Wait List Success?

[Silver Queen]

I just got on the wait list for a studio in SSR or OKW for Oct. 16 and 17 (Oct. 17th is booked everywhere). What are the chances of this coming through? I was really hoping to get away for a quick weekend and am disappointed that there's nothing available. I'm not sure if I should go ahead and book a flight and hope that something opens up.

 

[Granny]

By all accounts on this board, wait lists do come through pretty often if it is for a relatively small number of days and if one is willing to call MS many times while on the wait list.

I haven't been inclined to call MS all the time to "check up" on the wait list status so I'm 0 for 4 on waitlists. Others have had a lot of success.

Personally I wouldn't book the flight unless I had some kind of reservation.

 

[sweetdana]

I would book a room through Disney world, as a room only no package. You can cancel up to like 5 days in advance. Then you have a room, and then book air. If a waitlist comes through great.. if not.. you can still go.
The FQ, though not a 1 bedroom at the BC, is a fantastic resort, so is the Poly, both which are great treats to regular resorts with points for a change.
I wouldn't book air, without at least a ROOM available some where you are willing to stay.

I'd waitlist SSR and OKw best chances at coming through.. but then again the Poly isn't so bad if it doesn't work out

 

[ExecChef]

We are still waiting for one night!!!! December 5th for our trip 2-15!!!!!! BWV garden view 1 bedroom.

 

[MamaCrush]

Just for the record-- I LOVE owning DVC. But with that being said, if I have any disappointment, it's that it is difficult to book a "last minute" trip in a variety of resorts. And I'm defining last minute as 3-5 months. Of course, I've always been able to get into SSR, so if you look at it that way it is doable. But I would really like to have a little bit of choice-- even if it's only one other resort!

 

[allforpooh]

We were on a BWV -1 bdrm preferred/garden wait list for Oct 14 and it came thru, less than 2 wks on list...I have also added the 17th to a waitlist so hopefully that will come thru also.

Every time we waitlisted we have received our dates. I always book a room just in case, and then cancel.

Denise

 

[Silver Queen]

Thanks, everyone for your responses. I've thought about booking a room, but I'm not sure if I want to go that badly. We already have ressies for January and are also planning a March trip so we'll get there sooner or later. DBF is going to Denver for a football game on Oct. 16 & 17 so I thought I'd have my own little adventure. I'm hoping that since I've waitlisted for SSR and OKW there may be more of a chance for a cancellation. I'm only going down for two nights so tht may help two. Oct. 17 is a very popular date for room bookings.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Just for the record-- I LOVE owning DVC. But with that being said, if I have any disappointment, it's that it is difficult to book a "last minute" trip in a variety of resorts. And I'm defining last minute as 3-5 months. Of course, I've always been able to get into SSR, so if you look at it that way it is doable. But I would really like to have a little bit of choice-- even if it's only one other resort!

i hear you....and this was NOT the case before saratoga...

my inlaws had if for about 7 years prior to the swapmeat known as saratoga was thrust out there...and they always got the waitlist....i think they're 1 for about 8 since....

they made the least in demand location account for 35% of the overall rooms...a horrible mistake by all accounts

 

[Silver Queen]

Our opinion of SSR has only risen since we've joined DVC. Initially we were a little reluctant to purchase at SSR since we live 20 miles from the real Saratoga. Well, the incentives were so attractive and we bought there anyway. Since then we've stayed at SSR at least three times and have also stayed at many of the other DVc resorts. I have to say that we prefer SSR to some of the busy hotel-like DVC resorts. We also prefer it to the glass and concrete atmosphere of BLT. I guess it's good that there are different choices for different tastes. If we had to do it again we would definitely buy at DVC.
All that aside, it's still hard to get a late reservation there. I'm still hoping that our Oct. 16 and 17 wait list comes through.

 

[Wigit12]

Hold out hope!!
We had a studio booked Oct 16-21 and the 21st (thurs night) JUST came through last week. It's for a friend who hasn't yet committed to arriving on Saturday so we may still drop that night. Can't help you for the 17th though--sorry

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Our opinion of SSR has only risen since we've joined DVC. Initially we were a little reluctant to purchase at SSR since we live 20 miles from the real Saratoga. Well, the incentives were so attractive and we bought there anyway. Since then we've stayed at SSR at least three times and have also stayed at many of the other DVc resorts. I have to say that we prefer SSR to some of the busy hotel-like DVC resorts. We also prefer it to the glass and concrete atmosphere of BLT. I guess it's good that there are different choices for different tastes. If we had to do it again we would definitely buy at DVC.
All that aside, it's still hard to get a late reservation there. I'm still hoping that our Oct. 16 and 17 wait list comes through.

its not that saratoga doesn't have its upside or is without fans....but it is obviously the lowest on the pecking order and at the time of the construction...the original plot comprised something like 36% of all the DVC units available...including vero and hilton head. now they've added the treehouses...but obviously the building of AKV, Contemp, Grand Californian, and the Oahu project will temper that...

