Technical Flaw in the Waitlist System?

[rsimon]

It's not a perfect system. The only way to fix it would be to hold all inventory that was canceled until it was checked against the WL. They likely should hold the inventory but doubt their system is set up to do so.

Maybe someday Disney will figure out what computers are and actually use them to do these kinds of things. Unfortunately this is only ONE of the less than perfect issues with DVC's system.

 

[alongtimeblooming]

Sorry, we're newish DVCers. I've read the whole thread, but I can't make up my mind.

Is the consensus that calling often helps to get you off the waitlist? Guy and I are waitlisted for BLT studio for October 7th - 12th and we're also waitlisted at BWV. I doubt we'll get into Boardwalk (F & W) but we are DYING to get into BLT! It's our home resort and we still haven't seen it in person. :-(

 

[Dean]

Be careful what we ask for.

DVC has the tendency to "improve" or "enhance" the system for members benefit that ended up being a PITA. For example reducing the WL to 2 at a time (even if you have more than 2 vacations or 2 rooms booked), or banking deadline change, point charts changes...

Love my DVC but everytime I see a post or email for "improvements or enhancements for MY benefit" update I cringe...

Exactly what I suggested above, you may lose the option of WL altogether. The banking deadline change likely helped far more people than it hurt. The WL limitation improves availability for more people while worsening the options for a given member.

Maybe someday Disney will figure out what computers are and actually use them to do these kinds of things. Unfortunately this is only ONE of the less than perfect issues with DVC's system.

Maybe, more likely they'll do away with the option rather than put any time/effort/money into fixing it. I guess I come at this differently from most on this board in that I make every effort to figure out how things work (both reality and theoretically) and then work around those issues. While I may be very idealistic in theory, I'm very practical in function. I may have my opinions on what's best or fair, other than fodder for the BBS, my opinions don't really mean much unless I'm willing to put effort into contacting DVC management and/or getting a lawyer. Calling or emailing for member satisfaction does really do anything.

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Hmmmmm, this makes me think. We're waiting on a Magic Kingdom view BLT studio for 2 nights in Sept. Maybe I should be calling daily???

This thread is news to me. Sounds frustrating to those who go through the process of getting on the waitlist. This is something that seems like an easy fix. Shouldn't there simply be a "backup" for the reservation and then the next person gets it.

In the meantime though I think you should start calling daily.

Jason

 

[Sandisw]

Sorry, we're newish DVCers. I've read the whole thread, but I can't make up my mind.

Is the consensus that calling often helps to get you off the waitlist? Guy and I are waitlisted for BLT studio for October 7th - 12th and we're also waitlisted at BWV. I doubt we'll get into Boardwalk (F & W) but we are DYING to get into BLT! It's our home resort and we still haven't seen it in person. :-(

Yes, I think that it doesn't hurt to call and ask whether or not there is availability. Since you can only have two wait lists, and one is for BWV, you still have two views available at BLT that could become open.

I did this last summer and simply said, "Can you check some availability for me?" and gave them the dates.

Good luck!

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

great~...one more thing that isn't right .

obviously, there are those in member services bypassing the

wait list. who can we call that is in charge of running this ?

( let me guess, the card~board cutout fella welcoming you in
at the dvc store? )


someone else, felt it was unreasonable to expect availability @
your home resort ( 11mos ). , what other reason
would anyone would buy into dvc in the first place if not to
get a room?

is it encouraged for disney employees / guides ....to make any promises
they can think of just to sell? do anyone here know their
boundaries?

home resort? is a home resort where a person has the majority of
their points? [ so i know when others are making a point &
what resort they are referring to when they own @ several. ]

maybe that what we all should do, stage a "call~in"? *pay no
attention, just a flashback to the 60's,

 

[LisaS]

someone else, felt it was unreasonable to expect availability @ your home resort ( 11mos ). , what other reason would anyone would buy into dvc in the first place if not to get a room?

