Dialing Derby Experts....I need your help!!!

[KyleRayner]

I'm going to trying the Dialing Derby for the first time to make a reservation at BCV at the 7 month window and I don't want to screw it up. Please tell me if the following calling schedule to MS is correct. I want to check in on 10/27/06 and check out on 11/4/06:

Call MS on 3/28/06 for 10/27/06
Call MS on 3/29/06 for 10/28/06
Call MS on 3/30/06 for 10/29/06
Call MS on 3/31/06 for 10/30/06
Call MS on 4/3/06 for 10/31/06, 11/1/06, & 11/2/06 (4/1 & 4/2 are weekends)
Call MS on 4/4/06 for 11/3/06

And then I'm done correct? I was also told that when making these calls, to make sure I call as soon as MS opens and to make sure I tell MS that I'll be calling everyday and to not mail out my confirmation letter until my reservation is complete. Is this correct?

I so much want to stay at BCV because I want to try out the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot for the first time and want to be close to Epcot, so I don't want to mess this up. Any tips or if I'm doing anything wrong, please let me know.

Thanks in advance for any help I may receive!!!

 

[bullpup12564]

I think you should make a reservation at your home resort first and then try to switch resorts at the 7 month window. That way you will be onsite and can always try to switch/waitlist at 7 months. Maybe some of the experts would know more but it can't hurt to be safe.

 

[CarolMN]

Yes - your plan is a good one (calling schedule is correct), and if you follow it, I predict success!

FWIW, for my early December reservation, I started calling MS 2 or 3 minutes before the scheduled 9 am Eastern opening. I just kep redialing until I got the "Welcome" message. Each day I did this, I got right in without any holding time. Figured the 2 minutes or so I spent redialing were worth it so I didn't have to wait on hold.

The rest of your plan is good, too (Telling the CM each day what your final checkout date is so the confirmation letter can be sent when your done).

Good luck -

 

[KyleRayner]

I think you should make a reservation at your home resort first and then try to switch resorts at the 7 month window. That way you will be onsite and can always try to switch/waitlist at 7 months. Maybe some of the experts would know more but it can't hurt to be safe.

I've already made a reservation at my home resort (OKW) as a backup and I still have enough points to still try and get into BCV.

 

[KyleRayner]

Thanks for the tip about calling MS a couple of minutes before they open. I will try that. Thanks!

 

[Plutofan]

You should test out your watch a few days before hand to see when MS opens. When I made our day to day reservations several months ago I figured out that when the time on my phone hit 7:58 Dallas time MS opened the phone lines. Also it helps to know before hand that you can press 3 then 3 to get to reservations. You should try this a few days before and confirm it is still 3 then 3. I also checked with MS before my date to see what availibilty looked like before I did my day by day reservations.

 

[Caskbill]

As of yesterday, the two prompts are still 3, 3.

 

[ErinC]

I'm sorry but this post reminds me of a couple of years ago when I was trying to CRT ressies for my DD's Birthday. You talk about specific calling instructions! I even synced my home clocks to the weather channel time, because somebody had posted that disney was 2 minutes ahead of weather channel time! DH thought I was nuts making him get up at 5:45 to prepare to call for CRT ressies. I made him use the land line and I had the cell phone. But I got em, so all my preparation was worth it! Hope you get your BCV reservations!

 

[KyleRayner]

I'm sorry but this post reminds me of a couple of years ago when I was trying to CRT ressies for my DD's Birthday. You talk about specific calling instructions! I even synced my home clocks to the weather channel time, because somebody had posted that disney was 2 minutes ahead of weather channel time! DH thought I was nuts making him get up at 5:45 to prepare to call for CRT ressies. I made him use the land line and I had the cell phone. But I got em, so all my preparation was worth it! Hope you get your BCV reservations!

Thanks ErinC!!!!

 

[mark&sue]

I too am going to try this for a two bed at either BCV or BW for three nights starting October 23rd. However I am confused.

On the OP schedule for the 10/27 the date to call is a day later on 3/28. I thought that it would be 3/27 as this is seven months. As I am in the UK I am going to have to take a couple of afternoons off work (we are five hours ahead) and need to know the exact ones to book.

So for 23rd October, 24th October and 25th October what days in March do I need to book off from work?

Many thanks.


Susan

 

[Plutofan]

I too am going to try this for a two bed at either BCV or BW for three nights starting October 23rd. However I am confused.

On the OP schedule for the 10/27 the date to call is a day later on 3/28. I thought that it would be 3/27 as this is seven months. As I am in the UK I am going to have to take a couple of afternoons off work (we are five hours ahead) and need to know the exact ones to book.

So for 23rd October, 24th October and 25th October what days in March do I need to book off from work?

Many thanks.


Susan

March 28 is correct if you are booking day by day since it is 7 months from your check out date. If you are booking day by day you would need to call each day. When you make your first day reservations you should tell MS what you are planing on doing so that they can mark your reservation and put it all under one reservation number.