Upgrades

[DisNut]

Has anyone ever heard of getting a surprise upgrade at check-in? We'll be there for a birthday celebration :party: in March and was hoping for a surprise upgrade!

Would it be inappropriate to ask for one???

[junedis]

We were upgraded last year at the WL. We just reserved a standard room and were given a courtyard room with a beautiful view and patio. It was so convenient to everything in the hotel as well. It really made a hot, humid June vacation quite nice. We were celebrating our 15th anniversary. We did not request, but did mention that we were celebrating our anniversary.

Good luck!

[jray21]

We go about once a year and three years ago my sister got upgraded to concierge at Poly. Last year I was upgraded to concierge at Grand Floridian. We've been lucky, but it doesn't happen that often. Maybe with attendance being down it will happen more often. In fact, when I go in 4 days it would be really nice to have some of the upgrade pixie dust!!!:blush:

[teambricker04]

We were upgraded on a 2 week trip last May at the BC. We arrived about 2 hours before check in to see if we could get into our room early. We had stayed one night at ASs and were transferring over. When we got there, it was slow. To our surprise we got upgraded from a regular room to concierge for our entire two weeks! I had called ahead and requested a full balcony... we had one (it overlooked the main entrance) and could see fireworks from both MK and EPCOT every night. We loved it and would even consider paying for that level of service (that's how they get you!!!).

I think the big thing is that it wouldn't be a surprise if you asked for it. Plus, we were told when we checked in that the system randomly picks guests. I am not sure how it picks, but this was our third trip in a year and about our 10th in less than 3. We had never been upgraded or given anything special prior or since. It really made our trip something to remember, but I think if we had been counting on something, we could have been disappointed.

[MNNHFLTX]

:welcome: to INTERCOT!

Complimentary upgrades do occasionally happen, depending on how the resort is booked (for example, if standard view rooms are overbooked) or at the discretion of the CM at check in, for whatever reason. Personally, though, we have never received one, even though we have stayed at WDW resorts many times and for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. So my best advice to you is to go there happy with the room choice that you have booked and that way if there is a complimentary upgrade you will be pleasantly surprised.:mickey:

(BTW, you can always ask for an upgrade at check-in, but chances are they will offer it to you for a price, not complimentary.)

[SurferStitch]

After 12 years and around 16-17 trips to WDW, DH and I were given an upgrade to Grand Flo concierge (Sugar Loaf) on our 2 week trip this past October. We had a garden view room booked for that trip. It was a very pleasant and much appreciated upgrade! We had a blast!!

I would never ask for an upgrade. I can't help but think it would backfire and keep a CM from giving you one.

[DreamFinder2]

My DW and I also received an upgrade to club level at the Grand Floridian. It was last March and it was our 10th Anniversary.

I was very happy...

...about our anniversary, of course ;)

[KatMark]

We've been upgraded to a waterview (lake) at the CSR five of our six stays; this past September we were upgraded to a suite at the CSR. We were there for free dining and celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary.

[awaggett]

A group of us were staying at the Poly this past December, most of us booked through Magical Journeys and checked in on Thursday. One couple booked through Hotels.com and checked in on Saturday--they were upgraded to concierge. It was funny, they were new to Disney and were not sure of the difference! Still have my fingers crossed that someday it will happen to me!

[irish1967]

Yes, we have been upgraded - my DH and I during our 10 year anniversary trip during a very slow season (CR wing to Tower MK view.)

I don't think it is inappropriate to ask for an upgrade, as long as you won't get mad if the answer is "No."

I have heard from a resort CM that if upgrades are available, there are CMs that consider them to be like :pixie: and will not give a complimentary upgrade to someone who asks for one. They enjoy surprising someone with the upgrades too much.


Have a great trip!:mickey:

[spoiledraf]

We were shocked last year when we were upgraded from a Rose Garden Suite to the Steeplechase Suite (Presidential Suite) at the Boardwalk. When you get live flowers in your bathroom every day, you know you've made it!

The place was bigger than my house.

[FenwayGirl]

Got a great suprise upgrade last Jan.
We had booked to connected room as the ASmu. We were upgraded to a Family suite and only charged for one room! That gave me an extra 600 to spend on my vacation!! :cloud9:

[MarkC]

One way to improve your chances is to be very pleasant and polite when checking in. You are much more likely to get upgraded then if you are "grumpy" (no pun intended but bad just the same). Good luck. Mark

[cinderellagrl]

My family has been upgraded to club three time!

We have never asked for an upgrade, per se, just mentioned how many times we have been to Disney, how much we love it, and usually mention how much we love the "magic".

Sometimes it happens, sometimes not...