You should have no problem booking your home resort 11 months out unless you are trying to get a high demand/limited availability booking category. For example, AKV Concierge will almost always be tough to book because there are only five 2BR lockoffs and they are very popular. Boardwalk View or Standard View rooms at BWV can be difficult at busy times (especially during Food & Wine, early December, New Year's Eve, etc.) because each of those categories is 20% or less of the total rooms at BWV. I suspect BLT Standard View and MK View rooms are difficult to get for busy times like early December and NYE, especially since only part of the resort is available to be booked on points since the resort is not yet fully declared. Grand Villas can be difficult to book at any resort that has them because there are so few of them.

home resort? is a home resort where a person has the majority of
their points? [ so i know when others are making a point &
what resort they are referring to when they own @ several. ]

A Home Resort is any resort where you have purchased a contract. I have three Home Resorts: AKV, BWV and VWL. I can book any of those resorts 11 months out, provided I have enough home resort points to cover my reservation.

 

[SamSam]

I don't even mention I'm waitlisted when I call. I just ask if there is availability for what I want. I was able to get one of my waitlisted nights that way, and honestly one night is better than none... so I jumped on it. The waitlist is now attached to that reservation. I'll continue calling daily until either (1) I'm notified by Disney that they've filled my request, (2) I get what I want, or (3) they somehow disconnect my phone. =P

Thank you, I'll try checking this way in the future. I really wish the waitlist worked the way some cm's believe, i.e. if you're on a waitlist, as soon as the room is availbable ...you get it! Wouldn't that be nice.

 

[PoohNFriends]

the stories of "I didn't have any problem getting a Boardwalk View four months out from F&W" always make me wonder. Its great for the person who called at the right moment, but it leaves people with the impression that there is availability - when the truth might be there are forty people on a waitlist.

New to this whole thing, but it sounds like that some members getting these hard-to-get rooms had some extra pixie dust that day and were able to snag a room before waitlist picks kicked in.
I called last week for VGC for the last week of October, not expecting but hoping there would be availabilty, and only 1 night was available. I didn't bother to waitlist because I figured with few rooms and Halloween there my chances were slim.
Just for future reference, can MS tell you how many people are ahead of you for the nights you waitlist? Maybe I will just put us on there anyway and call daily for awhile to see if anything comes thru. If not, that's ok too, we are ok with a cash stay and using banked points for something bigger next year.

 

[Sandisw]

great~...one more thing that isn't right .

obviously, there are those in member services bypassing the

wait list. who can we call that is in charge of running this ?

( let me guess, the card~board cutout fella welcoming you in
at the dvc store? )


someone else, felt it was unreasonable to expect availability @
your home resort ( 11mos ). , what other reason
would anyone would buy into dvc in the first place if not to
get a room?

is it encouraged for disney employees / guides ....to make any promises
they can think of just to sell? do anyone here know their
boundaries?

home resort? is a home resort where a person has the majority of
their points? [ so i know when others are making a point &
what resort they are referring to when they own @ several. ]

maybe that what we all should do, stage a "call~in"? *pay no
attention, just a flashback to the 60's,

It is not that MS is bypassing the wait list. The system allows rooms that are cancelled to show up in inventory and CM's can book them when they are there. Sometimes, they make it to open inventory before the system matches wait lists. If a call comes in while it is showing up, the new person on the phone is able to book it.

As far as "home resort", that is simply the place someone owns points. It may or may not be where they own most of their points. We only have one home resort, BLT and all 180 points are there. However, there are several that have several home resorts as they own points at many of the DVC properties.

 

[toniosmom]

Just for future reference, can MS tell you how many people are ahead of you for the nights you waitlist?

I asked this very question of a CM last week and was told that they do not have that capability.

 

[crisi]

Sorry, we're newish DVCers. I've read the whole thread, but I can't make up my mind.

