Is the waitlist system this smart?

[Millionaire2K]

Hello,

I was wondering if the Disney waitlist system is this smart:

Say guest "A" has a waitlist for 4 nights at BLT Studio. And a current reservation for WL for 4 nights that she is willing to cancel if the wait list comes in.

Then Guest "B" has a Waitlist for the same 4 nights at WL and a reservation at BLT Studio for the same 4 nights.

Is Disney's system smart enough to know that these 2 would love to switch their reservations with each other?

If Disney does not have this kind of system in place I think it would really add A LOT of value to the waitlist system.

I would also suspect a lot more waitlist would be confirmed if this kind of system was in play (If its not already). I'm sure a LOT more people would enter waitlist knowing that matches are being made this way. And with the more people entering the more results. Everything I read now about waitlist says that you would be better off monitoring the website for room openings. But the system should not wait for just an opening to give guest what they want.

I'm sure a lot of people just hold reservations they really don't want because nothing is open. Like right now I have 4 nights at WL studio in early NOV that I don't want. I also have 5 nights at BLT in a 1 BR that I would love to switch to a studio. And seeing that WL is booked solid on these same days I suspect there is a person who would love to switch from his resort (that I want). I'm sure someone out there would love to switch a studio to a 1 BR. If we both enter info into the waitlist system, it should pick this up and make the switch.

Thoughts?

 

[disneynutz]

My thoughts are that DVC doesn't care if you get your waitlist, you will vacation anyway. IMO the process is window dressing and for some odd reason not explained by DVC. No accountability and it's really not known how, when, or if they match.

I was told by DVC management that the matches are run at night after MS closes and that the reservations are made/modified the following day, it's a very basic process.

Bill

 

[Millionaire2K]

Yeah and I guess when more members don't get the rooms they want, more will look to add on for more resorts.

Very sad.

 

[harrinp1]

My thoughts are that DVC doesn't care if you get your waitlist, you will vacation anyway. IMO the process is window dressing and for some odd reason not explained by DVC. No accountability and it's really not known how, when, or if they match.

I was told by DVC management that the matches are run at night after MS closes and that the reservations are made/modified the following day, it's a very basic process.

Bill

And prone to human error. I noticed one of my waitlists had been cancelled, when I checked with member services they told me it had matched but the cast member didn't think I had enough points so cancelled it even though I did have enough points.

Apparently they've reinstated it and put me to the front of the queue but I'm not confident that this is the case.

 

[CMOORE185]

Anytime actual people are involved there will be mistakes and it will be an imperfect system. They need a computer program that matches things up automatically. I do not think DVC has the incentive to do such a thing, like someone said, we are coming anyway.

 

[CarolMN]

Hello,

I was wondering if the Disney waitlist system is this smart:

Say guest "A" has a waitlist for 4 nights at BLT Studio. And a current reservation for WL for 4 nights that she is willing to cancel if the wait list comes in.

Then Guest "B" has a Waitlist for the same 4 nights at WL and a reservation at BLT Studio for the same 4 nights.

Is Disney's system smart enough to know that these 2 would love to switch their reservations with each other?

If Disney does not have this kind of system in place I think it would really add A LOT of value to the waitlist system.

I would also suspect a lot more waitlist would be confirmed if this kind of system was in play (If its not already). I'm sure a LOT more people would enter waitlist knowing that matches are being made this way. And with the more people entering the more results. Everything I read now about waitlist says that you would be better off monitoring the website for room openings. But the system should not wait for just an opening to give guest what they want.

I'm sure a lot of people just hold reservations they really don't want because nothing is open. Like right now I have 4 nights at WL studio in early NOV that I don't want. I also have 5 nights at BLT in a 1 BR that I would love to switch to a studio. And seeing that WL is booked solid on these same days I suspect there is a person who would love to switch from his resort (that I want). I'm sure someone out there would love to switch a studio to a 1 BR. If we both enter info into the waitlist system, it should pick this up and make the switch.

Thoughts?