The last time it happened my mom, sister and I headed to the beach club with a standard view booked... My dad called the morning before we arrived and mentioned that three very special ladies would be arriving at time X and if there was anything that they could do to make our trip more special it would be greatly appreciated....

well sure enough, A man was waiting for us at the door and led us straight up to our room!

I think a smiling face, and a genuine love of all things disney helps!

good luck!

[bkfree]

We always book through <snip> and have had a surprise upgrade each time.
At YC we were upgraded to a water view room with large balcony.
At AKL in Dec, we were upgraded to a savannah view room.
I have never asked for an upgrade.

I have also heard about upgrades and special perks if you book through <snip> also.

[RocknBev]

DH and I were upgraded at the WL just two weeks ago to a lovely Courtyard room! We didn't ask for it and we were not celebrating anything special.
It was just a nice surprise!:)

[magicofdisney]

We were upgraded once from POR to the Grand Floridian. We got a call from Disney the day before check-in asking if we minded they move us over to Grand Floridian. I had to think about it a few moments but I finally came around and agreed to the move. ;) It was such a wonderful experience!

[DryCreek]

We were upgraded once from POR to the Grand Floridian. We got a call from Disney the day before check-in asking if we minded they move us over to Grand Floridian. I had to think about it a few moments but I finally came around and agreed to the move. ;) It was such a wonderful experience!

That's the kind of upgrade I wouldn't mind getting! We are heading to the World in 1 week! In fact, we are reserved at POR also. What a coincidence.

I hope they have my number on speed dial.

[Polynesian Dweller]

As a former owner of a hotel, its never inappropriate to ask for an upgrade but never ask for a 'free' upgrade. Asking for a free upgrade is a fairly sure way of not getting it. No hotelier wants to feel like you are trying to take advantage of them.

However, if you simply ask if there are upgraded rooms available (implying you'd pay for it) you can often get surprised by being offered the 'free' upgrade.

[tnpoohbear]

We have been going to WDW for 15 years - staying on property and we have never, never gotten an upgrade. I have read on this site that lots of people have but we were never one of them. We'll see in 3 weeks when to go to Grand Floridian but I am not holding my breath!:mickey:

[Darbylew]

We have only been upgraded one time and that
was a few years ago at the AKL. Sure wish it
would happen again. We are going this March.

[lawgirl]

Make sure to put on your reservation itself that you are there for a special birthday.

Also, when you check-in, you can let them know that you are there for a birthday and that it is a special time for you.

One thing that I've had success with is room requests, faxed to the resort about 3-4 days before your trip. There is more info under the info central tab.

Anyways, last time I faxed in a room request, and we did end up with a savannah view room, when we had booked a standard room. It was perfect!

I think I might fax in a room request just letting them know what a special trip this is, and the occasion you are celebrating. It can never hurt to let them know the occasion. I don't know if I'd actually ask the CM at the check-in desk for an upgrade. I guess feel it out when you get there.

Good luck!

[mickeefan]

Last month when we stayed at the Grand Floridian for the first time and our 50th anniversary, we booked a garden view. When we arrived at the security gate the guard called ahead and announced that number 54 and 55 had arrived.He told us concierge would be waiting for us but it didn't even register. When we pulled up there was this young lady waiting for us. She escorted all three of us (DD was with us) to the Sugar loaf building. At this point we realized what was happening and we ended up at club level with connecting rooms. What a great way to celebrate and the staff was terrific. One day we came back to an anniversary card, a rose, campaign and two glasses and another they placed an orchard in our bathroom.
It turned out to be a very magical trip.

[DisNut]

My husband and I went on a whim last week (Thurs, Fri & Sat) and stayed at ASM. :mickey: Our original choice was a moderate but just couldn't justify the price for such a short stay.

What a surprise when we checked in to find out that we were "upgraded" to a preferred room from a standard. I know it's not a great big deal, but it was a pleasant surprise when the CM said, you've been upgraded complimentary!!!

Just thought I'd share since I started this thread a few weeks ago.

My daughter and I are going back next month to POR and now I'm really hoping for another surprise!! Would love a water view there!

[epcot linnie]

I have never gotten one of those huge upgrades several people have mentioned (POFQ upgrated to GF) but I usually book a standard view room, then send a note about a week ahead mentioning how nice a pool view/water view/MK view would be. It has always worked with the exception of ASM. I once had a room at CR, about 5 years ago, for $108 per nite, I wrote ahead and mentioned that I was traveling alone with my daughters and wanted to make it "majical" for them. We were delayed an early check-in by the CM, but at 3PM received an amazing room with the view of MK and the monorail, well worth the note, and the wait til 3.