Tell me your waitlist stories please!

[Omoreno]

Stalk!

Also, I would change one of your waitlists to a larger resort like SSR.

 

[E2ME2]

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.

This is great info. - Thanks!
I've not modified a reservation before, and this detailed response is greatly appreciated.
& I see what you mean about breaking the current 7-Day ressie into smaller chunks; can that also be done through the modify function ??

 

[dragonflymom]

breaking the current 7-Day ressie into smaller chunks; can that also be done through the modify function ?

Modify function only works for your first chunk when you drop the back half of your dates. What you need to do is then quickly make a new reservation for the second chunk. You should be able to make this change in 2 - 3 minutes. Sometimes if you do this too quickly, the dropped dates may not appear when you search for the dropped dates to make a new (second) reservation. That has happened to me a couple of times so no need to panic...just search again and you should see the dropped dates load again. To be safe, I try to do this late at night on the West Coast when fewer people are searching, but I have done it in the middle of the day when I was trying to piece together a reservation for renters with no issues.

What I suggest is that you practice with the Modify function by making a fake reservation far out, then try dropping dates, making a new reservation with the dropped dates, or try replacing your fake reservation with a reservation at another resort and go through the steps just so that you know what to expect when you are ready to modify a real reservation. After your practice session, remember to cancel all your reservations and your points will be returned intact to your account.

Once you get the hang of it, you can use the Modify function to re-allocate points yourself. For example, you have 2 reservations--one in March using banked points and one in June using regular Use Year points. Unfortunately you had to cancel your March trip and now you wish your June trip was using the banked points instead so that the regular Use Year points can be banked to next Use Year. All you need to do is Modify your June reservation, put in the exact same dates as your June reservation--don't change a thing. The system will show that your room is available since it is your room. Select the room and then go through the steps to finish the reservation. The system will automatically prioritize banked and borrowed points if they are available in your account, so your June reservation is now using up all your banked points before dipping into your regular UY points. Voila! You have just freed up regular UY points that you can now bank if you are still under the banking deadline or if you have passed the deadline, you can transfer the points to another account/member.

 

[E2ME2]

Modify function only works for your first chunk when you drop the back half of your dates. What you need to do is then quickly make a new reservation for the second chunk. You should be able to make this change in 2 - 3 minutes. Sometimes if you do this too quickly, the dropped dates may not appear when you search for the dropped dates to make a new (second) reservation. That has happened to me a couple of times so no need to panic...just search again and you should see the dropped dates load again. To be safe, I try to do this late at night on the West Coast when fewer people are searching, but I have done it in the middle of the day when I was trying to piece together a reservation for renters with no issues.

What I suggest is that you practice with the Modify function by making a fake reservation far out, then try dropping dates, making a new reservation with the dropped dates, or try replacing your fake reservation with a reservation at another resort and go through the steps just so that you know what to expect when you are ready to modify a real reservation. After your practice session, remember to cancel all your reservations and your points will be returned intact to your account.

Once you get the hang of it, you can use the Modify function to re-allocate points yourself. For example, you have 2 reservations--one in March using banked points and one in June using regular Use Year points. Unfortunately you had to cancel your March trip and now you wish your June trip was using the banked points instead so that the regular Use Year points can be banked to next Use Year. All you need to do is Modify your June reservation, put in the exact same dates as your June reservation--don't change a thing. The system will show that your room is available since it is your room. Select the room and then go through the steps to finish the reservation. The system will automatically prioritize banked and borrowed points if they are available in your account, so your June reservation is now using up all your banked points before dipping into your regular UY points. Voila! You have just freed up regular UY points that you can now bank if you are still under the banking deadline or if you have passed the deadline, you can transfer the points to another account/member.

Awesome advice - THANKS!
I have screen-shotted all of these useful tips, and will practice to become more savvy next year.
The first 10 years of DVC we were limited to vacation schedules available while i was still working. Now that we're both retired and have accumulated more points, we will have to "up our game"
THANKS to ALL on this thread!!

 

[MISCdisney21]

New dvc member and question about waitlisting.
We are hoping to go 4 nights. The dates we found had only 3 night stay available. I just selected the 4 nights and am waitlisted.

My assumption is that if I would’ve booked the 3 nights and waitlisted for 1 night, we may have had to switch rooms. Is that correct? So waitlisting the 4 nights would be way to go if not wanting room change?

If kids were older a room change may not matter but harder with young ones have to move pack n play, formula/bottle set up

 

[dragonflymom]

New dvc member and question about waitlisting.
We are hoping to go 4 nights. The dates we found had only 3 night stay available. I just selected the 4 nights and am waitlisted.

My assumption is that if I would’ve booked the 3 nights and waitlisted for 1 night, we may have had to switch rooms. Is that correct? So waitlisting the 4 nights would be way to go if not wanting room change?

If kids were older a room change may not matter but harder with young ones have to move pack n play, formula/bottle set up

No you would not need to change rooms. Your chances are better to secure the 3-night reservation first and then waitlist for the 1 night. Your waitlist chances improve significantly if you are just waitlisting for one night vs. all 4 nights to become available at the same time. Once your one-night wait list comes through, just contact Member Services via call or chat to merge the two reservations into one and you won't need to change rooms.

 

[dragonflymom]

New dvc member and question about waitlisting.
We are hoping to go 4 nights. The dates we found had only 3 night stay available. I just selected the 4 nights and am waitlisted.

My assumption is that if I would’ve booked the 3 nights and waitlisted for 1 night, we may have had to switch rooms. Is that correct? So waitlisting the 4 nights would be way to go if not wanting room change?

If kids were older a room change may not matter but harder with young ones have to move pack n play, formula/bottle set up

And to add...this is an excellent candidate for stalking...a lot of new DVCers assume that the waitlist scoops in as soon as a room opens up when somebody cancels or new inventory is added. That is not always true...there can be a lag between the second the room becomes available and the time the waitlist program runs. During this lag, a lot of stalkers (like me) will have first dibs on the room you're waiting for. So if I were you, I would at least once a day go into the tool and use the Modify function to check for availability. Let's say your reservation is booked for May 1 for 3 nights and you were waitlisting for the night of May 4. Find the reservation in your Dashboard and click the Modify button. Put in dates May 1 - May 5 (check-out date) and the desired resort. If it has availability for all 4 nights, then choose that and the system will automatically override your original reservation with the new 4-night reservation provided you have the necessary points. The system will prioritize banked and borrowed points. You now have the desired reservation and no need to change rooms.

 

[kmsimone]

I was able to string together (3) 7 night studio reservations at BLT for March 2022 within the 7 month window. I own at SSR. I did not waitlist but was active online multiple times a day picking up random days as they became available. I had two complete reservations in about 3 weeks and most of the 3rd reservation by week 4. The final day took 2 more weeks to become free. Finally. used DVC Customer Service to collapse all the separate reservations to the 3 I needed. Key for me was being active online. Availability changes by the minute. Good Luck!