Questions about the waitlist (help me obsess)

[jtowntoflorida]

We're renters, so I hope I'm welcome to ask a question here.

We feel blessed to have found a member to rent from on the Rent/Trade board a few years ago. We're on our third transaction in as many years, and I am eternally grateful that we found someone so awesome to work with (and that he seems to have points to spare for us every year!).

Anyway, we have young kids so MK is our focus on our trips. We stayed at VWL our first year and thought it was awesome. Decided to try BLT last year...and probably shouldn't have. OMG, now we're totally spoiled. It was easy to get a reservation last year for a 1 bedroom LV at BLT at 7 months, but this year, we got waitlisted. **sad trombone** We booked VWL right at 7 months and waitlisted BLT (1 bedroom LV) the same day.

I've been reading about the waitlist, but I still have questions. First, do you think we have any chance at all of getting it? Our trip is in October, the 19th-26th. From what I read, I understand that all 7 days will have to be available at once to get our requested reservation, is that right? So, at this point, we're essentially waiting for someone else to cancel a week? How do cash reservations at BLT affect the waitlist? Can any "cash" rooms be redesignated as "points" rooms and thus be used to fulfill a waitlist? I hope that question makes sense. Also, is there anything affirmative the member has to do to get the waitlist, or is it processed automatically if a room becomes available?

Thanks for answering my questions. I wish I wasn't so obsessed with this. VWL is a lovely resort and I feel so stupid for being disappointed in it. The ability to walk to MK and be right on the monorail makes all the difference to us.

 

[cvjw]

Waitlists are automatically filled, so the member does not have to do anything. Cash reservations have zero effect on waitlists - cash and points reservations are separate. Yes, in order for the waitlist to fill, all 7 nights must be available at the same time, and your member must be #1 on the list. Just remember that BLT members have been able to get on the same waitlist four months earlier if the villa type was unavailable when they tried to book. I would try and get excited about a stay at VWL - the chances of all 7 nights becoming available at one time, and your member being the first on the list in the crazy busy month of October is probably not all that good.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We're renters, so I hope I'm welcome to ask a question here.

We feel blessed to have found a member to rent from on the Rent/Trade board a few years ago. We're on our third transaction in as many years, and I am eternally grateful that we found someone so awesome to work with (and that he seems to have points to spare for us every year!).

Anyway, we have young kids so MK is our focus on our trips. We stayed at VWL our first year and thought it was awesome. Decided to try BLT last year...and probably shouldn't have. OMG, now we're totally spoiled. It was easy to get a reservation last year for a 1 bedroom LV at BLT at 7 months, but this year, we got waitlisted. **sad trombone** We booked VWL right at 7 months and waitlisted BLT (1 bedroom LV) the same day.

I've been reading about the waitlist, but I still have questions. First, do you think we have any chance at all of getting it? Our trip is in October, the 19th-26th. From what I read, I understand that all 7 days will have to be available at once to get our requested reservation, is that right? So, at this point, we're essentially waiting for someone else to cancel a week? How do cash reservations at BLT affect the waitlist? Can any "cash" rooms be redesignated as "points" rooms and thus be used to fulfill a waitlist? I hope that question makes sense. Also, is there anything affirmative the member has to do to get the waitlist, or is it processed automatically if a room becomes available?

Thanks for answering my questions. I wish I wasn't so obsessed with this. VWL is a lovely resort and I feel so stupid for being disappointed in it. The ability to walk to MK and be right on the monorail makes all the difference to us.

I agree with cvjw. A seven night one bedroom at BLT in October is going to be tough to get. If you waitlisted it right at seven months out - exactly at seven months out, you may be near the top of the list. But if other members waitlisted starting six nights before you, five nights before you, four nights before you, etc., they are waitlisted for some of the same nights you need.

Cash nights will never be moved over to points nights unless they were points nights to begin with, not booked at 60 nights out and transferred to Disney Reservation Center to sell. But you are way more than than 60 nights out.

If you do get the waitlist, is the member going to charge you more? You will be using a lot more points for BLT over VWL.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

If you do get the waitlist, is the member going to charge you more? You will be using a lot more points for BLT over VWL.

Yes. Luckily, he has the points, and I have the cash! Since we've known each other for a few years now and have done transactions before without issue, I think we both trust each other more than may be typical in a renting relationship, KWIM? The down side of that is if he ever doesn't have spare points for us, I think I'd be scared to rent from someone else!

Thanks for your responses, even if they're not what I wanted to hear. I guess we got incredibly lucky last year getting a week in BLT in October without having to resort to a waitlist.

 

[DizBub]

I guess we got incredibly lucky last year getting a week in BLT in October without having to resort to a waitlist.

Yes, you did. October is crazy busy.

If there is an up-side, it's that 1br lake view is the easiest one to get. Even then you may need some major pixie dust.

If you want to get BLT consistently at this time of year you may have to find someone with BLT points to rent or buy your own contract.

Good luck!

 

[DMKEDM]

Given your good relationship w/your renter, perhaps you could talk to him about whether any of the nights in your week are available now? It may be that only a night or two are not available, and certainly a WL for one or two nights stands a better chance of coming through than a full week...

Of course, if you book (let's say, just at a guess, five nights) five of your 7 nights at BLT and the other 2 at VWL, you have to be willing to make the move...some people are; some people are not...

But it's a way to "work" the WL that could considerably improve your chances of at least some time at BLT?

It IS a much bigger hassle for the owner, tho...so even given your "special" relationship, be prepared for him to decline to get that "deep" into the process...but it's worth an ask, perhaps?

Good luck!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Given your good relationship w/your renter, perhaps you could talk to him about whether any of the nights in your week are available now? It may be that only a night or two are not available, and certainly a WL for one or two nights stands a better chance of coming through than a full week...

Of course, if you book (let's say, just at a guess, five nights) five of your 7 nights at BLT and the other 2 at VWL, you have to be willing to make the move...some people are; some people are not...

But it's a way to "work" the WL that could considerably improve your chances of at least some time at BLT?

It IS a much bigger hassle for the owner, tho...so even given your "special" relationship, be prepared for him to decline to get that "deep" into the process...but it's worth an ask, perhaps?

Good luck!

Thanks!

He did offer to do this for us, but with two little kids, we decided to pass on the possibility of a split stay. I think there were 3 days at BLT available the week of our stay the day he called to make our reservation.

VWL isn't that bad of a consolation prize, so we'll just deal if the BLT waitlist doesn't come through. However, if anyone here has a one bedroom LV that same week and is thinking about changing your vacation plans...just know there are two little adorable kids waiting in the wings for your room! If that motivates you at all.

I will say this is definitely making us reconsider our decision NOT to buy DVC. We'd just assumed that since it was so easy for us to get BLT last year that it wouldn't be an issue this year, either. I guess now we have to reconsider.

 

[Minniesgal]

Good luck with your waitlist but I think VWL is awesome so even if it doesn't work out you should have a lovely time