How to waitlist a DVC reservation-Tips for getting the villa you want.
If the resort accommodation is unavailable, DVC offers a waitlist process to help you secure the reservation you want. This is a valuable resource for members because a reservation may not be available at the time of booking but may open up before you need it. I have had good results using a waitlist, but it may take some time to be successful.
The steps are easy to follow and can be completed online or through Member Services. Members should make the request as soon as possible because they are fulfilled based on the order in which they were made. If you successfully get on a waitlist, you will be notified automatically. I would also recommend periodically calling Member Services to check on the status of your waitlist request. On two occasions, my successful waitlist reservation wasn't showing on my account, but Member Services confirmed it for me.
How To Wait List
When searching for a reservation online, you may find that all or part of the requested days are not available. If this happens, the reservation system will prompt you to submit a waitlist request.
A waitlist can be created for only one type of accommodation, including the resort, room type, and the view or location of the room. DVC allows members to have up to two waitlists per membership number per use year at any given time. If you have multiple memberships due to multiple use years, you can have a waitlist for each membership.
The waitlist process is described below.
Step 1 - If you make a reservation and the dates you want are unavailable, the message will say "waitlist only." This means that all the dates you requested are unavailable, and the only way to secure them is by submitting a waitlist request.
Step 2: Click on the waitlist only, and the DVC system will display the reservation days for which the waitlist is available and the number of points required. After confirming the days, click continue.
In Step 3, you will need to choose when you want the waitlist to expire. Your options are 31 days or seven days from when the reservation starts. It's important to note that there are penalties if you have to cancel a reservation within 30 days, as explained in detail in "Modifying/Canceling A Reservation" on page 256. If you cancel a reservation within 30 days of check-in, the points associated with the cancellation will be placed in a holding account and must be used within 60 days from check-in. DVC will immediately make the reservation if the requested accommodation through the waitlist becomes available. During this step, DVC will ask if you want the waitlist to be in effect for up to 7 days when canceling the reservation. If you choose this option and end up needing to cancel the booking, the points will be put on "holding" and their use will be restricted.
Step 4: If you have an existing reservation, DVC member services would like to know if you would like to replace your existing reservation with a waitlisted one or make a new reservation if your waitlist request becomes available. For example, if you have a booking for Thanksgiving week at Animal Kingdom Villa but have also waitlisted a reservation at Boardwalk for the same time period, DVC needs to know what you'd like to happen to the Animal Kingdom Villa reservation if the waitlisted days at Boardwalk become available.
Step 5: The point requirement for new bookings may be higher for some reservations. In this step, DVC needs to know the source of the points for the new reservation. If additional points are needed and you have multiple contracts, DVC requires members to specify which contract or combination will provide the necessary points.
Step 6: Confirm your choices, and you are all set, awaiting the waitlist to be processed.
Waitlist Rules
Each membership is limited to two active waitlists per use year. Once one of the waitlisted reservations is fulfilled, the member can start a waitlist for another reservation.
Waitlists must be for the entire length of the stay; "Night-By-Night" reservations are not allowed. A waitlist for consecutive nights cannot be split into individual nights.
A waitlist can only be made for a resort accommodation for which a member is eligible. Only home resort owners can create a waitlist for their home resort during the home resort priority period.
Successful Waitlist Strategy
Securing a room reservation may require some patience as it can take some time to get the specific room you want. In my experience, I have been mostly successful in getting the reservation I desired. The information provided on the next few pages can enhance your chances of securing your preferred reservation. It may take some effort, but here are a few key points to keep in mind.
• Create the waitlist as soon as possible. Waitlists are prioritized based on the date they are created, and the waitlist search will also have more opportunities to match up.
• If you have another waitlist available, use them to request other choices.
• Make sure you regularly look at the reservation you want. Sometimes, you may find a booking before the waitlist search has taken effect.
• Shorter waitlists have a better chance of being successful. If you can split the reservation into two date ranges on the front and then waitlist both, you may have a better chance over time than trying to waitlist the entire vacation.
