IMPORTANT: Points issue - I almost lost points!

[disneyfan2kids]

I am a Dec Use year. Made a reservation for Dec 2014 using 2014 points (back in May).

In June - I cancelled reservation (points went back into 2014 use year) and then I immediately made a Sept 2014 reservaation using those same 2014 points "borrowed" in my 2013 use year (which is Sept 2014.)

No issues - had our vacation all went well.

Last week I began getting "we can't wait to see you in December emails" - thought it was a glitch - I had cancelled that - no big deal. Until today when email asked me to choose my magic bands?!

So I logon to DVCMember and find that my reservation is STILL there in December AND they borrowed from my 2015 points to book it! I had no points again until Dec 2016 :-( Checked my points log - they DID have my cancellation, and then rebooking. BUT last week my cancelled reservation automatically rebooked itself when the old waitlist (that was connected to my cancelled reservation) went through. What?!

I called MS and they basically said although I cancelled my reservation - my waitlist was never cancelled and so when it came through they had to borrow points from next year for it. She offered no solution - just basically said it was my issue for not having cancelled my waitlist when I cancelled my reservation. What?! I told her that I would assume (and most would assume) that 1.) the waitlist would be connected to reservation and would auto cancel when reservation was cancelled.. OR that 2.) MS would see the waitlist was no longer valid and tell me to cancel during original cancellation call OR when a waitlist came through for a cancelled reservation. Am I wrong? Wouldn't you assume that?

She basically said "no" - it was my issue. She could cancel my Dec reservation BUT those borrowed points would stay in 2014 - still borrowed in from 2015. After i politely explained I wasn't going to lose my 2015 due to this issue she finally agreed to "make a one time exception" and put them back. Which is fine - BUT there is NO WAY this was my issue.

Has anyone else had this happen???

 

[lawboy2001]

I'm glad everything worked out in the end for you.

In this case, the system worked as it is supposed to, just not in the manner you expected it to. I can imagine not thinking to cancel a waitlist when I cancel the original booking. Come to think of it, I better check my pending waitlists as I've made quite a few changes to my plans recently!!!

Being polite and asking for correction was probably the way to play this.

 

[supersnoop]

BUT there is NO WAY this was my issue.

We're going to disagree on that. You can make a waitlist request without any current reservation. The waitlist and reservations are in no way linked. If, when you make the waitlist request, you authorized borrowing, this is completely on you. If, however, they borrowed without authorization, I guess it's a different story.

 

[erionm]

The CM at MS was correct. Although you can setup a wait list to replace an existing reservation, they are not connected. It's up to you to cancel (by phone or on-line) any wait list entry that's no longer needed.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

We're going to disagree on that. You can make a waitlist request without an current reservation. The waitlist and reservations are in no way linked. If, when you make the waitlist request, you authorized borrowing, this is completely on you. If, however, they borrowed without authorization, I guess it's a different story.

Yes, I definitely disagree with this. I had no idea that a waitlist wouldnt cancel with the reservation. It doesn't make any logical sense to me in all honesty. It's like making a reservation for a restaurant - requesting to be seated near door if possible - cancelling said reservation 2 months later - and then having them charge my cc when they find out the seat near the door is available. It's just weird to me.

Also - to add - I definitely didn't give them permission to borrow. I had more than enought 2014 points existing for the reservation, there was no need to borrow for my waitlist. As a matter of fact, my waitlist used LESS points (OKW) then my original Reservation (SSR). So borrowing wasn't even an issue UNTIL after I used my points for this most recent vacation.

 

[bobbiwoz]

The CM at MS was correct. Although you can setup a wait list to replace an existing reservation, they are not connected. It's up to you to cancel (by phone or on-line) any wait list entry that's no longer needed.

I found this out when I had a waitlist come through for a vacation I cancelled. Now that we can see Wait lists on line, it's much easier to manage everything, I think.

 

[sndral]

Yes, I definitely disagree with this. I had no idea that a waitlist wouldnt cancel with the reservation. It doesn't make any logical sense to me in all honesty. It's like making a reservation for a restaurant - requesting to be seated near door if possible - cancelling said reservation 2 months later - and then having them charge my cc when they find out the seat near the door is available. It's just weird to me.

Also - to add - I definitely didn't give them permission to borrow. I had more than enought 2014 points existing for the reservation, there was no need to borrow for my waitlist. As a matter of fact, my waitlist used LESS points (OKW) then my original Reservation (SSR). So borrowing wasn't even an issue UNTIL after I used my points for this most recent vacation.

I currently have a waitlist for the first 3 days of my January vacation - I had hoped to try out BWV before I moved elsewhere. When I set up the waitlist on the phone @ 7 months out, the CM asked if they had permission to borrow and I said no, you won't need to as we set it up to cancel the first 3 days of my existing reservation and those points would more than cover the difference. The CM insisted that she couldn't do the waitlist w/out my authorizing borrowing, even tho' I would be using current year points from the 3 days being canceled on the original reservation. Didn't make sense to me then, doesn't make sense to me now - waitlist never came through and I'm getting ready to cancel it in any event, but it seemed odd @ the time.