Another perspective:

If I were a BLT owner on the waitlist for one or more of the BLT nights Guest A booked, I would not be very happy if Guest B was "matched" to Guest A just because he/she had what Guest A wanted. IMO, it's a way to negate my home resort booking priority.

I know owners could do this themselves by making reservations for each other, but I do not think the system should do it. The home resort booking priority is why I am willing to pay higher dues at the BWV. At this time, it's the only benefit to owning a particular resort.

 

[bakerworld]

In January I called about something completely unrelated to my WL and the CM who answered the phone told me that it was her job to match up the DVC room availability list with the WL and enter each account to make changes. Now that's 'manual'.

Plus, instead of doing that she was answering the MS line so we just happened to get out WL.

 

[davedmaine]

I think the waitlist team is the same one behind FP+

 

[CMOORE185]

Another perspective:

If I were a BLT owner on the waitlist for one or more of the BLT nights Guest A booked, I would not be very happy if Guest B was "matched" to Guest A just because he/she had what Guest A wanted. IMO, it's a way to negate my home resort booking priority.

I know owners could do this themselves by making reservations for each other, but I do not think the system should do it. The home resort booking priority is why I am willing to pay higher dues at the BWV. At this time, it's the only benefit to owning a particular resort.

If you book later than 7 months out I agree you as a owner should get priority on waitlist, but if you book 7 months or earlier you should not have priority over the owner of another resort as you have given up your booking priority.

 

[Dean]

Hello,

I was wondering if the Disney waitlist system is this smart:

Say guest "A" has a waitlist for 4 nights at BLT Studio. And a current reservation for WL for 4 nights that she is willing to cancel if the wait list comes in.

Then Guest "B" has a Waitlist for the same 4 nights at WL and a reservation at BLT Studio for the same 4 nights.

Is Disney's system smart enough to know that these 2 would love to switch their reservations with each other?

If Disney does not have this kind of system in place I think it would really add A LOT of value to the waitlist system.

I would also suspect a lot more waitlist would be confirmed if this kind of system was in play (If its not already). I'm sure a LOT more people would enter waitlist knowing that matches are being made this way. And with the more people entering the more results. Everything I read now about waitlist says that you would be better off monitoring the website for room openings. But the system should not wait for just an opening to give guest what they want.

I'm sure a lot of people just hold reservations they really don't want because nothing is open. Like right now I have 4 nights at WL studio in early NOV that I don't want. I also have 5 nights at BLT in a 1 BR that I would love to switch to a studio. And seeing that WL is booked solid on these same days I suspect there is a person who would love to switch from his resort (that I want). I'm sure someone out there would love to switch a studio to a 1 BR. If we both enter info into the waitlist system, it should pick this up and make the switch.

Thoughts?

No, it's not even good enough to hold the rooms for the WL when nights are canceled. It's also not possible since it's a first come, first served list. In your scenario both people would have to be at the top of the list for it to work and I suspect they would match it in that situation. But even if person A were at the top of the list and person B in second place on their list, they could not match them. Now they could change the rules to allow it which is more the way the exchange companies work.

 

[Sandisw]

In the situation you describe, it would be more like the system matching a wait list against a wait list and not against open rooms.

It doesn't seem like something that would work, and as Carol mentioned, if I go on a wait list for BLT during home resort priority for 2 of the 4 nights that guest A wants to cancel, and am ahead of Guest B on the wait list, then if guest A gets their wait list filled at VWL, I would get my 2 nights.

If they, in essence, swapped, the reservations, I might get skipped. Plus given the complete number of rooms booked and wait lists in place, I can only imagine it'd be quite the undertaking to make it happen.

 

[Millionaire2K]

If you book later than 7 months out I agree you as a owner should get priority on waitlist, but if you book 7 months or earlier you should not have priority over the owner of another resort as you have given up your booking priority.

Exactly what I was going to post.

If the system ran down the list in order of waitlist entry, if it finds 2 that can swap it should.

If other guest have a waitlist for 1 day they would be considered to.

For example a group of 20 guest could all be rearranged in a scenario to make things work. If the system was smart enough it could do "3 team trades" or more.

Also of course any guest with home priority would keep it.

I just think the waitlist system could be improved on.

