Waitlist strategy

[buzz5985]

Until I read it on another thread, I didn't realize the waitlist's were so specific - lock-off vs dedicated. I thought if I waitlisted a 2 BR the first that came available I would get. So with that being said - I am waitlisted for a very difficult time. Dec 28 - Jan 1. I know, I know. If it becomes available - I will be thrilled, if it doesn't, there's always next year. What do you think would be my best shot at getting this??

I am currently waitlisted at OKW for a 2BR and at SSR for a 2 BR, I am assuming dedicated rooms. My reasons being - largest resorts - more chances for a cancellation.

The first two days are available at OKW. Should I grab them and then waitlist the last two in a dedicated 2 BR. Would that better my chances??

And advice is welcome.

Do you think I would have a better shot at another resort??

 

[disneynutz]

It's all in the numbers and luck. You stand the best chance wait listing the resort with the most rooms available in the largest room category looking at the time of year and resort popularity.

If you look at the resource thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2823943 you can see the number of rooms at each resort.

MK resorts are popular all year but especially at Christmas time. Epcot resort are really popular during F&W.

Bill

 

[CarolMN]

Your real problem is New Year's Eve - 12/31/. That is the most sought after night of the year for DVC. Most who visit during that time book as soon as their 11 month window opens.

If you have some points to play with without borrowing or missing a banking deadline, you can book individual nights and hold them while waiting for other nights to become available.

This is what I would do:

Book whatever nights might be available for what you need at OKW or SSR - largest resorts. Set up waitlists for NYE (single night) at both resorts for the booking categories of the nights you already have reserved.

Then check the members website several times a day looking for your dates. If you see a night that would help you, book it immediately. Check all the resorts for the villa size that would work for you while you are on the website - you never know when someone might cancel.

If you are going no matter what, make a cash back up reservation. Definitely do that if you need to commit to airfare before you have a reservation. Getting DVC for your dates will be a long shot.

If you won't go if you can't get a reservation, make sure you cancel everything you booked at least 31 days prior to arrival. Make sure the waitlists are set to expire at 31 days also. Otherwise, you'll have points in holding. Not good!

FWIW, waitlists often come through around the 31 day mark because those who aren't absolutely sure they can go cancel to avoid points going into holding. If you are driving or can go at the last minute, consider changing your waitlists to your entire vacation at the 32 or 31 day mark.

Consider DVC/Cash combinations. If you can get your first two or three nights for DVC, maybe cash for the last night(s) would work, even though you may have to change rooms.

Pay close attention to your banking deadlines if you won't use your points before the end of your use year, and be sure to cancel any waitlist if you change your mind.

If all that sounds like a lot of work, it is - but totally worth it if you are successful. NYE at WDW is magical - or so I've been told, LOL.

Good luck!

 

[sajetto]

Ok, what about this? Can someone tell me what the REAL deal is with waitlist? I'm under the impression that a Member Services Cast Member must physically complete the waitlist themselves as opposed to a computer automated system for the following reason:

I waitlisted for one night only in a BWV garden view studio. Waited and checked daily to see if it had come through and would also check availability myself. Then what do you know, but if two days ago. That same night shows up as available online along with 2 other consecutive nights. I exit the screen thinking surely my waitlist came through, but I just didn't notice it. However, NO the waitlist had not gone through. I get back on the online booking system thinking that the room would have disappeared, but there it still was along with those other nights. I booked that one night myself and cancelled the waitlist. Then, just for the heck of it, I checked availability again that night and those same nights were STILL available including the night that I had needed before which automatically would lead me to believe that there was more than one room available for that night.

WHY OH WHY did my waitlist not come through if it was right there waiting to be picked up in the system???


You know what, I'm going to make another thread for this one since I'm really curious what all the thoughts are on this.

 

[Dean]

WHY OH WHY did my waitlist not come through if it was right there waiting to be picked up in the system???

Cancelled rooms are not held for the wait list which also does not run continually, your experience is not an uncommon one.

 

[sajetto]

Then pardon my ignorance, but I'm still not getting it. What is the point of a waitlist then? My thought is that you go on a waitlist because all of the rooms are booked up and that the only thing that you can count on IS a cancellation. This equation just isn't making sense to me.

 

[Dean]

Then pardon my ignorance, but I'm still not getting it. What is the point of a waitlist then? My thought is that you go on a waitlist because all of the rooms are booked up and that the only thing that you can count on IS a cancellation. This equation just isn't making sense to me.

Theoretically you'd be right but since they don't hold the units that come available for the WL, they are open for others until the WL is run that day. The best approach is to have the WL AND look yourself online.

 

[buzz5985]

Your real problem is New Year's Eve - 12/31/. That is the most sought after night of the year for DVC. Most who visit during that time book as soon as their 11 month window opens.

If you have some points to play with without borrowing or missing a banking deadline, you can book individual nights and hold them while waiting for other nights to become available.

This is what I would do:

Book whatever nights might be available for what you need at OKW or SSR - largest resorts. Set up waitlists for NYE (single night) at both resorts for the booking categories of the nights you already have reserved.

Then check the members website several times a day looking for your dates. If you see a night that would help you, book it immediately. Check all the resorts for the villa size that would work for you while you are on the website - you never know when someone might cancel.

If you are going no matter what, make a cash back up reservation. Definitely do that if you need to commit to airfare before you have a reservation. Getting DVC for your dates will be a long shot.

