What would you do?

[luckyman_apd]

So we have an upcoming trip in November, and one of our nights is waitlisted....The second to last night. As we are approaching the 7 month window, I can't book the day yet, but I can view the online availability of it due to being able to book a week starting 7 months from today.

On a five night stay at BLT, I have 4 of 5 nights booked. The 4 night is waitlisted. We decided if we can't get that 4th night at BLT, we will book the last 2 nights at VWL, and do a split stay....3 at BLT, and 2 at VWL.

Right now, it is showing the room we need at VWL available those last 2 nights, but I can't book them for another few days. My question is, should I just do the split stay and take the 2 nights at VWL? How likely is it that my waitlist will come through? With the 7 month window opening up, I would imagine that maybe there might be some BLT reservations looking to change, but you never know. The other problem I have is that I will need to borrow a few points for this trip. I have 40 points left so if the waitlist comes through, I need to borrow 10 points. If I do the split stay, I will not have to borrow. I don't care about using borrowed points, but what I can't do is keep the last night at BLT while reserving the VWL for the last 2 nights. I will need to cancel the last BLT night first.

Our preference is to stay all 5 nights at BLT. My wife is OK with the last 2 at VWL but will not be thrilled if we end up at SSR or OKW (nothing wrong with them, but she was looking for proximity to MK for this trip).

I'm thinking of just taking the 2 nights at VWL (personally I've been really excited to check it out) and the going back and wait listing the 2 nights at BLT. I know that the chances are lower with a wait list more than 1 night (even though one of the nights are open) but I'd be really upset if the VWL availabilty disappeared because I was waiting on BLT.

 

[DvcDoc]

FWIW, I like your idea of taking the 2 nights at VWL and then wait listing for BLT. That way you know you have a reservation with close proximity to the MK and the possibility of picking up the BLT as things settle out.
Good luck!

 

[MouseMomx2]

If it were me I would book the last two nights at the VWL and then wait list them at BLT. That way you know your entire vacation is covered but you still have a chance of staying at BLT the entire time.

 

[Sandisw]

I would also have the nights changed to VWL and then put in a wait list for those two nights.

It prevents you from moving more than once and still gives you 7 months for those two months to come through.

Good luck!

 

[Tamar]

I agree, unless you would be happy spending all 5 nights at VWL. If you don't have to move, I'd call that a plus.

 

[bbluvsdis]

I would book VWL and waitlist BLT. We were in the same situation last week. We had a stay booked at BCV and wanted to add 5 nights at BLT. When the day came to book the first night was not available so I added another night at BCV and waitlisted it at BLT. The next day I booked 4 nights at BLT. I got my waitlisted night that day when other people moved resorts. Give it a try, chances are you will get it.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I agree, unless you would be happy spending all 5 nights at VWL. If you don't have to move, I'd call that a plus.

I wouldn't mind all 5 nights at VWL, but my wife would. I won't be there the first night. She is flying with both kids and my mother and stepfather. I won't be able to fly in till the next evening because of work. So the monorail is a MUST for her with the kids without me. (that's what she says anyway). Also we won't be headed to WDW in our 2013 UY at all, so if we did VWL we'll have a few left over points we won't be able to use. Even if I take the 2 nights at VWL I will actually be left with 2 points from 2012. I'll probably transfer them to someone else for free if they don't mind using up their transfer, unless the waitlist at BLT goes through, then I'll end up borrowing 10 points

 

[CarolMN]

Keep the BLT reservations and waitlist as is right now. When your 7 month window opens, book the last two nights at the VWL.

Don't cancel the BLT 1 night waitlist and 5th night at BLT until 31 days prior to arrival at VWL - the last day you can cancel VWL without having points go into holding. If the BLT waitlist didn't come through by then, then cancel the 5th night and the waitlist at BLT. At that point, you'll be doing the split stay - 1st 3 nights at BLT and the last 2 at VWL.

I know this will take some extra points (= to the 5th night at BLT), but I think it is the best chance to end up with a 5 night BLT stay without risking moving twice.

If you have to borrow points for this strategy, remember to ask MS to use all of those and reallocate as necessary on the "final reservation" so that any unused points are current year and can be banked. (I assumed that you will still be within the banking window at the time you have to finalize everything).

Good luck!

 

[luckyman_apd]

Keep the BLT reservations and waitlist as is right now. When your 7 month window opens, book the last two nights at the VWL.

