Poor Waitlist System

[gazeborob]

I have sitting on the waitlist for months now at BCV to trade in 2 studios for a 2 bedroom. Really all I need is to trade one of the studios for a 1 bedroom, and then they can make it a lock-off. I called Member Services about it and started asking questions on how the system works. I was shocked to find out that the system doesn't look people trying to make a change in room accommodations. I am sure that there is someone out there on the list that wants to change from a 1 bedroom to a studio, and people like me who wants the 1 bedroom. This seems to me like an easy thing for the system to do. I made the suggestion that they look into something like that, but you know how thing go. Most likely will never happen.

 

[disneynutz]

You will find that there are many things that still do not work well at the DVC.

Your best bet is to buy where you love to stay and book at 11 months.

We gave up on the waitlist system a couple of years ago. You can have a waitlist on file and someone else can swoop in and grab your dates before your match is made and processed.

Bill

 

[Dean]

I have sitting on the waitlist for months now at BCV to trade in 2 studios for a 2 bedroom. Really all I need is to trade one of the studios for a 1 bedroom, and then they can make it a lock-off. I called Member Services about it and started asking questions on how the system works. I was shocked to find out that the system doesn't look people trying to make a change in room accommodations. I am sure that there is someone out there on the list that wants to change from a 1 bedroom to a studio, and people like me who wants the 1 bedroom. This seems to me like an easy thing for the system to do. I made the suggestion that they look into something like that, but you know how thing go. Most likely will never happen.

There are 2 aspects about the WL that affect your situation. First, they don't hold rooms for the WL, they only look periodically to see if there's something that matches. And they don't hold partials, it's all or nothing. It's not a great system but it's better than nothing. That means they won't look down the list for exact matches to swap them out and to be honest, they shouldn't where there are others ahead of you on the list looking for the same thing.

 

[magicaldisney]

You can have a waitlist on file and someone else can swoop in and grab your dates before your match is made and processed.

Bill

This is what frustrates me. In my opinion, rooms shouldn't go into the system until WLs are looked at and filled, but I don't see that ever happening either.

 

[rlduvall]

Before the online reservation system, my waitlists were more often filled than not; mind you I usually only waitlist for 1-2 nights. I had pretty much given up on waitlists and just stalk the website like crazy - which is exhausting. BUT, yesterday mid-morning my waitlist came through for a GFV - studio - standard view for December 7th - and I had only waitlisted it less than a week ago. I was shocked, but I guess it still occasionally works. And we are getting close to the 30 day holding points period.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Before the online reservation system, my waitlists were more often filled than not; mind you I usually only waitlist for 1-2 nights. I had pretty much given up on waitlists and just stalk the website like crazy - which is exhausting. BUT, yesterday mid-morning my waitlist came through for a GFV - studio - standard view for December 7th - and I had only waitlisted it less than a week ago. I was shocked, but I guess it still occasionally works. And we are getting close to the 30 day holding points period.

Wow! Especially for that time of year...good for you!

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Before the online reservation system, my waitlists were more often filled than not; mind you I usually only waitlist for 1-2 nights. I had pretty much given up on waitlists and just stalk the website like crazy - which is exhausting. BUT, yesterday mid-morning my waitlist came through for a GFV - studio - standard view for December 7th - and I had only waitlisted it less than a week ago. I was shocked, but I guess it still occasionally works. And we are getting close to the 30 day holding points period.

I think DVC may have done and update when adding the new availability tool make the wait list better.

Last month I wait listed a BW studio boardwalk view.
I checked every morning, twice in the afternoon, and right before going to bed. Nothing was poppin up.
One afternoon about an hour after my 3rd daily check. I was on the site and noticed waitlist had come through! Got an email about 2 hours later.

After I switched my sister also wanted to switch to be near us.
She wanted a BW standard view studio.. I waitlisted it.. (Didn't think she was going to get it)
2 weeks later around noon.. I noticed it went through!! Got an email later that night.

I don't think it goes through automatically, but maybe they are now checkin mid day as well as after hours.

 

[rlduvall]

Wow! Especially for that time of year...good for you!

Thanks - I know. Maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket today, also!

 

[CarolMN]

I do not think there will be any changes made to the waitlist system as it exists today.

DVC as a whole does not care which member stays in a particular room. It cares about filling rooms as efficiently as possible in a cost effective manner. Given that objective, the current waitlist system works just fine and there is no upside for DVC's objective to making it more "fair" or satisfying for members. Even the website "stalking" contributes to the goal.

Individual members care about getting a particular reservation. That objective would be better served by a different, more robust system.

Even though I personally have been disappointed by the current system more than once, I'd rather DVC spend their time and my money elsewhere. Sometimes, good enough is OK. JMHO. YMMV.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Looking at my waitlist history, I have had 4 waitlists , each 1-3 nights long, come through since April.

I currently have 2, 1 one night and 1 for 2 nights. I don't bother checking to see if I could book these myself, if they come through, I'll be happy, but they are not essential to our happiness.

 

[Sandisw]

I have had pretty good success with wait lists and while I also agree that there could be a different way of approaching it, it does seem to work out pretty well for the most part.

Frustrating when it doesn't fit ones exact needs, but overall, I think it at least gives everyone a chance to try for a room that is not available when they are ready to book.

I personally have taken advantage of getting rooms via the online site that could have had a waitlist, so I can't complain if I do end up with one that doesn't fill.

Good luck!

 

[Dean]

Many systems don't have a wait list option or require one to have enough additional points for the wait list AND commit them to the WL.