Or at least rooms should not go back to the public if someone has had a waitlist between 11-7 months for the nights that just became available.

 

[twoj]

I would wonder the same thing, I think that would be a great system.

The waitlist totally perplexes me! I usually check when I am in front of a computer for my waitlist as I have found that I can book it faster than the system can.. but yesterday I checked at 11:15 am and what I wanted wasn't available.. but then I received an email at 11:42 telling me my waitlist came in...makes me think there may have been some waitlist swapping going on.. I can't imagine someone cancelled and my waitlist was booked in less than a half hour. Who knows.. it is such a mystery!

 

[disneynutz]

I would wonder the same thing, I think that would be a great system.

The waitlist totally perplexes me! I usually check when I am in front of a computer for my waitlist as I have found that I can book it faster than the system can.. but yesterday I checked at 11:15 am and what I wanted wasn't available.. but then I received an email at 11:42 telling me my waitlist came in...makes me think there may have been some waitlist swapping going on.. I can't imagine someone cancelled and my waitlist was booked in less than a half hour. Who knows.. it is such a mystery!

At 11:15 it wasn't available because the inventory was held from the match the night before. At 11:42, MS took the held inventory and modified/made your reservation and sent you an email.

Bill

 

[Pinnochio]

And if the waitlist is not bad enough....i tried booking my home resort (BCV) for Food & Wine........no availability......my sister then calls and reserved the same accommodations that i was looking for (after i was told there was none avail)....she paid cash....What up with that????....i'm shutout of my home resort for a non-owner...happy for my sis but not for me.....

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

And if the waitlist is not bad enough....i tried booking my home resort (BCV) for Food & Wine........no availability......my sister then calls and reserved the same accommodations that i was looking for (after i was told there was none avail)....she paid cash....What up with that????....i'm shutout of my home resort for a non-owner...happy for my sis but not for me.....

For BCV you will need to book right at 11 months for most of Oct-New Years.
Use your owner 11 month booking priorty. Summer is also quite busy, full, there, because of the pool and location.
When did you try to book for F&W? Within the 7 month mark? When did your sister get it for cash? Recently?

 

[Dean]

And if the waitlist is not bad enough....i tried booking my home resort (BCV) for Food & Wine........no availability......my sister then calls and reserved the same accommodations that i was looking for (after i was told there was none avail)....she paid cash....What up with that????....i'm shutout of my home resort for a non-owner...happy for my sis but not for me.....

You really need to understand how the system works then you should also understand how there will be cash inventory not available for points. DVD can reserve anything they own (unsold, ROFR) as well as using points that have been traded for cash options (DC, CC, etc) a well as breakage inventory (likely not in play here). Once members understand this segregation they should lose the shock of cash availability without points availability, it's simply how the system works.

 

[Sammie]

As to how it works, this is what I was told by DVC.

The waitlist is programmed to run continuously. Whenever a held room is released back into the general declared inventory the waitlist program holds that room back momentarily as it determines if there is an active waitlist for that room type for the night(s) being released. If there is then that room is then attached to that waitlist to be confirmed for that Member. If not then it becomes available for anyone to reserve. A team monitors the waitlist constantly, and every day new bookings are made as the day progresses.

 

[PacoDF]

I'm not sure it works that way. I've Seen Several reports in this board that they were able to get nights they had WL on, by stalking the website. So the program shouldn't be running constantly. Probably it runs at certain times of the day, so if you are lucky enough you can beat the program between two runs by stalking availability on the website.

 

[Sammie]

I'm not sure it works that way. I've Seen Several reports in this board that they were able to get nights they had WL on, by stalking the website. So the program shouldn't be running constantly. Probably it runs at certain times of the day, so if you are lucky enough you can beat the program between two runs by stalking availability on the website.

This is what I was told verbatim by the Manager of DVC Operations, I would have no reason to think she does not know.

There could have been more than one cancellation, and they got the one listed before they got their waitlist notification. Or the team that monitors it daily could have seen the member had already booked it and moved on to the next person, which in my opinion they should.

I will ask her what happens in this type of situation.