• First, make the reservation at eleven months at your home resort. This guarantees a room for your stay. Then, make your waitlist(s) to the location(s) that you prefer. If the accommodation is not at your home resort, you won't be able to make the waitlist until you are eligible at the seven-month window.
• The best time to ensure you have a waitlist for a preferred location is when people make changes to their reservations. This usually happens around the seven-month window and can occur 30 days after a reservation, as members will make final decisions regarding their booking. Don't lose hope. Your reservation may come in at the last minute.
Successful Waitlist Strategy-Using Data-Availability
Data for predicting successful waitlisting does not exist outside of DVC databases; however, known vital factors such as availability and room inventory can help members make their reservation waitlist decisions.
First, look at the availability table below for Bay Lake Tower. Knowing availability can help you determine which accommodations are likely to have vacancies. Choosing less-demanded locations can also help determine the success of your waitlist.
Data for predicting successful waitlisting does not exist outside of DVC databases; however, known vital factors such as availability and room inventory can help members make their reservation waitlist decisions.
First, look at the availability table below for Bay Lake Tower. Knowing availability can help you determine which accommodations are likely to have vacancies. Choosing less-demanded locations can also help determine the success of your waitlist.
The availability charts take each DVC accommodation and track the availability of a one-week vacation every week of the year. The data is pulled from the DVC reservation website. A snapshot is taken at various times of the year—eleven months, seven months, five months, three months, and one month. A score of 7 is the highest rating. This score means that this accommodation was available every week of the year. On the flip side, a rating of 2 means that, on average, only two consecutive days were available for that week. That doesn't mean every week is that low, but there were only two days on average. Individual accommodation charts are in the back section of the book. Review the data for a more detailed week-by-week evaluation of the individual accommodations.
In looking at the availability data, here are some observations:
• As expected, availability gets tighter closer to the reservation date. However, there is little difference between three-month and one-month availability for many accommodations. There may be a slight uptick in availability at one month.
• Some accommodations are in high demand, and snagging a waitlist reservation will be difficult. For example, if you want to stay at Animal Kingdom Villas, the charts tell you that even as the 7-month window opens, the Value and Kilimanjaro Club rooms at Jambo House are filled up. In contrast, the rooms at Kidani Village may have some availability. Knowing this information will help you determine which rooms may be available.
• If you prefer a specific room type (Studio, One-Bedroom, Two-Bedroom, and Grand Villa), look at the accommodations requiring more points. These units are generally more available. For example, at Bay Lake Tower, Lake and Theme Park Views may be more available than Standard Views.
• The room inventory also determines availability for rooms. If there are only a few total accommodations, then the odds of getting on a waitlist will be lower than at a location with several rooms. Take two sites generally with good availability, Aulani and Old Key West. Two of the hardest accommodations to get in DVC are the 3BR Grand Villa-Standard Views at Aulani and the 3BR Grand Villa-Near the Hospitality House at Old Key West. There are only two of these units at each location. If you need a Grand Villa, the likelihood of getting one is much lower than if you chose one of the other Grand Villas types at these locations.
Successful Waitlist Strategy-Two-Bedrooms
If you are interested in booking a Two-Bedroom accommodation, you will have a better chance of waitlisting a Dedicated Two-Bedroom rather than a Lock-Off unit. Many resorts offer two types of two-bedroom accommodations. Lock-off units are named as such because they are formed by joining adjoining Studios and One-Bedroom units, whereas dedicated units are stand-alone Two-Bedrooms. For a Lock-off unit to be available, both the Studio and the One-Bedroom must be available.
Since Studios are the most in-demand accommodations, the availability of Lock-off units usually mirrors the availability of Studios. For example, the Grand Floridian has the same number of Standard view Lock-off units (30) and Dedicated units, but the Dedicated units are much more readily available than the Lock-Off Units. The rooms are of the same size, but the Dedicated units have two beds in the second bedroom, while the Lock-offs have a single bed, sleeper sofa, or Murphy bed.
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