waiting list experiences??

[BJK]

we have a shotgun trip scheduled for the second week of february....just booked it this week....and i was disappointed to find no two bedrooms at all available for our dates at BWV.....we're booked at BCV for our stay, which is six nights in all....but they only had five of our nights available, so as of now that's all we have booked....

we're waitlisted for the one night we need at BCV, and we're also waitlisted for our entire stay at BWV.....

just curious to know if anyone else has had experiences booking a trip only two months before you're set to go and if you made any waitlist requests how likely they are to come through ??

thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

I had VWL studio booked for Thanksgiving time at the 7 month window. But after staying in a studio in August and putting up with dh's snoring, I called MS when we got home to see if there were any 1-bdrm units open. No, not at WL. MS asked me if I would be willing to stay at any other DVC resort. Yep, I told her, except for OKW. I just didn't want to be that far out for the holidays. So, I waitlisted. That was about 2 1/2 months before my arrival date. 1 week later, I had BWV, 1 bdrm for the entire stay. Waitlisting has worked for me several times now.

 

[fairy56]

We have been on waitlist several times at OKW and has always comes through. In fact, we reserved Dec 30-Jan 2 just last week and we were put on a waitlist for Dec 28 and 29th. They just called and we got in!!! Good luck and I bet something will come through this far out.

 

[DeeCee735]

I have been waitlisted for a 1 bdrm at BWV for a couple of months already, for our Feb trip. It's Pres week, so I'm thinking I'm not going to get it. I did book at OKW, but we really would rather have BWV, as it's our home resort and a great atmosphere for our teens. Anyone have any luck with a waitlist coming through for a holiday week?

 

[BJK]

we're actually the week heading up to president's week....we arrive on the 13th and leave on the 19th....so i'm still hoping that since the next week is the holiday week we'll get lucky and it will come through....

 

[MiaSRN62]

I was put on a waitlist for OKW (or any other DVC resort) 2 months in advance this past Sept. I wanted a 2 bedroom and nothing ever came through for me for the first week of Nov.
I wish you luck---it seems waitlists seem to come through more often than they don't from what I read here on the boards. Sending pixie dust your way

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

We were waitlisted for our first night of our upcoming trip (BWV 2BR BW view), and it came through after a month or two. I was really surprised, but I guess the waitlist really is as wonderful as most people say!

Good luck!

 

[crazywig]

i booked our jan trip in late august , so five months out. i wanted BWV standard studio (only had a few pts left), but of course they didn't have it. i took OKW and waitlisted. it came thru in late october.

 

[caracarn]

I have been waitlisted for a 1 bdrm at BWV for a couple of months already, for our Feb trip. It's Pres week, so I'm thinking I'm not going to get it. I did book at OKW, but we really would rather have BWV, as it's our home resort and a great atmosphere for our teens. Anyone have any luck with a waitlist coming through for a holiday week?

We were waitlisted for BCV for Thanksgiving week this year and got in.

 

[SB in KY]

Man...you people all have WAY better luck than we do with the waitlist....I have wait listed a total of 5 times in the last 8 years and have NEVER once gotten anything!!

Interesting note...I called fairly last minute to reserve a studio for my sister and some friends for Sunday and Monday of Columbus Day weekend (also opening weekend of the F&W Festival) in Oct...nothing was available at any of the DVC resorts so I wait listed for a studio at any resort...never heard anything, so the day the waitlist expired (I think it was 7 days before arrival, but it may have been 10 days, I forget) I called back, just in case...nope, nothing came through on the waitlist....then I called back to ask MS if any size units were available for any resort.... and lo and behold they had studios available at BWV (standard or preferred view no less), OKW and VWL!!! I have no idea how this happened and the MS rep could not come up with an answer either. She "thought" maybe all those units had come available from cancellations since the waitlist expired....it expired at midnight and I called at 9AM....not too likely

I was able to get my sister the studio at Boardwalk, which was perfect for their F&W day so all was well....but now I know, when I get waitlisted for something I will keep calling to checlk availability

 

[gracelrm]

We made reservations for Dec. 18-23 at the 60 day mark (using points in holding) and could only get OKW 1BR for the entire trip. We waitlisted for BWV and within one week, they called us with SS. We took that and stayed on the list for BWV and before two more weeks had past, we had BWV. I believe in the waitlist - but this is the only time I've ever tried it. Good Luck!

 

[Tigger031266]

We waitlisted 2 times and got it both times. Some keys to success:

Don't waitlist the a whole week or series of days. Tell them you want a seperate waitlist for each days. Otherwise, unless the entire series of days open, you will note get it. If you do it in pieces (indivual days). If a few days in the begining of the week are open at one time and them latter a few days at the end of the week open, you can put them together and get the whole week.

Most waitlist come in 30 - 60 days before arrival date because of the cancellation rules. So sit tight until 31 days before before you panic.

At 31 days before consider all options for any missing days:
Different room types, different resorts and lastly consider paying cash. If you have an AP, the discounts are pretty large so you could usually get a room or 2 at a moderate resort for less than $100 for any missing days.

 

[TW1]

I agree with Tigger03 above. Wait list individual days. We've had luck with that method. I've heard of others making a cash ressie for the same days and dropping individual cash days as the wait listed days come in. MS will be able to link all the ressies so you can avoid any check-in/out problems.

Good luck!

 

[FLYNZ4]

I have a question on how automated the waitlist system is implemented. If someone gones on a waitlist... does that guarantee that the inventory will never be offered to someone who calls in for a particular unit after a cancellation.

In other words... does the waitlist computer always grab cancellations first... and then only put the units back into available inventory if there are no waitlist matches?

I would hope that waitlist always gets priority... with a 100% guarantee of being ahead of someone who happens to call at the right moment.

/Jim

 

[spearenb]

I really don't have anything to add. So, if you want, you can stop reading now.

I just wanted to post that I am waiting for one night, Jan 17th on a GV at OKW to become available. I'm at the 30 day mark and am waitlisted till the 7 day. I was hoping that the Pixie's will see this and make a room available.

Ok. If you made it this far, you must be bored or something. Have a nice day.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I really don't have anything to add. So, if you want, you can stop reading now.

I just wanted to post that I am waiting for one night, Jan 17th on a GV at OKW to become available. I'm at the 30 day mark and am waitlisted till the 7 day. I was hoping that the Pixie's will see this and make a room available.

Ok. If you made it this far, you must be bored or something. Have a nice day.

Not bored...just walking a mile in your shoes. I'm trying to get a studio for Jan 16th...preferably at BCV. Friday will be 30 days.