Whittling away at a reservation....

[hkeller27]

We are planning a trip to WDW 1/6/11 to 1/12/11. Last minute, and past the 11 month mark, we decided to stay at BLT (our home resort). Of course, our room choice wasn't available. I waitlisted the stay, but have been calling to see if anything has opened. So far, I have 3 separate reservations: 1/6-1/8, 1/8-1/9, and 1/11-1/12. I only need the nights of the 9th and 10th, and I am remaining optimistic that I will get those last two nights, hopefully sooner than later!

Here are my two silly questions:
1. If I eventually get all my nights, will they be merged into one reservation or will I have all those separate numbers to contend with?
2. I will be in the same room for all nights, right?

I know this is the price we pay for making the decision post-booking date, and we are ok with having to switch resorts if we can't get everything at BLT.

Has anyone had luck with whittling away like this, more than just waiting for the waitlist?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I assume the reservations you have gotten are all for the same room type and view. If so, then the individual reservations can be linked together with a call to MS so that you don't have to be checking in and out or changing rooms. You will have all the separate numbers but really, unless there's a problem I've never referenced a single number.

One thing when you check in is to double check the date they have you checking out. Sometimes with the linked reservations (actually, almost always for us) they don't always seem to "see" the link and have had us checking out at the end of the first reservation. Just tell them you're final check out date and ask them to look again. I've never had a problem after that.

Good luck on getting those last two nights!

 

[hkeller27]

Thanks, good to know. Yes, everything we have so far is the same category/view. Hoping to get the same for those last two nights. I absolutely do not want to be changing rooms, with two little ones, it doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun!

 

[Crystal_27]

With the fact that BLT is still declaring inventory, your chances of getting your waitlist are pretty good. But, it certainly doesn't hurt to continue to call MS every week or so to see if anyone cancels their reservation before MS has a chance to check waitlists. Once the waitlist does come through, just link the reservations up and you'll be set.

 

[LJERRY]

Wait, I'm confused. So, you made your original reservation and waitlisted some of the dates that you wanted. Then you called back and checked, and some of the dates that you wanted were available? Then why did you have to waitlist them? What I mean is that if they were unavailable when you made your reservation, and then became available, why didn't they go to you, or whomever was ahead of you on the waitlist, instead of going into the system and being available for booking?
Sorry if I haven't explained my question well, I am on a waitlist myself and wondering if I should call and check the dates again!
Thanks!

 

[wdwfan1]

Wait, I'm confused. So, you made your original reservation and waitlisted some of the dates that you wanted. Then you called back and checked, and some of the dates that you wanted were available? Then why did you have to waitlist them? What I mean is that if they were unavailable when you made your reservation, and then became available, why didn't they go to you, or whomever was ahead of you on the waitlist, instead of going into the system and being available for booking?
Sorry if I haven't explained my question well, I am on a waitlist myself and wondering if I should call and check the dates again!
Thanks!

I think he meant he was calling to see if the waitlist came through.

 

[Sandisw]

Wait, I'm confused. So, you made your original reservation and waitlisted some of the dates that you wanted. Then you called back and checked, and some of the dates that you wanted were available? Then why did you have to waitlist them? What I mean is that if they were unavailable when you made your reservation, and then became available, why didn't they go to you, or whomever was ahead of you on the waitlist, instead of going into the system and being available for booking?
Sorry if I haven't explained my question well, I am on a waitlist myself and wondering if I should call and check the dates again!
Thanks!

When you wait list, many times you have to do it for the entire time frame. You can not wait list night by night.

It sounds like the OP called back and was able to pick up some of the nights. If her wait list is for the entire time, it won't be filled until all the nights are available. Since she is still missing dates in the middle, there is no way for them to have filled her wait list yet.

A lot of times, this is the way to get your wish without hoping a wait list fills. Of course, the drawback is that you have to be willing to do a split stay since there is always a chance that some of the nights won't ever come through.

I think that since BLT is still in active sales, there is a good chance.

 

[hkeller27]

When you wait list, many times you have to do it for the entire time frame. You can not wait list night by night.

It sounds like the OP called back and was able to pick up some of the nights. If her wait list is for the entire time, it won't be filled until all the nights are available. Since she is still missing dates in the middle, there is no way for them to have filled her wait list yet.

A lot of times, this is the way to get your wish without hoping a wait list fills. Of course, the drawback is that you have to be willing to do a split stay since there is always a chance that some of the nights won't ever come through.

I think that since BLT is still in active sales, there is a good chance.

Yes, that's about right. Of the 6 nights I requested, on my first call only nights 1, 2, and 6 were available, so I grabbed them and waitlisted for nights 3, 4, and 5. On my second call to check, night 3 became available - but obviously my waitlist wasn't fulfilled. I booked night 3, and changed my waitlist to nights 4 and 5. The CM agreed, the smaller the waitlist, the better the chances. She was very kind and actually encouraged me calling back to check frequently.

I am hopeful that since they are declaring more inventory to DVC, we'll up our chances of filling those last two nights and we'll be good to go. Worst case, we change resorts or do a split stay. Hey, if that is my biggest problem in life, so be it!!!!