 

[disneynutz]

Another reason to buy where you love to stay, book at 11 months, book online, don't change your mind, don't waitlist, visit your DVC account often, keep records at home.

Bill

 

[LisaS]

Yes, I definitely disagree with this. I had no idea that a waitlist wouldnt cancel with the reservation. It doesn't make any logical sense to me in all honesty.

Even though the wait list was set up to cancel the backup reservation if it came through, cancelling the backup does not cancel the wait list.

There are scenarios where cancelling the wait list wouldn't make sense. Imagine someone wanted to book BCV and had to set up a wait list. They reserved another resort as a backup. Later they cancel the backup reservation. Maybe they decided "if we can't get into BCV, we just won't go" or maybe they managed to make a new backup reservation at BWV but still want the wait list for BCV and forgot to change the info about which reservation to cancel if the wait list came through. I wouldn't want MS or the reservation system to make any assumptions about what I want to do with my wait lists.

Your post is a good reminder to others. If you no longer want either the reservation or the wait list, make sure you cancel both.

 

[supersnoop]

Yes, I definitely disagree with this. I had no idea that a waitlist wouldnt cancel with the reservation. It doesn't make any logical sense to me in all honesty. It's like making a reservation for a restaurant - requesting to be seated near door if possible - cancelling said reservation 2 months later - and then having them charge my cc when they find out the seat near the door is available. It's just weird to me.

Also - to add - I definitely didn't give them permission to borrow. I had more than enought 2014 points existing for the reservation, there was no need to borrow for my waitlist. As a matter of fact, my waitlist used LESS points (OKW) then my original Reservation (SSR). So borrowing wasn't even an issue UNTIL after I used my points for this most recent vacation.

How did you make the waitlist request; online or over the phone? Online, there's a checkbox or dropdown that asks if they're allowed to borrow points to complete the reservation. Over the phone, they should ask you that question. If you did not give them permission to borrow, then that's the basis for your argument to get the points reinstated to the proper use year.

As for your restaurant comparison, I don't think it's quite the same. It's more like calling a restaurant and asking for a New Years Eve reservation, but they're booked, so they put you on a list in case something opens up. At the same time, they offer you a Christmas Eve reservation. If you later cancel the Christmas Eve reservation, they wouldn't automatically pull your name off the NYE list. Many people will waitlist a DVC reservation without a matching confirmed reservation. If the resort opens up and they get the reservation, then they travel; if not, they do not.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

For example I have a waitlist set up for VWL that was to cancel a reservation at OKW. I have since had reason to cancel the OKW but still have the waitlist for VWL and would have been peeved if that had to cancel just because I had cancelled the OKW.

 

[heynowirv]

Part of the problem is we live in the computer age.It's a double -edged sword. Convenient you bet,but it's logic does not include intuition.To you it just made sense for everything to cancel in Dec.but unless you tell it to do both steps(in your case cancel both reservation and wait list) it will only do what you asked it to do.

I'm glad everything worked out for you.

 

[Sandisw]

I think it's just another reminder how important it is to understand all the ins and outs of things. It's great that you were able to get them to reverse it but as others said, waitlists and reservations are two different things and must be treated as such when adjusting trips.

 

[LisaS]

It's like making a reservation for a restaurant - requesting to be seated near door if possible - cancelling said reservation 2 months later - and then having them charge my cc when they find out the seat near the door is available.

I think a better analogy would be if you called to make a reservation at a restaurant and they are full for the night you wanted. They offer to put you on a wait list in case anyone cancels. They also offer to make a reservation for you at their other restaurant across town which does have openings for that night and they tell you if your wait list clears they will cancel the other reservation for you.

The next day you look at the menu online for their other restaurant and decide you really aren't interested in dining there. So you call and cancel that reservation. Would you expect them (or want them) to automatically cancel your wait list for your preferred restaurant?

Fortunately you were able to use your one-time-only super secret exception to get your points back. It's good to know that option still exists.

 

[maburke]

I agree with people who say that you cannot expect a waitlist to cancel without your explicit instruction. It is nice to be able to see everything online now, so that you can do it yourself.

However, if you did not authorize borrowing, they should not have borrowed. And this:

When I set up the waitlist on the phone @ 7 months out, the CM asked if they had permission to borrow and I said no, you won't need to as we set it up to cancel the first 3 days of my existing reservation and those points would more than cover the difference. The CM insisted that she couldn't do the waitlist w/out my authorizing borrowing,

makes no sense to me whatsoever. What's the point of asking if they have permission to borrow if all waitlists require permission to borrow? I would not have given it -- I never give permission to borrow. Mixups happen, and if they only way that borrowing were needed is because of a mixup, I'd rather not have it authorized.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Another reason to buy where you love to stay, book at 11 months, book online, don't change your mind, don't waitlist, visit your DVC account often, keep records at home.

Bill

Words of wisdom Bill!!!

 

[disneynutz]

Words of wisdom Bill!!!

Thanks, I've learned the hard way!

Bill

 

[Halle]

disneynutz, thanks for sharing this info....don't know if I would have thought to cancel the waitlist either. Just happy MS was able to help you.