17 SECRET (and FREE) Disney World Hotel Upgrades

[@familyfehl9975]

My kiddo loves your videos. She has a trip all planned in her head off of your videos and (mainly) the snacks she'll eat whilst there

[@dfbbreea]

That sounds like me when I was a kiddo, too! ❤

[@jacobrobloxgaming]

this is me right now planning for my high school trip in 2026!

[@differentman1878]

The sheer amount of times AJ reminds us to be kind to cast members makes me wonder what horror stories cast members have

[@nickmillspaugh6823]

Too many

[@Ninjozata]

The happiest place in the world sounds like THE most *difficult* customer service job in the world

[@jonathanperrone]

Working AK Safaris guests had yelled at me and got hostile for things like the fastpass entrance line looking longer than the regular line while I trying to explain that once you go in it’s shorter and this is just the scan in (and the regular line is longer INSIDE) 🤦🏻‍♂️😆

[@AlanGoldwaser]

Once we went for a nice trip to celebrate a special Birthday (I think it was my 60th) and almost every day I wore the button. One day in Epcot I had felt that Disney so went out of their way for me I didn't wear the button. Someone actually tracked me down and gave me a new button because "we have some things planned for you". One was at America in World Showcase where they took us upstairs in an elevator and the singers sang their program mostly right at us without the first floor crowd knowing what was going on. Then we went into the theater to pick our seat and as it wasn't overly crowded they didn't let anyone else sit in our row!

[@BirdsNNVA]

Amazing! Thanks for telling us this happy story!

[@BryanEisenhart-yr4qd]

I know this is a little off topic, but.... Characters are the most fun in either the parks or the resorts. I was at Disneyland with my ex girlfriend a couple years ago and at the time, I was just waiting for her to use the restroom. I was hanging out by the town square popcorn cart munching on a scoop of popcorn and waiting while listening to that Main Street music track when a character host approached me and said, "Oh just don't mind the big yellow dog next to you." Yes, Pluto is the most fun to play with. As a cast member, I would call Pluto over to my cart, wet down his big tongue with a handful of ice from my drink cooler and whisper to him to go lick a child. Best part about working in the parks period. While a friend and I were having breakfast at Plaza Inn at Disneyland, we witnessed Chip just casually walk off with a guest's purse. Those chipmunks can be very mischievous.

[@TheCuttingBoard1971]

We stayed at All Star Sports in the tennis building, and when we were leaving Goofy, Donald and Pluto showed up- it Was such a cute surprise.

[@dfbbreea]

Awwww!

[@hollisthomas8881]

My adult son & myself did a Mom/Son trip in mid Sept. We were booked @ All Star Sports but 2 wks b4 our trip my son got a call we were being upgraded to a Cars Themed Family Suite @ Art of Animation...we were THRILLED to have separate bathrooms/bedrooms & access to the skyliner!!! It really was so magical!!!

[@pazzariatv]

One of my favorite free perks is the fireworks viewing at the Contemporary. There's a special, outdoor area for it, on the same level as the gifts shops (if memory serves me correctly). Also, this might not be so much of a secret, but, I am going to put it here anyway. ALL, yes ALL (except for Minnie vans) of the WDW transportation is FREE! This includes the monorails, busses, skyliner, boats, etc... Take advantage. This is an attraction in and of itself and the views are simply spectacular.

[@DFBGuide]

yes! the fireworks viewing area is right by the bridge to Bay Lake Tower

[@cyndiebirkner704]

It's awesome that they still do the campfire Chip n Dale sing-along movies at Fort Wilderness, one of my favorite memories from camping there when I was little!!

[@CourtneyBullard-r5y]

Thank you for the free water park tip on arrival day! We’re staying at port riverside after getting off a Disney cruise. We’re not doing the park and only have one day there with early check in. If you have any tips. Disney springs is on our list. I’m trying to find info on transportation like the Lyft, bus and ferry options

[@mastershooter007]

On many of your videos recently there’s been a very noticeable “stuttering” effect on video clips where you’re panning the camera, but on this video it’s finally fixed! Buttery smooth video! Whatever camera/settings changes you did please keep it up!

