Waitlist questions

[TinkB278]

I just realized I’m a little confused on a couple waitlist issues and wondered if anyone could help.

We have a reservation for May for a 1 bedroom but are now thinking maybe we won’t bring our son so we would like a studio. I put in a waitlist for a studio and indicated to cancel the 1 bedroom if it comes through. If this were to happen say one week prior to check in would we be penalized in some way since technically the one bedroom will be canceled less than 30 days prior to check in?

 

[drusba]

If the reservation is changed from 1BR to studio on May 1 or after, the new studio reservation will use enough points for the studio and then all other points in the 1BR reservation will go Into holding, and, as a result, you will not be able to bank any of the leftover points and they will be usable only for reservations made 60 days or fewer from date of arrival.

The holding rule is currently waived under a special covid-related rule through April 30, 2021. Thus, if the reservation is changed on or before April 30, the holding rule will not apply and all the extra points that come out of the 1BR reservation after changing it to a studio reservation will go back into your account the same way they entered the reservation -- current use year points remain current and can be banked if you are till within your annual banking window, and any banked or borrowed points remain banked or borrow.

Bottom-line: you should drop the waitlist you are on by no later than April 30 to avoid the risk of having points go into holding. You should probably do that well before April 30 because dropping a waitlist requires contacting Member Services, and there have been numerous instances in the last several months of MS's failure to answer the phone for hours or at all -- you call, get put on hold for an hour, and before that hour is up the system just hangs up on you.

 

[Sandisw]

I do want to add you can cancel the waitlist on line. But, again, you want to give yourself at least a day in case the website is having issues.

Now, if you do cancel, go back online and check to see if there is a room. I have had it happen several times, Book my second choice that showed up, cancel waitlist, and within seconds, my first choice is now there. I think it was matched but not yet processed and when I canceled it, it released the room,

It has not always happened, but it’s worth checking if you are deactivating the waitlist anyway.

 

[TinkB278]

Thank you both! I’m glad I asked. It makes sense that the points would go into holding but I never really thought this through prior to this.

 

[KaystotheKingdom]

Glad I found this- but want to make sure I understand. I have a stay at Boulder ridge but am waitlisted at boardwalk. My mother in law is booked at boardwalk at waitlisted at Boulder ridge ( our effort to be in the same resort). Should we both be cancelling the waitlist greater than 30 days out? In this circumstance our waitlist is not a different room type so maybe it doesn’t matter?

It seems Unlikely but I’m just realizing now that there is a chance we could end up flip flopped if both waitlists went through which wouldn’t solve our problem lol.That would be ridiculous!

truthfully, I find a lot of this more complicated than I initially realized at the time of purchase

 

[Sandisw]

Glad I found this- but want to make sure I understand. I have a stay at Boulder ridge but am waitlisted at boardwalk. My mother in law is booked at boardwalk at waitlisted at Boulder ridge ( our effort to be in the same resort). Should we both be cancelling the waitlist greater than 30 days out? In this circumstance our waitlist is not a different room type so maybe it doesn’t matter?

It seems Unlikely but I’m just realizing now that there is a chance we could end up flip flopped if both waitlists went through which wouldn’t solve our problem lol.That would be ridiculous!

truthfully, I find a lot of this more complicated than I initially realized at the time of purchase

You only want the waitlist to expire 31 days out if what you are getting is less points than what you have booked because then they go into holding.

If the room you want is the same or more points, you can keep it at 7 days out.

 

[js]

You only want the waitlist to expire 31 days out if what you are getting is less points than what you have booked because then they go into holding.

If the room you want is the same or more points, you can keep it at 7 days out.

OMG I never understood the reason for the 7 and 31 days. Wow and thanks!

 

[KaystotheKingdom]

Right??!