Waitlist question for November?

[gabiniko]

This is the first time I have posted a question so please bare with me. We have been DVC members since Nov. 2003 and I am on the waitlist for Nov 25-29th. I didn't realize how tough it would be to get in at this busy time. We have never had to waitlist and we have also not traveled at one of the busy times. What are my chances of the waitlist coming through? Besides calling frequently to Member services are there any other things that I should be doing or just waiting? We are also not flexible on dates for this trip. My husband has a conference in Marco Island on the 21st - 24th so we would like to go up to Disney before heading home.

 

[Starr W.]

What are type of room are you wl for? When did you go on the wl?

Thanksgiving is pretty busy at WDW(this will be our 3rd).

When I have wl in the past I just check the vacation detail section of the member website.

 

[gabiniko]

I just got on the waitlist the end of July. I wanted a 1bdr at any resort and then I called back on got on the waitlist for a studio also. I figure I will take anything at this point if it becomes available.

 

[CarolMN]

If you don't have a back up plan and really want to visit WDW before going home, make a cash reservation somewhere. (You can cancel it if the waitlist comes through in a timely manner). There's a good possibility that your waitlist will not come through. Thanksgiving weekend is very popular and I fear there are many on the waitlist ahead of you.

Good luck!

 

[photobob]

First off to the Dis! You have maximized your chances by taking whatever is available. You could call MS occasionally to see if anything has opened up, i don't know if that will help or not. As a previous poster has mentioned you could make a cash reservation and hope that the waitlist comes through in time. Have you checked other Disney Hotels or are you just interested in staying with your DVC points?

 

[wdw1972]

We have never had to waitlist and we have also not traveled at one of the busy times. What are my chances of the waitlist coming through? Besides calling frequently to Member services are there any other things that I should be doing or just waiting? QUOTE]

Please stop calling member services! They cannot help you, and cannot tell you if your waitlist is likely to come through. It'll appear first on the website (if it comes through), then later you'll get the paper in the mail.

Knowing how busy Thanksgiving has gotten at WDW, I'm afraid I don't hold much hope that you'll get anything....especially with only 3 months to go. I'd say if it hasn't come through by 30 days in advance, you're out of luck for sure. Members thinking of canceling will do so by 31 days so they don't lose full use of their points.

By all means try to get a cash reservation somewhere - one that you can cancel IF the dvc waitlist comes through. Realize the parks will be PACKED, too!

 

[DMKEDM]

I suppose it makes sense to expect the worst, and plan for that...but we've never had the "doom" experiences so frequently described here on the Dis...

Our first "it should not have happened" experience was T-giving 2006. We bought in late June and tried to book T-giving right away...had to go on the W/L (I did a back-up cash reservation)...said "anything anywhere"--studio or one-bedroom or even two bedroom...any resort...first, a one-bedroom at SSR came through; then a one-bedroom at another resort (forget which one...we wanted SSR (our home) so I didn't change from our SSR reservation); finally, we got what we actually wanted: a studio at SSR...it was an 8-day trip (Sunday-Sunday, including T-giving). All the W/Ls came through within a 3-week period in Sept...the Wed before T-giving and T-giving itself were the last two days of the W/L to come through...

Next, I tried to reserve a one-bedroom at OKW for the week before Easter, only 10 days before we left (this was this past March). Had to W/L (or maybe it was call back each day...I think the first three days I used the 7-day W/L, but the memory is a bit foggy even tho it was only five months ago!)--took only 3 days (I did call each day, despite being on a W/L ... each call I had other reasons to call MS, tho)...

Finally, I got us a one-bedroom for 8/5-8/11--had my choice between OKW near HH and SSR--calling just 3 weeks before we left. No W/L on that trip...the villas were available, three weeks out...

We've also used the W/L for 3 other trips, but none of them were for such high-demand times as the T-giving and spring break trips, and none were so close to trip date...

The only one that didn't come through was one night in a BWV one-bedroom standard view on marathon weekend Friday night...but we did get preferred view...

So...I'm a big believer in the W/L...and a big believer in the potential for availability even when there's not "supposed to be" anything available (close to the trip date or over a holiday)...it probably does make a whole lot of sense to do a cash reservation back-up (if you're going to go even if you can't stay on points); and of course it helps to be as flexible as possible in terms of villa size and resort choice...and it is also totally sensible to not count on it...it certainly could not come through.

But I certainly wouldn't say "almost no chance"...we've gotten W/Ls and initial bookings when time of vacation and/or lead-time were much worse than the position you're in!

Good luck!!!!!!!! Lots of pixie dust going your way...

 

[gabiniko]

Thanks for all the great responses. It helps to get inside from others who have had to waitlist. I will talk to DH about making a cash reservation somewhere just in case. I wouldn't normally do that but since we will already be in FL earlier that week, how can I go home without visiting Disney??

We were just there in April and I can't wait to go back. I know the waitlist is a long shot but I will hold out and hope for the best!

