My waitlist strategy

[Partridge4ever]

We're going to WDW Nov. 16-22. The plan was to make a ressie at our home resort OKW (which I did) and then try to switch to either BW or BC. I called yesterday to get a feel for availability and BC is currently available, so I guess that's what I'll get myself on the waitlist for.

We've since realized that friends are going to be at WDW Nov. 18-24. I've made them ressies at OKW. We'd both like to stay at BW or BC, but staying at the same resort is more important to us. I don't have enough points to book 2 additional reservations, so here's my strategy:
1. Call day by day for my BC ressie, placing myself on the autoconfirm waitlist as necessary (I have enough points to do this and keep the OKW ressies, with 12 to spare. That's enough for a weeknite of our friends' trip, but not their Sat. arrival date).
2. Call on April 24 to waitlist our friends' entire trip, but not autoconfirm because I don't want to end up borrowing points.
3. When/if friends' BC ressie becomes available, cancel both OKW ressies.

Is there a flaw here that I'm missing? An easier way to do it?

Another option is to cancel my OKW ressie for Nov. 16 and 17 (assuming they are available at BC without waitlisting when I call). That will free up enough points for me to make my friend's BC ressie day-by-day for Nov. 18, 19 and 20. Would this significantly increase our chances? We'd rather not switch resorts, but then again, it would give our family 2 days at Beach Club before our friends arrive and then we'd still be together at OKW for the shared portion of our trip.

Also, if I waitlist day-by-day and get all the days, is there still a chance I may have to switch rooms? It's 2 am and my brain isn't working. Thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

We're going to WDW Nov. 16-22. The plan was to make a ressie at our home resort OKW (which I did) and then try to switch to either BW or BC. I called yesterday to get a feel for availability and BC is currently available, so I guess that's what I'll get myself on the waitlist for.

We've since realized that friends are going to be at WDW Nov. 18-24. I've made them ressies at OKW. We'd both like to stay at BW or BC, but staying at the same resort is more important to us. I don't have enough points to book 2 additional reservations, so here's my strategy:
1. Call day by day for my BC ressie, placing myself on the autoconfirm waitlist as necessary (I have enough points to do this and keep the OKW ressies, with 12 to spare. That's enough for a weeknite of our friends' trip, but not their Sat. arrival date).
2. Call on April 24 to waitlist our friends' entire trip, but not autoconfirm because I don't want to end up borrowing points.
3. When/if friends' BC ressie becomes available, cancel both OKW ressies.

Is there a flaw here that I'm missing? An easier way to do it?

Another option is to cancel my OKW ressie for Nov. 16 and 17 (assuming they are available at BC without waitlisting when I call). That will free up enough points for me to make my friend's BC ressie day-by-day for Nov. 18, 19 and 20. Would this significantly increase our chances? We'd rather not switch resorts, but then again, it would give our family 2 days at Beach Club before our friends arrive and then we'd still be together at OKW for the shared portion of our trip.

Also, if I waitlist day-by-day and get all the days, is there still a chance I may have to switch rooms? It's 2 am and my brain isn't working. Thanks!

If it were me I'd borrow the points. That way, I could still keep both OKW reservations as a back up and wailist both BCV reservations day by day as necessary. Assumes Both families really want BCV, but if not possible, then being at same resort is better than just one family at BCV.

Once the final resort decision is made (either stay at OKW because BCV isn't going to work or BCV came through, YEA!), I'd bank the "left over" points. That means I'd either have to ask MS to reallocate points (to free up current year points) or that I asked MS to borrow points to make one of the BCV reservations in the first place (because I was betting that BCv would come through, LOL).

Hope it all works out for you. I know how it is to stay up late trying to figure everything out - bet you didn't sleep too well last night, LOL.

Best wishes -

 

[CarolMN]

Forgot to answer you last question re waitlisting day by day. You shouldn't have to switch rooms. Just make sure MS links all the ressies (if the confirmation number is the same on all your letters, you don't need to worry about this at all) - you can check on that as the days come through. If the ressies are linked, it willappear to the resort as though it is one continuous reservation. So no worries if the waitlist comes through. You won't have to move.

Best wishes -

 

[Partridge4ever]

Carol, you have the patience of Job! Thanks so much for all your help. No, I didn't sleep well but luckily the kiddos are with their grandmother so I got to sleep in. Coffee is brewed and I'm back to obsessing.

Let me make sure I'm understanding this.

I own 210 points w/an August use year, I have 37 banked points, so 247 total.
OKW ressie #1 cost me 74 points
OKW ressie #2 67 points
BC ressie #1 94 points
BC #2 87 points
Total 322...I'm short 75 points.

So I make the BC ressies or waitlist day by day borrowing points as necessary. Then I cancel the OKW ressies (or the BC if we don't get all the days) and ask Member Services to reallocate my points so that the ressies I keep use the banked points and the borrowed points. I then bank my remaining points (181 if we end up at OKW).

Will they really do that? It's not dependent on getting a nice CM? When I first joined I made BWV ressies BEFORE I banked my points. The CM let me use the banked points w/o cancelling and redoing my ressie, but I've since learned that I was just lucky that time!