6 days to trip, off waitlist - should I still call?

[rchristiansen]

We have 2 separate reservations for our trip starting this weekend (Oct 9-14): 2 nights at 1BR OKW and 3 nights at 1 BR VWL. I was on the waitlist for the first 2 nights at VWL as well, but now the waitlist is done because it's past the 7 days before we arrive. Should I still call and try to get the 2 nights at VWL or just give up?

 

[msdis]

No harm in doing so.Good luck.

 

[Tony-NJ]

Call! I've been on a wait list for a while now - I called the other day and they had what I was waiting for. Not sure why I didn't automatically get it from the wait list. When I spoke to MS prior - they mentioned to call after you are taken off the wait list in the 7 day window. They even mentioned that we should call while at WDW to see if something opens up.

Good luck!

 

[Patty3]

I would not hesitate to make that call and to keep trying. You never know when something might open up. Good luck!

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

I get the distinct feeling that the waitlist is not done in a well organized manner. I've read more than one post on these boards saying that they had been on the waitlist and called MS to check on things and suddenly the CM "found" the accomodation they had been waitlisted for.

It happened to me just recently. I had already booked a 1BR and was on the waitlist for a 2BR at BWV for a trip I'm taking in 4/05. At first when I got on the waitlist I told them to call me before automatically changing the ressie. I changed my mind about 2 weeks later and called back to tell them to please just do the change, don't bother checking with me beforehand if something becomes available. Well suddenly the CM got all excited and said something like "OO I see one, we have to work fast, are you sure you want it? I said yes, and got the ressie.

Afterwards I thought about what had transpired, and now I can't help but wonder--was I really next on the list or did I merely call at an opportune moment? Anyone have any ideas on how "scientifically" the waitlist is handled? i.e. If I am next in the computer can someone ignore that and book someone else if s/he just happens to call? I'd sure like to think it was done fairly, but after reading more than one story like mine I'm starting to be a little leery.

 

[rchristiansen]

That's interesting you said that. Because I've asked before if they could tell me how far down on the waitlist I was - but they didn't know. If it's computerized and done in a organized manner, why wouldn't they know?

 

[KennySC]

I called MS last Friday (10/1) because the 7 day mark was approaching and was told I had several hits on my wait list. My current reservations were for one BWV studio (preferred view) Oct 10-17 and one BWV studio (preferred view) Oct 13-17. They could offer me Boardwalk view for Oct 13, Oct 16-17 for just one studio but the amazing part is I could get a BWV 1-BR from Oct 10-17. (Preferred view). I decided to wait the weekend to discuss if we wanted to move into the 1-br. Once we confirmed that for a few nights we'd have 5 adults total we decided against the 1-br. I called back this morning and I was again amazed when told they could get me into a Boardwalk view studio from Oct 10-17 but not the other studio yet. I still have 2 days before the 7 day mark on that one but I'm going to call each morning. By the way I have yet to receive a call from MS telling me I have waitlist hits.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by rchristiansen
That's interesting you said that. Because I've asked before if they could tell me how far down on the waitlist I was - but they didn't know. If it's computerized and done in a organized manner, why wouldn't they know?

As I understand it, it primarily has to do with the variable criteria that has to be met for waitlist requests that overlap one another. Let's say you are waitlisted for a Thursday and a Friday night. You may be 10th in line for the Thursday but 2nd in line for Friday. How would MS answer the question "where am I in line?"

At the same time, let's say you are waitlisted for Sunday to Saturday. You're first in line. Someone cancels a trip for Sunday to FRIDAY. Still no availability on Saturday. You get by-passed altogether and the Sunday to Friday openings are given to others whose requests can be directly met by the recent cancellation. In this case, being told that you were "first in line" would have been very misleading.

In response to idratherbeinwdw's post, I doubt any of us can really determine exactly what happened. CRO has direct access to some DVC rooms, so perhaps they had a 2B set aside that met your needs. I don't think the DVC computers can automatically "pull back" rooms set aside for CRO, but I believe that Cast Members have the authority to do this.

Or, it could be that a recent cancellation left the room open and the CM was able to grab it before it went to the waitlist folks.

Or, maybe you were actually next on the list.

I certainly wouldn't argue with a CM that got me the room I wanted.

 

[Niagara2]

Once at 7 days there is no waitlist, thus you must call. I called twice a day and had luck at 2 days out. You are waiting for a cancelation or an early departure. You have to call if that happens in the last 7 days. Good Luck!

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Originally posted by tjkraz


I certainly wouldn't argue with a CM that got me the room I wanted.

Hey no argument from me here, I was happy to get the room. I certainly appreciated it and thanked the CM profusely.

I just hope it didn't prevent someone who was ahead of me from getting a 2BR that was rightfully theirs just because my call was timely. I know I'd sure be peeved if I was the one on the short end of the stick.

Obviously there's no way of knowing for sure what happened, but I know I've read similar stories on these boards. I'm sure there's lots of possibilities for why this happens, thanks for the insights on the waitlist you provided.

 

[rchristiansen]

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR ADVICE! I GOT IT!!!

Well sort of - But amazingly, I got all 5 nights at the Boardwalk!

 

[ErinC]

I'm glad it worked out for you! Have a great trip!

 

[Par8hed]

Glad your waitlist came through. Hopefully it's a good omen for my waitlist!

 

[idratherbeinwdw]

Originally posted by rchristiansen
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR ADVICE! I GOT IT!!!

Well sort of - But amazingly, I got all 5 nights at the Boardwalk!

I am curious about the details. Originally you said you were on the waitlist for VWL--how did you end up at BWV? Did you call MS? What exactly happened?

Have a super trip!

 

[rchristiansen]

I guess I should have said that my main objective was to be in the same place for the whole five nights. But our original plans were to be split. SO I called today and asked about having the whole time at VWL - but MS said there was no availability there. Then I asked, "Well what about at ANY other resort" - She put me on hold for about 5 minutes as she "checked something" - And She said there was availability at BWV! So I took that instead - That's why I said I "sort of" got it