Tell me your waitlist stories please!

[figmentfinesse]

I currently have two very unlikely waitlists I put in last week for President’s day weekend— tell me your waitlist stories, good and bad!

 

[Quiltsndisney]

I was reading someone else’s post and their advice was stock the site daily and if you have points book one day at a time. In three weeks I have gone from one out five days booked to three out of five. maybe I can get the last two days before my trip in three months

 

[pianomanzano]

Hopefully we're not vying for the same resort/room type. I also put one in for that weekend as well

 

[MSUDisney]

Following. I am new to DVC and wondering how likely my waitlist will go through.

 

[figmentfinesse]

Hopefully we're not vying for the same resort/room type. I also put one in for that weekend as well

It’s Feb 19-22 at Beach Club (studio) and BWV (standard studio). You?

 

[princesscinderella]

I’m currently trying to piece together a 2 night stay the second weekend of December. I have actually found and reserved the two nights I need but one night is a Savanna studio at Kidani and the other is a one bedroom also at Kidani. I’m hoping to not have to move rooms each day and have the missing studio day waitlisted. I also have the stay waitlisted for a std view studio at SSR in case that opens up too since it’s so big. Both waitlists would replace the one bedroom since it’s just a weekend getaway for me and the hubby without the kids. These points are extra points that are expiring 1/31/21 from a resale contract I just closed on.
I do need help strategizing how best to handle my stalking now as I’m still checking the site to see if my 2 nights in the same room miraculously open up at any of the other resorts not waitlisted. I have utilized all the points that would be expiring to book the two nights I currently have booked. If I see the nights open at another resort can I proceed to the first page to start the booking process on my computer and then login on my phone to cancel the night in the one bedroom to free up the points to finish booking the nights I want on my computer? I’d hate to cancel the one bedroom and then not be fast enough to book the available resort since it changes so quickly. Or should I just stop stalking and hope my waitlists come through where MS can handle all the back end canceling. I’ve never found myself in this situation as I usually book at the 11 month window and have never let a point expire yet.

 

[pianomanzano]

It’s Feb 19-22 at Beach Club (studio) and BWV (standard studio). You?

We have some overlapping days, but not overlapping resorts Trying for OKW. Good luck!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Between checking several times during the day and using two waitlists I was able to book an AKL Value Studio from 12/26/21 to 1/3/22. I hard to get room at a hard to get time so I would describe my results as successful. I do own at AKL but the dates I wanted were not available at the 11 month window but I was still able to put the trip together over time.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I’m currently trying to piece together a 2 night stay the second weekend of December. I have actually found and reserved the two nights I need but one night is a Savanna studio at Kidani and the other is a one bedroom also at Kidani. I’m hoping to not have to move rooms each day and have the missing studio day waitlisted. I also have the stay waitlisted for a std view studio at SSR in case that opens up too since it’s so big. Both waitlists would replace the one bedroom since it’s just a weekend getaway for me and the hubby without the kids. These points are extra points that are expiring 1/31/21 from a resale contract I just closed on.
I do need help strategizing how best to handle my stalking now as I’m still checking the site to see if my 2 nights in the same room miraculously open up at any of the other resorts not waitlisted. I have utilized all the points that would be expiring to book the two nights I currently have booked. If I see the nights open at another resort can I proceed to the first page to start the booking process on my computer and then login on my phone to cancel the night in the one bedroom to free up the points to finish booking the nights I want on my computer? I’d hate to cancel the one bedroom and then not be fast enough to book the available resort since it changes so quickly. Or should I just stop stalking and hope my waitlists come through where MS can handle all the back end canceling. I’ve never found myself in this situation as I usually book at the 11 month window and have never let a point expire yet.

Since you have your two nights booked separately in different class rooms I would suggest figuring out which type of room you would prefer - Savannah Studio of the one bedroom - and set up a waitlist for the preferred type room you want to complete your desired type but have it set to replace your existing reservation for that day. Let's say day 1 is the studio and day 2 is the one-bedroom. Do a waitlist for a Savannah studio for day 2 and have the waitlist selected to replace the existing reservation for that date. I've done than successfully in the past. Once you have 2 separate dates for the same room type and resort you can the contact Member Services to have the reservations merged, that way you won't take the chance of loosing the room(s) if you try to cancel and re-book.

