo]

I wouldn't be happy if I was the family who paid $200 or more per night for an preferred room, if I knew the guy in the room beside me got the same accommodations for a standard price just because he expected to be upgraded. If everyone asked and received an upgraded room, who would the crazy people be who actually paid extra for these rooms? Soon we'll just have hotels rooms with all the same exact rooms so it's "fair" for everyone. I say "go for it if you're offered a free upgrade" but it would be easier on the staff if everyone just paid for what they wanted. I can imagine what some of these poor CM's go through!

 

[Cinderella37]

We've never received a free upgrade because we always book the room we want. But we've been upgraded to First Class on flights before without asking. I could care less if we're paying for a Deluxe Concierge room and someone gets upgraded. In my opinion, it's the same as one traveler getting a great rate on an airline ticket, while someone else missed out and is paying more. Also, it would be like saying people paying rack rate would be angry that we got an AP discount and they didn't.

If we're crazy enough ( ) to book the room we want and don't care how much it costs, good for the guest who scores a free upgrade. I agree that people shouldn't expect it, though. It's all what you're willing to pay for. I rarely purchase clothing that's on sale (to my fiance's chagrin) and sometimes I return to stores that have marked down items I've purchased at full price. It makes me groan a little, but if I'm dumb enough to pay full price and someone waits for it to go on sale, good for them.

 

[susy]

After my recent stay at the BC, I will have a hard time booking a standard view again. I could not believe that a view that bad could exist (really). A parking lot view would have been a dream come true. I will book water view from now on. I read up a lot on travel and most hotels like to upgrade when they can. It gives guests a better impression of the hotel and they return. I liked the BC, but that view was certainly nothing to go back to. Yuck! If that ever happens again, I will not hesitate to go back to the front desk.

 

[oldkicker]

I'm pretty easily satisfied with my Disney World accomodations, considering that I spend only enough time in my room to sleep and get ready for fun in the parks.

Having said that, if an upgrade is available, I'm delighted, if not it's no biggie.

 

[miko]

No harm in asking for "upgrade". I would guess that we get some form of upgrade about 35-45% of our visits. Almost all the time the CM will "look" at the screen and see if anything is available. We may not get the next level room but we often get a better location.
The key is not to expect an upgrade, just be happy you are at Disney and not at work (even if you are at a conference)!!!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We have never asked for an upgrade. (With or without cost)

We book the room we want. AKL - Sav View, Poly - LV,
YC or BC - WV, GF - LV, etc. and add requests. We arrive early and have almost always been granted our requests.

That being said, we have been upgraded on several occassions to concierge or suites upon arrival. We don't expect an upgrade or really even think about it.

 

[Joe Hurley]

People just get angry because they didn't think of it first or are just scared to ask.

 

[CheshireVal]

I've been upgraded to better views almost every time I've gone and I've NEVER asked. I guess I don't really care if other people do it, but I think I'd feel embarrassed to ask for something for free. It would feel a little greedy or presumptuous to do so. For me anyway.