Wishlist, not Waitlist ?

[jagson]

Is there any way to assure, or, at least, increase your chances of getting your wishlist (WL), ie requesting it right at the 11 month window, time of year reserved, length of stay, binding reservation? Is there anyway to get it guaranteed/verified at the time you make your request? Maybe spend extra points to get your WL; maybe waitlist your WL? Just some way to know, before you get there, if your WL came through; so possibly you could keep, or cancel your reservation should your WL come through, or not. Obviously, you'd have to make stipulations to prevent abuse of the guarantee, ie prohibit Members from getting the guarantee (or they could get the guarantee, then later go advertise it for rent), make it binding (use it or lose it, no cancellation), etc. I think a system like that would work is DVC's, and Members' favor. Members would reserve earlier to get the WL, would be held to a binding reservation, free up the phone calls to MS, and waitlists. It would give Members a privilege over renters. It would promote early reservations, and give Members the option to reserve, or not, depending on whether or not their reservation was guaranteed.

 

[DebbieB]

Is there any way to assure, or, at least, increase your chances of getting your wishlist (WL), ie requesting it right at the 11 month window, time of year reserved, length of stay, binding reservation? Is there anyway to get it guaranteed/verified at the time you make your request? Maybe spend extra points to get your WL; maybe waitlist your WL? Just some way to know, before you get there, if your WL came through; so possibly you could keep, or cancel your reservation should your WL come through, or not. Obviously, you'd have to make stipulations to prevent abuse of the guarantee, ie prohibit Members from getting the guarantee (or they could get the guarantee, then later go advertise it for rent), make it binding (use it or lose it, no cancellation), etc. I think a system like that would work is DVC's, and Members' favor. Members would reserve earlier to get the WL, would be held to a binding reservation, free up the phone calls to MS, and waitlists. It would give Members a privilege over renters. It would promote early reservations, and give Members the option to reserve, or not, depending on whether or not their reservation was guaranteed.

Since someone has to cancel to open up the room, there is no way they can guarantee it. The earlier you get on it, the better chance you have. The less nights you are requesting, the better chance you have because all the nights in your request have to open for it to be filled. It used to be you could waitlist on a day by day basis, that way if one night came open it would be filled.

From what people have posted, it seems the waitlist process has issues. It is run at select times and with the new online system, people are seeing the nights they want and reserving them before the waitlist is run. Or calling member services.

 

[jagson]

Just thought it would be more flexible if you could be guaranteed a WL, a binding reservation to get the WL; rather than be disappointed when you get there, that you get the worst room on property. Once you accept the reservation, you are bound to it, or you lose the points. There's no cancellation, changes in the reservation, points' holding, etc. I know its restrictive, but its guaranteed. You decide if you want the reservation when you call to make it. I have been disappointed before with the room I was given, and would be willing to agree to a binding reservation if the WL was guaranteed. What's wrong with that train of thought? It's straight and simple, only for those that know what they want, and willing to accept the terms, no ifs, ands, or buts--no exceptions, o/t loss of points/membership suspension, etc. Restricted to only one reservation, only if the points are available at the time of reservation. It's for the simpleminded Member, who is tired of all the "mice-type", 60 page TOA.

 

[dzorn]

There is no way to guarantee it is the problem. Once a room is booked for a stay someone else cannot reserve it so how do you expect them to guarantee you the room if it is already booked?

Someone would have to cancel for you to get your WL. If the room was already available then you would just make your reservations.

Denise in MI

 

[DebbieB]

Just thought it would be more flexible if you could be guaranteed a WL, a binding reservation to get the WL; rather than be disappointed when you get there, that you get the worst room on property. Once you accept the reservation, you are bound to it, or you lose the points. There's no cancellation, changes in the reservation, points' holding, etc. I know its restrictive, but its guaranteed. You decide if you want the reservation when you call to make it. I have been disappointed before with the room I was given, and would be willing to agree to a binding reservation if the WL was guaranteed. What's wrong with that train of thought? It's straight and simple, only for those that know what they want, and willing to accept the terms, no ifs, ands, or buts--no exceptions, o/t loss of points/membership suspension, etc. Restricted to only one reservation, only if the points are available at the time of reservation. It's for the simpleminded Member, who is tired of all the "mice-type", 60 page TOA.

How can they guarantee it? If no one cancels the nights you want, you are not going to get your waitlist. Plus there might be 5 other members who want the same dates, they can't give everyone a priority.

I would not want those restrictions. Unexpected stuff happens. I didn't expect my mom to die and have to cancel the reservation I made at 11 months 2 months before the date.

 

[CarolMN]

I think the OP is really asking about guaranteeing room requests (or perhaps a specific room) rather than an actual reservation.

 

[jagson]

I didn't mean waitlist; just guaranteed wishlist when you call MS to request a reservation (not using the online reservation system, or waitlist). I understands there could, and will be unexpected, even tragic events that occur, but that is the risk you have to be willing to take to get the guaranteed reservation. Death of a loved one would not have an impact on my decision to lose a reservation; family takes precedence over a guaranteed reservation.

 

[DebbieB]

They have made moves to guarantee requests. For example, they make boardwalk view an actual category at BWV, they made near HH a category at OKW. BLT has 3 room categories. They are now showing lockoff vs dedicated for 2 bedrooms. The 2 bedroom/2 queen at BCV is a category. Trying to guarantee requests beyond that would be difficult to manage because it's not like a cruise ship where everyone comes and goes on the same date. You may request top floor and there may not be anyone checking out of a top floor that date.

 

[jagson]

They have made moves to guarantee requests.
Yes, you're right; I didn't think about that. Specifically, I have a THV reservation, and I made WL requests for it, when I made the reservation at the 11 month window. I would have done a guaranteed reservation, if available. DVC could have both reservations available, ie guaranteed WL, with its restrictions, or non-guaranteed without WL restrictions, though you could make WL requests. Or, as you pointed out, categorize THV, as well as other resorts' premium rooms.
This is my last post on this subject; thanks for the insight.