 

[mickerbaby]

Hi Ronda!
It's so funny I was looking at this post because I have the same question for our adult disney trip in Nov. And noticed it was you posting! Welcome!!!!
Our trip is for Nov 6-Nov 10th. I never thought we would have such a hard time getting a ressie since I thought it was low travel time, but actually it's Veterns day weekend and the last weekend of food and wine. So we are waitlisted at any resort for a studio for that weekend. We have the babysitters all lined up so we really can't change the dates. But I have been seriously considering a cash ressie because I can't imagine having to cancel our trip if the W/L doesn't come through! It's for our 10th anniversary!
Well good luck with your W/L and I'll have to let you know if any good news comes our way
Oh-I check my dvc account almost every night hoping to see a change in my points level or the listing of future vacations
hope to see you again soon, dinner last month with "the girls" was fun!
Crissy

 

[gabiniko]

Hi Crissy!

Too funny that you saw my post. I really hope your W/L comes through, especially for your adult weekend and your Anniversary. You'll have to keep me posted. I was just online looking at cash reservations and there is a studio avail at Wilderness but I don't think I would want to pay $360 a nite. I am spoiled with using points. I can use points and book at the Caribbean Beach and use 90 pts. I am considering that also. Since we are only there for 4 nights. I just don't know what to do!! Good Luck and I'll keep you posted on what happens.

 

[CarolMN]

Hi Ronda!
It's so funny I was looking at this post because I have the same question for our adult disney trip in Nov. And noticed it was you posting! Welcome!!!!
Our trip is for Nov 6-Nov 10th. I never thought we would have such a hard time getting a ressie since I thought it was low travel time, but actually it's Veterns day weekend and the last weekend of food and wine. So we are waitlisted at any resort for a studio for that weekend. We have the babysitters all lined up so we really can't change the dates. But I have been seriously considering a cash ressie because I can't imagine having to cancel our trip if the W/L doesn't come through! It's for our 10th anniversary!
Well good luck with your W/L and I'll have to let you know if any good news comes our way
Oh-I check my dvc account almost every night hoping to see a change in my points level or the listing of future vacations
hope to see you again soon, dinner last month with "the girls" was fun!
Crissy

November 6 & 7 are the dates for the 2008 NJ State Teachers' Convention. Since most NJ schools are not in session for those dates, many NJ residents take their children out of school for the entire week and go to WDW. As a result, that week is busier than we non-NJ resdients might think.

I know the DVC accomodations fill very quickly for that time - I think NJ has the most (or maybe the second most) DVC members of all the 50 states. Some room types & resorts had waitlists for that time even before the 7 month window opened.

 

[mickerbaby]

November 6 & 7 are the dates for the 2008 NJ State Teachers' Convention. Since most NJ schools are not in session for those dates, many NJ residents take their children out of school for the entire week and go to WDW. As a result, that week is busier than we non-NJ resdients might think.

I know the DVC accomodations fill very quickly for that time - I think NJ has the most (or maybe the second most) DVC members of all the 50 states. Some room types & resorts had waitlists for that time even before the 7 month window opened.

wow, I had no idea??? Thanks for the tip and I will be sure to make a cash reservation tomorrow in case the W/L doesn't work out.
Ronda-I think we'll have to make a cash reservation at one of the moderates since this was suppose to be a low cost trip (we have lots of disney visa rewards points to take care of the spending money and left over tickets from past trips for the parks). But we weren't planning on having to pay for our own room, we were planning on using points!! So I think it will have to be a moderate for us or maybe AKL or WL if I can use my postcard discount I got in the mail (or do dvc members get discounts at other resorts anyway???). But I dont think I will use my points for a hotel ressie because of our use year, if I use the points for a ressie and then our W/L comes through, those points will then be reservation points or something. So I want to stay away from that situation.
Anyway, keep me informed as to what you end up doing!
Crissy

 

[Lexxiefern]

Good luck to you with your waitlist! I just got on one too for next month!! I have been about 50/50 with the waitlist coming through. 3 years ago I waitlisted for 3 nights in december only 2 months out and got my choice of BWV or BCV. But I think times have changed and there are more members wanting the more "popular" times.

Good luck to both of us!! (Oh and crissy too )

 

[domiii]

We are also going from November 6 to 10. We have a room at SSR and are on the W/L for AKL. I get excited about the possibliity but CarolMN doesn't give me much hope. We'll hang in there until the end, just in case.

 

[miamimama]

This is the first time I have posted a question so please bare with me. We have been DVC members since Nov. 2003 and I am on the waitlist for Nov 25-29th. I didn't realize how tough it would be to get in at this busy time. We have never had to waitlist and we have also not traveled at one of the busy times. What are my chances of the waitlist coming through? Besides calling frequently to Member services are there any other things that I should be doing or just waiting? We are also not flexible on dates for this trip. My husband has a conference in Marco Island on the 21st - 24th so we would like to go up to Disney before heading home.

You never know. We have ressies for a 1 BR for those dates at SSR, but may end up cancelling because of a close relative's illness - I imagine there are others like us that end up cancelling since its a holiday and they may be hesitant about leaving family members, etc. Don't give up.