Chances of Christmas waitlist coming through?

[dvcmom14]

On a whim, DH and I decided that we'd like to do Christmas in Disney, so we put in a waitlist request for OKW and AKL (Kidani) deluxe studio from 12/23-12/26. Just a quick trip, but we're not set on it or anything because we know waitlists are nothing more than a gamble.

Has anyone ever had a Christmas waitlist come through? How long did you wait?

 

[SpaceMountain77]

To maximize your chances, I would suggest OKW, but not the hospitality house option, and SSR.

Unless a local cancels a trip or a family has an emergency, I suspect that most have their plane tickets, ADRs, and FastPass+ reservations in hand.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Good luck, but I do not think you have much of a chance. I think SSR would be a better choice than AKV.

 

[DaisyNY]

Agree with SSR...more rooms, more likely to be a cancellation! Good luck!

 

[MichelleB]

We checked back in Sept. when we decided to go to WDW for Christmas. There weren't any openings. In the beginning of Oct, we decided to look again and got lucky to snag a 1 bedroom that was available at SSR. There were no other 1 bedrooms available on property. I'd say just keep checking. Don't bank on the waitlist coming through....be diligent and check a couple times a day. I've beat out the waitlist system every time I tried it and got the reservation myself.

 

[dvcmom14]

We checked back in Sept. when we decided to go to WDW for Christmas. There weren't any openings. In the beginning of Oct, we decided to look again and got lucky to snag a 1 bedroom that was available at SSR. There were no other 1 bedrooms available on property. I'd say just keep checking. Don't bank on the waitlist coming through....be diligent and check a couple times a day. I've beat out the waitlist system every time I tried it and got the reservation myself.

I didn't even realize this was possible! I just assumed that the computer system would automatically reallocate the cancellations to waitlist requests and not put them back in the pool. Thanks! I'll keep checking!

 

[MichelleB]

I thought the same thing dvcmom14 but decided since my wait list hadn't come in, I'd check on availability anyway one time. I was able to snag the reservation I wanted but the wait list hadn't come through. Ever since then, I wait list but still continue to check. So far, out of 3 wait lists, I've gotten them each time on my own and then canceled the wait list.

 

[dvcmom14]

Now that I've heard from you guys, I've changed my wait list to OKW & SSR and I'm checking the site practically every hour!

 

[MichelleB]

I hope you get what you want! Maybe even consider a split stay if you can get something that way.

 

[prncssjas]

Now that I've heard from you guys, I've changed my wait list to OKW & SSR and I'm checking the site practically every hour!

I agree with this approach if you have the time! I was on the waitlist for an extra night in January during marathon weekend and I saw the night pop up and just booked it myself! The waitlist had not caught up yet...best wishes on getting your room!!!

 

[mejo]

I had a waitlist come through yesterday for Dec 3-6, I just put it in about a month ago. I was surprised, we had pretty well decided not to go. Now I have to go find flights. It is for SSR but we are just going to the Osborne lights so I'm happy.

 

[lisaviolet]

No, but twice I've put together Christmas vacations mere months out at one resort by stalking the website. And one year was two rooms. But you have to be the kind of person that can grab a day here and there and know that you will get that final piece of the puzzle. And don't think it is only this or that resort. My grab was at BWV and BLT.

And not a split stay. One resort.

 

[dvcmom14]

No, but twice I've put together Christmas vacations mere months out at one resort by stalking the website. And one year was two rooms. But you have to be the kind of person that can grab a day here and there and know that you will get that final piece of the puzzle. And don't think it is only this or that resort. My grab was at BWV and BLT.

And not a split stay. One resort.

That's what I'm going for. DH refuses to do a split stay, so I'm going to have to grab here and there. Thanks for this encouragement!

 

[dvcmom14]

Oops. Deleted post.

 

[lisaviolet]

That's what I'm going for. DH refuses to do a split stay, so I'm going to have to grab here and there. Thanks for this encouragement!

I found a couple of patterns --

Tuesday and Wednesday always seemed to be very active days. As did Saturday.

Also, if you have this ability within your day at all with work - a little bit after MS opens is prime as well - so 9:15 to 10:00 is pretty good as is early afternoon. If you can swing that.

And late at night you don't have the competition with your assassin tendencies! Cause there is competition. I'm barely beat but they have shown themselves to me.
Insert wink.

And I assume you utilize your refresh button on your computer. It's your friend.

People think that Christmas is beyond crazy. It's really not as bad as people think. It's the NYE week that is crazy. And you would be surprised how many people cancel at the last moment for their Christmas holidays.

BWV - Garden view is one that floats in and out for those days. Truly. I know that seems hard to believe but three out of four of my bookings have been there last minute. The fourth was BLT - Lake View.

Also, utilize the wait list at the same time. If you have Monday and Wednesday booked. Do do Tuesday as a WL, as you continue to scan. But do not forget to cancel it if you grab your day. Easy to do because you are so excited.

Good luck to you.

 

[mrsR123]

Just stopping by to express solidarity. I'm stalking like crazy for any studio anywhere for a Saturday. I must have just missed one today. I suspect someone cancelled 4-7 days at SSR around when I needed, but somebody else got the Saturday before I could. I have two waitlists going, but stalking gives me something to do.

If I didn't have to work...