Do you book a backup when you are on a waitlist?

[sloneta]

Need some advice about what actually happens with points when waitlists come through.

Here is my situation, we are on a waitlist for a 2BR at the BCV for 11/26 and11/27. We have enough current use year points to cover these two nights. Airfare is already booked, so we will need a 2BR somewhere for those two nights. With the automatic waitlist, my question is, at the 7 month window do we go ahead and book a 2BR anywhere we can get just to have a room for the nights we need but stay on the waitlist?

My concern is that I book any room and use most of my current UY points. I envision this scenario: waitlist comes through, and because of however the system works, they first book the BCV room (which requires them to borrow points) and then cancel the backup reservation I had made. Depending on when the waitlist comes through, I may or may not be able to then bank the points from the cancelled reservation. But, I am concerned that if they then did a reallocation, somehow the system would reflect borrowed points, that I can't bank anyway. (Am I making sense here?)

I am not sure how well the automatic waitlist works, and I don't want them borrowing points from 2009 to fulfill the waitlist. But, I assume they don't first cancel the backup reservation, which would free up the current UY points, and then make the waitlist reservation. In these situations, do they allow your points to just go back to the situation that you should have been in if they didn't need to borrow to fulfill a waitlist?

Given that this is Thanksgiving day and the day before, I know there is a possibility the waitlist will not come through and I need to know whether to go ahead and book a backup and have faith in the system or whether to stay put and hope the waitlist comes through.

Advice?

 

[sloneta]

Anyone - horror stories, positive experiences, anything?

 

[LVSWL]

I am not sure, so I am not going to offer advice about the points issue. Hope someone else will. My thoughts are that since the days are so popular (around Thanksgiving), I would book a cash ressie to back up you two waitlisted days if you can and try to link those to your already booked trip. Try to get a DVC discount, and if you can they will link the ressie.

 

[CarolMN]

Here's what I would do in your situation -

If the waitlist doesn't come through before the 7 month window opens, then I would book a back up at that time. I would ask MS to modify your original BCV waitlist request for the two nights. I would ask the CM to put a note on your waitlist request that says you want to use the points from the back up/canceled reservation to pay for the waitlisted nights if they come through. Do NOT give MS the OK to borrow - my understanding is that you have to tell MS to put a note on the waitlist request if it is OK to borrow points when the waitlist comes through. Make sure you get the CM's name and it doesn't hurt to let the CM know you are taking notes, especially if the CM seems inexperienced. I do this by asking him or her to "spell" their name for me, LOL.

As soon as the waitlist comes through, check your points and vacation details on the Members' Website. If it shows that points were borrowed contrary to your instructions, call MS and get it straighted out asap.

Good luck!

 

[Dean]

You have several options. You could book a cash room through CRO or DVC (possibly with a 25% discount) subject to availability. You could book a different resort or unit type with points and let MS know if the wait list comes through, you want to cancel the other and use those points for BCV. While you could book at non DVC room using the DC, you would not be able to recoup those points to use for DVC including the BCV. You could also book an unrelated cash room (moderates, off property, etc) if you want.

I use this option all the time in it's various iterations but usually related to timeshare exchanges. I find it most helpful when trying to trade in to a timeshare I can reserve directly (Bluegreen, DVC, Marriott) and when I have committed to a give trip and dates such as when I am trying to match a week I already have and/or I have flights reserved already, esp FF miles seats. Here are a few examples:

• I had a trip planned to HI for 2 weeks and wanted to use Timeshares exchanges and FF miles. I requests through both II and RCI to get a week on Oahu or Maui during a 10 week period. Once I got one week, I modified by requests to match the dates I needed (week before and after). I then booked my FF mile tickets day 1 and again modified my requests. In the inerim, I had booked 3 consecutive weeks using Marriott reward points and cancelled each as applicable.
• When going to WDW, I'll make a DVC points reservation then request the same week through II. If II comes through, I cancel the points reservation or rent it out.
• For HH Marriott I'll often search for the same week we'll be there. Usually it's to get an extra unit to have more space and possibly invite more family, but if I don't need the extra space I'll occupy the exchange unit and rent out the unit I own.

 

[vbarry]

I would back up with a cash reservation now. I have Dec 30-31 on cash with a discount. I called to get my friend a studio at BCV and the member cash discounts for these two days were gone...so we had to pay rack rates for these two nights only.

I would back up with cash since you are going over Thanksgiving unless you plan on changing resorts during your stay.

Good luck!