Wrong to ask for free upgrades?

[Crash1207]

I'm really of mixed opinions on this. Under normal circumstances, I would never think to ask for an upgrade. I would feel weird doing it.

Having said that though, I find myself in a position where I might have to ask when we check in on Saturday. When we booked our room at AKL months ago we got a Standard Room. But since the booking, I purchased an engagement ring and plan on proposing while we're there. So I've tried to get our travel agent to change our reservation to a Savannah View at my own cost, but she has said that she can't because we're on a discount code.

So basically I'm forced to have to ask even though I'm going to feel guilty doing it.

 

[safetymom]

Crash1207 , I am sure if you explain your situation to the CM and that you would be willing to pay for the upgrade there wouldn't be a problem. Who knows they may sprinkle a little pixie dust and you could get the upgrade for free. It doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Originally posted by safetymom
Crash1207 , I am sure if you explain your situation to the CM and that you would be willing to pay for the upgrade there wouldn't be a problem. Who knows they may sprinkle a little pixie dust and you could get the upgrade for free. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Well said Safetymom...my sentiments exactly!

 

[Joe Hurley]

 

[mic_key_mouse]

Hi Crash.

I had a very similar situation at the Poly one year, so I sent you a PM with some information

Blessings,
mic_key_mouse

 

[Crash1207]

Thanks for all the advice. I didn't mean to take the thread in a different direction. Sorry about that.

The funny thing is that I thought getting our reservation changed would be the easiest part. I thought for sure picking out a stone, setting, keeping it hidden, etc would be much tougher. I guess not.

 

[goofy4tink]

Man, I wish I was brave enough to ask for an upgrade. But, I'm not. I even took the first room they gave me at the Polynesian and it wasn't a terrific one. I got to look at construction men from my window!! I figure that you can ask but not get all upset if you get exactly what you paid for. Now, if only I get upgraded to the tower at the CR for my two nights this August. Nah, never happen.

 

[wdwdvcdad]

Originally posted by 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!

The bigger issue is why do you (or anyone else) care how much other people spend on things. If we all worried about our selves a little more and about others a little less, we'd all be much happier. Don't let what someone else does or doesn't do with their money have an effect on your happiness.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by 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!

Suppose you paid rack rate and the guy in the room next to you paid almost half of what you paid. AP discount, FL resident CM, code rate. Much greater than the difference in rate between preferred and non-preferred view. Really shouldn't be that concerned with what others pay for their rooms.

I've seen no upgrade signs at PBH. Others have seen that in the AKL. CM have posted being annoyed at how many guests were coming up with stories why the deserve a free upgrade.

People expecting to "con" the desk clerk into a free upgrade are likely to be disappointed.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have to agree with you guys about who pays what. We paid rack rate the first time we went to WDW. Now, I know better. Same thing goes for airfare. I'm sure there have been times that the person in the next row has paid much more than I have but, who cares. If you are comfortable asking, then go ahead and ask. I just have a problem with those who have an attitude of 'entitlement'. And no, I'm not saying anyone here, on the boards, falls into that catagory!!

 

[landmark]

I just faced this situation myself. I'm not one to ask for anything free and typically just reserve what I want up front. On our most recent trip to WDW (last week) I had reserved at the AKL pool view and we had to do rush reservations (change them from Oct 04 to NOW kinda thing) due to my husbands surprise deployment orders. After I hang up DH decides to say he'd rather have the Savannah view. Rather than calling and changing the reservations so close to travel date... again I figured I'd try to make the upgrade at the desk. During the drive my husband again expressed that he'd prefer the "animal view" so when we arrived at the desk I took out my handy dandy debit card and stated that before he assigned rooms I'd like to see if I could go ahead and upgrade to Savannah view. He then looked at me and smiled and stated that I'd already been given a complimentary upgrade and wouldn't need to pay for it. If he had said that'll be an additional $xxx.xx I'd have gladly paid for it.

I don't think it's wrong to ask... I just think that in my case we really wanted that view after discussion and didn't want to call and change the reservation again so figured we'd take our chances on upgrading at the desk knowing our chances were better paying for the upgrade ourselves, again not expecting the upgrade and being dissapointed. (of course it was more magical with no additional cost and I ended up extending our stay by an additional day!!)

I'd say a general rule of thumb might be if NOT having the upgraded accomodations is going to ruin your vacation then you should go ahead and reserve the room/view you are set on having. That way your vacation will not be derailed before it really even starts. If you really don't care about the upgrade but think it would be nice to have it then asking for a free upgrade at the desk is no harm done. I'm sure the hotels would rather have people in the more expensive rooms anyway rather then them sitting empty... plus perhaps next time you will not be able to live without that view especially in the cases where people have been given the concierge upgrades and returned as concierge customers. I look at it as the old Free Sample policy.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Sometimes my DW and I ask; sometimes we don't -- just depends on our "mood" at check-in. We were upgraded once without asking (@ BC). On our last trip to WL, we asked at check-in and were upgraded from woods to courtyard at no charge. When we ask, we always offer to pay for the upgrade. So far, I don't recall ever being charged for it.

 

[susy]

I was just looking at the website for the Boulders Resort and Golden door spa. Under their list of amenities, it states that they will upgrade you if there is availability. It sounds like it's automatic.

 

[mirlow]

I think it would be great if WDW had a frequent guest program to use towards upgrades

 

[Cinderella37]

I think it would be great if WDW had a frequent guest program, period. Once again, though, they don't need it - they already have brand loyalty.