First time booking and have a waitlist question

[kassonvike]

So I ended up with about 100 points in a resale that I need to use by end of November. I looked over lunch and found a Sunday - Sunday at our home resort that looked perfect. Called the wife, she said go for it. 2 hours later I went back in and the arrival Sunday was gone. Not only gone at our resort, but nothing anywhere that day. I booked Monday - Sunday and put in a waitlist for the first Sunday. What sucks is, being the first day, I can't buy my plane tickets because i'm not sure when we will arrive (Sunday or Monday). Being that I 'just missed' booking that first day, is it a pretty safe assumption I'm towards, if not at the top of the wait list. Is it pretty likely that I will get the extra night? I'm tempted to book our flights and if things don't happen, try to book a cash stay at one of the value or moderates.

 

[nalajms]

Being that I 'just missed' booking that first day, is it a pretty safe assumption I'm towards, if not at the top of the wait list.

No, when someone cancels, it doesn't automatically go to the waitlist.

Is it pretty likely that I will get the extra night?

In general, it's easier to get a waitlist for 1 day. But I would keep checking the sites rather than rely on the waitlist.

If you're ok with the cash room, I'd book everything now and hope you get the Sunday night. Good luck!

 

[dholmes1950]

We have always been very lucky having our waitlists come thru, especially if it is for one of the larger resorts (SSP or OKW) and isn't during peak season. I would go ahead and get my plane reservations and, if the wait listed day doesn't come through, you can always make other arrangements.

 

[kassonvike]

We have always been very lucky having our waitlists come thru, especially if it is for one of the larger resorts (SSP or OKW) and isn't during peak season. I would go ahead and get my plane reservations and, if the wait listed day doesn't come through, you can always make other arrangements.

Yea, its SSP in mid November.

 

[crisi]

I'd book the plane tickets and then have a backup cash room plan - even offsite.

We've flown in late and stayed near the airport - way cheaper than even using points for the first nght.

Some people will book a single value room night.

If you wait, airfare is going to go through the roof.

 

[kassonvike]

Checked this morning and the first Sunday was available again so I quick booked it and cancelled my wait list. Now I have to sperate reservastions. Sunday. And Monday through the next Sunday. Is there a way to merge these? They are both for the same resort and room type. If not, which one should I use to schedule magical express, book reservations, etc? Does it matter? Sorry for the newb questions, just don't want to screw anything up as this is our first DVC trip and is all being done kind of last second (relatively speaking).

 

[n2mm]

Checked this morning and the first Sunday was available again so I quick booked it and cancelled my wait list. Now I have to sperate reservastions. Sunday. And Monday through the next Sunday. Is there a way to merge these? They are both for the same resort and room type. If not, which one should I use to schedule magical express, book reservations, etc? Does it matter? Sorry for the newb questions, just don't want to screw anything up as this is our first DVC trip and is all being done kind of last second (relatively speaking).

You need to call MS and have them merge/link them so that you don't have to move. I just did this 2 days ago and while my reservation was complicated because I used points from different homes, yours should be pretty simple. Congratulations on getting a last minute reservation!

 

[kassonvike]

You need to call MS and have them merge/link them so that you don't have to move. I just did this 2 days ago and while my reservation was complicated because I used points from different homes, yours should be pretty simple. Congratulations on getting a last minute reservation!

Called and they linked the reservations and it already showed up as one reservation online! Time to start setting up dining reservations. Thanks all!

 

[LisaS]

Called and they linked the reservations and it already showed up as one reservation online! Time to start setting up dining reservations. Thanks all!

If you have one reservation now then they merged them. If they linked them you would still have two reservations with an internal link in the system showing that the two reservations are part of the same stay. Merging is better because with a linked reservation, you have to check out and check back in again on the day you transition from reservation #1 to reservation #2.

 

[kassonvike]

If you have one reservation now then they merged them. If they linked them you would still have two reservations with an internal link in the system showing that the two reservations are part of the same stay. Merging is better because with a linked reservation, you have to check out and check back in again on the day you transition from reservation #1 to reservation #2.

Ok, thanks. I thought the two terms were synonymous. I understand the difference now. Mine were merged into a single reservation.

 

[LisaS]

Ok, thanks. I thought the two terms were synonymous. I understand the difference now. Mine were merged into a single reservation.

I'm so glad everything worked out. I hope you have a great trip!