Wait List question

[pditullio]

Hi everyone!

I am wondering about wait list process.

Husband, son and I are going down 8/23-8/28. When we called to make the res a week ago, the only properties that were available for all 5 nights were SSR and OKW. We have stayed at both, and were looking for a little variety, so we even though we don't usually like split stays, we opted to take the first 3 nights at SSR and then move over to VWL for the last 2 nights (all that was available there). Then I was put on the wait list for a studio at BLT or at BCV for all 5 nights.

This morning, I called MS to add a bldg request to my SSR reservation, and asked them to quickly check studio availability elsewhere as well. Lo and behold, she was able to put me in a studio at BLT for all 5 nights! Whoot.

Yes, it exciting and I am happy.

Sorry for the saga, but my question is this...

Did I "steal" the studio for whomever was next on the wait list, just because I happened to ask first? My wait list request being the example, as I was waiting for the same exact opening, and got it through asking rather than the wait list process...why wouldn't I have been given that studio before I even had the chance to ask for it?

In other words, if I hadn't have called this morning, can I assume my wait list req would have come through? Or might it have been snatched up by another member calling 5 minutes before me? And say I was #10 on the wait list instead of 1, did I do exactly that to those 9 other members?

 

[Sandisw]

Congratulations!!

Are you sure that the view for BLT was the exact same? You have to specify the view on your WL and maybe what became available was different? Other than that, I do not know. Remember, WL's have to match exactly in order to be filled.

But I was told you can't find out where you are on the WL as I am currently on one for a studio August 7th and 8th. Did MS tell you where you were? I called this morning and didn't have the same luck as you but am still on an active WL so I keep hoping, when I am told things opened up.

 

[pditullio]

Same exact view (just standard, we didn't want to do the extra points for view till we scoped it out). Same exact unit and view that we were waitlisted for. Just seems like a bit of a loophole?

Don't want to sound as if I am complaining, I am just wondering if we got lucky at someone else's expense?

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for the info and I think that is great--from what we are told, that doesn't usually or shouldn't happen, as the computer is supposed to match as soon as it shows up.

But, this is why I call every day, just in case something opens up. For me, I am willing to take all views but can only WL two of them. I am also wiling to stay for the 5th and 6th as well and can't WL those nights since I am limited to 2 active WL at a time.

 

[chalee94]

Don't want to sound as if I am complaining, I am just wondering if we got lucky at someone else's expense?

i don't think anyone would blame you due to the bizarre way waitlists seem to be handled by DVC. just enjoy the room.

 

[pditullio]

i don't think anyone would blame you due to the bizarre way waitlists seem to be handled by DVC. just enjoy the room.

Oh, I will enjoy it!

I was just trying to glean whether this type of thing happens often, so I can strategize next time I am wait listed for something. If calling down there every day to check availability is a better strategy than waitlisting, that's what we'll do.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I do not call to see if my waitlist comes through. Last week, I was thinking of calling...people say that "works." Friday morning I checked on line, reservation was at VWL, and in the early afternoon, without my calling the reservation was changed to BLT. Maybe they got more inventory. I don't know, but you don't have to call for the waitlist to come through, even during the day, so it could be that the waitlist also works in "real time." Enjoy your stay! Mine was for a lake view, dedicated 2 bedroom, for 5 nights including marathon weekend, and we're so happy!!!!

Bobbi

 

[wdwfan1]

I was waitlisted for one night in a GV at OKW. I called several times to see if it came through. One time the CM looked and said it was still not available. The other times the CMs said they could not look and that it would be changed on line if and when the WL came through. Over the weekend I was going to call again as I was getting anxious, but I decided to look online instead and it was there!

There does not seem to be a consistent policy regarding the WL.