OK, So when do you give up on the wait list?

[funhouse8]

I'm waitlisted for Hilton Head for late July. I told the guide I would take anything that opens up. My problem is not having definite plans I'm losing my mind. I do have points from last year that have to be used by Nov. (Not a big deal) and I can bank 100% of this year in May. I really don't want to do that. So my question is how long would you wait before changing your plans? Is it hard to get a late reservation for WDW in the summer. I am a fairly new member and never stayed in my home resort yet. It's SSR. Any input for this crazy DVC member would be great. Thanks, Gina

 

[MLK-RI]

Hi Gina,
I have wait listed multiple times but am no expert at this so please someone correct me if anything is wrong here.

First thought - WDW resorts should be easier to get into in late July than HH, but I wouldn't want to wait to long to find out anyway.

The wait list is active until 31 days out I believe and then you'd have to call and tell them you wish to remain on it. That will last until 7 days out. Since we are within the 7 month mark for end of July that key point has passed. The next would be the 60 day mark, followed by the 31. Those are times when people move due to II trades and wait list ends etc.

If I understand your plan it is either that time frame in HH or that time frame in WDW? I am not sure about the availability of late July at WDW, not having tried it before. You might be safer - accommodations wise to book the stay at a WDW DVC resort and waitlist your trade to HH. At least this way you'd have accommodations for your vacation.

It still leaves you wondering where said vacation will be WDW or HH. It also doesn't help with airfares, dining reservations etc. But at lease you'd have rooms!

The other pitfall is no doubt you'd have to start your wait list over again if you book a WDW resort now. And the point difference would also be an issue depending on if the waitlist came through and what status any remaining points would then be in. (If the WDW resort is more points than HH and the wait list comes through are any remaining points still bankable etc.)

I am not sure if this helped at all but PD to you however you decide to work it.

 

[Doctor P]

It also depends on what size unit you are wait listed for. If it is a 2BR, I think I would have some patience as those are the most plentiful units at HH. If it is a studio, 1BR, or GV, I might make alternate plans to make sure I had a trip. Summer at WDW can be done more easily than some other times of the year (except holiday weekends), and with SSR adding units still, there probably will be availability later there than other places, but I would give MS a call and see how things look before bailing on HH.

 

[jdvm]

Hi Gina,
I've spent a good part of my life on waitlists and my advice is to use the waitlist but to call Member Services every few days and see if they have any one of the days you need. I usually start with a skeleton of what iId eventually like and slowly fill in the gaps. If it's a particularly buy time, I'll get cash reservations for the nights I'm trying to get on points as a bit of a back up and the cancel the cash nights as I replace them with nights on points.
j

 

[funhouse8]

Hi Gina,
I have wait listed multiple times but am no expert at this so please someone correct me if anything is wrong here.

First thought - WDW resorts should be easier to get into in late July than HH, but I wouldn't want to wait to long to find out anyway.

The wait list is active until 31 days out I believe and then you'd have to call and tell them you wish to remain on it. That will last until 7 days out. Since we are within the 7 month mark for end of July that key point has passed. The next would be the 60 day mark, followed by the 31. Those are times when people move due to II trades and wait list ends etc.

If I understand your plan it is either that time frame in HH or that time frame in WDW? I am not sure about the availability of late July at WDW, not having tried it before. You might be safer - accommodations wise to book the stay at a WDW DVC resort and waitlist your trade to HH. At least this way you'd have accommodations for your vacation.

It still leaves you wondering where said vacation will be WDW or HH. It also doesn't help with airfares, dining reservations etc. But at lease you'd have rooms!

The other pitfall is no doubt you'd have to start your wait list over again if you book a WDW resort now. And the point difference would also be an issue depending on if the waitlist came through and what status any remaining points would then be in. (If the WDW resort is more points than HH and the wait list comes through are any remaining points still bankable etc.)

I am not sure if this helped at all but PD to you however you decide to work it.

Thanks I didn't even think of doing this. I'm going to wait a little while longer and when I really start to worry I'll give them a call. Great advice.

