Last-minute trip reservation/waitlist suggestion?

[otterpop]

This is our first time trying to do a last-minute trip for early/mid March (Spring Break). Tried to make a reservation, and except for a day here and there, there is no availability at any of the resorts! I have put in a waitlist request for SSR.

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to go about trying to increase our chances of getting a reservation? Should I check online every day? Several times a day? If days become available, should I just grab them with the hopes that I can fill in the blanks before our trip?

We can decide to go at the last minute, so do you think that once we get into that 30 day cancellation window, days should start to become available?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

 

[SpaceMountain77]

This is our first time trying to do a last-minute trip for early/mid March (Spring Break). Tried to make a reservation, and except for a day here and there, there is no availability at any of the resorts! I have put in a waitlist request for SSR.

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how to go about trying to increase our chances of getting a reservation? Should I check online every day? Several times a day? If days become available, should I just grab them with the hopes that I can fill in the blanks before our trip?

We can decide to go at the last minute, so do you think that once we get into that 30 day cancellation window, days should start to become available?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Evan

Hi Evan,

I would pick up as many single nights as possible during your preferred week and then waitlist the missing nights. Single nights tend to come through much sooner than multiple night requests.

Check the website often as availability is always changing.

Also, consider the possibility of staying at OKW!

Hope this is helpful,
Jim 8O

 

[otterpop]

Thanks Jim for the fast reply!

Just did exactly what you suggested. I booked the 3 out of 6 nites that were available (a Tue, Fri and Sat), put in a waitlist for the Mon thru Thr dates (which I can then link to my Fri and Sat nites I already have), and then put in a waitlist for the whole week at OKW.

Do you think many people cancel right before the 30 day window or is it a rare thing? We have never done a last minute trip and always have booked many months in advance, so "working" for a reservation is new to us.

Thanks again!

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Thanks Jim for the fast reply!

Just did exactly what you suggested. I booked the 3 out of 6 nites that were available (a Tue, Fri and Sat), put in a waitlist for the Mon thru Thr dates (which I can then link to my Fri and Sat nites I already have), and then put in a waitlist for the whole week at OKW.

Do you think many people cancel right before the 30 day window or is it a rare thing? We have never done a last minute trip and always have booked many months in advance, so "working" for a reservation is new to us.

Thanks again!

Evan

No problem, Evan, I am happy to help!

A full-week will be a tough waitlist to fill. I would suggest an individual waitlist request for Monday night and a second request for Wednesday and Thursday night. Your chances will be much greater with this approach. Some might even encourage that Wednesday and Thursday nights be waitlisted individually. Member Services can consolidate the reservations as missing nights begin to fall into place.

Also, check the website as often as you can. This past weekend, we finished piecing together our 9-night stay for OKW in April. We, too, started with just a few nights. We booked, stalked, waitlisted, and had success within a few weeks time.

I have seen full weeks come available at the 30-day mark, but I would not count on this approach to booking.

Jim

 

[cvjw]

The RAT should be your friend Check multiple times per day. Availability literally changes by the minute. You need to check for member cancellations before the waitlist manager picks them up.

I have pieced together last minute Christmas trips the past two years (booking after Thanksgiving).

 

[otterpop]

I was wondering if there is a trend that more cancellations occur right before the 30 day window or if basically everybody keeps their reservation once they are made (not taking into account the rare instance of something coming up that forces a person to cancel)...

 

[roadtripper]

I just posted that my OKW waitlist came through within the 30 days--and that was for President's Week. I was checking every day for day by day openings with no luck. I checked as recently as yesterday morning and no availability, but got the email yesterday afternoon. I hope it works out for you, too!

 

[otterpop]

Congrats on getting your OKW waitlist...I'm guessing it almost feels like winning the powerball from a few weeks ago (....well, almost)! I'm slowly piecing a trip together, but hope my waitlist comes thru as well.

 

[erdoc38]

We just got back from a last minute trip that we booked about a week before we left. I checked the website countless times daily. I booked what was availability right away, and was able to piece together a split stay at SSR and OKW.

 

[DizBub]

We have also been trying to book a last minute trip for February for the last month. No availability except for a couple of random nights. Decided to look at a rent trade board for confirmed reservations and found 4 nights together at SSR in mid March. Got a very good price on it as they were distressed points. Added 1 night on the front end of it with our own points. I will waitlist the night before that and if it comes through I will waitlist the 7th night. As stated earlier waitlists of individual nights fill faster than multiple nights.

Still not a lot of availability in March so I felt that it was worth it to pay for the 4 nights so I would have something to work with and add to as I could. Bonus is that SSR was my resort of choice for this trip and we get to go after all. Yay!!

Editing to say I read the post below that said late March is available. Points go UP after the 20th. Spring break prices?

Best of luck on your waitlists.

 

[Minniesgal]

I was wondering if there is a trend that more cancellations occur right before the 30 day window or if basically everybody keeps their reservation once they are made (not taking into account the rare instance of something coming up that forces a person to cancel)...

Once you get close to the 30 day window cancellations are very rare. They do happen but there certainly isn't a trend of things opening up at 30 days.

SSr is open late march if you can go then as I just booked it

 

[otterpop]

Update...was just able to finish piecing together 3 different reservations (Kidani Village, studio with savanna view!) to cover the week we are interested in going! Not sure if I have "issues", but I have been checking about 10 times a day, every day, and booking rooms here and there...it seemed like there were 3 days that rooms became available at several of the resorts, while on all of the other days, there was no "action" at all.

Now if I can just book that BOG breakfast reservation!

Thanks again for everyone's comments and suggestions.

 

[jillt2ph]

Good for you, Evan! Maybe you can help me get March 13th!! I find it ironic that I have had waitlists come through at some of the hardest places, but when I need single days at the 2 largest ones I get nothing.

 

[otterpop]

Thanks! Where and what are you looking for on the 13th? I'm still looking to see what else might come available, so if I happen to see what you are looking for, I can let you know. Two eyes are better than one!

 

[jillt2ph]

Thanks! Where and what are you looking for on the 13th? I'm still looking to see what else might come available, so if I happen to see what you are looking for, I can let you know. Two eyes are better than one!

I need SSR. Grabbed VWL while it was available, but I have Fri, Sat and Mon nights at SSR.

 

[jillt2ph]

Well, both of my single day waitlists came through today, so I am happy!

 

[DizBub]

I also had a single day at SSR come through for the 14th. I had already found the 13th and the 14th at VWL and I got a call from the call center in Celebration to see if I still wanted it but we are happy with the 2 nights at VWL since we have not stayed there yet. Nice that they took the time and effort to do that. So now we have a split stay at VWL for 2 nights and 5 nights at SSR.

My daughter was also trying to piece together 2 nights for that timeframe. As she was on the phone with MS booking one newly available room at BLT lake view the CM told her that her waitlist at OKW for the 13th had just filled. So now she has 2 nights at OKW and doesn't have to move, plus she is saving a bunch of points.

This has been a good week for waitlists. The trend looks like it's about 5 weeks out for cancellations.