Grand Californian Waitlist for June - Is there still hope?

[Julylady]

Hi All:
I know none of you has a crystal ball, but I am hoping for someone who might have experience. We are staying at the Grand Californian 1-bedroom for five nights in mid June. I tried for all 7 nights, but was unable to get two nights at the front end of our trip. I immediately wait-listed for both a studio and a 1-bedroom. (So, I have been on the waitlist for 6+ months).

That all happened in December and now we are less than 60 days out and the waitlist has still not come through. I have a reservation at a Good Neighbor hotel, but no one in my family wants to stay there. I am thinking of trying to make a reservation using points at Paradise Pier (33 points per night). I know its a lot of points, but the kids really like the look of this hotel. But, I am also thinking that I should wait until after the 45 day point since some people might still be holding on to reservations they don't intend to keep.

So if you were me, would you hold out another 15 days and see if the waitlist comes through? Or, try to use points to stay at Paradise Pier? Or even, stay at the Good Neighbor hotel?

All advice appreciated! We are normally WDW people so Disneyland is a bit of a mystery.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Canceling and having points go into holding occurs at 30 days, so, if you can wait that long, I would.

Have you also tried to book, just to be sure a villa hasn't had a day available. Your waitlist only would be fulfilled if both days were available.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Depends on what day you're trying for as I am also trying to upsize or add a room in mid-June.

I of course had 2 rooms then thought the trip wouldn't with other family....then on another trip they bought AP's too and are ready to go! Oh well - the best laid plans and all that....

I'd likely just hold on the waitlist and keep a cash reservation as a backup until you get closer to 31 days out. Then at that time give consideration to trying to book on points at PP if it were a possibility or just plan on the cash at a good neighbor.

 

[WiscBill]

I would wait. I went with my DD in February. We wanted to stay for four nights at DLR and three nights near San Diego. We originally had two nights (Mo-Tu) in a one bedroom followed by one night (W) in a two bedroom followed by a one bedroom (Th). We waitlisted a one bedroom for the Sunday and the Wednesday as two separate reservations. The sunday night came through at 33 days (we then dropped the one bedroom on Thursday) and waitlisted the saturday night, which actually came through on the 29th day, even though we had put it on a 30 day wait list. Had it come through earlier, we would have dropped the two bedroom but then changed that 1 bdrm waitlist to seven days instead. That one bedroom never came through so I wish I would have cancelled it and put the points in holding, since we live on the east coast and it's pretty easy to use holding points at HHI during the winter months. ( we wound up with a HA room on a low floor and it was a pain to move). There is much discussion on how the waitlist algorithm actually works, but a one night wait list is believed to be easier to clear since a request has to be perfect match. Our backups were reservations in private hotels (mostly Marriott) because they could be cancelled up to a day in advance. Your experience in June may be different.

 

[apple9117]

Yikes def wishin you luck!

 

[DebbieB]

Have you been watching the website to see if any nights become available? A 7 night waitlist is hard because all the nights have to open at once.

 

[Disneypapa]

I had success with two wait listings for only one night for a studio in late June at the GCV. The key for us was to book what was available at seven month window and only having to wait list for one night, which is a 100 times easier than trying to get seven nights available at one instance in time.

Is any of your nights available now, so you could reserve them and then waitlist only a few nights? I suspect it is to late for that strategy. I would wait until the last minute, but avoid having any points go into a holding account. good luck!!!!!

 

[maburke]

To be clear, your waitlists are for 2 days, right, not 7? I would think 7 would be just about hopeless, but 2 is possible. That time of year can be tricky because it's just before the point prices go up for the summer. I agree with Bobbi's suggestion to wait until 30 days out, as that is when some shifting will happen. Also, as she said, keep checking the website, and grab one day at a time if they come up.

Personally, I think the Disney Collection is almost never worth the points. Have you compared cash prices?