Don't cancel the BLT 1 night waitlist and 5th night at BLT until 31 days prior to arrival at VWL - the last day you can cancel VWL without having points go into holding. If the BLT waitlist didn't come through by then, then cancel the 5th night and the waitlist at BLT. At that point, you'll be doing the split stay - 1st 3 nights at BLT and the last 2 at VWL.

I know this will take some extra points (= to the 5th night at BLT), but I think it is the best chance to end up with a 5 night BLT stay without risking moving twice.

If you have to borrow points for this strategy, remember to ask MS to use all of those and reallocate as necessary on the "final reservation" so that any unused points are current year and can be banked. (I assumed that you will still be within the banking window at the time you have to finalize everything).

Good luck!

That would be what I would do if it weren't for borrowing the points. If I borrow, and then use them first, I will still have 2012 points that will be banked to 2013. I would have to use them before June 2014, and our next planned trip after this won't be until July 2014. So that won't really help me. I will end up losing points. We are banking ALL 2013 points to use in 2014. I only have 125 point contract, so to do the week to 8 days I want in 2014, we need to bank 2013. Plus, we are doing DLR in California in June, and WDW in Nov, my wallet will need the 2013 break

 

[maburke]

With 3 categories at BLT, wait listing can be a pain. I assume that you're in a 2BR , and there's nothing available in any category? Be sure you wait list for Lake view and one other view -- I assume your wife would prefer moving within BLT to moving to VWL.

 

[DVCMikey]

From what I have done and heard, waitlists always come through. I would stick with it.

 

[MouseMomx2]

From what I have done and heard, waitlists always come through. I would stick with it.

You have been misinformed. Wait lists do not always come through. I would estimate they have a 50/50 success rate, at best. (A lot depends on the resort and time of year.) We have been members since '97 and that has been our experience. If you have gotten every wait list you have tried for you should consider yourself very lucky.

 

[luckyman_apd]

You have been misinformed. Wait lists do not always come through. I would estimate they have a 50/50 success rate, at best. (A lot depends on the resort and time of year.) We have been members since '97 and that has been our experience. If you have gotten every wait list you have tried for you should consider yourself very lucky.

Good News is tomorrow I can book the VWL for the two nights. They are still showing availability online, so I will be up first thing in the morning to book it, and then submit my wait list. In the end, we are fine with VWL. Obviously a split stay is not ideal, but it's not too bad either.

What time can they usually check you into the second room when doing a split stay? Nap time for my son is my only concern.

 

[Magic3forme]

I would waitlist BLT and book VWL.

I have been on the waitlist 3 times for BLT ( we own there too.) and have yet to have a waitlist come through.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I would waitlist BLT and book VWL.

I have been on the waitlist 3 times for BLT ( we own there too.) and have yet to have a waitlist come through.

Having difficulty canceling the Saturday night online. I can't figure out how to cancel an existing reservation. I hope I don't have to wait till 9 to call.

 

[maburke]

Sorry I didn't see this until after 9. You have to go to "Vacation Center" to see your existing reservation and cancel it.

Let us know what happened!

 

[luckyman_apd]

Sorry I didn't see this until after 9. You have to go to "Vacation Center" to see your existing reservation and cancel it.

Let us know what happened!

Thanks. I googled it. Google is amazing. I found out how, and can't believe I missed seeing it myself!

 

[maburke]

I don't think it's obvious. I had the same problem myself last week. That's also where you can see and cancel waitlists, which I think is GREAT -- I used to live in fear that a waitlist that I forgot to cancel would come through and mess up all my plans.

So what did you get?

 

[DVCMikey]

You have been misinformed. Wait lists do not always come through. I would estimate they have a 50/50 success rate, at best. (A lot depends on the resort and time of year.) We have been members since '97 and that has been our experience. If you have gotten every wait list you have tried for you should consider yourself very lucky.

well i guess we have bene lucky. We have gotten every one. and we have friends too who always get the wait list.

 

[di19]

Just another hint - with all the different room categories at BLT you will have to choose one to waitlist - I just went through something similar with the Boardwalk - I waitlisted for a boardwalk view and low and behold as I checked daily (which is so easy to do now with the online reservation system) there was a standard view that opened up. It still may mean changing rooms but it doesn't seem as bad if it's in the same resort. I actually started with reservations that required us to switch resorts 3 times ( my husband would have divorced me if that situation remained) and in 3 weeks time I now have 6 nts. at the BW in a standard view room and the last night waitlisted but booked at AKV. It is my goal to keep piecemealing my reservations until I have 7 nts. at BWV with a boardwalk view. Wish me luck - still 2 months to go! Good luck with your reservations also