Waitlisting a split stay - How does it work?

[twinklebug]

Still new to wait lists & appreciate insight from more experienced folk... Right now I have 7 days booked all in one resort, one room for next Feb.

I love our room, however I'd prefer to try another category room which is currently filled so I waitlisted for all 7 days. I realize now this was a mistake as I need someone else to drop all 7 days for my waitlist to be filled.

I called MS and asked if I could split the waitlist into 2: first 4 nights / last 3 nights (I really don't mind switching resorts once in a week, but twice would be too much). MS person told me I could not do that, but I could keep my original 7 day waitlist and add a second waitlist for part of the stay - I chose the last 3 days.

Now I'm wondering - first, why couldn't I cancel the first 7 day list and add 2 smaller ones instead, was it because I'm at the top of the list (I wait listed at 11 months minus one day) and she didn't want me to loose that? Second - what happens to the reservation I have right now if my partial waitlist comes through... they'll keep my first 4 days I hope... hey... just checking

Thanks!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It doesn't sound like you're really referring to a split stay which is a plan to move either between room types or resorts. Your goal is to be in the same resort and same room type but it's a different room type than what you have booked, correct?

It falls back to the policy change of not allowing day by day waitlists which was meant to accomplish the same thing that you wanted to do with a 4/3 split waitlist. It's all or nothing now.

What the CM suggested for your 3 day waitlist falls within the new rules b/c your going to have to do a move if it comes thru. And yes - they should keep your first 4 days if the CM set it up correctly.

Now...what you can do if your 3 day waitlist comes thru is add a waitlist for the first 4 days and still keep the original 7 day waitlist as long as it wasn't set up to cancel if your 3 day fills. AFAIK that's the only way you can end up with your 4/3 and possibly a better chance of the waitlist filling. Of course you have to be willing to do the move if the second waitlist doesn't come thru.

 

[bookwormde]

I think the answer you got was in the way you asked. While MS can do some modifications to a waitlist without “loosing your place in line” splitting is not one of those. If you had asked to cancel you current waitlist and make 2 new ones I am sure MS could have accommodated you. MS was actually being very helpful by their suggestion since at least you would be nearer the top of the list for your older waitlist and you would still have the second shorter waitlist.

Bookwormde

 

[twinklebug]

Thank you Kathy - excellent explanation. Most of our trips to date have been split stays so we're accustomed to moving day - and in this case, if the smaller waitlist came through, we'd go from a beautiful room the first 4 days over to a whole new experience, which hopefully we'd love, for the last 3.

Thanks Bookwormde - I was unaware that I could even modify a wait list. I thought changes such as dropping a day would have required a whole new one. The MS woman was very helpful and seemed to know exactly what she was doing which is why I didn't question her. I only started to question it this morning as I worried about our 7 day trip inadvertently being dropped down to a 3 day trip.

I'm reassured now. MS has some smart cookies out there!

Thanks!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

....If you had asked to cancel you current waitlist and make 2 new ones I am sure MS could have accommodated you....
Bookwormde

Actually - this isn't how I understand the new waitlists to work. My understanding is that MS won't set up contiguous waitlists for the same resort and room type. Now they might be able to modify and shorten one without losing your spot, that I didn't know, but you couldn't then add another waitlist for the same room for adjacent days. All it takes is one day to break it up - for example, you could waitlist 3 days, have the 4th booked in the room you want, and then waitlist another 3 days, but you couldn't do the 4/3 scenario unless you happened to already have a 4/3 split going on.

Maybe we're saying the same thing - but it sounds like you think MS could have done the 4/3.

 

[bookwormde]

Yes I have I have done it twice since the new rules started. I have one active “set” right now. I just booked the underlying reservations that the 2 waitlists were replacing as 2 separate reservations. If it is a problem with a single reservation then the gap day stratagy would be the best alternate.

I have done "call in" on day portions of a waitlist and MS removed that day from my waitlist, I am not sure if they will do it as a general policy.

As for loosing all of your old reservation it is just important that what you want is noted on the waitlist (like relplace 3 days only from my current reservation, though this is the default proceedure)

bookwormde