Is the consensus that calling often helps to get you off the waitlist? Guy and I are waitlisted for BLT studio for October 7th - 12th and we're also waitlisted at BWV. I doubt we'll get into Boardwalk (F & W) but we are DYING to get into BLT! It's our home resort and we still haven't seen it in person. :-(

I don't know how other people feel, but we don't use the waitlist. We book home as soon as we can (generally eleven months) and then if we want to try something else, we make a list of the resorts according to preference and call at seven months - all or nothing, no waitlist - and if nothing is available, hold our original reservation. We bought a resort we don't mind getting stuck at.

Each trip is only one of many.

 

[tjkraz]

The hold system is what they should do, and since DVC is not a traditional business that might loose out on a sale, it doesn't have much business impact. The person calling has the choice to go on the waitlist, and if there is no one else there, gets the room the next day. But they haven't apparently done that.

If DVC went that route, my suspicion is that we would soon see the opposite of what happens today. Member calls and is told nothing is available. However, there actually IS inventory from a cancellation, but it's held in limbo pending the waitlist process.

I think the impact would be most profound right at 7 months when you have people canceling their Home resort reservation and attempting to move elsewhere. It's not unrealistic to think there could be dozens of rooms in some hold status awaiting the waitlist.

My point is comparing the old system (more complex and more variables allowed) to the new system--not as complex and yet it doesn't seem like it is working as it should.

I guess I don't really view them as two separate systems. In my mind it's the same system with a couple extra restrictions added. I don't know that any programming was actually modified--my assumption has always been that DVC simply altered it's guidelines for what Member Services reps can and cannot do.

I asked this very question of a CM last week and was told that they do not have that capability.

(RE: Where one stands on the waitlist)

There really is no meaningful way to communicate where someone stands on the waitlist because of the variances in arrival dates and trip durations. You could be the first person with a waitlist request for Day 1 of your trip, then you could be 10th on the waitlist for Day 2, 5th in line for Day 3 and so on.

The matter is also complicated by the duration of the trip. Even if you were "first" in line for every night of your desired stay, if you are on the waitlist for a 10-day trip the odds for success are far smaller than a member waitlisting 3 nights.

In order for a waitlist to be matched, every single night must come available simultaneously. If only part of a trip is matched, the member is bypassed and the dates slip to the next person on the list. Telling a member that she is first (or 3rd or 20th) would create false expectations in many instances.

 

[crisi]

If DVC went that route, my suspicion is that we would soon see the opposite of what happens today. Member calls and is told nothing is available. However, there actually IS inventory from a cancellation, but it's held in limbo pending the waitlist process.

I think the impact would be most profound right at 7 months when you have people canceling their Home resort reservation and attempting to move elsewhere. It's not unrealistic to think there could be dozens of rooms in some hold status awaiting the waitlist.

Yep, but the waitlists would get filled over the course of the day, and emptied in the evening - not based on their being no rooms available at the BW 9am when Diane called, but rooms available at 3:00 when you called because I switched my reservation over to SSR at 2:45. i.e. first in, first out - the way it really should be. Right now there is a lot of luck of the draw in the shuffle at high demand times of year.

 

[ImagineerM]

I don't know how other people feel, but we don't use the waitlist. We book home as soon as we can (generally eleven months) and then if we want to try something else, we make a list of the resorts according to preference and call at seven months - all or nothing, no waitlist - and if nothing is available, hold our original reservation. We bought a resort we don't mind getting stuck at.

Each trip is only one of many.

That is how we felt when we bought AKV. We bought where we knew we wanted to stay, and book at 11 months. We are thinking about trying for someplace else at 7months, but if it doesn't work, oh well, we'll be happy with AKV.

We can always try again next year!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[cseca]

If DVC went that route, my suspicion is that we would soon see the opposite of what happens today. Member calls and is told nothing is available. However, there actually IS inventory from a cancellation, but it's held in limbo pending the waitlist process.