But it's not really much of an argument: Saratoga fundamentally changed the DVC experience....it is always the LAST location available - no matter when you call or when you travel. And that means it has all but eliminated the effectiveness of the waitlist because it has created a huge logjam from the bottom with the huge amount of rooms that it has in its inventory.

I just called last week for a somewhat "last minute" trip in mid-december...and ironically saratoga was the only one that had the room and dates available for each night. Now...we have had sketchy weather in the winter months the last few years...so saratoga would be good in bad weather due to the proximity to downtown...so its not a bad choice this time...but you see what i mean here.
There were other nights available as several other spots (mostly okw and animal kingdom...being the next "least" desired locations...which is how its going to be for the foreseeable future) so it wasn't booked solid. And i did go on two waitlists....not really hoping for either...just to see if one actually comes through. we'll see on that. I would rate my chances of getting one of the two at somewhere around 15-20%. In 2005...i would have rated the chance at somewhere around 85-90%. It's just the way it is.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Waiting for October night too...NOTHING is available 10/10. No room type at any DVC (at least that's what I was told!)...I have to start calling, I haven't booked airfare either, but I don't want to lose out on that. This was supposed to be a quick cheap trip. I am disappointed DVC can't be used for relatively last minute trips (but that's my only complaint!)

 

[wdwfan1]

I am also on the WL for October. Booked at the 9 month mark and couldnt get all our days. No movement on the WL either.

 

[biolabetty]

Waiting for October night too...NOTHING is available 10/10. No room type at any DVC (at least that's what I was told!)...I have to start calling, I haven't booked airfare either, but I don't want to lose out on that. This was supposed to be a quick cheap trip. I am disappointed DVC can't be used for relatively last minute trips (but that's my only complaint!)

I've been on a wait list for that night for several months now. I currently have a cash reservation at SSR, but I'm trying to get Kidani. The rest of our trip is at Kidani, the 10th is our last night at WDW.

 

[jkfreeman33]

We are booked in a 2 bedroom at SSR and wait listing for either BCV or BWV since April. So far........ no luck and not even 1 night available when I call MS every few days. We are going 10/14 - 10/21.
Hope everyone else has better luck than we are having.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

We are still waiting for one night!!!! December 5th for our trip 2-15!!!!!! BWV garden view 1 bedroom.

We're waitlisted for that Sunday night at BCV since we have the rest of the week booked. Oh well!

I'm booked at OKW for Labor day weekend but would love BWV. I call MS daily since I have my waitlists tied up on our Dec trip.

Hope something comes thru quickly for you OP!

Does anyone notice if there is any "luck" around that 30 day window before the trip? I think I'll call constantly on that 31/30 days before my Labor day ressie to see if I can switch.


HA! Just looked at my signature. I better call tomorrow! It's 30 days!

 

[Jerry@dvcstore]

I would recommend calling everyday twice a day to see if the nights you need open up. There are times when rooms open up , and if you call, you can get them before anyone on a Wait List gets them. How do I know? I've been on a wait list and then just for the heck of it tried to call and see if the time I needed was open and low and behold....it was.

I always wait list and call just to double check.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

We've been on the waitlist at BWV for a 2br boardwalk view for 10/28 called right at the 7 month mark to use some of my VWL pts..they had 10/29 & 30 open....so switched the 2 studio's I had booked for those nights to the 2BR

We have the all the nights we want....10/24-10/31...but would like to switch from 2 studios to the 2BR on 10/28 instead of 10/29

I'm not calling to see if the 2br opens up since they would have to cancel the night of 10/28 on both studios first, then book the 2br and I'm not willing to take the chance that I could lose a reservation while that's taking place

 

[bastraker]

Waiting for October night too...NOTHING is available 10/10. No room type at any DVC (at least that's what I was told!)...I have to start calling, I haven't booked airfare either, but I don't want to lose out on that. This was supposed to be a quick cheap trip. I am disappointed DVC can't be used for relatively last minute trips (but that's my only complaint!)

Same with us. We have been waiting for 10/10. We booked 10/9 and 10/11 at BC and 10/12-10/17 and BLT. We have been on the waitlist for 10/10 at BC for the past couple months and I'm starting to think that we won't get this one. I started calling every couple of days to see if there was anything else we could switch those first 3 nights to, and there is nothing available. I'm waiting for AP rates for 10/9 to come out so I can book a back-up.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Same with us. We have been waiting for 10/10. We booked 10/9 and 10/11 at BC and 10/12-10/17 and BLT. We have been on the waitlist for 10/10 at BC for the past couple months and I'm starting to think that we won't get this one. I started calling every couple of days to see if there was anything else we could switch those first 3 nights to, and there is nothing available. I'm waiting for AP rates for 10/9 to come out so I can book a back-up.

any weekend nights in october are difficult because florida residents (large amount of DVC owners) frequent due to food and wine...near impossible at beach or boardwalk for obvious tie-in reasons

i would waitlist for saratoga...it would be your best shot of not turning a 2 switch pain in the butt trip to a 3 switch nightmare