 

[DebbieB]

I had a Disneyland trip in October 2018. A CM friend got me a discount at Paradise Pier (she was staying there too). It was Sunday-Friday. I planned to get an airport hotel Friday night before my Saturday morning flight.

A couple months before, I noticed DCA was open late that Friday night. I got the idea to waitlist the Friday night at VGC. It came through pretty quick. So then I decided to waitlist Thursday, it came through. So then Wednesday, that came through. I stopped there, I was out of points. I contacted Member Services and had them combine the reservations.

I got a hassle at PP changing my checkout to Wednesday. They wouldn’t do it in advance, I had to plead at the front desk when I checked in. I had only paid the one night in advance so they agreed to it.

 

[mrsdoubie]

I was never able to take my oldest daughter (age 26 now) to Disney as a kid because I just couldn’t afford it. We bought a contract in August and I waitlisted a 4 night stay in a lake view at the Poly on her spring break in March. I never thought I’d get it. I called MS a few days ago about another matter and was told my waitlist had come through. I’m so excited. Our first mother/daughter trip to Disney with a lake view at the Poly. They’re both bucket list items for me!

I did stalk the sight a lot to see if anything opened up, but it also helps to call MS to see if anything gets matched. I was told that sometimes there a lag and they have to manually match you up.

 

[E2ME2]

Between checking several times during the day and using two waitlists I was able to book an AKL Value Studio from 12/26/21 to 1/3/22. I hard to get room at a hard to get time so I would describe my results as successful. I do own at AKL but the dates I wanted were not available at the 11 month window but I was still able to put the trip together over time.

You should be happy with that. I have had a Value Studio on waitlist for 6 months, and I check the RAT every day. Today - for the week I am looking for, I saw 3 N at Value available, and the other 4 for that week available in the Club-K. I have never modified or changed a reservation on the site, and wasn't sure of the steps/risk in trying to piece it together myself, so I called DVC-MS. It was about 3pm, and I hoped for a quick response. I waited for about 15 minutes, refreshing my screen the whole time to see if the nights were still available. The very moment the line started ringing over to a CM, my screen timed-out, and I got the 7-Dwarfs error screen!! The CM checked, and none of the dates were available.

 

[katie3008]

I had a waitlist for one night in a BWV studio. I was stalking daily also, and grabbed the room myself before waitlist filled. I checked with MS before releasing waitlist, they confirmed it had not filled, and could not explain why the waitlist did not grab the available room So I definitely recommend keeping an eye out yourself just in case. Fingers crossed you get lucky

 

[pianomanzano]

It’s Feb 19-22 at Beach Club (studio) and BWV (standard studio). You?

Any luck with yours? @figmentfinesse? I switched my waitlist from OKW to SSR to get a better chance and it filled while on a call with member services about 2 weeks ago.

 

[Sandisw]

I have had really good luck with them. Many times though I have found my 2nd choice by stalking. Changed things and canceled 1st choice.

Within minutes the first choice showed up and I snagged it. I have no doubt it was being held for me via waitlist but not processed.

Now I did see a room I wanted for January 10th last night and tried to change..it dwarfed on me so I set up the waitlist.

I went on today, did the same, so chat was able to snag it for me..I got one of the CMs in the testing program who can actual make and modify reservations..so the waitlist program must not have yet run.

