Waitlisting - I don't really understand it...

[rusafee1183]

I know I am going to sound really stupid, but I would rather sound like an idiot briefly and FINALLY understand waitlisting (maybe)

We have 120 points per year

Let's say I want to stay at VWL for a week, and only the 3 days in the middle of the week are available, so I waitlist the whole week. In the meantime, I book a backup room somewhere else.

Do I need to have ALL of the points available for both of those rooms at once? I know you can authorize them to borrow if need be for a waitlist to come through, but if I have used 80 of my 120 points on that first room - are they going to borrow points to make the 2nd reservation just for me to cancel the original ressie and then be stuck with the extra points and be unable to bank into the following year?

Does this even make sense? I am just confusing myself at this point

We are newer members, and have already made a few mistakes by borrowing and then having to cancel trips and then having to rent points out because we weren't going to be able to make it back in that use year. I don't want to keep making mistakes and losing out on using my own points

 

[cseca]

When you waitlist you will be given the option to:
1. Borrow or Not. And from which contracts (if you have multiples)
2. Cancel any reservations you have or keep all the reservations you have.

So basically you won't be stuck with a second reservation for the same time period as long as you specify your request correctly.

Now... all that said, when you get pixie dusted and your wl go through. Check your points to make sure everything is proper.
I've had instances when MS borrowed points when they're not supposed to or borrowing/using points from the wrong contracts.
Actual person fills the waitlist request so mistakes do happen.

Good luck on your waitlist.

 

[CarolMN]

Just confirming what cseca posted.

If you set up the waitlist online, be very sure you exactly specify which reservation you want cancelled when the waitlist comes through. If you do it via MS, before you hang up, make the CM repeat what you will cancel if the waitlist works. Do not give permission to borrow unless you need those points to make the reservation after reusing the points from the reservation you cancel.

Good luck!

 

[paults]

I know I am going to sound really stupid, but I would rather sound like an idiot briefly and FINALLY understand waitlisting (maybe)

We have 120 points per year

Let's say I want to stay at VWL for a week, and only the 3 days in the middle of the week are available, so I waitlist the whole week. In the meantime, I book a backup room somewhere else. Do I need to have ALL of the points available for both of those rooms at once? I know you can authorize them to borrow if need be for a waitlist to come through, but if I have used 80 of my 120 points on that first room - are they going to borrow points to make the 2nd reservation just for me to cancel the original ressie and then be stuck with the extra points and be unable to bank into the following year?

Does this even make sense? I am just confusing myself at this point

We are newer members, and have already made a few mistakes by borrowing and then having to cancel trips and then having to rent points out because we weren't going to be able to make it back in that use year. I don't want to keep making mistakes and losing out on using my own points

You don't need to WL the whole week, if you have 3 nts already in the middle just use your to waitlists on both ends. WL 1 for the 2 nts before and WL # 2 for the 2 nts after. Better chance of getting 2 nts than all 7.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If only the three middle nights are available, is that when you are 11 months out or seven months out (non-home resort)? Then you have to waitlist the entire week because your first night is not available. But if you are past the 11/7 booking start, you could book the available nights and waitlist the missing nights. But you are limited to two waitlists at a time. So one waitlist would be for the first night and the second would be for the end nights.

 

[TNDisDad]

You don't need to WL the whole week, if you have 3 nts already in the middle just use your to waitlists on both ends. WL 1 for the 2 nts before and WL # 2 for the 2 nts after. Better chance of getting 2 nts than all 7.

Is it better to do this or book all the nights at a resort that has availability? Would this result in multiple bookings for the same week or will Member Services combine it into one reservation?

 

[Sandisw]

Is it better to do this or book all the nights at a resort that has availability? Would this result in multiple bookings for the same week or will Member Services combine it into one reservation?

It depends on whether you would be okay with a split stay if the wait list never fills. It is definitely easier to have a few nights fill than an entires week, but if you are waiting for nights on both ends, it could end up requiring a move.

 

[rusafee1183]

Thanks for the info everyone! I don't have a specific week that we have booked, I was just trying to understand for the future.

So, I guess 2 seperate waitlists in this scenario would be best as you are more likely to have 1 or 2 days open up rather than 7. That does make sense.

I thought I did enough research before we bought in and I understood everything, but this is definitely the stuff that you need to work through before you truly 'get it'

I guess that's at least the way I am!

Thanks again!