are Members aware that the Waitlist may have a major glitch?

[DVC Nut]

Sandy,

I wasn't referring to you. It was actually directed at another poster, but in general to everyone who has disregarded me in the past too.

The straws have been building on the camels back...I enjoy these boards and don't understand why I would be questioned when I have identified my experience.

I am not looking for the respect that Doc, Rich, or Dean have, but some would be nice occasionally.

Thank you for listening though

 

[dcfromva]

DVC Nut,

This is a hypothetical question because after waitlisting myself for BOTH a 1BR and a 2BR, my ressie came through...But, I was wondering in my case above before I added myself to the 1BR waitlist-- I was on the waitlist for 1 night (NYE) for a 2BR lockout--if folks can continue to get ressies for 1 BR units, what hope would a person ever have of getting a 2BR lockout?

Do you ever offer any tips to folks for the best chance at getting a particular ressie?

-DC

 

[Regina]

I am not looking for the respect that Doc, Rich, or Dean have

I thought that Rich was the Rodney Dangerfield of the DVC board. And where exactly is my name in this grouping???

DVC Nut, as I stated previously, I appreciate getting the facts from you.

I've been on the boards for a number of years, and I read waitlist success stories one after the other. I don't know why this is suddenly being perceived as a "glitch". I don't think the problem exists, and I'm very appreciative that you've clarified how the waitlist system works.

The problem that I see with all of this is that the OP didn't make it clear that this is simply her opinion.

I hope that you continue to enjoy the boards. Your input is much appreciated.

 

[DVC Nut]

Regina,

I am going to kick myself for leaving out so many people now. I apologize. Now let me rephrase... I am not looking for the respect that the most knowledgable and entertaining DVC experts and members who post here have, I am just looking to have my words accepted at face value and not be considered a liar.

DC-

You situation depends entirely upon how many one bedroom homes are available and how many people might be ahead of you just requesting a studio or also waitlisted for a two bedroom lockoff. My reccommedation? I would have to see you membership and know if you would have to borrow points to make the reservation, if you have extra points to work with, if you have a backup plan already booked at another resprt....Lots of factors.

If possible, best case scenario would be to book a 1BR if they are available and w/l for the lockoff. This is hoping that you are not within 30 days of arrival. Have a backup plan or be willing to cancel if the lockoff doesn't come through. If you simply need enough room to accomodate eight and are willing to spend extra points temporarily, book two 1br homes if it is avail. w/l for the lockoff and cancel one if the waitlist comes through.

Sounds silly, but I would really need to see your membership to give you the best information. Maybe I will answer your call when you call MS.

 

[Disney Doll]

Your post makes logical sense to me, even though I don't understand al the computer lingo.

I have been waitlisted twice, and both times they came through, so I guess I was lucky!! I do go at odd times of the year like October/November or January. I usually book my home resort for what I want at the 11 month window, so I know I have a place to stay. Then I put myself on the waitlist for another resort if I want to try and stay there. If it comes through, great! If it doesn't, I still have a wonderful DVC property to stay in.

It would seem to me though that if they have a waitlist, they should somehow computerize it so that the names on the waitlist come up as soon as a unit that size is returned to the system so it can be matched up with a person who has been waiting rather than given to someone who just happens to luckily randomly call in.

 

[TroyWDW]

DVC Nut,

I've said this before and I'll repeat myself again.

Thanks for providing us with information on how the DVC system really works.

I can tell you that when I see a reply from you I immediately read the note, because you usually share another nugget of information that I never knew before.

Honestly, when I first started reading this thread, after about the fourth message, the first thought that came to mind was: "I hope DVC Nut reads this thread and shares with us how the system really works".

I wish more DVC CM's would join the discussion. It's too bad that DVCMC doesn't encourage more interaction with members. But, I can appreciate the complexity of the situation. Thanks again.

Troy

 

[mmmcq]

I didn't make this complaint last summer since whenever I go on the board it really looks to me like more times than not folks get what they want or close to it. We had a very negative experience with the waitlist last summer.

I was at 4-5 months out when I tried to book our trip to WDW and Vero last spring. We had lost out on an April trip to WDW on a group trip from school because of 9/11. My points were in holding and had to be used by October. So we took 5 nights at the Yacht Club (wonderful corner room with daybed and 2 Queens, ground floor, right on the boardwalk next to the docks. Fabulous location for us. Had a wonderful time - paid through the nose on points...but had to be done because of 9/11 and holding pt situation.

Getting to the waitlist issue. At the same time that I made my YC reservation I asked for 5 nights in a 2BR at Vero. I was given 1 night in a 1BR the first night and the last night and waitlisted for the remaining 3 nights. In the middle nights they booked us into the Inn. I called and called and called MS right up till the hour we left for WDW. ANd I called from WDW to Vero.....everyday. I got the run around big time. No one would tell me the real scoop. They just said that Labor Day weekend was popular for in-state residents. Finally on one call a CM said that they had actually "overbooked" the resort by 3-4 1 BR and that there probably was never a chance of us coming off the waitlist.

