Magical Upgrades

[BIGDOG]

I see from time to time that people get Magical Upgrades how do you all go about getting that done? Do you ask or is it something the person at check in offers or what? We are going to arrive in 3 days figures it might be worth a shot.

[Polynesian Dweller]

I'm a hotelier and the first things to know about upgrades is that they are always given for the hotel's business reasons. Second, free one's are rarer than the various Disney boards will make you think.

So there are no ways to ensure you'll get one. You can ask for an upgrade but be prepared to pay the difference. And asking for a free one is a good way not to get one. That goes back to my first one, business reasons. Those includ things like your room having to be taken out of inventory for repair, over booked hotel, trying to upsell for your next stay for and so on. They also include good will. But if you ask for one you are basically taking away the hotel's option of a surprise good will upgrade.

So, don't go expecting some magical way to get a free upgrade. There isn't one. Be surprised and happy if you get it.

[Speedy1998]

I have never been upgraded at a WDW resort. The only times I have been upgrade for free was at a hotel chain that I have a rewards card with, and in that case the hotel was full. I just assumed my upgrade from a Standard room to a suite was because I was a rewards member.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

We got an upgrade one time, since our originally assigned room had a flooding issue! So, from a standard, we got moved to a riverview. I don't know if there is any "magic" way to get an upgrade ... that is why they are "magic".

[faline]

I agree. There is no way to "request" a magical upgrade. We had an upgrade on a short trip a few months ago but, while we requested a move to another room (The room we were assigned had no hot water and Disney was not sure when the hot water would be available again.), we did not request a move to a better type room. The upgrade was completely unexpected and a nice, and appreciated, surprise!!

[buzznwoodysmom]

We have not been upgraded much. I do believe once or twice we may have gotten a category upgrade (standard to water view) but most likely that was due to overbooking or room maintenance. I've never asked for an upgrade.

Once we booked one night at WL. When we got in our room it had an oder. One of my kids took their shoes off and their socks ended up soaked! The carpets had been deep cleaned and were not dry. They moved us from a standard room to a bunkbed room. That's about as good an upgrade we have gotten in Disney!

We got a major upgrade in Tampa once. We had booked a Jr. Suite at a hotel directly across from the Cigar Festival my husband wanted to attend. When we arrived they said there was a water\flood problem and a whole section of rooms had to be taken out of commission. We were "walked" to a hotel many blocks away. When we arrived at the new hotel we were placed in a room with one king bed. We were a party of 6, hence the suite we had booked at the other hotel. Hotel tried to tell us since we only had one room booked at the prior hotel all they could give us was one room at this hotel and all they had were King rooms. I made a bigger scene than I am proud to admit, but we ended up in a massive suite. It had a living room with two large sitting areas, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a large wetbar area. Honestly tho, at the end of the day I would have been happier at our originally booked room across from the festival and not have to deal with the issue!

[BIGDOG]

I wasn't expecting something I just see so many posts on different sites saying how they got all these up grades. I would assume 50% of those are false anyways, but I figure haven't been for 9 yrs maybe a few till we get back so what's it gonna hurt to try

[Imalismom]

I paid for an upgrade at the Port for DCL once - well worth it! Of all the time I have been to Disney (to many to count now), I have never been upgraded - I did get a king size bed at All Stars music once - did not even know they HAD rooms with king sized beds - felt I had scored with that room LOL!