Reservation/Waitlist Questions

[keishashadow]

Ok all you DVC pros - I'm sure you've answered the following before but, here it comes again.

Someday, we'll close on our Resale...then, once we're eventually in the system...we'll make our 1st ressie. Hopefully, there will be room somewhere/anywhere onsite. How does the actual "waitlist" process work for other properties we'd like to stay in? Can we get on the list for several properties or do we have to pick only one?

Quite confused by the comments read as to waitlisting day-by-day. Should we keep the original reservation while waiting for the preferred to come through, then cancel the 1st (assume we have enough available points to cover both)?

If we book with current UY points, then cancel, can they still be saved in the next UY if banked at appropriate point? Lastly, can ressies made with banked points be cancelled and rebooked with the current UY?

 

[bobbiwoz]

"If we book with current UY points, then cancel, can they still be saved in the next UY if banked at appropriate point? Lastly, can ressies made with banked points be cancelled and rebooked with the current UY?"


Hi!

As long as you cancel 31 or more days prior to check in, those points that you booked with are able to be used again or banked if you're within the deadlines.
I have no experience waitisting day-by-day, so I can't help you with the other questions.

Bobbi

 

[keishashadow]

bobbiwoz - thanks for responding at to banked points.
Now if I can only figure out the day-by-day ressies.

 

[MLK-RI]

Hi,
If you are wanting to stay in one of the properties at WDW (not HH or VB, I think different strategies might apply to them) you would do well to book your vacation at your home resort as close to 11 months out as you can. This assures you a place to stay at WDW even if it isn't your first choice for that trip. Then at the 7 month window you call MS to ask to switch your ressie to your first choice. If it is unavailable, ask for your second choice and so on. At this time you can also ask to go on the wait list for your first choice.

For example say you own at VWL. You call at 11 months out and book a week's vacation in say a studio. MS matches the points to that reservation and sends you confrimation etc.

At the 7 month window (the day of your checkOUT at the end of the week) you call MS to ask to switch to say... BCV (your 1st choice for this trip). They do not have availablilty for you, but they do have availabliltiy at your 2nd choice the BWV, so you take it. MS books the new reservation and cancels the old, using the same points you had already committed. (I used these 3 resorts as an example because the point values are usually the same for rooms at all times of the year (except the BWV standard view, but I digress). For other resorts with differring point values you'd either have to commit more points or get points back at this time.
MS now sends you the confirmation for the reservation at BWV (Cancelling your VWL reservation) and you have also asked to be put on the wait list for BCV. (It's all done using the same points that you've already committed) You are on the waitlist automatically until 1 month out. If you want to continue to wait list after that you must tell them at that time.
Your wait list may come through at any time or not, but now you have your fallback position at BWV, and someone else can now have that enviable VWL studio.
We generally do it the way I've outline above so as to be assure the entire vacation in one spot, not having to move in the middle. BUT... many folks take that risk by going day to day and it works out fine for them as well.
For day to day you do the same process as above but you call MS at the 7 month window on day two of your vacation (checkout from day 1) and ask to move to your 1st choice etc.... Tell them you are going day by day, some CM's will offer more info than others about this but in any case you'll need to call each day to move over your reservation until you've completed it. All points used are the ones already committed. You see, you are giving up the original night at your home resort for the same night at your 1st choice resort.
The upside to day to day is it is easier to lock in a day or two than a whole week sometimes and possibly means someone else can't book the entire week so they won't try, leaving the days open for you to get. The down side is that you might not get all the days you want and therefore need to checkout/checkin, moving during your vacation from one resort to the other. That plus the need to call every day until you've accomplished it.

I hope this explains it well enough, but I am sure if not, others will chip in with the correct info for you.
Enjoy!

ML

 

[keishashadow]

MLK-RI - thanks for a well-written explanation. I've printed it out and put it in what my family calls "The Book". I'm sure this whole process will soon become second nature but, for now, I'm semi-clueless.