Wait Listing - how do they fill requests?

[deva]

Hopefully will never have to be on one, but just curious about the waitlist. Not the specifics of the rules, but rather how they monitor and fill requests.

Obviously people are cancelling, moving at the 7th month window etc. so things are always changing. Is there some sort of logic as to how they move people up and off the list (or just cross your fingers?)

 

[disneynutz]

I don't think that anyone knows for sure. We have been told that wait lists are filled by computer, but a couple of weeks ago I was called by a CM from the wait list team trying to fill one of my wait lists.

Others have reported that their wait list was filled when they called in to MS to check on availability.

Maybe they only fill certain requests and the rest they just ignore? We would never know.

 

[CarolMN]

When a cancellation is made, the available days go into the inventory. If there is a match to a waitlist, the computer makes the match and removes the days from the inventory. This is an automatic process. For lack of a better term, there is some type of "waitlist match file" that hold the match until a CM can get to it.

The computer cannot automatically make the new reservation. The waitlists are too complicated. Some require points to be borrowed, some require other waitlists to be canceled, sometimes the waitlists notes aren't very clear, etc. A CM has to finish the process.

It is my understanding that the CMs work the matches based on arrival date. So if there are lots of matches, yours may be in the file waiting to be finished. For example, the CMs will work the matches for next month's arrivals before those for next December.

Sometimes, when people call to check on the waitlist, their CM will look at the waitlist file and see their match waiting for processing. Some (not all) CMs will then go ahead and finish the processing. That's why it seems like you get your waitlist by calling. You don't really get it sooner, you just find out about it sooner.

Also ( and this is just my opinion based on previous experience running a large call center), working the waitlist is not as "important" as answering the phones. If the phones are really busy, "it's all hands on deck". So I think most background work is set aside when that happens. (That's what our center did). Perhaps only the most pressing waitlists are worked (arrivals very near) when the phones are busy. In calls centers, one of the most important measurements is hold time in the queue. Long is bad!

The other thing to know about waitlists is that DVC will not hold days waiting for other days to become available. So if you are on the waitlist for 12/2 -12/8 and someone cancels exactly what you want for 12/2/- 12/6, those days will not be assigned to you in hopes that the last one will come through. If someone who got on the waitlist after you wants 12/2- 12/6s, they they will get them even thought you got in line first.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

^^^^thanks for the info...great post very informative

 

[CDNmouse]

CarolMN, thanks for the detailed explanation. Makes sense to me.

All the best,
Gary

 

[Debs Hill]

That is so helpful, thank you so much for the explanation! I was told by the CM that it would happen automatically but was starting to worry that this wasn't the case when people were reporting getting their waitlist by calling!!!

Now I shall just sit back and wait for the computer/CM's to work their magic......if my waitlist has come through I will be near the bottom of the pile as it's for August!
Debsxx

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Just checked my reservations online this morning and 2 waitlist were filled yesterday 2/12...

one was for BCV 8/15-8/22..we had a 2 bedroom with 1 queen bed & a sofa bed..our waitlist for 2 beds in the 2nd bedroom was filled

the second was for BWV 10/16-10/21...we had a PV studio booked..our waitlist for a SV studio came thu

 

[Debs Hill]

Congratulations, you must be thrilled to get both your waitlists!!!! Have a fantastic time!
How long had you been waiting?
We're waiting for 1 day (19th August) at Kidani for a 1 bed SV, been on the wait list for just over a month now, no joy so far!!! Fingers crossed!!!!
Debsx

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Congratulations, you must be thrilled to get both your waitlists!!!! Have a fantastic time!
How long had you been waiting?
We're waiting for 1 day (19th August) at Kidani for a 1 bed SV, been on the wait list for just over a month now, no joy so far!!! Fingers crossed!!!!
Debsx

Thanks ..we went on the waitlist for the BCV on 1/15 when I switched my reservation at the 7 month window so we were on the wl about one month...the BWV waitlist we were on for about 6 weeks..... sending pixie dust that you get your day

 

[katmittens]

We are waiting for a studio at HH for May 11. We already have the 12th. I hope we get our nite so we have two nites there. Anyone have any ideas if I have a chance of getting my waitlist?