We arrived late at night and they had one room available - a handicapped room (I don't want to debate those rooms here) which wasn't up to snuff (bugs in the kitchen and no lip on the shower door so there was water everywhere after our showers). I complained to the manager the next day and she was graciuos enough. But because we had to switch rooms.....they didn't give us T & T on the appropriate day. They looked at the Inn room as a separate reservation.

All in all we just had a very bad trip to Vero. There was too much noise in the Inn for our 3 yr old to nap. There were loud obnoxious kids and families in the pool which made swimming there uncomfortable for my kids - and there flying objects across the pool which the lifeguards who were understaffed did nothing about.

Bottom line.....our unhappy stay at Vero really dampened the joy we had had at WDW. We expected Vero to be more relaxed and we didn't get it. Because of the waitlist fiasco we had a very, very disappointing visit there. IF I had really known they were overbooked before leaving Boston....I would have switched the reservation to stay at the Yacht Club for an additional 5 nights. But they weren't honest with me.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Originally posted by mmmcq
IF I had really known they were overbooked before leaving Boston....I would have switched the reservation to stay at the Yacht Club for an additional 5 nights. But they weren't honest with me.

First off, I'm sorry you had a less-than-enjoyable DVC experience.

BUT...

I don't see where MS was "dishonest" with you. You tried to make a reservation. You were told the days weren't available. You booked other accomodations. You were waitlisted, and you took your chances.

No one on the waitlist is EVER guaranteed that they will come off of the list. In your scenario, the only people whom I can see having a right to be upset, are the people who were overbooked in the first place. Not the people on the waitlist.

Despite this, it seems to me that DVC tried to go "above and beyond", and found you a 1 BR in the end anyway...albeit a room that wasn't to your liking (no, I don't think bugs are acceptable, but they are a fact of life in Florida, and Roll-in showers aren't designed with lips... it would make rolling in rather difficult). When you informed them the room wasn't acceptable, they again switched your room, back to an Inn room which you had originally booked.

People on vacation with children tend to be noisy... especially at beach resorts on Labor Day. The fact that the waitlist didn't move was a red light that it would be crowded, IMO. The lifeguards should have addressed throwing of objects if it was a safety issue. Did you speak to the Life Guards and let them know your concerns?

Sometimes I think we build our vacation hopes up to unreachable proportions in our minds, and when reality fails to meet or exceed the fantasy, people get upset, and blame the Dream Maker. JMHO

 

[mmmcq]

I don't blame the "Dream Maker" nor was it meant to be a fantasy vacation. The crowds at Vero were especially unruly that weekend and staff complained outloud to guests at the outdoor grill contstantly about the condition...we didn't - at least not until today.

MS was confident that we would come off the waitlist for the intervening nights for a 1BR and never mentioned that the resort was completely full or even overbooked - just that the space available was in the Inn. Since I wasn't familiar with the resort it was hard for me to judge what that really meant. I had no vision of the size of the place.

Maybe dishonest wasn't the right word to chose, but they weren't forthcoming with the information I really needed to make a decision for us that would have been most comfortable for us with a 3 year old child in tow. And I called everyday and spoke to CM's in a very, nice and respectable way. I never got upset...again until today.

I didn't list all the things that happened that weekend in that long last note and don't intend to, so IMHO I don't think you should be so quick to judge.

 

[disneyberry]

this "glitch" came to my attention from reports here on this board over the past 2 years. based on my knowledge of database systems, i constructed the above hypothesis.

why a hypothesis? because the Waitlist system is a "black box" that can only be understood by us through its inputs and outputs.
as a result, no one but the Database Administrator or a Programmer of the system can give a definitive answer on this issue.

i thought i noticed patterns indicative of a potential problem, and wanted to discuss it with everyone. and, if we felt it was a serious enough issue, perhaps it could've been brought up at one of the focus groups DVD had called this month.

that said, i believe that this problem has now been corrected, but did actually exist in the past, as the Waitlist was indeed still a manual paper process about a year ago. i have confirmed this with Member Services.

upon reflection, i was too quick to assume this problem still existed.
i would like to apologize to everyone for reporting this as if it were a fact.
i guess too often i forget that the amazing wealth of knowledge of the members of this board doesn't replace a phone call to Disney.

 

[HookdonWDW]

Originally posted by mmmcq
I didn't list all the things that happened that weekend in that long last note and don't intend to, so IMHO I don't think you should be so quick to judge.

All I did was comment on the issues that you shared on the board. Sorry if my opinion hurt your feelings. I guess people just have different expectations from a wait list. If I'm put on a wait list, it tells me that whatever I'm trying for is filled.

If you want to continue this discussion, please feel free to send me a PM.

Otherwise, back to the "glitch" conversation...


(BTW, count me among those who think that the "Wait List Conspiracy" theory is overstated).