 

[funhouse8]

It also depends on what size unit you are wait listed for. If it is a 2BR, I think I would have some patience as those are the most plentiful units at HH. If it is a studio, 1BR, or GV, I might make alternate plans to make sure I had a trip. Summer at WDW can be done more easily than some other times of the year (except holiday weekends), and with SSR adding units still, there probably will be availability later there than other places, but I would give MS a call and see how things look before bailing on HH.

You have made me feel better. Thanks, I'm waitlisted for any unit that comes up so I'm just going to relax for awhile. Then if I start to worry, switch to WDW and still wait. But I'm guessing the worst case is I go to WDW. Not so bad! LOL

 

[funhouse8]

Hi Gina,
I've spent a good part of my life on waitlists and my advice is to use the waitlist but to call Member Services every few days and see if they have any one of the days you need. I usually start with a skeleton of what iId eventually like and slowly fill in the gaps. If it's a particularly buy time, I'll get cash reservations for the nights I'm trying to get on points as a bit of a back up and the cancel the cash nights as I replace them with nights on points.
j

You know I tried this the last time I called and MS stated Oh no you don't want to do this what if you wind up with a date in the beginning of your vacation and one at the end. She scared me off. How do you do the cash reservation? Very interesting. Thanks

 

[starbox]

If I were in your place, I'd book the same dates at a resort in WDW and ask them to automatically confirm to HHI waitlist if it comes available. That way, you are sure of a vacation in that time frame. If you'd really like beach-time, you may also want to consider doing a split stay with Vero. If you are driving, a few days at WDW, with a mid-week beach break is vey nice - and Vero is an easy drive from Disney.

Personally, I would only waitlist the whole thing - getting a day here and a day there has never appealed to me - way too stressful.

 

[dumbo71]

I wish I could help because I gave up on the waitlist long ago. I used it once and it only materialized becuase I called to check.

After that I'll never be bothered.

 

[castleri]

I am a firm believer in waitlists - they came through for me for NYE and a couple of days after within two weeks of the trip. I was on the waitlist only a couple of months. I was willing to take any resort and either a studio or 1 BR. You may have more of a problem because it is just the one resort but I wouldn't give up yet. I did go day by day. The one waitlist that never came through was for VWL for the week after Thanksgiving that didn't get put in until 3 months before but I had a backup for that one anyway and didn't really expect to get it-was trying to get it for a friend who really wanted that resort. Good Luck

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I am a firm believer in waitlists - they came through for me for NYE

I am too. We were able to move three reservations that were originally made for studios at SSR to the BCV for this past New Years Eve. Waiting out the last one (it was a reservation for 6 nights) was tough but it came through.

But I have also had some not so good luck too. Last Columbus Day a wait list never came through but I called the day beofre we left and sure enough, something was available.

Wait lists are worth the effort IMHO.

HBC

 

[Starr W.]

My waitlist just came through today for our May trip! We had booked SSR(12/14) then DH put us on the wait list for BCV or VWL. He did this early this month. We did all or nothing and had it automatic.

So we are off to VWL for 3nights!

 

[funhouse8]

My waitlist just came through today for our May trip! We had booked SSR(12/14) then DH put us on the wait list for BCV or VWL. He did this early this month. We did all or nothing and had it automatic.

So we are off to VWL for 3nights!

Well Congrats, You must be excited! The magic has all ready begun! Enjoy!

 

[Starr W.]

Yes I am really excited as I have been told by DH I am allowed only once a UY to try a diffferent resort. I really think VWL will be a great location for this trip and what we want to do.

DH gets the next pick, so it will be VB next.

 

[jeankeri]

Quick question about making a reservation and getting on a waitlist at the same time- do you have to have points to cover both the reservation and waitlist? In other words, does the waitlist tie up your points?

 

[starbox]

Quick question about making a reservation and getting on a waitlist at the same time- do you have to have points to cover both the reservation and waitlist? In other words, does the waitlist tie up your points?

No, it does not. If it comes through, you can set it to automatically cancel the existing reservation and then confirm the waitlisted one.

If the new reservation takes less points, those points are returned to your account. If the new reservation takes more, you'll be asked to pre-authorize the additional amount.

 

[jeankeri]

Thanks for the quick reply.