Waitlist strategy

[Dean]

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.

I'd use both. My point was you may not have gotten it BECAUSE of the inefficiency of the WL process rather than the villa wasn't available. Twice a day isn't going to pick things up consistently, even that approach will miss many days that come through. Many timeshare related wait list systems hold inventory until it's been checked against the wait list. I know one that allows VIP members to wait list up to 4 months prior to the opening of the reservation window then actually makes the bookings 1-3 days prior to when they could been booked otherwise by members directly.

 

[Disney Dreams]

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 well before the 11 month window opens....

How would this be done? Thanks for explaining / educating.

- Dreams

 

[Sandisw]

How would this be done? Thanks for explaining / educating.

- Dreams

They book it as part of a reservation that starts 7 days earlier, and then adjust to get the dates they really want--its referred to as walking.

Some, I have heard, even start more than that many days as it is so popular.

For example, say you want to go Dec 28th - January 2nd. Your 11 month opens on November 28. Instead, you call on November 22nd and book December 22nd to the 29th. You have now locked in your room ahead of others. On the 28th, you then call and adjust your dates to the ones you want.

Doing this gets you the room ahead of others and locks in that difficult night.

 

[maburke]

They book it as part of a reservation that starts 7 days earlier, and then adjust to get the dates they really want--its referred to as walking.

Some, I have heard, even start more than that many days as it is so popular.

For example, say you want to go Dec 28th - January 2nd. Your 11 month opens on November 28. Instead, you call on November 22nd and book December 22nd to the 29th. You have now locked in your room ahead of others. On the 28th, you then call and adjust your dates to the ones you want.

Doing this gets you the room ahead of others and locks in that difficult night.

I know you mean your 11-month window opens on January 28.

 

[CarolMN]

How would this be done? Thanks for explaining / educating.

- Dreams

I edited my post - meant to say right after the 11 month window opens. Sorry for the mis-information. Thanks for catching.

 

[buzz5985]

I have 3 nights out of 4 booked now. December 30 came through today. So I have hope that New Years Eve will come in. I will book my airfare.

Janis

 

[CarolMN]

I have 3 nights out of 4 booked now. December 30 came through today. So I have hope that New Years Eve will come in. I will book my airfare.

Janis

Good luck - and let us know. We're all pulling for you.

 

[iluvthsgam]

I own at SSR and had a studio booked 12/30 - 1/3 there before the 7 month window opened. I was checking availability and it was always available. I needed to make another reservation for an unplanned trip in August, and I knew NYE was a tough night, I figured it was SSR so it shouldn't book up that quick. I cancelled my reservation to book the August dates because BWV was available and didn't want to use borrowed points for NYE because I wasn't sure 100% if we were going.

I went to go back and rebook NYE just a few days later - which was around the 7 month window if you had enough points to book many days and studio at SSR was gone! So stupid. I have every night now except NYE and I do have a 1 BR at SSR for NYE. Couldn't believe SSR booked up that quick. I'm assuming at some point between now and then a studio will come up, but if not, have to suck it up and switch to a 1 br for that 1 night. Lesson learned.

 

[CarolMN]

I own at SSR and had a studio booked 12/30 - 1/3 there before the 7 month window opened. I was checking availability and it was always available. I needed to make another reservation for an unplanned trip in August, and I knew NYE was a tough night, I figured it was SSR so it shouldn't book up that quick. I cancelled my reservation to book the August dates because BWV was available and didn't want to use borrowed points for NYE because I wasn't sure 100% if we were going.

I went to go back and rebook NYE just a few days later - which was around the 7 month window if you had enough points to book many days and studio at SSR was gone! So stupid. I have every night now except NYE and I do have a 1 BR at SSR for NYE. Couldn't believe SSR booked up that quick. I'm assuming at some point between now and then a studio will come up, but if not, have to suck it up and switch to a 1 br for that 1 night. Lesson learned.

Sorry that happened. Unfortunately, we cannot tell how many rooms are available at any given time, just that there is at least one. As you know now, NYE is the most difficult single night of the year to get a DVC room.

Hope your waitlist works out.

 

[iluvthsgam]

Sometimes I wish Disney would allow a web-based interface that would allow us to see what they see when making a reservation. It would be cool to know exactly what is open, how many, and for what dates, etc.

I also can imagine having a screen that looks like a stock market real-time quote screen, with a bunch a red and green boxes showing availability across all the rooms at each resort. That could be fun to sit there and watch reservations come and go and then jump when you see what you want.

 

[DVCRejonis]

Call everyday! I always do better even if its wait listed. I have got one day for the last three days for my trip. Also with the new resort opening u have a really good chance for only needing one day. So start looking calling on of after the 23 like when ever u can.

 

[buzz5985]

I called today to get all my reservations together and to book NYE on cash. That hurt. LOL Since I have the all 4 nights I am now free to book my airfare. She also advised me change my waitlist - I had SSR listed too. She said that if that became available, it would cancel out the OKW. So I had her change it.

She did mention that a lot of October waitlists were coming through for people. So I am very hopeful.

Janis

 

[maburke]

It's quicker and easier to check online every day, if that's what you want to do.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It's quicker and easier to check online every day, if that's what you want to do.

Assuming The Worst IT shop lets you have this feature today.

 

[culli]

Assuming The Worst IT shop lets you have this feature today.

You can do this online today. Yes their programs are lacking.

 

[buzz5985]

Called MS 36 times today - still no luck. One of the CM's was kind enough to give me her direct line. I will keep trying.

Janis

 

[CarolMN]

I edited and removed several posts in this thread. Please remember that the DIS posting guidelines do not permit argumentative or sarcastic posts, especially if they are targeting an individual poster. There are other ways to get your point across.

Thank you.

 

[Msmithmd]

Called MS 36 times today - still no luck. One of the CM's was kind enough to give me her direct line. I will keep trying.

Janis

I really hope you are joking/exaggerating. Anything more than a couple calls in a day is harassment IMO. I feel really sorry for the cm who "gave you their direct line." And that's not criticism, that's just a fact.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

I really hope you are joking/exaggerating. Anything more than a couple calls in a day is harassment IMO. I feel really sorry for the cm who "gave you their direct line." And that's not criticism, that's just a fact.

Agreed !

 

[buzz5985]

OK let's see. MS is open 8 hours on weekends. If I actually called 36 times . . . do the math. Honestly, lighten up. Especially if it's me. I actually thought people would get the joke!!!

Janis