Guess i did not get my wait-list. Bummed!

[kstinw19]

We are heading to Disney next Saturday and are staying 2 nights at SS and 5 nights at WLV. I was wait listed at our home resort, BLT, since September and I really thought we would get it. But it is now only 7 days out and no luck.

From what I had read, most wait lists seem to go through. Is this accurate or am I off? It's my biggest problem with DVC. If I was paying OOP, I could stay wherever I chose. Sorry for complaining but I do not like their system.

We will still have fun though. Any day at Disney is better than any day somewhere else

 

[Deb & Bill]

We are heading to Disney next Saturday and are staying 2 nights at SS and 5 nights at WLV. I was wait listed at our home resort, BLT, since September and I really thought we would get it. But it is now only 7 days out and no luck.

From what I had read, most wait lists seem to go through. Is this accurate or am I off? It's my biggest problem with DVC. If I was paying OOP, I could stay wherever I chose. Sorry for complaining but I do not like their system.

We will still have fun though. Any day at Disney is better than any day somewhere else

We've waitlisted twice and neither came through. And both were for several months out. One was for a SSR two bedroom, the other for a BLT one bedroom (lake view).

You probably should have booked your home resort at 11 months out to get it.

 

[Splashboat]

If I was paying OOP, I could stay wherever I chose. Sorry for complaining but I do not like their system.

That is not necessarily true. We tried to stay in a 1 bedroom @ BLT last fall (several months in advance - cash), I checked every day for months and nothing became available - hope that makes you feel better - it can happen to anyone.

 

[rlovew]

I have never had a waitlist come through. I would guess them coming through for a period of days if made at 4-5 months out would be highly unlikely.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've 50% success with wait lists. At this point are you sure you are on a wait list? You have to request being on one until 7 days out. At that point, call every day, you may yet be lucky!

 

[LisaS]

From what I had read, most wait lists seem to go through. Is this accurate or am I off? It's my biggest problem with DVC.

My waitlist experience has been mixed. Twice I have waitlisted for just one night and both times I got it. One of those times was for a boardwalk view 1BR during F&W. We didn't decide to go until 9 months out and I couldn't get all 7 nights when I called. That missing night didn't come through until 7 months out.

My other two times on the waitlist did not come through. I had to rebook a trip at 4 or 5 months out. I was on a waitlist for 2 nights at AKV/Savanna View and 5 nights at BWV/Boardwalk view and neither of them came through. This was for early May which isn't usually a busy time. AKV had just opened and not much of the resort was declared so I expect that had a lot to do with the lack of availability there.

 

[n2mm]

don't be too bummed! You're not alone. I leave in 10 days and my waitlist did not come through either. I started my waitlist at 9:00AM on the first day of the 7 month window for 5 nights at the BWV-standard studio (18-23) and it never came through. I've never had a waitlist come through that was more than 2 nights. Yes, I've had 1 night waitlist come through sometimes, but anything more than that has never come through. I only go during slow to moderate times of the year and never holidays. I think we all read those excited posts from the folks who get their waitlist and it makes me think, wow, it's possible. I guess there are more of us out here that never get theirs. Heck, my DD is on the waitlist for the BWV-standard studio and I started that waitlist 10 days after the 11 month window openned!! (end of October--so F&W) --not to optimistic on that one either. Have a great trip -- I just started to pack and a January trip is so challenging. Between shorts, sweats, gloves and swimsuits, packing is crazy! I just pack a variety of things and bring laundry soap to wash if we run out.

 

[DebbieB]

We are heading to Disney next Saturday and are staying 2 nights at SS and 5 nights at WLV. I was wait listed at our home resort, BLT, since September and I really thought we would get it. But it is now only 7 days out and no luck.

From what I had read, most wait lists seem to go through. Is this accurate or am I off? It's my biggest problem with DVC. If I was paying OOP, I could stay wherever I chose. Sorry for complaining but I do not like their system.

We will still have fun though. Any day at Disney is better than any day somewhere else

Did you waitlist all 7 nights? Problem is all 7 have to become available at once for the waitlist to come through. It pays to keep calling and check if individual nights are available.

