When it comes to planning your Disney World vacation, certain aspects of planning are more stressful than others.

Booking hotel rooms at Disney World is one thing that brings some Disney World visitors a lot of stress. Will the hotel we want have available rooms for when we are hoping to purchase tickets? Will our desired experience fit within our budget? How can we save money while still getting the hotel experience we want? These are questions that we receive ALL the time — and they’re excellent questions, indeed! Booking hotel rooms at Disney World can be stressful for sure, but if you know a few secrets and tricks, it doesn’t have to be.

There are a few things that Disney World won’t tell you when it comes to the hotel booking process. However, we’re gonna do you a favor and share those secrets with you. Let’s go!

How to Upgrade Your Disney World Hotel Room

So, let’s be frank, here. There’s no guarantee that the Cast Members will upgrade your hotel room. However, these are our best tricks for scoring an upgrade based on what has worked for us in the past. Firs, and most importantly, be kind to the Cast Members and hotel staff that are helping you. When checking in at the front desk, tell the Cast Members about your stay! Are you celebrating something big? Is this your first visit in a while? Cast Members might offer you an upgrade as a magical moment if you simply share with them the details of your trip.

You can also try checking in later in the day. At the end of the day, hotel staff has a better idea of what rooms are open and what rooms aren’t, so they might be able to provide you with an upgrade at the end of the day. You should also consider when you’re visiting as well. If you’re visiting at a busier time of year, your chances of getting a room upgrade aren’t as high. Oh, and if you’re really wanting to upgrade? Just ASK! The Cast Members will usually help you out the best they can.

Ignore Disney’s Marketing Language

Disney, just like the rest of us, is trying to make some moolah. The marketing language on the website when booking your hotel room is usually just that — marketing language. For example, icons will pop up that tell you that rooms are going fast. Or that, “for this booking ONLY” you can get a deal, when in reality you can get the same deals on other hotel rooms.

When booking via Disney’s website, there’s a great chance that Disney is simply trying to get you to book as fast as possible. Take your time on the website and choose the hotel room that’s best for you.

Not So Magical Things DO Happen

It’s rare, but things can go awry at even Disney World resort hotels. The small children next door to your room or right above you could keep you up all night. We’ve heard of situations where visitors have had bed bugs. We’ve even heard of visitors getting food poisoning from the hotel restaurants!

No matter the situation, tell a Cast Member immediately and see what they can do to help you. After all, they’re there to help you and are usually more than happy to! If you have an issue with your room, call the front desk and you’ll likely be able to get a new room.

The moral of the story is that with the help of Cast Members, your Disney World hotel dreams have a better chance at coming true, and your problems have a better chance of being solved! Just COMMUNICATE your needs and wants for your vacation! We’ll be sure to give you all the best tips and tricks when it comes to booking your Disney World vacation, so make sure to follow along for more.

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