I do like to stalk though to ensure I leave nothing to chance!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I remember one time having a waitlist at BCV for a 1 BR. This was going to be a surprise for DH, who was running his first Dopey. We'd booked a studio and I thought he might like the extra room. No movement from 7 to 1 month. At exactly 1 month, I finally confessed-"Well, I tried". A few hours later, MS called-my waitlist came through but they wanted to confirm some things. So my surprise was spoiled, but he got a 1 BR for the Dopey.
And at HHI once, we were at the resort, our reservation for the last few days had been inexplicably cancelled by MS, and the resort was sold out. However, the front desk said not too worry(easy to say), that cancellations occurred all the time, and sure enough we had a room every night. One night, we were told we had to move to a different size unit, but a few hours later, the front desk called back to tell us we could stay where we were.
So NEVER give up-cancellations DO happen all the time. I'm trying to remember that, since I'm now on a waiting list for a stay that's happening in about 3 weeks.

 

[AvidDisReader]

We had a 1 bedroom at Animal Kingdom booked for the week of 1/17/22, but a couple of months ago one of the parties that was originally going to go canceled. So we waitlisted for a studio. Last week it came thru. So I now have a Animal Kingdom Savanna view studio. This is the first time a waitlist has come thu for us in the last 3 years.

 

[kanerf]

I waitlisted a one bedroom at OKW for 27-29 Dec this year and it came through about a month ago. I had reserved a studio at OKW. It was the only way around the 50% borrowing freeze.

 

[E2ME2]

Since you have your two nights booked separately in different class rooms I would suggest figuring out which type of room you would prefer - Savannah Studio of the one bedroom - and set up a waitlist for the preferred type room you want to complete your desired type but have it set to replace your existing reservation for that day. Let's say day 1 is the studio and day 2 is the one-bedroom. Do a waitlist for a Savannah studio for day 2 and have the waitlist selected to replace the existing reservation for that date. I've done than successfully in the past. Once you have 2 separate dates for the same room type and resort you can the contact Member Services to have the reservations merged, that way you won't take the chance of loosing the room(s) if you try to cancel and re-book.

Scott - Had I not frozen like a deer in headlights, what steps should I have taken to snatch the available rooms ??
I had a week at SSR, and saw the first 4 dates available in a Club-K Studio, and the remaining 3 dates available in a Value-Studio.
I didn't know how to grab them both, and I froze. Should I have tried the Value-Studio first, for the last 3 days, and if I had selected those dates would the RAT have prompted me through steps to release the previous SSR ressie, and to reconcile the points. Then, would I have to go back and hope the first 4 days were still available ?? I had a tremendous Brain-Freeze, and that's when i called DVC-Member Services. I will be kicking myself if I find there was a simple/easy way to grab those dates................

 

[dragonflymom]

Should I have tried the Value-Studio first, for the last 3 days, and if I had selected those dates would the RAT have prompted me through steps to release the previous SSR ressie, and to reconcile the points. Then, would I have to go back and hope the first 4 days were still available ??

That's a tough one. If I were in your shoes and I know SSR is just a backup and I do not mind a split stay, I would split the 7-day SSR ressie into two separate ressies even before I start stalking, or possibly into three separate consecutive ressies if I'm stretched for extra points and feel adventurous enough. I am on the West Coast so I would probably do this late night without jeopardizing any of the 7 nights.

Then once I'm ready to stalk, I would pick one of the ressies and use the Modify function to search for availability at other resorts. This way, as soon as I see something I like, I click on it and it will completely replace the original ressie and use same points (or it will prioritize banked/borrowed points if those are sitting around). I would then quickly repeat the same process with the second original ressie--Modify\Search for dates\check just the box for AKV--and snag the second room. This way, it would probably take me 3 - 4 minutes to complete both changes if website is not glitchy vs. the 15+ minutes on hold trying to reach MS. It is hard to mess up with Modify function and if the points don't come out the way you had intended, you can always call immediately and have MS re-allocate the points. Another tip is don't bother with filling in the rest of the guests' names and info. It will save time and you can always go back and use the Modify function to complete the information at a later time. Lead guest info should already be auto-filled and this also can be changed later by contacting MS via call or chat.

Don't lose hope if you're not quick enough, keep checking since same or adjacent dates often pop up again. Most likely the person who snatched your desired dates is releasing adjacent dates or switching room types or they change their mind a day or so later since it might have been an impulsive grab and they decide it wouldn't work for them after all.