I'm not sure what you mean by "their system". Do you mean the 11/7 months? DVC members tend to book farther in advance than people booking through CRO.

 

[ain0004]

I have no luck with the wait list. We have been waitlisted X3 . I am currently waitlisted for a Treehouse villa in May, for one night. I was able to get my ressie for all but one. So we plan on staying at SSR and transferring over if all else fails.

 

[disneynutz]

We have had success once out of about eight tries over the last few years. They messed our points up so bad I said never again.

Bill

 

[kstinw19]

Well, it is nice to see that I am not alone. It is true that when you read these boards, it seems as though everyone gets their wait lists.

I did not wait list all seven days...it was a 3 night wait list. Obviously, I would have done it 11 months out if possible, but this was a "family reunion" that I just found out about this past August.

Although it is not ideal, we are at SS 2 bdrm for the first two nights and then WL 2 bdrm for the remaining nights. Ease of getting back to the hotel is priority #1 which is why I really like BLT. But we will be fine.

And yes, I did mean that the reservation system is frustrating at times. While I do agree that DVC members do tend to make them way out, sometimes it's not really possible and at those times it would be nice to have the choice of hotels that you would have if you were paying OOP. But that's another topic entirely and I knew that when joining.

Anyway...rant is over. Time to get excited!!

Thanks for the replies...

 

[Sandisw]

Well, it is nice to see that I am not alone. It is true that when you read these boards, it seems as though everyone gets their wait lists.

I did not wait list all seven days...it was a 3 night wait list. Obviously, I would have done it 11 months out if possible, but this was a "family reunion" that I just found out about this past August.

Although it is not ideal, we are at SS 2 bdrm for the first two nights and then WL 2 bdrm for the remaining nights. Ease of getting back to the hotel is priority #1 which is why I really like BLT. But we will be fine.

And yes, I did mean that the reservation system is frustrating at times. While I do agree that DVC members do tend to make them way out, sometimes it's not really possible and at those times it would be nice to have the choice of hotels that you would have if you were paying OOP. But that's another topic entirely and I knew that when joining.

Anyway...rant is over. Time to get excited!!

Thanks for the replies...

Although the wait list process is over, you can call each day to check--I have heard of people getting things during the 7 days so you just never know!

I have been lucky so far with my wait lists in them coming through.

 

[3happydancers]

Well, it is nice to see that I am not alone. It is true that when you read these boards, it seems as though everyone gets their wait lists.

I did not wait list all seven days...it was a 3 night wait list. Obviously, I would have done it 11 months out if possible, but this was a "family reunion" that I just found out about this past August.

Although it is not ideal, we are at SS 2 bdrm for the first two nights and then WL 2 bdrm for the remaining nights. Ease of getting back to the hotel is priority #1 which is why I really like BLT. But we will be fine.

And yes, I did mean that the reservation system is frustrating at times. While I do agree that DVC members do tend to make them way out, sometimes it's not really possible and at those times it would be nice to have the choice of hotels that you would have if you were paying OOP. But that's another topic entirely and I knew that when joining.

Anyway...rant is over. Time to get excited!!

Thanks for the replies...

Wow, I did not know it was this difficult to have a waitlist come thru. I will be doing a waitlist for the very first time in a few weeks at the 7 month out date but I would want a full stay not a split, if possible. Wish me luck!! No matter, we are still booked for our home for a full stay.

 

[SamSam]

I have been one of the lucky ones and have always had my waitlists come through. Even at this late date, I would call and have them check availibility and make sure you are on the wait list to the very end.

 

[Dean]

Well, it is nice to see that I am not alone. It is true that when you read these boards, it seems as though everyone gets their wait lists.

I did not wait list all seven days...it was a 3 night wait list. Obviously, I would have done it 11 months out if possible, but this was a "family reunion" that I just found out about this past August.

Although it is not ideal, we are at SS 2 bdrm for the first two nights and then WL 2 bdrm for the remaining nights. Ease of getting back to the hotel is priority #1 which is why I really like BLT. But we will be fine.

