Help with Booking Strategies (Borrow/Waitlist Games) - 1st timer

[MNDisneyMommy]

I am stalking the website trying to complete our reservation for a trip Oct 10-17th. We have a confirmed reservation for Oct 12-17 in a 2 BR Lake View and I waitlisted Oct 10-12 for a 2-BR Lake View. So, this borrowed some of my pts from 2016 and I have 98 left in 2016. (We aren't going next year).

We just closed so I couldn't book earlier this time, and we knew it would be a tricky thing to do and we'd have some compromises in terms of split stay or rooms/views because its a really busy time for DVC. Frankly I was pretty pleased to get the weekdays at BLT in my desired room - I wasn't sure if we'd get that much. Anyway, I want to get something confirmed for Oct 10-12 so we feel comfortable with flights and coordinating with the other six travelers coming with us. I know we will be able to stay SOMEWHERE (SSR, OKW) just would prefer to be closer to MK if I can! (we have a 6 mo and a 3 yr old - we'll be there almost the whole trip I'm sure).

Can someone help me with the right strategy here to maximize my chances for a MK area resort (if there is one for me besides checking availability often for my missing dates and being online at 7am sharp the 10th to get whatever I can get and add a second waitlist if I'm away from the MK area?). Until this morning it seemed like I would have some choices we were quite happy with (2 Poly studios or WL 2 BR) but I just checked and those are suddenly booked the 8th and 9th - is that a sign people are walking and I should expect those to be off the table when I book on the 10th now? Am I at a disadvantage if I don't book something on the 9th for the 9th and 10th and then try to walk it to the 11th?

Also - would it be possible to try to book the two nights on cash to avoid a resort switch - is there any sort of DVC discount if we did that? My brother and sister in law are staying in the room with us, and have already volunteered to try to rent points or pay something to avoid moving (which they are much more worried about than we are).

And a related question - whatever I do manage to book, how do I update my BLT waitlist request to replace that reservation without redoing the waitlist and losing my place in line? (if I call in can they do that, or do I need to start from scratch anyway and might as well do online?)

Thanks much any advice for this newbie!

 

[CMNJ]

Can't answer the the strategy question but DVC does offer discounted rooms to DVC members at DVC hotels (obviously subject to availability). We are taking grandparents with us in May and used the discount to book a second BLT studio and got 25% off the rack rate (which is great since BLT never qualifies for spring/fall room promotions)-saved us between $600-700 on a 4 night stay

 

[Sandisw]

I think you have a chance of a BLT Lake view coming through for those two nights. To maximize the wait list, I would also put in a wait list for the night of the 11th, and keep the nights of the 10th to the 12th. This way, you might be able to pick up one night at a time. It's easier that way. Then, if you do have to do cash, you can do it just for one night. Any adjustments to the wait list will move you in line, but to be honest, if you just put it in, and adjust now, there may not really be that many people ahead of you...and also remember, wait lists are filled by exact match. So, if you go on later than someone else, if what comes available doesn't match exactly to those ahead of you, your waitlist gets filled. That is one reason why waitlists for less nights have a better chance than more nights.

Also, just to clarify, when you set up a wait list, the points are not borrowed unless the reservation actually fills. You just have to have them there to borrow when the time comes.

Good luck!