How long do you give a wait list request?

poohj80

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Jul 16, 2001
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This is the first time I have been put on a wait list I so could use some advice from you DVC vets. I'm only looking for a couple nights but during a busy time. I have already made a cash room reservation (rack rate, no AP discounts available either) as a back-up, but am also considering using points to stay at a moderate vs paying rack rate for the room.

So, how long should I give the wait list before just booking outside of the DVC resorts with points? I know once the points are committed outside of DVC they stay outside of DVC so I want to give the wait list some time but I also want to make sure we have a reservation somewhere in case in never comes through.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks!
PJ
 
Have you tried asking for a AAA discount instead? Those are available year round. I kind of have the same problem. I'd like to drop Jan 16 from my AsM reservation but the BCV waitlist isn't coming through... I'll have to call CRO tomorrow and see what the penalty date is for dropping Jan 16...is it from the start of my reservation or from the end?
 
Several years ago i was put on a waiting list at BWV for a standard room,In the mean time I used points and booked days for cash on a preferred view.It was 5 months later that I was notified that a room came available. I was only about 3 weeks away from our stay at the time.I was told by MS at the time thats most changes happen withn a month of your stay.
 
I thought the waitlist is cleared at a month out (although I am new and have never dealt with the waitlist). Don't you have to call back at a month and get back on the wait list if you want it still? And at a week before the waitlist is cancelled altogether.
 

dizplanner said:
I thought the waitlist is cleared at a month out (although I am new and have never dealt with the waitlist). Don't you have to call back at a month and get back on the wait list if you want it still? And at a week before the waitlist is cancelled altogether.
You are correct, dizplanner. They clear the waitlists at 30 days out, then again at 7 days out. And you do need to call at both points to reestablish your waitlist.

As for the OP, pooj80, how far out are we talking here? Is this for F&W next fall, or is this an upcoming stay? If it is soon, well need to be sure youve still got that waitlist; if far away, just make sure to have a backup, but let the waitlist work for you. Short stays have a way of coming thru even at busy times, given enough time. Good luck!
 
pumpkinboy said:
how far out are we talking here? Is this for F&W next fall, or is this an upcoming stay?
Looking at spring break time frame which is the premium season.

Thanks for the tip about the 30 day clearing of wait lists.

Also, is there a time when the available Disney collection rooms (non-DVC) go back into the general inventory and can no longer be booked with DVC points? Since a moderate is around the same points as a studio during this time, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch.

Thanks again!

PJ
 
I'm not sure about the 30 day waitlist rule. The last two times I have been on a waitlist they have quoted that I am on the waitlist until 7 days out. Both times I was placed on the waitlist 60+ days out.

I know what the rules are between the 30-day and 7-day waitlist and was surprised when they told me I was on the 7-day waitlist 60+ days out. Maybe I was special or something, who knows?

This last waitlist (that I am currently on and expires tomorrow) is for one day smack dab in the middle of my trip. The waitlist is for a GV @ OKW. I have everything else (GVs on the entire reservation). Maybe they made the exception since it is for a GV in the middle of the stay?

But my point is that I have been on the 7-day waitlist at 60+ days out. Maybe if you request it, you will be placed on it. It can't hurt.
 
We decided in July or August of last year to go for Thanksgiving. I'm aure you realize how late that was. The only spot open was OKW and not for all the days. Thanksgiving and the day before were not available. We waitlisted. Thanks giving came open first and we got that. Then finally the Wednesday became available. That was probably end of September or beginning of October. They said they would waitlist til that very day if we wanted too. I did have a backup hotel booked in case it didn't come through. I would say have some patience. People book well in advance and decide to change there minds, only when it gets closer to the actually date. I think you have to cancel 1 month before trip to get everything back. I would wait it out, but have a backup. Do you have an AP? They have AP rates til 4 16/05.
 
robmary said:
I would wait it out, but have a backup. Do you have an AP? They have AP rates til 4 16/05.
Thanks...I do currently have a backup but there were no AP rates available for my dates in March so have a room booked at rack rate (have NEVER paid rack rate for any room at WDW before) which is why I'm considering using points for a stay at a moderate instead if wait list doesn't come through.
 
The 30 days versus 7 days depends on your reservationist...30 is the standard unless your request 7.
 
Just wanted to update y'all...got a call today that our wait list for a studio for all our nights came through at SSR. I'm staying on the wait list for the other DVC resorts since we'd like to try something new but am just happy to have a room at all!
 
So glad you have a place to call "home". Congrats and have a good time. Great that it worked out for you!
 
Our experience is that waitlists free up just before the 30 day mark because that is when ressies tend to be cancelled at the last minute without the person losing their points.
 
Just wanted to keep everyone posted...received a call today that our wait list now came through for the BWV preferred view for our dates so I canceled the SSR reservation and took the BWV since that's exactly where we wanted to be. I left a wait list open for a Boardwalk view, but if it doens't happen we are thrilled with how well the wait list worked on our first try.

PJ
 
Just curious what your dates are. Without calculating, it looks like they are close to mine.

I have a reservations for a studio at OKW for 3/28 - 3/31. I was able to get this about 6 weeks ago (maybe more). I am on the waitlist for any other resort (only because I would like to try a new one - have only stayed at OKW which we love and would not have a problem if the waitlist does not come through) up to 7 days out (is this the term used?). Does that mean I have a chance? and do the waitlist come through in any specific order?
 
AnnaS said:
Just curious what your dates are. Without calculating, it looks like they are close to mine.
Our dates are about the same but we're only staying 2 nights so that probably helped us get all our nights at once.
 
poohj80 said:
Our dates are about the same but we're only staying 2 nights so that probably helped us get all our nights at once.
We have a waitlist for similar days also. Just curious, when did you get on the waitlist?
 
fwm said:
We have a waitlist for similar days also. Just curious, when did you get on the waitlist?
Got on the wait list Jan 4, SSR wait list came through Jan 7 and BWV came through Jan 14.
 
Wow - that was quick - you did not have an existing reservation either like I do - I wonder if that makes a difference - I have no problem with it, just for conversation/curiosity and wondering how they work sometimes. The shorter stay also helped. I almost did not get OKW when we booked Nov. 24th. I was in the same situation as you and while we were going over my options, (waitlisting for any DVC resort and booking a moderate as a back-up), a studio in OKW became available - I am a happy camper either way. (We will be in Jupiter visiting our snowbird in-laws 5 days before heading to WDW). Can't wait.
 



















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