If you won't go if you can't get a reservation, make sure you cancel everything you booked at least 31 days prior to arrival. Make sure the waitlists are set to expire at 31 days also. Otherwise, you'll have points in holding. Not good!

FWIW, waitlists often come through around the 31 day mark because those who aren't absolutely sure they can go cancel to avoid points going into holding. If you are driving or can go at the last minute, consider changing your waitlists to your entire vacation at the 32 or 31 day mark.

Consider DVC/Cash combinations. If you can get your first two or three nights for DVC, maybe cash for the last night(s) would work, even though you may have to change rooms.

Pay close attention to your banking deadlines if you won't use your points before the end of your use year, and be sure to cancel any waitlist if you change your mind.

If all that sounds like a lot of work, it is - but totally worth it if you are successful. NYE at WDW is magical - or so I've been told, LOL.

Good luck!

Thanks - this is a great idea. I just booked the first two nights and waitlisted the other two separately. We had a tough beginning of this year with my Dad passing away, thought we could ring in the New Year on a higher note. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Janis

 

[Sunshine22]

Don't forget that waitlists only go through if they match the inventory exactly. Keep checking on line. Rooms at OKW and SS seem to pop up often on-line.

 

[Pirate Granny]

I started looking for a sep short weekend trip. Thu-sun. Only single nights available...doesn't matter as I have A of A reservations for those nights ( recently closed on another DVC contract that had 2012 available burning a hole in my membership )...couple of days later two nights pop up at BWV (Fri-sat), I snagged them and for giggles put in a WL for the Thursday...would be ok staying at A of A for that first night. Got an email two days later WL actually came through..next day MS combined the three nights (without calling MS), and sent me the new reservation.... Guess I'll try a of a some other time...going for Villain day at the studios and will be great to walk home at 1am!

 

[buzz5985]

Don't forget that waitlists only go through if they match the inventory exactly. Keep checking on line. Rooms at OKW and SS seem to pop up often on-line.

Thanks, I have been. So every day I have hope - and every day - disappointment.

I will keep checking.

Janis

 

[buzz5985]

So I have 12/28 and 12/29 in a 2 BR at OKW. I have waitlisted 12/30 and 12/31 OKW - each day on their on waitlist. I called today to see about a cash reservation for the the 2 days. One night was over $940. Looks like I may be ringing in 2015 and forgetting 2014. I will give it a couple of months but I need to book airfare too - so wondering how long I should wait. Wish we could find out how many are on the waiting lists.

Janis

 

[chipmunkfan]

How do you modify a waitlist on line?
So if you check and a night becomes available and you book it........
Can you modify your current waitlist to the balance of the nights needed or do you have to cancel your waitlist and resubmit?

I'm so confused on that piece

 

[CarolMN]

How do you modify a waitlist on line?
So if you check and a night becomes available and you book it........
Can you modify your current waitlist to the balance of the nights needed or do you have to cancel your waitlist and resubmit?

I'm so confused on that piece

You cannot modify a waitlist - either online or by calling MS.

You must cancel the existing waitlist and submit a new one. Your new waitlist goes to the bottom of the list.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Perfect thread to post my awesome Fathers Day surprise e-mail today that my waitlist for BLT came thru for Dec 4&5 This is perfect since we already have our tix for MVMCP on the 5th.(walk home after closing) Now I still am on WL for BWV(pool view) for the 6th and 7th so I am patiently waiting.
This BLT room is Lake View since I figured std and theme park views go 1st. So now I have a new WL for same nites and theme park view. What the heck you never know.
Of course this was all backed up by my home resort OKW

I love summer but bring on December !!!

 

[lucyem]

OP we booked 4 nights at ssr last november, for a stay starting on new years eve. I had to waitlist two nights but they came through within like two days. I would think this far out you have a very good chance of something coming available. Just keep checking online.

 

[Minniesgal]

Waitlists do work. We had 15 nights booked for August but couldn't get the 16th. I waitlisted it in May as I didn't have the points from my recent purchase until then and didn't hold out much hope. I have been checking daily but nothing. Woke up this morning to an email telling me it was booked. 2 bedroom LV at BLT with just over 60 days to go.

This room wasn't available when I checked last night. The waitlists do work. Irnoically I almost cancelled it a few days ago as i was losing hope.

 

[Dean]

Waitlists do work. We had 15 nights booked for August but couldn't get the 16th. I waitlisted it in May as I didn't have the points from my recent purchase until then and didn't hold out much hope. I have been checking daily but nothing. Woke up this morning to an email telling me it was booked. 2 bedroom LV at BLT with just over 60 days to go.

This room wasn't available when I checked last night. The waitlists do work. Irnoically I almost cancelled it a few days ago as i was losing hope.

True, but you likely missed 10 or more nights that came through and would have completed your wait list because they don't work as well as they could.

 

[CarolMN]

While it's nice to hear about successes for others' waitlists, none of those experiences are relevant for a waitlist that includes New Year's Eve. That's the most popular night of the year and most book it right after the 11 month window opens.

A waitlist that includes NYE for the near park resorts seldom comes through. Those for the larger resorts have a better chance, especially if one is OK with a 1 bedroom.

 

[Minniesgal]

True, but you likely missed 10 or more nights that came through and would have completed your wait list because they don't work as well as they could.

No that is my point I'm fairly sure I didn't as I have also been checking myself at least twice and day and I missed it. Without the waitlist I wouldn't have got it.