How exactly does "Waitlist" work?

[Lorrie7249]

Hello-

New DVC member here (CCV)... just booked my 1st Welcome Home Visit for Dec 11-17 - currently have a split stay at BLT, 3 nights (2br lake view) and then BCV, 3 nights (2BR). I was hoping to have the first part of the split stay at VGF in a 1BR, but alas, it was not available and they could not help get it for me. So, I went with the BLT 2BR. While we like the convenience of being able to walk to MK, I was really hoping to stay at VGF to see if it would be a good fit for us to eventually add on there.

I would like to understand how the waitlist works.
Can I try to waitlist for VGF the days I currently have booked at BLT even though that reservation was made by member services for me?
If I do the waitlist, will it switch automatically or will I need to accept it?
Will the same points be used for a waitlist that comes through as the current reservation is using?
Is it even worth trying to do as I realize our favorite time to travel is also the favorite for most DVC members?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Marionnette]

Hello-

New DVC member here (CCV)... just booked my 1st Welcome Home Visit for Dec 11-17 - currently have a split stay at BLT, 3 nights (2br lake view) and then BCV, 3 nights (2BR). I was hoping to have the first part of the split stay at VGF in a 1BR, but alas, it was not available and they could not help get it for me. So, I went with the BLT 2BR. While we like the convenience of being able to walk to MK, I was really hoping to stay at VGF to see if it would be a good fit for us to eventually add on there.

I would like to understand how the waitlist works.
Can I try to waitlist for VGF the days I currently have booked at BLT even though that reservation was made by member services for me?
If I do the waitlist, will it switch automatically or will I need to accept it?
Will the same points be used for a waitlist that comes through as the current reservation is using?
Is it even worth trying to do as I realize our favorite time to travel is also the favorite for most DVC members?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Yes, you can set up a waitlist even if Member Services made the original reservation.

Waitlists are filled without the need for the member to approve it. They are manually entered by Member Services when they are filled.

When you create your wait list, you will be given the option to replace an existing reservation or create a new one. If you choose to replace, the points from the old reservation will be used to book the new one.

Anything is worth trying. Just be aware that you are very late to the game for a December wait list. In a normal year, your chances would be slim. In this COVID year, cancellations are occurring more frequently. Last week, I cancelled 9 nights in a VGF standard view studio for early December. I’m sure it filled one or two wait lists.

 

[drusba]

You can set up a wait-list to have the BLT ressie switched to VGF 1BR if the same nights become available at VGF, and have it done automatically it it comes through and have tthe points from the BLT reservation used for the VGF reservation. You just have to be sure it is set up that way and not as a wait-list that does not depend on getting rid of the BLT reservation or depends on contacting you first before doing the switch. You also need to make sure the expiration date of the wait-list is 31 days before date of arrival so you do not have an issue of extra points from the BLT reservation going into holding if the switch were kade 30 days or fewer out.

As to whether it is worth it is anyone’s guess. That it would be for a 1BR probably gives it a somewhat better chance of happening than if it were a studio. Moreover, with the COVID issues, there may be, like there already has been for August, Sep, and parts of Oct, many usually fully booked rooms opening up due to members who are cancelling because of the COVID issues.

 

[Sandisw]

When you put it in, have it listed to replace what you have. Since it will be less points, have it expire at 31 days prior.

Now' in addition, you can try to check the website on a regular basis and see if you can get it yourself as this does happen.

I have recently changed my 4 nights the first week of December to a VGF studio by stalking the website.

 

[Lorrie7249]

Thanks everyone! i especially appreciate the advice about setting an expiration date so extra points would not go into holding!!! i would never have known about that otherwise! Continue to be very grateful for all the insight on these boards. thanks

 

[Dean]

Hello-

New DVC member here (CCV)... just booked my 1st Welcome Home Visit for Dec 11-17 - currently have a split stay at BLT, 3 nights (2br lake view) and then BCV, 3 nights (2BR). I was hoping to have the first part of the split stay at VGF in a 1BR, but alas, it was not available and they could not help get it for me. So, I went with the BLT 2BR. While we like the convenience of being able to walk to MK, I was really hoping to stay at VGF to see if it would be a good fit for us to eventually add on there.

I would like to understand how the waitlist works.
Can I try to waitlist for VGF the days I currently have booked at BLT even though that reservation was made by member services for me?
If I do the waitlist, will it switch automatically or will I need to accept it?
Will the same points be used for a waitlist that comes through as the current reservation is using?
Is it even worth trying to do as I realize our favorite time to travel is also the favorite for most DVC members?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Remember you only have 2 waitlist spots per master membership per UY and each and every variation counts as a choice. For example, listing a dedicated 2 BR and a lock off 2 BR is 2 spots even if the same view type. If it matches they will pull any points at that time including borrowing if needed.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I recently had a 5 night Kidani standard view 2 bedroom waitlist come through for December within a week of setting the waitlist up. Only two days were originally available, and I figured there was no chance. People are cancelling December, that’s for sure!

