Waitlist questions/strategies

[wdwphanatic2]

I am planning a 4-night trip in May 2024 (was hoping for 5/11-15). My preferred resort is BCV (studio), second choice is Poly (standard studio) and third is BWV (either standard or preferred). The only thing available at the 7-month window was Poly Lake view studio for 5/12-16. I waitlisted BCV for 5/11-16 because I would be comfortable with 4 nights within that time period (either 5/11-15 or 5/12-16). I'm now thinking that wasn't the best strategy. Should I instead opt for 5/11-15 since those are my preferred dates or 5/12-16 since those might be more likely to clear? How realistic would a studio at BCV for that time period be, generally speaking? Should I also waitlist at BWV -- and if so, what dates should I try for? Would it be better to waitlist for preferred, assuming that's more likely to clear? Any and all advice is welcome! TIA!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The real challenge is you're trying to waitlist 4-5 nights. All 4 (or 5) nights have to match WHILE you are first in line for that to clear.

Ex: if someone cancels BCV for 5/10-5/17, and Bob has a waitlist for 5/15-5/17, and put that waitlist in before you, Bob's waitlist clears. The partial match for you will be skipped.

Shorter waitlists are more likely to clear - 1 or 2 nights.

 

[wdwphanatic2]

The real challenge is you're trying to waitlist 4-5 nights. All 4 (or 5) nights have to match WHILE you are first in line for that to clear.

Ex: if someone cancels BCV for 5/10-5/17, and Bob has a waitlist for 5/15-5/17, and put that waitlist in before you, Bob's waitlist clears. The partial match for you will be skipped.

Shorter waitlists are more likely to clear - 1 or 2 nights.

That's what I was afraid of... Thanks for the advice, though! Guess what I should do is see if any dates in my range are available for the resorts I'd rather stay at and then waitlist for the remaining dates at that resort instead of reserving all my dates at a resort I'm not as interested in staying at. It's just tough giving up a guaranteed reservation for most of my dates!