I am so frustrated with MS!!!!

[sista]

We are in the 15 day wait period now for our contract with Saratoga and I am half wanting to cancel. We are not off to a good start and I would love your input. I have been waitlisted via email since June 15 for VWL for December 5-11. After advice here, I called last week and also waitlisted day by day for a better chance. As I was talking to her, she checked day by day and VWL had an opening for Dec 10 and she said my name came up as next to get it - this must have been from my email. So that day was reserved and she said to keep checking monthly with them. I also requested to be put in automatically and also waitlisted BCV and BW for second and third choices. So today I get a messaqe on my machine saying they have an opening, (which also made me wonder about that since it was supposed to be automatic) I call back and in talking with MS, find out the other days she is not showing us anywhere in their system, either from my email or my call last week. So as of today, I have to start all over on the waitlist. What are your thoughts on this and how would you have handled it? I forwarded my original email to them so they can look into how this happened. I am assuming that MS last week deleted my June waitlist when she booked the December 10 for me last week. They have no availability at any resort for a 2 bedroom that week - I am nervous to even go through with this - December or not, it shouldn't be THIS difficult!

 

[tjkraz]

Call your guide. Explain the details and ask him/her to intervene and get it straightened out. If necessary, imply that you are disturbed enough to be contemplating cancellation of the contract.

Originally posted by sista
I am nervous to even go through with this - December or not, it shouldn't be THIS difficult!

Well, it sounds like you did experience some abnormal difficulties. Those you should be able to rectify by producing your written proof.

If you're worried about the fact that December is hard to book, then I think you need to reevaluate DVC altogether. VWL only has about 130 rooms and there are now over 82,000 members. Reservations will always be a first-come, first-served proposition. High demand periods like the month of December or any Holiday will always be difficult to book outside of your Home resort.

If VWL is where you wish to stay frequently, I would recommend paying cash for a resale contract at that resort.

 

[sista]

VWL is my first choice for this trip, but as of last week, there were NO rooms available at any DVC for a 2 bedroom. I did call my guide today and she called MS, who told her I was waitlisted, but that was as of today, so my guide had misunderstood me obvisiously, because she called me back and said you are on the waitlist. I told her I I forwarded my email to them from June 15 and she said she would call them on Monday to see what they can do. Hopefully, the email will straighten it out, but I don't understand how this could happen in the first place. I asked them if they show no record, how in the world did I even GET a call today for an opening and she couldn't answer that.

 

[tjkraz]

You might want to consider waitlisting at all of the DVC resorts. VWL is the smallest, and even when they backdate your waitlist to 6/15, other folks could have gotten the jump on you by more than a month.

As they continue selling points at SSR, more rooms will have to be declared into inventory. Thus that may end up being your best bet. But if you have your heart set on travelling those dates, get a waitlist request in for each of the resorts and hope for the best.

Good luck.

 

[Dean]

This is likely to be the story more and more as DVC membership continues to grow. Reading between the lines, it sounds like you may have bought SSR with the idea of staying mostly at VWL. If that's true, I think you made a mistake. Still, if you're flexible and can plan at exactly 7 months out or more, it's unlikely you'll get shut out unless you want a "special" room. Specials include the dedicated 2 BR with 2 Queen's, BWV standard view, GV and BWV BW view. Good luck.

 

[PamOKW]

Getting the hang of DVC is always tricky -- working with the wait list for your first reservation makes it even stickier.

Some tips to help you work with the wait list when you've listed day-by-day at multiple resorts.

First, any time you make a reservation write down the confirmation number. Before you hang up from the call, confirm with MS that you are in agreement with what you are booking and how many points you are using.

Second, keep a chart/calendar/whatever works for you so that you keeps things straight. If you book two nights at SSR and then get 3 nights at VWL which includes two of the nights you already have at SSR, it is up to you to cancel what you don't need. You'll have to walk MS through this or you could end up with more rooms per night than you need (also be sure you don't give them permission to borrow points you won't need because they can't be "put back").

Keep track of what you are doing with your points. As you start to book more nights, also confirm with MS how many points you have remaining in your account. Compare it to what you think you should have so that you know everything is in agreement. (Like balancing your bank statement.)

You are trying to book a very difficult time of year. You may not find much opening up until we get much closer to the actual date. People tend to cancel when their plans change and that may not happen until 3 months or less from the date of travel. Your guide may be able to help this time since it's a new purchase but they don't usually get involved in any future reservations.

I know this seems tough but it is a new way of doing things that you have to get comfortable with. I think you'll find you've made the right decision once you get your first trip under your belt.

 

[ripleysmom]

BTW...you might want to double check that you are waitlisted to automatically gets what comes up. It sounds like you may be waitlisted to be called not to be automatically given the room.