Waitlisting

[RDP]

Never waitlisted before. When inventory becomes available is it automatically assigned to waitlist requests in order of longest wait or does it require manual intervention by a “human” in member services to assign it?

 

[Sandisw]

From what most understand, the computer matches the wait list--how often, no one seems to know for sure, but thought is once per day--and once that is done, the room is held until someone manually changes it.

Waitlists are an exact match so if someone has been waiting for a room longer than someone else, but doesn't need as many days, it would go to them.

For example, if you want 5 nights and someone waiting only needs 3, and 3 become available, they will skip you to fill the 3 night wait list. They won't hold those 3 nights for you while they wait for the other 2 since that might never happen.

With online booking, I think that rooms can get scooped up before filling wait lists because no members have access to inventory.

I have had very good luck with my wait lists, but most have been only 1 - 3 nights. I also, even when I have a wait list, stalk the website and have ended up getting what I want this way too.

 

[RDP]

From what most understand, the computer matches the wait list--how often, no one seems to know for sure, but thought is once per day--and once that is done, the room is held until someone manually changes it.

Waitlists are an exact match so if someone has been waiting for a room longer than someone else, but doesn't need as many days, it would go to them.

For example, if you want 5 nights and someone waiting only needs 3, and 3 become available, they will skip you to fill the 3 night wait list. They won't hold those 3 nights for you while they wait for the other 2 since that might never happen.

With online booking, I think that rooms can get scooped up before filling wait lists because no members have access to inventory.

I have had very good luck with my wait lists, but most have been only 1 - 3 nights. I also, even when I have a wait list, stalk the website and have ended up getting what I want this way too.

Many thanks, I only need 1 night but its at the VGF in August I will stalk the availability as suggested whilst I wait to see if the waitlist comes through.

 

[dgagnon519]

I am like the OP. I stalk the website. In my experience and from 1 CM. It runs at night. I have had a waitlist, but when stalking saw it was available and waitlist had not picked up yet. I was nervous someone would go on and book it, so I processed myself and cancelled my waitlist. I actually got VWL and VGF for my next trip doing this.

 

[luckyman_apd]

1 night waitlists are ideal....as they would get filled vs 2 nights if only that 1 night becomes available. If you need 2 nights.....you are allowed up to 2 waitlists so it's better to do 2 separate waitlists of 1 night each. That way if either night opens up, you will get that night filled.

I have had in the past at wailtist for 1 night and have gone online to check inventory only to see that room open......so I grabbed it and booked and then cancelled the waitlist. In theory....that room should have never been open, it should have filled my waitlist request.....but since no one knows for sure how it's done....maybe it became available minutes after the computer search...who knows. I fill out a waitlist when needed, but also keep checking the site to be sure. Depends how far in advance I need it. 4-6 months......once a day. Within 2-3 months....I check a few times a day.

 

[Minnie824]

Our waitlist just came through for 1 night at BCV in June. From the 7 month point, one random Thursday night was not available. Why would just a Thursday night be unavailable? I was looking for the 2 bedroom - 2 queen bed which is difficult anyway. I booked a 1 bedroom (all that was available) for that Thurs night, and last week my waitlist for the 2 bedroom came through. I had been checking almost daily though, and that Thurs never appeared available so who knows.

 

[DebbieB]

Stalk the website. I had a waitlist for BWV about 2 months ahead for November 2013, 5 nights. My dates changed due to a work conflict. I was able to get nights 3, 4, 5 not long after, so I booked it and changed the waitlist to nights 1 & 2. Then night 2 became available, so I booked it and then changed to waitlist to just night 1. Night 1 did come through on the waitlist about 28 days out. Member Services automatically combined them into 1 reservation.

 

[nalajms]

I think they've improved the back end programming for waitlists. In the last 8 months, I've canceled 4 separate reservations for VGF Studio. I've canceled at different times during the day, some before 7m and some after. For all 4, the dates were unavailable before I canceled. I checked immediately after canceling and they never show up.

I personally think they held my canceled room until the next business day when someone can review it and match it.

 

[RDP]

Update - DVC just confirmed our waitlist for a 6th night at VGF (Standard view studio) we know have the full 6 nights we need! Thanks for the tips! We are super pleased!