Wait lis for jan 2-5 What's the deal?

[2 princes 1 princess]

We have been on the wait list for a studio anywhere for Jan.2-5 and nothing has come through yet. We've been on the list since JUNE. Is this normal. I went on expedia and found studios available for cash and when we called member services to ask why we couldn't book one on points they said some of the rooms are reserved for non dvc members. Over 6 months on the waitlist and not one studio anywhere? Were still new to dvc so I don't know if we've been overlooked or something. What do you all think?

 

[tjkraz]

You can confirm that they still have you on the waitlist. If so, then you haven't been overlooked. You didn't specifically say, so I'll just add that I hope you are on the waitlist for all resorts. If you don't have a room booked at SOME resort, it's not the right time to be picky.

With the New Year's holiday falling early in the week, most schools don't return to class until Wednesday or Thursday of that week. As such, I think there are a lot of parents who aren't too stressed-out over their kids missing a couple days of school while extending their family vacations a bit. Then, the weekend of the 6th you've got the Walt Disney World Marathon, an event whose popularity appears to be growing by leaps and bounds.

Between the length of time you've been waiting and the fact that it's marathon week, I don't think your odds are good. I've heard from many DVC members who are planning to run the marathon. Given the reality that it's an event that can only be experienced one day out of the entire year, I think the volume of cancellations for that period will be extremely low.

DVC is correct that you can't book rooms showing up on the Disney website. The short explanation is that every time a DVC member uses points for any of those "great" destinations that are outside of the 7 DVC resorts (cruises, trips to Africa, rooms at Disneyland, etc.), DVC uses the member's points to set aside DVC rooms which are offered to the general public at cash rates. It can seem frustrating at times but the reality is DVC members would lose all of those exchange options if DVC lost the ability to turn our points into cash rooms.

 

[starbox]

We have been on the wait list for a studio anywhere for Jan.2-5 and nothing has come through yet. We've been on the list since JUNE. Is this normal. I went on expedia and found studios available for cash and when we called member services to ask why we couldn't book one on points they said some of the rooms are reserved for non dvc members. Over 6 months on the waitlist and not one studio anywhere? Were still new to dvc so I don't know if we've been overlooked or something. What do you all think?

I called in late July and had a choice of locations with studios Jan 1-5. It seems odd you had to waitlist right at 7 months. Maybe the 6th was the problem date?

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Marathon Expo starts on Thursday, the Family Fun Run 5K and Kids' Races are on Friday, Half Marathon on Saturday and Marathon on Sunday. Some people do the Goofy Challenge which is both the half and full marathon. And then some add the 5K on to the Goofy.

 

[2 princes 1 princess]

Thanks for the responses. We do have a one bedroon at BWV but we wanted to save points and stay in a studio while we still can. Our kids are getting bigger and we won't be able to stay in the smaller quarters much longer. I know we will enjoy the extra room in a 1 bedroom. I'll call again to check if we are still on the list.

Thanks again!

 

[klaubaugh]

We do have a one bedroon at BWV but we wanted to save points and stay in a studio while we still can....I'll call again to check if we are still on the list.

Another issue is whether or not you are on a day-by-day waitlist. This is of course complicating matters but the waitlist you are asking for is going to require ALL 4 nights being available at the same time. Probably not gonna happen - especially this late. What might have worked...

Waitlisted for all 4 nights individually.
When you got the first night anywhere, cancelled all the other lists and focused on the other 3 nights, individually adding them as available. (Of course, this is risky UNLESS you have enough points available to start adding those PRIOR to cancelling your one-bedroom nights.)

Waitlisting can be an art. There are no simple answers to making DVC ressies and/or waitlists.