[@DFBGuide]

we're working on a lot of little upgrades with our cameras and filming right now, thanks for noticing!

[@AshleynVacation]

On my mother daughter trip back in January 2023. My mom wanted to add on universal. So we did universal 1st and on check out day I went ahead and did the check in on the my Disney experience app and but we would get there around 11am. We sat in the lobby of the universal hotel we were at for maybe 30 mins and I got a notification that our room was ready! On another trip my fiancé and I got what I consider a perfect room at pop! It was in the 50s facing hour glass lake ❤❤. My parent were joining us for a couple of nights so we asked the front desk for a room just near us. Didn’t need to be conjoining but just in the same area. And their room ended up being a couple doors down.

[@Lodwig-l1s]

We used some of your great tips on our recent trip. Thank you! 👏

[@dfbbreea]

That’s so good to hear!!

[@kristinavalcarce2404]

OG pineapple Dole Whip for the win! I recently tried a strawberry one and I was not impressed.

[@dfbbreea]

Aw man! I love the strawberry one! (But I had that flavor for the first time around Vday a couple of years back and it came with a chocolate covered strawberry…. So that might’ve helped it out 🤣)

[@awnb95]

I had a friend who said they knew someone who ended up getting upgraded to the Cinderella Castle.

[@Urfavhadsss]

STOP I NEED THAT TO HAPPEN!!

[@ashleyduea]

I hope this isn't a dumb question, but can you get a magical upgrade if you book a dvc room thru a dvc rental company? Or only thru Disney website?

[@dfbbreea]

Not a dumb question at all! When you’re renting through a DVC rental company, you’re pretty much locked in to a specific room. (Not to mention, DVC suites are super “magical” as is!)

[@kimlindemann2924]

Stayed at CBR in Aruba and walked to Rivera for breakfast!

[@nickpavlidis5735]

Is the foldout bed in port orleans riverside resort long enough for an adult to sleep on ?

[@lhonajourney]

My adult daughter 5'4" slept on one of these but I don't think anyone taller than that would fit.

[@DFBGuide]

it's about a twin size, but we'd agree that too much taller than 5'4"/5'5" might feel a little cramped

[@MrBuzzcut26]

My one and only time at The Animal Kingdom Lodge, I had upgraded myself to a pool view - no parking lot for me. When I got to the Lodge and got to my room - I was no where near the pool. I had been upgraded to a Savanah view. So it does happen - it probably helped that it was a “slow period” in September.

[@annecampbell4596]

Same! We got an upgrade from pool to Savannah view for a 3 night stay in mid-August

[@sydneybond9793]

If we rent DVC points for a stay at Saratoga springs, will room requests be an option? Or is it pretty cut and dry-we can only get one specific room?

[@DFBGuide]

It is a bit harder to put in room requests when renting DVC points, but you can always ask the agents at the rental company you're using if they're able to add that to your reservation

[@alishagray7771]

Is it better to check in at the desk to potentially get an upgrade? I went directly to my room in Nov.

[@dfbbreea]

Yes!! Defintiely a higher chance when you’re checking in with a cast member directly

[@hartbigfan1714]

No joke we called the animal kingdom lodge to ask if our room is ready because we got so tired at the park after rope dropping...and had such a great encounter! That sweet man on the other side upgraded us to a savannah view FOR FREE it was an amazing part of our holiday and I wish I knew his name for a cast compliment but I really hope he is having holidays as great as ours was because of him ❤❤❤

[@ziggy4465]

Some great tips and having stayed on property over 50 times myself, I knew most.😁

[@cyndiebirkner704]

"Don't make it weird"... always excellent advice 😀

[@drkjoneill]

Can you get an upgrade in DVC rooms, rented with points (without paying more points)?