And yes, I did mean that the reservation system is frustrating at times. While I do agree that DVC members do tend to make them way out, sometimes it's not really possible and at those times it would be nice to have the choice of hotels that you would have if you were paying OOP. But that's another topic entirely and I knew that when joining.

Anyway...rant is over. Time to get excited!!

Thanks for the replies...

I think properly done wait lists done early in the reservation window usually come through. That means placed day one 7 months out or earlier. Not all do, some items are just too much in demand. There are some even done day one 11 months out you might not get. Realize the wait list cuts off a 1 month out unless you asked to continue on. It cuts off again at 7 days out. You should call them to see if something is now available, several times every day if possible.

As for having to plan in advance, such is the nature of timeshares in general and DVC specifically. To be honest, DVC is the most forgiving system I am aware of when it comes to timeshare availability. It seems to me that DVC owners are more using DVC as a method to get to WDW rather than truly being timeshare oriented. I believe that makes them less aggressive on reserving and planning far in advance and thus we see more availability on shorter notice than I'd generally expect with a timeshare in general. However, the availability and advance planning has shifted in recent years, partly due to the affect of SSR on the system, IMO.

The most recent change in the WL system, where you can only have 2 specific options, has reduced the chances of success greatly for a given individual.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I...Realize the wait list cuts off a 1 month out unless you asked to continue on. It cuts off again at 7 months out. ....

I think you mean 7 DAYS out. Early morning typing will do that to you.

 

[Dean]

I think you mean 7 DAYS out. Early morning typing will do that to you.

LOL, yes thanks. Too many cutoff's running through my head this am with the other questions related to availability and reservations.

 

[Kidanifan08]

We have done wait lists twice and have been lucky to have them come through both times. They were both done at the 1st day of the 7 month mark for BLT.

Our first was a BLT-LV studio for a Tu-Fr in October 2011. That one came through before the 180 day mark, because we knew we had it before making ADR's.

For our upcoming trip in June, we were able to get a 2BR-LV lock-off at BLT and did a WL for a 2BR-LV dedicated and it came through within a month.

I am sure we will be on the wrong end of a WL at some point. Don't give up on wait-listing. This is such a nice time of year to be at the World with the crowd levels being so low. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Anal Annie]

We are heading to Disney next Saturday and are staying 2 nights at SS and 5 nights at WLV. I was wait listed at our home resort, BLT, since September and I really thought we would get it. But it is now only 7 days out and no luck.

From what I had read, most wait lists seem to go through. Is this accurate or am I off? It's my biggest problem with DVC. If I was paying OOP, I could stay wherever I chose. Sorry for complaining but I do not like their system.

We will still have fun though. Any day at Disney is better than any day somewhere else

I'm going to go out on a limb & guess that part of your problem is that 1) you booked at less than 7 months out so there were others already on the waitlist before you ever called and 2) you're looking to go on MLK weekend - very popular for a lot of people to plan a winter get-away since there's a long weekend thrown in for many people...not so likely that people will cancel as they've probably booked flights way ahead for the better holiday deals etc.

We've only had to waitlist once and it was successful - it was for a studio at BCV in August and I called RIGHT AT 7 months so I'm pretty sure we were one of the first on the list... But since we resort hop from trip to trip we almost always call right at 7 months and we ALWAYS have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice in resorts so that we're prepared to take whatever's available. We're just trying to work our way thru staying at all of the resorts before we start doing too many repeats so we're happy to get one of our choices. When I have called at less than 7 months I start out by just giving them the dates & ask what IS available then we pick from what's open.

 

[kstinw19]

I'm going to go out on a limb & guess that part of your problem is that 1) you booked at less than 7 months out so there were others already on the waitlist before you ever called and 2) you're looking to go on MLK weekend - very popular for a lot of people to plan a winter get-away since there's a long weekend thrown in for many people...not so likely that people will cancel as they've probably booked flights way ahead for the better holiday deals etc.

As I have stated, I usually do book our trips at least 7 months in advance but this was a gift given to my parents back in August as a 'family reunion' and I had no more advance than that. As soon as I found out, I booked it.

I guess I just assumed that it would have come through. But you know what they say about assuming...