 

[Lorrie7249]

Remember you only have 2 waitlist spots per master membership per UY and each and every variation counts as a choice. For example, listing a dedicated 2 BR and a lock off 2 BR is 2 spots even if the same view type. If it matches they will pull any points at that time including borrowing if needed.

thanks for this. i only have one membership with 2 contracts. i think i would only waitlist the one room with less points anyway. Need to check with the family before deciding to even try.

 

[Dean]

thanks for this. i only have one membership with 2 contracts. i think i would only waitlist the one room with less points anyway. Need to check with the family before deciding to even try.

So standard view lockoff and dedicated 2 BR at VGF only?

 

[Lorrie7249]

So standard view lockoff and dedicated 2 BR at VGF only?

No- we wanted to try the VGF 1 br standard view to see if it would work for us... family of 5 with 3 sons (19, 17 and 12). I really love that resort and love the look of the villas, so strongly considering adding on there via resale. If the 1 BR will not work well for us (sleeping arrangement and shower wise), I may want to scratch that off my list, consider a smaller contract only to be used for short trips just me and the hubs while leaving our copper creek for family vacations, or just slowly add on. In my mind, i'd like to think we would be ok in the 1 BR, but just would like to be sure.

 

[Dean]

No- we wanted to try the VGF 1 br standard view to see if it would work for us... family of 5 with 3 sons (19, 17 and 12). I really love that resort and love the look of the villas, so strongly considering adding on there via resale. If the 1 BR will not work well for us (sleeping arrangement and shower wise), I may want to scratch that off my list, consider a smaller contract only to be used for short trips just me and the hubs while leaving our copper creek for family vacations, or just slowly add on. In my mind, i'd like to think we would be ok in the 1 BR, but just would like to be sure.

Sounds great, likely easier to get anyway. Let us know how it works out. Personally I'm not doing 5 big people in a 1 BR, any 1BR and I don't think it'll be a good option for you over the next few years but as they start to age out, which may not be long with the 2 older ones, that may change. Or it may be you add additional guests to the group such as friends of the kids. At least their all the same gender which helps some.

 

[Lorrie7249]

Sounds great, likely easier to get anyway. Let us know how it works out. Personally I'm not doing 5 big people in a 1 BR, any 1BR and I don't think it'll be a good option for you over the next few years but as they start to age out, which may not be long with the 2 older ones, that may change. Or it may be you add additional guests to the group such as friends of the kids. At least their all the same gender which helps some.

thanks. yes, the "boys" have never really liked sharing, one of the reasons we have taken the plunge into DVC is because we just recently needed to do 2 rooms. We did a couple of nights squished into a Contemporary room that had the daybed. But even that would not have worked for our whole trip.

for this 1st trip as DVC, i'd like to at least try it since they are "used to" having to share. I fear that once in a 2BR we are done for and will never want to go back. lol

 

[Dean]

thanks. yes, the "boys" have never really liked sharing, one of the reasons we have taken the plunge into DVC is because we just recently needed to do 2 rooms. We did a couple of nights squished into a Contemporary room that had the daybed. But even that would not have worked for our whole trip.

for this 1st trip as DVC, i'd like to at least try it since they are "used to" having to share. I fear that once in a 2BR we are done for and will never want to go back. lol

I think you should plan on a 2 BR for a while but at least you'll know. BLT will give you some insight potentially into this situation as well.

 

[justadreamaway77]

Remember you only have 2 waitlist spots per master membership per UY and each and every variation counts as a choice. For example, listing a dedicated 2 BR and a lock off 2 BR is 2 spots even if the same view type. If it matches they will pull any points at that time including borrowing if needed.

I thought it was 2 waitlists per UY at a time. So once you cancel or a WL is fulfilled, you can get another WL. You just can't have more than 2 WL's going on at the same time........

 

[Sandisw]

I thought it was 2 waitlists per UY at a time. So once you cancel or a WL is fulfilled, you can get another WL. You just can't have more than 2 WL's going on at the same time........

Correct. Once you cancel one or it fills, you can set up another one.

And, it is per UY so if your trips are in different ones, you can have more than 2 set up. I had that last year...2 during my Aug 2019 UY and 2 for my Aug 2020 UY, all at the same time.

 

[Dean]

I thought it was 2 waitlists per UY at a time. So once you cancel or a WL is fulfilled, you can get another WL. You just can't have more than 2 WL's going on at the same time........

Yes, 2 active at one time.