Waitlisting

[cruise-o-matic]

We have 3 trips planned to WDW by the end of '06. Since HH is our home, we cannot boook WDW until 7 months out.

If we have to waitlist, would I need to do it for each day or for the length of the stay? I just don't want to get in a situation where the waitlist comes through for only part of the stay and wind up switching resorts.

Opinions and Professional Advice appreciated.

 

[StormalongKay]

What months are you planning to visit WDW? As I'm sure you're aware from reading these boards, certain months are high demand for DVC (i.e. early Dec) and would warrant booking day by day if you can get them.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Yes, Dec 10-13 (three nights in studio or 1BR) and June 25-30 (five nights in a 2BR).

For the Dec trip, I plan to book day-by-day. I think we'd be able to get OKW or SSR, but it would be nice to get in BCV/BWV/VWL. I'm sure those would be waitlisted. So what should waitlist strategy should I use?

 

[tjkraz]

The only way to GUARANTEE that you will get all of the days is to waitlist for the entire trip. But note that it would also have the lowest overall chance for success. All of the days need to come open simultaneously in order for your request to be satisfied. For example, if Dec 10 and 11 open up but not the 12th, the 10th and 11th could go to another member. They will not hold the two days for you waiting for the third to open up.

If you waitlist day-by-day, you'll get each day as they open up. Same example above, you'd be immediately booked for the 10th and 11th, and just left waiting for the 12th.

IMO, that far out, just waitlist day-by-day. Over the 7 month waitlist period, I think there's little doubt that SOMEONE (probably many "someones") will cancel a trip or change their dates to give you the dates you need.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Thanks.

But that leads me to other questions:

Has anyone ever waitlisted "day-by-day" and not received all their days and had to change resorts? Or worse yet, only get the middle days and have to change twice?

If you haven't been able to get all your waitlist days, have you had luck getting your orignal reservation back intact?

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Thanks.

But that leads me to other questions:

Has anyone ever waitlisted "day-by-day" and not received all their days and had to change resorts? Or worse yet, only get the middle days and have to change twice?

If you haven't been able to get all your waitlist days, have you had luck getting your orignal reservation back intact?

Just bumping to see if anyone has had a scenerio above.....

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I am seven months out from my WDW trip and trying to put together a trip (not at my home resort).

I was advised by guest services to proceed as follows:

Call on your first booking day and ask about current availability for your entire trip. If availability is good, book your first day and then call back in four days or so for your next block of days. Ask again about availability. As long as availibility looks good, call & book every few days. As soon as you are advised that availability is poor, start calling every day.

This upcoming trip will be my third since joining DVC. My previous trips were both at the Boardwalk in September/October. (VWL is home resort). On both ocassions I was able to book almost all of my trip with only a waitlisted days scattered throughout. All the waitlisted days came through.

Andrew

 

[quentina]

I've owned HH for the past 6 years...I have only had to waitlist once and that was because we had to cancel and change on short notice. The 7 month window has always been available for me....2 years ago, I got a 2 bedroom at the VWL for Christmas. Since this is the place to stay, I was surprised it was available. I would not sweat it, you should be fine.

Kim

 

[Laurabearz]

I would waitlist day by day for your number one choice.... As tjkraz said, your best bet it to waitlist day by day and being 7 months out, you have a much better chance getting your whole ressie.

OR You can waitlist for your top three for the whole week. Book where ever you can at 7 months to be sure you have a reservation, then waitlist the whole week.

I booked a trip 37 days out and was only able to book OKW at that time. I waitlisted for BCV, BWV, and VWL for the whole week, and VWL came thru 2 weeks out. This was for a Late September Trip.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

I would waitlist day by day for your number one choice.... As tjkraz said, your best bet it to waitlist day by day and being 7 months out, you have a much better chance getting your whole ressie.

OR You can waitlist for your top three for the whole week. Book where ever you can at 7 months to be sure you have a reservation, then waitlist the whole week.

I booked a trip 37 days out and was only able to book OKW at that time. I waitlisted for BCV, BWV, and VWL for the whole week, and VWL came thru 2 weeks out. This was for a Late September Trip.

I didn't realize one could do this. So if I book OKW for Dec, I could waitlist VWL, BCV and BWV for the entire 3 nights in that order? If BWV opens up 1st, am I still waitlisted for my #2 and #1 choices?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

So if I book OKW for Dec, I could waitlist VWL, BCV and BWV for the entire 3 nights in that order? If BWV opens up 1st, am I still waitlisted for my #2 and #1 choices?

If you tell MS that you still want to waitlist for other resorts you will be able to.

HBC

 

[GCM13]

I think you will still be waitlisted for your other choices unless you tell them to take you off the waitlist. We just got on 5 different waitlists (all different scenarios) for BWV preferred, standard, and for BCV. They told me they would call so I could let them know if I still wanted it since I was concerned that if one came through later on, I still wanted the option to take that. Hope that made sense.

 

[tjkraz]

You can certainly waitlist for more than one resort at a time. But I would try to keep the instructions simple so that there aren't any mistakes.

When you go on the waitlist, request that they call you to confirm the change rather than booking automatically. When they call, you can explain that you wish to remain on the waitlist for other resorts, and they should be able to follow your instructions exactly over the phone without risk of you losing your place in line.

If you try to explain all of the priorities when you first get on the waitlist and schedule the automatic booking, I'd say there's a pretty high probability that something will be lost in translation. As soon as one of your requests comes through, I'd say there's a chance you'll end up deleted from the other waitlists if you don't have the opportunity to explain your wishes to a human being.

 

[Laurabearz]

I agree... I would go on all three waitlists with the request that they call you before booking.