Need Waitlist Help

[becca-becca]

Something changed at my work and we were able to book a semi-last minute (for us, since we usually plan one year ahead of time) trip for October 8-13 to Food and Wine. It is just myself and DH so we only want a studio. Right now, we have 10/8 and 10/9 at OKW Studio (not near hospitality), 10/10 and 10/11 at OKW Studio (near hospitality) and nothing on the night of 10/12. I have 1 waitlist for OKW night of 10/12 near hospitality and one waitlist for BWV for the entire stay. If we could have our choice, we would want to stay at Boardwalk, but I am begining to think I was very naive in even thinking that was a possiblity. I have been surprised that there has been nothing available at any DVC resort during our stay. I did not realize how popular this time was! I currently have a reservation at Pop Century for the last night.

So, to get to my question--do you all have any suggestions for the best way to maximize my possiblity of getting 1) a DVC room for the whole trip and 2) more ideally, a room without having to move? (We are pulling down 2013 points from our December 2013 use year-so we don't want to pull down more than we need because we will lose them). Thank for any suggestions.

 

[LisaS]

F&W is extremely popular with DVC members and your dates include Columbus Day weekend, making it especially difficult to get something this close to your travel dates. The most difficult resorts to get during F&W are BCV and BWV and studios tend to be book up more quickly than 1BRs. Bottom line: trying to get a studio at BWV for Columbus Day weekend at this point is about as difficult as it gets!

There are probably many people ahead of you on the WL for BWV so consider changing your WL to something more likely to come through (SSR? OKW? AKV?). Check online very often to see if your dates open up at any of the resorts. People often report having a WL in place and then seeing exactly the dates, room and resort they are waiting for become available online.

At 7 days out all WLs are cancelled so at that point you should call MS every day to see if something opens up.

Good luck!

 

[Sandisw]

I agree...getting BWV is going to be very tough...I would probably make one of my wait lists, OKW for those 2nd two nights not near HH so that at least you could have 4 nights in the same room.

I would also stalk the website a few times a day to see if something else pops up so you at least have a room

 

[becca-becca]

I did not even realize it was Columbus Day weekend! Great planning on my part!

I have been checking the website several times a day and calling. However, my question is what do I do if I see something open on the website? We are pulling down points to do this trip, so I don't want to have anything extra pulled down. I have read several threads where people see something online and by the time they call MS, the room is gone. Someone in MS told me last week that if I pulled down the points online because I saw something that MS would put the existing points back into my 2013 use year. Something about this makes me a little concerned. Am I safe to do this if I see something open online or do I need to just call MS if I see it and hope that I am able to get it when I get through to a rep? Thanks!

 

[CarolMN]

I did not even realize it was Columbus Day weekend! Great planning on my part!

I have been checking the website several times a day and calling. However, my question is what do I do if I see something open on the website? We are pulling down points to do this trip, so I don't want to have anything extra pulled down. I have read several threads where people see something online and by the time they call MS, the room is gone. Someone in MS told me last week that if I pulled down the points online because I saw something that MS would put the existing points back into my 2013 use year. Something about this makes me a little concerned. Am I safe to do this if I see something open online or do I need to just call MS if I see it and hope that I am able to get it when I get through to a rep? Thanks!

I'm assuming that by "pulling down" you mean borrowing. If so, my advice is to call MS if you see something you want online.

Borrowing is a final transaction - it's unlikely that MS will "put back" any points you borrowed to make a reservation. That would be against policy. They (or you) could however, bank any current use year points that may be returned to your account if you are not past your banking deadline.

Another alternative for you is to cancel something and then reserve what you find online. You do risk ending up with nothing, though because someone could snap up both what you want and the rooms you cancel.

All that said, if you are looking at an odd time of day (not the very first thing in the morning or right before MS closing), the chances of someone snapping up what you want are small - but still there.

So if you are not much of a gambler, call MS.

Hope it works out for you.

 

[Judique]

I did not even realize it was Columbus Day weekend! Great planning on my part!
I have been checking the website several times a day and calling. However, my question is what do I do if I see something open on the website? We are pulling down points to do this trip, so I don't want to have anything extra pulled down. I have read several threads where people see something online and by the time they call MS, the room is gone. Someone in MS told me last week that if I pulled down the points online because I saw something that MS would put the existing points back into my 2013 use year. Something about this makes me a little concerned. Am I safe to do this if I see something open online or do I need to just call MS if I see it and hope that I am able to get it when I get through to a rep? Thanks!

First of all, I wouldn't take any chances with borrowing points that may get lost. In my opinion MS has a new or improvised rule every day depending on the CM. I subscribe to the call back for a second opinion theory. (I know the rules are set - I am referring to the interpretation).

I wouldn't mess with what you already have. If you see something while MS is open, click it to book it and call...remember you have 20 minutes to get the room.

Otherwise I would wait list the one last day I needed near hospitality house giving you a possible split stay in two rooms, or wait list the last three nights in the first type of studio you have. Those rooms are far more likely to come through.

I have a November reservation at BWV (it is my home resort). I've been monitoring Oct dates for quite a while in the event that I would see something for an earlier 'extra' trip - shoot me - I have tons of leave available and a premium annual pass - and I haven't even seen an open day! I may just go and stay off site using reward points.

Good luck anyway....hope you at least get your last night.

 

[rlovew]

If you want to waitlist your entire trip I for a room I would suggest doing so at SSR that is most likely to come through. Many people on waitlists for various resorts ahead of you are probably booked there and if their waitlist comes through yours may too.