How do we know when a wait list is filled?

[TexasChick123]

I haven't wait listed anything in a while, and I know things are always changing on the site. I know you used to see your wait list disappear from your dashboard when it filled. My understanding is that is no longer the case. How do we know when wait lists fill? I know MS is notoriously slow about filling them once they match. I sometimes move things around when I am wait listing other places, and I don't want to do all of that if the WL already matched. Are there any tricks other than just calling MS and asking if they have filled?

 

[Sandisw]

When it fills and is changed is when you see it via the website. Anytime I am going to change things or cancel a waitlist because of it, I call MS to double check it hasn’t filled and just not changed,

I too wish it was better noted that it was “in process”.

 

[TexasChick123]

When it fills and is changed is when you see it via the website. Anytime I am going to change things or cancel a waitlist because of it, I call MS to double check it hasn’t filled and just not changed,

I too wish it was better noted that it was “in process”.

Thanks. It's so frustrating because if I knew something had filled, then I would leave it alone. I miss the days of it disappearing from your dashboard. I don't do many WLs because I usually just stay where I own, but I am toying with a split stay this summer. DH doesn't want to do it because he hates changing rooms, but I am trying to think of what would be easiest with transportation to parks (walking versus busing) depending on our plans. The fact that we would have to pack up the 4 of us and be "homeless" for 5 hours is a definite negative to this though.

 

[Sandisw]

I do split stays all the time and when I did with my family, I packed in such a way so that I only had to unpack one suitcase. It held everting resort one. The second suitcase held things for resort 2. This way, we just put things back as we wore them. I even bought extra toothbrushes and stuff so I didn’t have to repack,

To make the homeless day run smoother, we always did late hours the night before, slept in, and then made the split stay day our Disney Springs day. This way, we checked out at 11, go the luggage sent, then headed for lunch and shopping. By the time we were done and back at resort 2, it was about 3 pm. Most often, room is ready. If not, we then hang by the pool for a little while.

 

[Dizzydizney]

I keep checking my dashboard too....could not get Kidani std studio for one night in August for DD, so she’s at RR tower studio for an extra night while hoping for w\l to come thru. Did not see that problem coming at the 7 month mark. I keep stalking too. I agree split stays are cumbersome, but I do something similar to what @Sandisw does, except I use those e-bags to keep things sorted. I got mine on Amazon. I try and pack using some of Marie Kondo’s methods and things stay pretty wrinkle free.....or better than they used to.
Does MS send an email any more?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Does MS send an email any more?

They do but it's not 100%. The CM who fills the waitlist has to select to send the email and they don't seem to always do that.

 

[drusba]

For a trip in January 2020 at AKV, I had a one-night waitlist to get an extra night for a reservation I already had. When it came through in October I got an email telling me it did, and then checked my dashboard on the DVC website and the day had been added to the reservation.

 

[lovin'fl]

My last 2 WL that got filled took them 4 work days to process. Actually one did and second one I called in on day 4 and had them process it. I knew, or guessed, they were filled because I was watching on the RAT too (so I could grab if it popped up before they grabbed it) and I saw my 2 nights missing with a night before and a night after being available (when none of the 4 nights or any other nights in the days around it were available before).

 

[mustinjourney]

I've heard that recently you will get the "welcome home" email from DVC like you normally get when you book -- so if you get one of those emails when you haven't booked something -- that should be a good hint the WL filled.

 

[mustinjourney]

Thanks. It's so frustrating because if I knew something had filled, then I would leave it alone. I miss the days of it disappearing from your dashboard. I don't do many WLs because I usually just stay where I own, but I am toying with a split stay this summer. DH doesn't want to do it because he hates changing rooms, but I am trying to think of what would be easiest with transportation to parks (walking versus busing) depending on our plans. The fact that we would have to pack up the 4 of us and be "homeless" for 5 hours is a definite negative to this though.

I wouldn't shy away from split stays. I just did another one last week -- with 3 nights at RIV and 3 nights at VGF. As far as packing went -- I didn't do the two suitcase trick, b/c my daughter's princess dresses would have gotten glitter all over my stuff.

What I did do, though, is used large ziploc bags and packed all the similar stuff together (socks/underwear -- shirts --- pants/shorts) so that it was much easier to find what I needed in the suitcase without having to unpack the suitcase. I then used a carry-on bag to store dirty clothes in. Worked pretty well...I think I spent about an hour getting everything repacked. I feel like you save that hour in transportation advantages later.

As far as transferring bags, it does get a little pricey with tipping everyone on both ends -- so you do have to take that into account. You can either call bell services and have them pick the stuff up from your room and transfer it -- or take it down to them yourself -- or use UBER XL and just transfer everything to the new hotel yourself.

I opted for the last option this last trip and it worked well. But if you don't like moving the bags yourself, bell services is very convenient -- just account for about 15 minutes for them to send someone to your room.

 

[TexasChick123]

Thanks for all the tips. We usually bring 4 carry-on bags when we go. I brought up the 2 suitcase trick to DH, and he said he liked that a lot. We will pack the kids for Resort A in one bag, and another bag for Resort B. same thing for DH and me. I really don't like switching rooms with all of our stuff either, but I think we are going to do it this summer because ya'll have inspired me. I mean, we usually tack on a night at a Universal hotel to one end of the trip, so I don't know why I am acting like we never switch rooms. We aren't doing that this summer, so it'll basically be the same thing for us. I will probably also handle switching the bags ourselves with an Uber or Lyft. I am impatient and hate when my bag is "in the system" somewhere.

 

[mrsap]

I set up my first waitlist for 8 days in December and it was actually filled eight days later.... I knew because I received a ‘We can’t wait to welcome you home!’ Email with the dates I originally booked but at the resort I waitlisted! I then checked my account, and my waitlist was in fact filled, because my dates/waitlisted resort were now listed on my Dashboard. Good luck!

 

[Louis morrell]

I've heard that recently you will get the "welcome home" email from DVC like you normally get when you book -- so if you get one of those emails when you haven't booked something -- that should be a good hint the WL filled.

Yep, that's exactly how I found out my Boardwalk waitlist filled last week.