What/how would you do this, regarding booking a reservation?

[rsjj]

so I just learned about "walking a reservation"...but I'm still not quite sure what is the best way in trying to secure our family's trip...

Here is my situation: if want to go for couple days, but those days aren't for me to book just yet due to the 7 months window...so today (11/13), I can book from 6/13 (not available), but my intended stay would be 6/15 and 6/16 (both days available). Obviously, I can't book my trip. But 6/9-6/16, I can wait list...(6/9 available, 6/10-6/14 not available (and I don't even want those days anyways) and 6/15-6/16 available (days I really want)...

Ok...my question is...what or how would you go about booking the trip? We are pretty flexible in terms of the dates...b/c we are maybe 20 mins away. It's not like we need to deal w/flight reservations or anything.

In the past, we've just booked random dates that are available...but now that our DSs are in high school...their school schedules seem to dictate our mini family getaways...and I'd like to have more "control" of being able to pick our dates, vs just random dates simply b/c we are close by.

Any suggestions/ideas you may provide is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for reading through this and taking the time!

 

[CarolMN]

Walking won't help you since none of the nights prior to the nights you want are available.

Given what you've described, I'd try on 11/15 as soon as the window opens.

If not successful, waitlist your entire 2 night trip. Then try again on 11/16 to book 6/16. If available, book it, then cancel the 2 night waitlist and make a one night waitlist for 6/15. Then keep an eye on 6/15, especially during the next week or so. Sometimes those nights open up a few days after the window opens.

Since the waitlist would be short, I think you'd have a very good chance of it coming through for you. If you want to plan, you can always book something that is available and then set up the waitlist to cancel that reservation when the waitlist works.

Good luck!

 

[rsjj]

So I don't want to wait list the long 6/9-6/16, b/c my intended dates (6/15 & 6/16) are available? Just wait list the exact dates I need? I've never wait listed before...once my wait list goes through...does it turn into a regular reservation where I can make changes/cancel (w/all the change/cancellation policy in mind) if something comes up?

 

[CarolMN]

So I don't want to wait list the long 6/9-6/16, b/c my intended dates (6/15 & 6/16) are available? Just wait list the exact dates I need?

They won't hold the available dates for you while they wait for the unavailable dates to become open. And the waitlist won't come through unless all the nights become available at the same time. So there's no point in waitlisting for nights you don't want or need. You are better off just waitlisting for the 1 or 2 nights you actually want.

I've never wait listed before...once my wait list goes through...does it turn into a regular reservation where I can make changes/cancel (w/all the change/cancellation policy in mind) if something comes up?

Yes.

If you end up only waitlisting for one night and it comes through, you may have to contact MS to combine it with the night you were able to book, but that shouldn't be a problem. If you have to waitlist for both nights and it comes through, you're golden.

 

[rsjj]

Thank you so much, CarolMN!! Really appreciate you taking the time!

How exciting if I get to be golden!!

Thank you!

 

[disneynutz]

Book at 8:00 online, don't wait to call at 9:00.

Bill

 

[rsjj]

I am stalking at 8:00 am!!!

Which is 5 am pacific time...

 

[Dean]

so I just learned about "walking a reservation"...but I'm still not quite sure what is the best way in trying to secure our family's trip...

Here is my situation: if want to go for couple days, but those days aren't for me to book just yet due to the 7 months window...so today (11/13), I can book from 6/13 (not available), but my intended stay would be 6/15 and 6/16 (both days available). Obviously, I can't book my trip. But 6/9-6/16, I can wait list...(6/9 available, 6/10-6/14 not available (and I don't even want those days anyways) and 6/15-6/16 available (days I really want)...

Ok...my question is...what or how would you go about booking the trip? We are pretty flexible in terms of the dates...b/c we are maybe 20 mins away. It's not like we need to deal w/flight reservations or anything.

In the past, we've just booked random dates that are available...but now that our DSs are in high school...their school schedules seem to dictate our mini family getaways...and I'd like to have more "control" of being able to pick our dates, vs just random dates simply b/c we are close by.

Any suggestions/ideas you may provide is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for reading through this and taking the time!

I'd book at 8 am to include the dates you need. If you can get it tomorrow, just drop the additional day later. If you can't, try again for the 2 nights on Tuesday. If not available then immediately wait list it. Your odds of success would be extremely high. Personally I'd go back and wait list the first night additionally then if you get the one, wait list the second night leaving the 2 night waitlist in place in case it matches first. That assumes you wouldn't borrow points doing so which would complicate your options.

 

[CarolMN]

I'd book at 8 am to include the dates you need. If you can get it tomorrow, just drop the additional day later. If you can't, try again for the 2 nights on Tuesday. If not available then immediately wait list it. Your odds of success would be extremely high. Personally I'd go back and wait list the first night additionally then if you get the one, wait list the second night leaving the 2 night waitlist in place in case it matches first. That assumes you wouldn't borrow points doing so which would complicate your options.

She's looking for 2 specific nights at 7 months and the nights prior to the ones she wants are already booked up.

 

[Dean]

She's looking for 2 specific nights at 7 months and the nights prior to the ones she wants are already booked up.

Thanks, I misread as 1 day prior was available but not yet bookable.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks, I misread as 1 day prior was available but not yet bookable.

Yeah, if she could have booked that, it would have made it a lot easier for her to get what she wanted.