Waitlist Strategy?

[BraveMom3]

I am currently waitlisted for a studio at BCV for Nov 27 to Dec 2. I went ahead and made a cash ressie at the BC to secure a room for our trip, but really want the DVC accomodations to avoid coming up with $$$.

I've read where people have better luck taking one day at a time, but I was afraid to commit to this in case I ended up without all my days, and then my points would be committed.

Anyway, my question is: How likely is it for my 5 nights to come through?

 

[RobDoc]

While there is still plenty of time to have your dates become available, you would greatly increase your chances for success by using a daily autoconfirm approach. That way, as each day becomes available, you will automatically have it added to your reservation without having to be called.

By asking for the entire stay, you will have success ONLY if all days become available at once. The daily autoconfirm will pick up the odd days as they become available- where they would not be saved the other way.

The dates you are looking for are very popular and that may affect when the waitlist will work for you. Be patient!

Good Luck!

 

[BraveMom3]

Thanks, Doc--

I'm a little confused about the status of your points if, for instance, I ask for autoconfirm as each day becomes available, and then in the end I'm not able to get all the days. I would have to a) take the days available, and then move somewhere for the rest (not really interested in this option for that short of a stay), or b) cancel all the days that were autoconfirmed and hope I can still get a regular room.

Please explain (still DVC illiterate!!! ) what happens to your points, some of which are left from my 2002 use year and some I would have to borrow from 2003), in the event that you have cancel.

Thanks

 

[RobDoc]

It does get difficult when there is the possibility (low at this time, IMHO) that you wouldn't get all of the dates you want.

Any points which are returned by a cancellation are subject to normal use or banking within your use year. Any borrowed points cannot be returned to their original use year, would have to be used before the end of the current use year and could not be banked.

Good Luck.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by BraveMom3
Thanks, Doc--

I'm a little confused about the status of your points if, for instance, I ask for autoconfirm as each day becomes available, and then in the end I'm not able to get all the days. I would have to a) take the days available, and then move somewhere for the rest (not really interested in this option for that short of a stay), or b) cancel all the days that were autoconfirmed and hope I can still get a regular room.

Please explain (still DVC illiterate!!! ) what happens to your points, some of which are left from my 2002 use year and some I would have to borrow from 2003), in the event that you have cancel.

Thanks

As long as you cancel your DVC ressie 31 days or more ahead of time, the points will return to the status that they were in prior to the ressie. If the points were borrowed, they will return to borrowed status. If you do not use the points borrowed from your 2003 use year prior to the end of your 2002 use year, you would lose them. You could still bank the points that were originally from your 2002 use year as long as your banking deadlines have not passed.

It's hard to give specific advice without knowing your use year. My advice would generally be to keep the back up cash ressie and give the waitlist time to work. I'm assuming you have a room-only ressie and can cancel the hotel room without penalty as long as you do it at least 5 days ahead of time. I would get nervous when I reached the point (with autoconfirm) that I would have to borrow points (assuming I couldn't use them or rent them prior to the end of my 2002 use year). My next "nervous point" would be when the 31 day deadline was approaching. I personally would not mind switching rooms between the BC Hotel and the BCV, but wouldn't want to change rooms more than once.

It's JMHO, but I also think if you use the daily autoconfirm process, you have an excellent chance of getting all the days you want in your BCV studio. DVD is still adding rooms to the inventory and there are several months for the waitlist to work! Good Luck!

 

[Dean]

Take the days one at a time. If you don't get anything that will help you cancel at least 31 days out. Don't borrow to do it unless you're sure you wont cancel. Remember you can always link the reservations and SHOULD not have to move as long as it's the same resort and unit type.

 

[adamak]

I think yours will come through. It's late Nov, early Dec. That's traditionally slow time. I always came through with wait list for some reason. Just be patient. If you're worried, just keep calling them.

 

[SalandJeff]

Sorry, I'm confused.

We are waitlisted for several nights in December also. What is "daily autoconfirm"? How do you do this? When I made my ressie, they waitlisted the nights that were not available and told me they would contact me when and if they became available.

Thanks for the help.

 

[CRobin]

"Daily Autoconfirm" is this:

You tell them what days you want. Some, even in the middle, may be waitlisted. If you "auto confirm", MS will automatically book those days for you, so that you don't have to keep calling back. You will get a hard copy confirmation.

This also works if you book at your home resort, and then choose to change your ressies to another at the 7 month window. MS will cancel ressies at one and make them at another on a day by day basis.

Works like a charm! Good luck!

 

[Matt's Nin]

Hi,

I'm also new to this. Made first ressie yesterday. Wanted a 2 Bedroom for Nov, 3,4,& 5 at BWV or BCV. OKW was the only one available so booked there and waitlisted at other 2. She asked me if I wanted to Auto Confirm or get a call. I said to Auto Confirm. Will that be the same as Daily Auto Confirm, or do I have to call back and specify that?

 

[RobDoc]

Unless you specifically requested daily, most likely they will autoconfirm you only if all dates become available at once. That is still better than having to be called, but loses the advantage of daily autoconfirm.

I'd call MS back and request the change to daily.

Good Luck!

 

[BraveMom3]

Thanks for all the wonderful advice! I will go back and do the auto-confirm (daily) , and keep a close eye on the 31 day period.

With the $$ I would have to spend for a regular room at BC, I could get close to a 25 point add-on.

 

[VINN127]

If I currently have a ressie for 3 days at OKW and am wait listed at BCV by daily auto confirm do I get my BCV ressie and lose the OKW. I really don't want to move around.

Hope I made myself clear kind of confuses me... LOL