What is wait listed?

[tc]

I tried to get ressies at BWV for Aug 25-30, but there was nothing available then. We just purchased our points, and have never done this before. I've heard the term waitlisted before, but I don't know what that is. I asked for ressies online, and they said there was nothing available, but nothing was mentioned about waitlisting. How do I do this, and what is the chance that I will get this ressie so close to the date? Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Wait listing means that you get on the list and wait for someone else to cancel their reservation.

There are 2 ways to wait list - you can wait for the entire time period that you want to become available, or you can wait list day by day. The risk with waiting for everything to become available is that it might not. The risk with day by day is that you may end up with a few days that you still cannot get a reservation for.

If you want to wait list, I'd suggest calling or sending them email and telling them that you want to wait list (and whether you want to wait day-by-day or for the entire period). Sometimes a wiatlist may be closed - this will happen if member services already have a lot of people on the list.

Have you considered other resort options such as Old Key West? While OKW and BWV are very different, it still might be an option.

Also, did you ask about other accomodations. For example, at BWV the standard view rooms always book first. If you asked about a studio, would a 1 bedroom work (or vice-versa)?

 

[tc]

Thanks FF mickey, you always seem to answer my questions first. Maybe I should just email you directly with me questions . I only have a small amount of points left, so I really can't afford more than a studio at BWV. We stayed at OKW, and (please, no one flame me), but we really didn't like it. Far to removed for our tastes. So, maybe I'll just see if there is availability later. We need to have our trip ended before September 15, because that is when our APs expire, I just really wanted to go on my B-day which is 8/25. I guess wait listing won't work for me because I'd hate to get plane ressies and find out I have no where to stay.

 

[Firefighter Mickey]

Another suggestion...

Call MS, don't email them. This way you can discuss various options.

For example, it may be that some of the days you wanted were available, and the wait list isn't long for the missing days (which reduces the risk). Then make a reservation and come up with a backup plan in case the waitlist doesn't come thru.

Find out about availablility at BCV - who knows, you might get lucky. How about VWL?

It's hard to say whether September would work better or not, but it's worth a try. Lower point seasons have a tendency to be popular with DVC members - but, you might not be competing with as many families since most kids will be back in school.

Is the Disney Collection an option? Granted, the rooms are more expensive point-wise than a studio at BWV, but in a pinch maybe they could fill in any holes.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: another option for waitlisting is the "automatic". if you are just plain waitlisted, they will call you if they have availability and give you about 24 hours to respond. if you are "automatically" waitlisted, they will just make a new ressie if your dates become available. i missed out once because i couldn't respond during the time frame available when they called for the waitlist. since then we've always told them to automatically approve the new ressie if the waitlist comes through. the waitlist has worked for us a little over half the time. good luck!