Wait List Advice or help...

[MandM22]

We have a trip planned in late Nov. Early Dec. We have already booked (2) studios at our home resort at 11 months. We are currently wait listed for a (2BR) at another resort. We have never had any luck on the wait list in the past... Haven't gotten one yet. The last time we called the MS rep suggested that it might be because we are a full week booking and most are 3-4 days. We are traveling with my in-laws this trip and I don't want to have to switch resorts so we have to get the entire week available. What should we do to have the best chance of getting the request? Should we try to grab a few days at a time and hope to get all 7 eventually? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long winded post..

 

[yitbos96bb]

That's going to be your best option... I have never gotten a wait list for longer than a few days. One or two are not two bad.

But it's a gamble and you could be left out in the cold with a hodge podge of assignments.

 

[n2mm]

I'm not a great waitlister either. I never do well and usually chicken out and will book somewhere else and settle. I just waitlisted this morning for the BWV-standard view for Jan. 23-24. I'm doing a 2 weeks trip, and can't call until the 23rd to book week 2. Since the 23rd is not available for my first week, I decided to waitlist while I'm waiting for the 23rd of June to call for a backup. Crazy -- it's hard to keep this stuff straight. If you have a place you're happy with, getting your waitlisted resort is just icing on the cake -- IMHO.

 

[Snugglez043]

I didn't want to wait list the first time either - and it was for bay lake and it actually worked out! What they did for me was wait list me for the rooms that typically have the most inventory and highest chance of cancellation. Also, it helps if you ask for a supervisor to make your trip a priority as you are traveling with so many people. Keep your other reservations as a back up just in case. You are so far away from your trip I would imagine waitlisting might work out for you. It took me about a month for it to pan out. Hope that helps!

 

[MandM22]

Thanks for all of your replies.. I thought we were the only ones that never seem to get anything from the waitlist. I know this is a long shot and we are a long time away ... so there is hope. The only reason we are trying to move is because we gave my in-laws the choice of where they would like to stay. Letting them know that we might not get their choice. Of course they picked resorts other than our home resort. Oh well... we can only cross our fingers and hope it comes thru ... We really want to make this trip nice for them since they do so much for us. They are great in-laws! Thanks again for everyones tips and advice.

 

[jkfreeman33]

I feel your wait list pain. We are on a waitlist for either BWV or BCV for the F&W Festival in Oct. We currently are book at SSR in a 2 bedroom. MS put me on a waitlist that would give us the best chance of getting the room. I don't care what the view is, I just want to be able to walk to EPCOT. So far, no luck.
The only time we were on a waitlist we had a pool view at BWV and I wanted a Boardwalk view. It actually came thru.
I am praying for a little pixie dust for this wait list.

I feel your pain!!

 

[Sandisw]

It would be easier to get what you want if you try to grab a few days here and there and then change the WL.

However, you risk having a split stay. If you are not willing to do that, then you really have no choice but to hope the entire week comes through.

We love split stays and will always do them for our trips.

 

[MandM22]

It would be easier to get what you want if you try to grab a few days here and there and then change the WL.

However, you risk having a split stay. If you are not willing to do that, then you really have no choice but to hope the entire week comes through.

We love split stays and will always do them for our trips.

That's interesting that you like the split stays. What do you like about it? If you don't mind me asking? I thought that packing up mid week to move to another location would be a pain.

 

[SamiL]

Also, it helps if you ask for a supervisor to make your trip a priority as you are traveling with so many people.

Can they change the priority? As in move people up the waitlist? Do they actually do that for people?

I'm not sure how I feel about that if they do.

 

[lundve]

So by reading this you guys think that my one night waitlist in October for BLT might come through? We are staying only one night after our cruise to go to MNSSHP and would really like to be able to walk there.

 

[n2mm]

So by reading this you guys think that my one night waitlist in October for BLT might come through? We are staying only one night after our cruise to go to MNSSHP and would really like to be able to walk there.

Your one night does stand a better chance than a multiple day reservations. Of course, which view and what size unit did you reserve? That makes a difference. Plus you could've WL for 2 different views too which would've increased your chances. LV is the biggest selection.

