HH and waitlisting in the summer

[kmermaid]

Looking to get a 2 bdrm for the last week in June at HH. So far was only able to get my first night and have been waitlisted for the next two nights. My question is I have my points tied up in a ressie for May which I was going to delete as my HH booking progressed. After talking to MS it seems my chances for the waitlisting would improve if my points were not tied up in a May trip. They said it would be easier to apply readily available points to a waitlist rather that having to go in and delete a ressie to have access to the points. In the time it takes to do that the waitlist might be gone. I guess I would be willing to cancel the May trip (kids were there in August and DH isn't as nuts about WDW as me) and untie the points.

Is there anyone who has had this experience and would recommend cancelling the points to have on hand or should I give it maybe 2 weeks?

 

[dis-happy]

What you were told seems very odd to me. Go ahead and waitlist and ask to have them call you if the nights become available. MS will call and if you are not home they will ask you to return the phone call within 24 hours. The w/l is being held for you at that point. So you call, re-distribute the points, and all is well. The only reason to undo the points ahead of time is if you tell them to switch you over automatically (without them calling you first). But in both scenarios you should have the same chance at the w/l.

As far as your w/l chances go, HH does get busier the closer you get to July 4th week. But it is still early. I would wait until next March or April (before you are 31 days out on your May ressie) before making a final decision on what to do.

 

[RobDoc]

Those on the automatic/daily waitlist have a much higher chance for success. MS will not hold individual dates to make a reservation and would call you only if all of your dates become available at once ... AND ... if you are at the top of the waitlist.

If MS already has permission and access to the needed points, they will automatically add days to the reservation as they become available without needing to contact you by phone.

Since you are now within 7 months for June dates, you are competinig with everyone who wants a similar reservation and , if they are using the automatic/daily waitlist, will have a better chance for success even if they called after you did.

There is a good opportunity for success with this much time left before the dates, but the automatic waitlist will increase your chances greatly.

Good luck!

 

[dis-happy]

Wow, live and learn. Thanks Doc! I guess I've just been very lucky up to now on the waitlist (and usually want an all or nothing scenario). Wish that MS had explained the difference to me. Another good reason to spend time on the DIS.

 

[tinkfan]

Those on the automatic/daily waitlist have a much higher chance for success. MS will not hold individual dates to make a reservation and would call you only if all of your dates become available at once ... AND ... if you are at the top of the waitlist.

Doc,
I am not sure I understand this answer.
I have been on the waitlist many times and have been called as dates become available even if I had points tied up in other reservations. Are you saying that you have a better chance if you waitlist the nights individually and take each one as they come available? If so, I agree that your chances are much better. If waiting for 2 or more nights together unless they all open up at the same time someone who is wanting only one of them will get it first. I still do not think it matters wether you are scheduled for automatic comfirmation or ask to be called. If its your turn on the waitlist than its yours!

 

[tor]

I'm not sure having the automatic waitlist makes a difference, but the individual nights do make a difference. If you are looking for a week and one or two nights becomes available member services will skip you and go to the next person on the list it matches.