Waitlist questions

[gracelrm]

It's finally getting close to time for us to try to make reservations with points from the holding account. We are interested in going Dec. 18 - 22nd and we'll stay at any DVC in either a 1BR or a 2BR. We can finally try to book on Monday, as the 60-day window opens up then. I am assuming nothing will be available and we'll have to go on a waitlist and I've no experience with waitlisting. What is your advice about waitlisting - one day at a time vs. the entire trip? Any other advice from those of you with past experiences? How often should I call to check on the waitlist?
TIA

 

[tjkraz]

If you waitlist for the entire trip:

Best case scenario - you get the entire time you want in a single room.

Worst case scenario - consecutive days at the same resort / room type do not open up and you get nothing.

If you waitlist day-by-day:

Best case scenario - over the next 60 days, each of the days you need comes available at the same resort / room type. All of the days are linked together on a reservation and you don't have to move.

Worst case scenario - you get a few days here and there, perhaps some at one resort and others at a different resort. Other days you may not get any room and have to pay cash at a non-DVC resort just to make the trip feasible.

When you call, I'd suggest seeing if you can get two or three nights in the same resort / room type. At least that gives you something to build on. Call MS periodically (every couple of days if you have the time) and see if you can't get a couple more days--perhaps even at a different resort. I'm not a big fan of switching resorts mid-trip, but if it comes down to going to WDW vs. losing the points, then you switch resorts if necessary.

Good luck.

 

[queenof4hearts]

Is it possible to use the holding points for say, the Cont. or GF, or AKL? Just curious.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by queenof4hearts
Is it possible to use the holding points for say, the Cont. or GF, or AKL? Just curious.

Yes, but it can be a little tricky, due to the 60 day rule for non-DVC options. That rules says that if you want to stay at a non-DVC option during the last two months of your use year, you have to make the reservation before the end of the 10th month. For example, if you have a December use year, you'd have to call on or before September 30 to make the reservation.

It's tricky to make a non-DVC ressie with holding points because you can't call to make a reservation more than 60 days ahead of arrival.

If you are not near the end of your use year, it's just a matter of availability when you call.


HTH.

 

[queenof4hearts]

Thanks CarolMN,

I must say it does get confusing!

 

[gracelrm]

Thanks tjkraz and CarolMN. We don't have enough points to do GF/AKL/CR on points for enough days to make it worth our while to drive down there or we'd jump on the chance for that too. Another question about the waitlist - it only works until 7 days out - right? I sure hope somthing works out. We wouldn't care to move once (o.k. we would, but it would be better than not going at all). I just hope something works out for us.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by gracelrm
Another question about the waitlist - it only works until 7 days out - right?

Actually, the waitlist resets at 30 days prior to arrival.

You can call 30 days out and put yourself back on the waitlist (which you want to do as early as possible because it could get you right to the front of the line.) I imagine that cancellations under 30 days are few-and-far-between since the points go into Holding (as you know), but they do occur.

Then, 7 days before the waitlist is gone. I imagine you can still call each day and see if any cancellations have occurred.

 

[gracelrm]

Thanks tjkraz - I feel like I'm armed with all the necessary information and am just impatiently waiting for Monday morning to get here. We've had points in holding since our June trip when family left early and gave us a week's notice. We've always wanted to go at Christmas time and are crossing all our fingers that this trip will work out. If not, we'll be in real trouble as we have a Feb. UY and a January trip is out of the question.