 

[lundve]

Your one night does stand a better chance than a multiple day reservations. Of course, which view and what size unit did you reserve? That makes a difference. Plus you could've WL for 2 different views too which would've increased your chances. LV is the biggest selection.

We have a studio. I waitlisted LV first (figuring that was the most) then SV second.

 

[Snugglez043]

Can they change the priority? As in move people up the waitlist? Do they actually do that for people?

I'm not sure how I feel about that if they do.

They did for us I believe as a one time courtesty because we were having such issues with booking a room period and I am pregnant - but I don't think its something your typical member services can do for you. It's not guaranteed, but sometimes speaking with a supervisor can be worth a shot.

 

[*Meagan*]

We are booked at SSR 2 bedroom for dec 2-10, 2010 and we are on the wait list for BLT and BWV. Im really hoping one of them pulls through. I have stayed at SSR numerous times (its my DVC home resort) and were hoping to stay somewhere different.. also the youngest traveling with us..she is 4 and has type II diabetes and I just want to be able to get back to the room quickly..if need be.

From what I hear Member services and CM's have no control over the waitvlist. They can not see the wait list and have no idea where you fall on the wait list.
I keep getting the whole.. well thats a busy time of year.. yada yada.. and we used to always go the first week of January and it was dead. so we will see..
The rep that helped me said we were more likely to get into AKL before anything else!
Oh well we will see. I would love to stay at AKL but I switched our AKL wait list to BWV because of the diabetic issue.

 

[Sandisw]

That's interesting that you like the split stays. What do you like about it? If you don't mind me asking? I thought that packing up mid week to move to another location would be a pain.

It makes us feel like we are starting a new vacation. My children are older (21, 17, and 14) so that helps.

Packing for us is not an issue and we don't buy groceries and cook either. We may have some snacks and water, but that is about it.

We also have a rental car so transporting things from place to place is not an issue.

Now, we did a 3 three split last summer over 7 days and that was a bit much. But, we will always do 3 at one and 3/4 at the other. This summer, it is 3 at BCV in a studio and then 3 at BLT in a 1 bedroom. Doing it this way also allows us to stretch our points as this summer, it is only the 3 of us so a studio is fine. We are doing the 1 bedroom so I can do laundry the 2nd half of the trip without having to go out.

And, as of right now, a split stay allows for different uses of the dining plans. We do DDP for one part (as we like to do a few TS meals but not the whole trip) and the QSDP the other part.

 

[MandM22]

It makes us feel like we are starting a new vacation. My children are older (21, 17, and 14) so that helps.

Packing for us is not an issue and we don't buy groceries and cook either. We may have some snacks and water, but that is about it.

We also have a rental car so transporting things from place to place is not an issue.

Now, we did a 3 three split last summer over 7 days and that was a bit much. But, we will always do 3 at one and 3/4 at the other. This summer, it is 3 at BCV in a studio and then 3 at BLT in a 1 bedroom. Doing it this way also allows us to stretch our points as this summer, it is only the 3 of us so a studio is fine. We are doing the 1 bedroom so I can do laundry the 2nd half of the trip without having to go out.

And, as of right now, a split stay allows for different uses of the dining plans. We do DDP for one part (as we like to do a few TS meals but not the whole trip) and the QSDP the other part.

Interesting... We have no kids and have let Disney transport our luggage once before without any issues.. So I guess it wouldn't be a big deal for us either... We are bringing my inlaws and I wasn't sure how they would like the idea... but if it will get us to the location they prefer it might be ok... Thanks for your info...

 

[MandM22]

So if I'm going to try the split stay route.. I guess I can have the MS rep look for curent availability in 2 resorts for the week of our trip... If available change the booking. If not how to I have MS handle that wait list (Split stay) That seems like it might get complicated. And I don't want to end up without all of the week covered if we loose the original booking. This waitlist stuff always makes me panic a little ... Not sure why... Just a little nervous I guess.

Thank you all for listening to me rant about this stuff.. It helps to bounce ideas and thoughts off of all of the experts here on the Boards..