First time doing a waitlist

[dayvewc]

I finally got confirmation today of the school calendar for next year and our educational association days, which means a 4 day weekend. Went to try to reserve a room, and while I could get Wednesday and Thursday night, Friday and Saturday were all booked up on studios. Turns out its the runDisney weekend at the end of Food and Wine.

So, I waitlisted the entire 4 nights for SSR, as that was the only resort that had both Wed and Thurs available.

What do you think my chances of getting all 4 nights will be?

Thanks

 

[Minniesgal]

I would book the two that are available and wait list only 2

 

[disneyberry]

I would book the two that are available and wait list only 2

I agree with this. Once the waitlist matches, you can ask Member Services to link the reservations for 4 continuous nights.
You should have zero problems getting SSR.

 

[dayvewc]

Never even dawned on me to do it this way. I'll go and update it today.

 

[dayvewc]

Ok, when I went in to make the two day reservation and the two day waitlist, I noticed that AKL Savannah view had two days available. So, do I prefer SSR or AKL? Which resort is more likely to open up 2 nights on studios during a runDisney weekend of Food and Wine festival?

 

[rlduvall]

Ok, when I went in to make the two day reservation and the two day waitlist, I noticed that AKL Savannah view had two days available. So, do I prefer SSR or AKL? Which resort is more likely to open up 2 nights on studios during a runDisney weekend of Food and Wine festival?

Most likely SSR, but I would personally take my chances with AKL Savannah View. That is one of my favorite resorts and there are a large number of savannah rooms available . . . but probably nothing close to SSR.

Edited: I just checked DVCNews for the number of studios. SSR - no dedicated, but 432 lock-off 2 bedrooms are available - which means potentially 432 studio rooms. AKV [both] have a total of 46 dedicated studios and 250 lock-off 2 bedrooms - which means potentially 297 studios.

 

[dayvewc]

Most likely SSR, but I would personally take my chances with AKL Savannah View. That is one of my favorite resorts and there are a large number of savannah rooms available . . . but probably nothing close to SSR.

Edited: I just checked DVCNews for the number of studios. SSR - no dedicated, but 432 lock-off 2 bedrooms are available - which means potentially 432 studio rooms. AKV [both] have a total of 46 dedicated studios and 250 lock-off 2 bedrooms - which means potentially 297 studios.

Thanks. I did not even know that that information was readily available online.

So, it looks like SSR has roughly half again as many potential studio rooms as AKL does total, which would imply that it is more likely to open up for the dates I need.

I guess the questions I need to answer are 1) would I rather stay at SSR or AKL? Easy, AKL as I've never stayed there before; and 2) would I rather go to WDW and stay at SSR, or miss the chance to go holding out for AKL? SSR it is.

Or, as a couple of friends just recommended, book the 2 nights at AKL and waitlist the other 2 at both places and take the first one that opens. Give the possibility for a split stay, but I'm ok with that.

 

[dayvewc]

Ok, so I made reservations at AKL (Kidani - savannah view) for Wednesday and Thursday night, and then waitlisted Friday and Saturday night on 2 differnent waitlists for both AKL (Kidani - savannah view) and OKW. All studio rooms.

Hoping that the waitlist will come through on AKL so I don't have to do a split stay, but more than willing to do a split stay if it will get me down there for the weekend.

Does anyone happen to know if OKW has more potential studios available than SSR? I was looking on DVCNews and couldn't find that info, so either I don't know where to look or I don't know what I'm looking at.

I'm fine with changing my second waitlist to the resort that has the most studio rooms to increase the chances that it'll come through, though I'm not overly fond of a split stay on such a short visit.

 

[rlduvall]

Does anyone happen to know if OKW has more potential studios available than SSR? I was looking on DVCNews and couldn't find that info, so either I don't know where to look or I don't know what I'm looking at.

It's under the DVC Resorts tab. Tim states there are -0- dedicated studios and 230 2 bedroom lock-offs bringing potential studio availability in the 230 range. Of course, you have to remember you are also competing with families who want 2 bedrooms besides the families who just want a studio.

Also, stalk the website for AKV availability - don't just wait on the waitlist to possibly match. You would be surprised how well that works.

 

[dayvewc]

It's under the DVC Resorts tab. Tim states there are -0- dedicated studios and 230 2 bedroom lock-offs bringing potential studio availability in the 230 range. Of course, you have to remember you are also competing with families who want 2 bedrooms besides the families who just want a studio.

Also, stalk the website for AKV availability - don't just wait on the waitlist to possibly match. You would be surprised how well that works.

Thanks. I'm truly not an idiot, but pulling the site up on my phone I wasn't seeing that first section. Works much better on the desktop. May just be my phone, though.

Hmmm, SSR has more potential studios, so I might need to switch the waitlist over. I'll give it a couple of weeks and see how the stalking goes. If I start seeing 1-night availability somewhere, I can book that and keep moving.

Yeah, I figure I'll be stalking periodically through the day over the next 5 months or so. lol

 

[rlduvall]

Thanks. I'm truly not an idiot, but pulling the site up on my phone I wasn't seeing that first section. Works much better on the desktop. May just be my phone, though.

Hmmm, SSR has more potential studios, so I might need to switch the waitlist over. I'll give it a couple of weeks and see how the stalking goes. If I start seeing 1-night availability somewhere, I can book that and keep moving.

Yeah, I figure I'll be stalking periodically through the day over the next 5 months or so. lol

Honestly, I think you have a very good chance of all 4 nights at AKV. That would definitely be my preference.

 

[dayvewc]

I've been stalking the RAT, and noticed yesterday that Contemporary had a studio for Saturday night, but not Friday. I didn't snag it holding out for AKL instead, but noticed it was gone today. Hmmm, wondering if I should have grabbed it just in case. Oh, well.

 

[rlduvall]

I've been stalking the RAT, and noticed yesterday that Contemporary had a studio for Saturday night, but not Friday. I didn't snag it holding out for AKL instead, but noticed it was gone today. Hmmm, wondering if I should have grabbed it just in case. Oh, well.

And this is the danger of stalking the website. I keep myself torn up constantly because of it, should I do this or that or this or that. Drives my hubby insane.

 

[dayvewc]

And this is the danger of stalking the website. I keep myself torn up constantly because of it, should I do this or that or this or that. Drives my hubby insane.

lol I think in a couple of years it won't bother me near as much, but I'm still new at using my DVC and haven't had a chance to stay at many resorts. So, while I am holding out for AKL, mostly to avoid having to move in the middle of my stay, I would really enjoy staying at Contemporary or OKW or GF or ....

 

[dayvewc]

Well, stalking the website is paying off. I got my last night as a 1 night stay. Canceled my other waitlists and just put in a waitlist for the 3rd night.

Woo-hoo!! AKL, looks like here I come!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

BTW, every one of the DVC boards here have a sticky for DVC resources and a post stating the number of rooms at each resort. Here's a link to one:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/dvc-resource-center.2823949/

Good luck with your waitlist!