I think the impact would be most profound right at 7 months when you have people canceling their Home resort reservation and attempting to move elsewhere. It's not unrealistic to think there could be dozens of rooms in some hold status awaiting the waitlist.



I guess I don't really view them as two separate systems. In my mind it's the same system with a couple extra restrictions added. I don't know that any programming was actually modified--my assumption has always been that DVC simply altered it's guidelines for what Member Services reps can and cannot do.



(RE: Where one stands on the waitlist)

There really is no meaningful way to communicate where someone stands on the waitlist because of the variances in arrival dates and trip durations. You could be the first person with a waitlist request for Day 1 of your trip, then you could be 10th on the waitlist for Day 2, 5th in line for Day 3 and so on.

The matter is also complicated by the duration of the trip. Even if you were "first" in line for every night of your desired stay, if you are on the waitlist for a 10-day trip the odds for success are far smaller than a member waitlisting 3 nights.

In order for a waitlist to be matched, every single night must come available simultaneously. If only part of a trip is matched, the member is bypassed and the dates slip to the next person on the list. Telling a member that she is first (or 3rd or 20th) would create false expectations in many instances.

I'm oversimplifying this whole thing of course, but wouldn't all they have to do is "hold" those units for 1 night to check against the WL and promptly afterwards release whichever ones didn't match the list back to the pool?
They don't have to hold them indefinitely because as you said, for the WL to be matched every single night must be available.
That way the WL requests will still get first dibs AND the units will be available again the next day if they don't match any WL.

Of course members are still free to check day by day availability by calling in each day, but they won't really be bypassing any WL-ed people because the list has been checked the night before.

Again, not saying that this is easy for DVC... but in my mind it is and it's way more fair than the current system...

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

I would recommend putting yourself on the wait list for the dates you need and hope it comes though, but also call frequently to double check if the availability opened up. It is somewhat of a flawed system, but I've had it work out for me both ways. ( calling and wait listing).

 

[Snurk71]

A lot of people are suggesting/thinking that putting the cancelled rooms into holding for the day until the batch WL job runs at night would fix people calling in and getting ahead of the line. While that might help out some situations (maybe the exact matches), it wouldn't be foolproof. If someone is WL 4 nights and 3 of the nights become available - those 3 nights will go into a holding status for the day, skip the person WL for 4 nights, and then someone else can take the 3 nights the next day. It would be unreasonable to hold rooms for nights if there is any WL covering those nights - you would need to move them back into inventory.

Food for further thought...

 

[disneynutz]

I have had a couple of people email me about my post #13.

What I tried to say in the post is that 4 different managers gave me 4 different answers to the same question so they don't really know how the wait lists are administered. I do know that there is a wait list team because one of them called me a few months ago to verify what points we wanted to use. Who knows what really goes on?

Bill

 

[LisaS]

A lot of people are suggesting/thinking that putting the cancelled rooms into holding for the day until the batch WL job runs at night would fix people calling in and getting ahead of the line. While that might help out some situations (maybe the exact matches), it wouldn't be foolproof. If someone is WL 4 nights and 3 of the nights become available - those 3 nights will go into a holding status for the day, skip the person WL for 4 nights, and then someone else can take the 3 nights the next day. It would be unreasonable to hold rooms for nights if there is any WL covering those nights - you would need to move them back into inventory.

Food for further thought...

I don't see that as a flaw since DVC states that WLs are "all or nothing" and that individual nights will not be held to fulfill WLs. I think members understand that the more nights they are waiting for, the lower the odds of getting their WL filled.

What I don't think is fair is when some member happens to call at the right time and gets the exact set of nights that someone else has been waiting for for months. That is not right and should be fixed.

I think Crisi's approach makes a lot of sense. Yes it will temporarily tie up inventory until the WL processing is done, but anyone who wanted any of those nights can go on the WL and quite possibly will get them within 24 hours if they don't go to someone higher up on the list.