[@DFBGuide]

DVC rooms are tougher to upgrade because they often fully book up, but you can always ask at checkin; worst case, they tell you there's nothing available or tell you how much more it would cost

[@KrisEB123]

Any chance there will be discounts AFTER 4/30?

[@DFBGuide]

very likely! Disney usually announces new discounts a few months in advance, we're expecting another round of discount news early in 2025

[@mastersword123456789]

I booked a 3 night stay to port orleans riverside for 365 all together going in march planning my girls 30th bday that week

[@jennifermoss7913]

I've never managed to get access to the actual phone numbers to specific resorts, only the main lines. I'm going to the dolphin. Any good room requests I should make?

[@somibonne1716]

Fireworks view room.

[@jennifermoss7913]

@somibonne1716 oh, really?! I didn't know that was even an option! Thanks

[@nickmillspaugh6823]

Walt disney hotels have no internal phone line to call, you have to go directly through WDW reservations. As Swan & Dolphin are not disney reaorts, just call the marriott reservation line.

[@anorris09]

I was checking our reservation about a month ago noticed that we also get some discounts around DW properties with our hotel stay. Discounts at some stores at Disney Springs and Splitsville, but now I can’t seem to find that info, anyone have any idea?

[@goingawayguide]

Beach Club bed options are so unpredictable and they are very difficult if they put you into a room that doesn't work for your group type.

[@kimberlysalerno3162]

Coconut all the way!!😂

[@valstier6606]

Any boardwalk upgrades?

[@DFBGuide]

there are no sneaky doors closer to the park at the BoardWalk, but you may be able to request a room on the EPCOT side of the resort and end up with a partial fireworks views

[@ilah182]

Martinique at CBR is one of the preferred buildings

[@amyforsch3070]

Best Dole Whip is OJ (what I always thought was the OG because it's what I always got 😊)

[@Koiishi22]

will you guys do a pixar hotel room tour since it was recently updated?

[@JustSkubs]

When you say call the hotel for making specific requests…do I just call the Disney 800 number..or find a number for the Hotel directly???

[@DFBGuide]

you can call the main number and ask to be connected to the hotel, also often times the main number can add details to your reservation

[@JustSkubs]

@ thank you

[@kellyoyen3421]

I'll have to tell my aunt Jody about these secret & (free) hotel upgrades the next time we plan a trip to Walt Disney World unless these are limited

[@Short_one41]

So, what time of day do the characters show up at the resorts in general? Is it evening or morning?

[@DFBGuide]

often it's late morning or mid-afternoon

[@Short_one41]

@ ok when everyone is in the parks 👍🏻💜

[@MelissaHolsopple]

I stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge this past April and didn't like it because it is too far away from the parks.

[@mgseggerman]

Shades of Green also has a fitness center - but the equipment (last year) was so poorly maintained it wasn't worth using. For active service members and 100% disabled veterans the price was equivalent to Pop Century - with deluxe resort benefits. No nighttime movies though.

[@annlavine3576]

Pineapple is the best along with Orange

[@kellyoyen3421]

I got off work really early today

[@FletchyMcFletch]

Pineapple or bust.

[@Byrd_history]

9 minutes ago is wild....... I caught this heckin early 😂

[@AndrewSmoot]

1:31...LOL!

[@Chernobog34]

First! Wow, never actually had a chance to be first on one of these vids... Also, keep doing your awesome work, y'all! Your info helped make my trip with my brothers this year even better!

[@dfbbreea]

Thanks so much for being here!!

[@SaltyGreene]

Bring on more of this! How about partner hotel options? This is a great video that has super charged my interest in visiting WDW. Location and value are big on my list.

[@vtafro]

Someones got wicked on the mind

[@tonyf944]

I disagree with Caribbean beach. I think Sebastian’s bistro is delicious food.

[@dfbbreea]

Some of our reporters have eaten there recently and DEFINITELY thought the food had improved since our last few visits! Here’s to hoping they keep it up!!

[@BlueLightDragon-k2u]

Hello

[@lindagarcia7254]

do they have discount for 100 disabled veterans?