Ther perils of a waitlist Newbie

[ToddyLu]

OK DH and I have decided we want to book a standard AKV room form 11/3-11/10/18. Of course those rooms have spoty availability now on the RAT. I decided to waitlist a full week at Jambo and a full week at Kidani for those dates.

The reason I did a whole week and not a day on either side is this will be on borrowed points. So if I get the full week waitlist they will borrow 88 2018 points into a 2017 UY. Those dates are at the end of my UY ( like three weeks from the end). Right now if I book four consecutive day those points are borrowed…signed…sealed and delivered….if I don’t get a smaller waitlist on either side then I am stuck with a four night reservation…that I have to use….and I mean HAVE TOO.

I am just trying to use the 2018 points I have for the longest stay possible. I felt like if a spelled it out in writing, I could see that just trying for a week at my home resort and hoping someone cancels a whole week would be safer than piecing it together so close to the end of my UY. Of course if we can’t go, then I will live to visit next year…and the year after that… and the year after that

DH is retiring in March and I turn 50 in November. Still within my home resort booking window and gone are the days when you could build a semi spontaneous trip with a resort the size of Kidani. So I guess my safest option is to wait til 7 month booking and see what pops up? Maybe I will get it then? DH says, “ I can’t go for just four days…are you crazy?” But I think I want, what I want, when I want it.

Enough of this thinking on a Sunday morning while it rains outside. After 10 years of ownership, I am a pawn on the chessboard of DVC Reservation World. Thanks for letting me rant and preach to the choir.

 

[ToddyLu]

Yes to those looking at this crazy post...we have a DEC UY.

 

[maburke]

Is that second weekend the Wine & Dine race? Race weekends now seem to be the toughest.

 

[supersnoop]

Not so much a waitlist peril, but a late-in-the-use-year peril. Borrowing points and making waitlist requests that require varying numbers of points are much less risky early in your use year.

 

[ToddyLu]

I know...but I started a new job with different PTO 1/8/18 and we were waiting on the final go ahead for retirement for DH in March....so life got in the way of my normal 11 month booking at 8 a.m. practice. I couldn't book it in January like I wanted because we weren't sure how things would play out.

 

[ToddyLu]

Oh, and it is a completely first world problem as we are headed down in May for a week.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That includes a race weekend which is really what makes it difficult. Wishing you luck!

 

[bobbiwoz]

If I could piece together anything, I would, even moving, and then waitlist for something whole. Celebrating your birthday seems like an excellent reason to go.

 

[kydisneyfans]

We made a decision to do Star Wars runDisney in April-like 7 weeks from now, last week.
The RAT had nothing for studios and a spotty night here and there for 1 BR.
Cash reservations were crazy, nothing value or moderate open at all.
We even considered offsite, but logistics of race weekend are difficult if not onsite.

I decided to stalk the RAT. Last Friday, the first and last night we wanted popped up at OKW, the resort we wanted since we have 4 and wanted 2 beds.
At 3:00 PM yesterday, Saturday night opened for a 1 night stay. That night had been waitlisted.

We were able to piece together a race weekend with no RAT availability over the course of about a week less than 2 months out.

Never lose hope.

In your case, I'd book what's open, then waitlist the missing day(s). Waitlisting a whole week will be tougher. I'd also stalk the RAT. I'm in the stalking beats waitlisting fan club.

 

[rlk]

I booked a Spring Break trip about 3 monts out. My original booking consisted of 7 moves in 11 days. Between stalking and two of my one day waitlists coming through, I am down to one move!

 

[ToddyLu]

Update: Tonight a bit of stalking paid off. So for about a week there has only been 1 night available at Jambo for my dates. A few minutes ago there were four nights 11/6-11/10. I booked 'em. I then cancelled my two week long waitlists and did a waitlist for 11/4-11/6 and then 11/3 alone. I thought this would give me more chance of getting them. I posted because I knew ya'll would understand my smile.

 

[CarolMN]

Update: Tonight a bit of stalking paid off. So for about a week there has only been 1 night available at Jambo for my dates. A few minutes ago there were four nights 11/6-11/10. I booked 'em. I then cancelled my two week long waitlists and did a waitlist for 11/4-11/6 and then 11/3 alone. I thought this would give me more chance of getting them. I posted because I knew ya'll would understand my smile.

We do and wish you luck for the last nights you need.

 

[ToddyLu]

Wooo hoooo, I got 11/5 booked early this morning....stalking is paying off.

 

[ToddyLu]

I was able to get 11/4 a couple of nights ago around 10:30....using my cell phone....modern techno and stalking to the rescue.

Now one...more...night...and this is the toughest one yet I think. 11/3, the elusive Saturday of Jersey Week, F&W, 1/2 Marathon, etc. Let's Watch and Wait....will I get it???

 

[ToddyLu]

Waitlist came through this evening for 11-3. My perilous journey is done and all nights have been booked!!

 

[CarolMN]

Congratulations!

That 's a tough week to get via waitlist/stalking and a perfect example of the kind of stress I bought DVC to get away from, LOL. Enjoy the trip! (And Happy Birthday a few months early).

 

[maburke]

Congratulations!

That 's a tough week to get via waitlist/stalking and a perfect example of the kind of stress I bought DVC to get away from, LOL. Enjoy the trip! (And Happy Birthday a few months early).

One member's stress is another member's triumph! Congrats.