Wait list isn't making me happy

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

A couple years ago, I got on the wait list and put in for a week at Big Cedar. I got a week at Harbor Lights. How Big Cedar looks like Harbor Lights, I don't know. Luckily, I got it switched to Big Cedar, so it did work out.

This year, 14 months out, I put in for Big Cedar. I got nothing. I called to see what happened and was told that I need to put my wait list request in at 14 months. I did. She said that the Platinum or other Gold members must have gotten it. I wonder if the wait list reservation was even entered.

I did get in at Falls Village for the same week, but really wonder what is being done with wait lists. There is no record that I can see of the wait list being entered (or not entered).

Since I am at CMV right now, I may walk over to those sales people and tell them how I feel right now.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Sounds like an issue of transparency to me. I would be curious myself as to see who got what ahead of you if all these platinum and gold members got it and you did not.

No doubt though we would never be given access to this waiting list to see how many people are on it or ahead of us (not that I can get on it)

I would keep an eye to see if one "mysteriously" opens up later. You should also see if there is a cancellation list where if somebody else cancels you get first dibs.

[akparsa Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close akparsa]

We should begin a thread about Wait List experiences

Let's document how far in advance you called, dates, etc. I would be interested in seeing what people's experiences are.

I can say that as a Platinum member, there are times I've not gotten things on the wait list. There are 3 ways I can see this happening.

Example: I want to check into a cabin at Big Cedar on Saturday, May 26th. I put in my request at 9 am 14 months out so no one who is requesting a check-in on May 26 could possibly be on the wait list ahead of me. The wait list request should be filled on June 25 or thereabout.

Scenario 1 is all deeded owners take their weeks and none are available. Personally I see this as highly unlikely except possible Big Cedar cabins at Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. Otherwise, I think cabins are available to wait listers fairly regularly. (this is my opinion based on experience booking and checking availability.)

Scenario 2 - other Platinum owners have put in wait list requests for check-ins starting between mid May and May 25, and all units have been booked when these wait list requests are filled on June 25.

Scenario 3 - On June 23, a 2 bedroom cabin is available online for May 23-28. A BG member books it for May 23-27 and thus it isn't available when the wait list is filled on June 26.

Anita

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

When I initially asked about wait listing some one here told me to do the request and then call back in 24-48 hours to see if it was entered correctly.
Seems like good advice.

I wish you could see your wait list request online.

[hac Member Find all posts View Profile Close hac]

We are silver and were on the wait list 13 months out for the New Orleans property in February (Mardi Gras). We had borrowed our points and set most of them aside for this reservation - if we got it. March rolled around and we hadn't heard a thing, nor had we been booked into the property. We called Bluegreen and were told there had never been a wait list for this property. Even though it is scheduled to be open again by next February, they didn't do a wait list. I asked why someone had taken our name for the list initially, and why we were never informed if they decided against it - no response. So, we didn't really need to borrow all those points ahead of time. But, we put them to good use.

An example of poor customer service in my opinion - and this was the Premier number.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Sounds like you guys need to start walking these reservations.

I don't own BG but when I book my DVC I call back to make sure that they see the waitlist and make them tell me what it is. I just tell them that I forgot what I told them to waitlist and could they please read it back for me.

Many DVCrs walk their ressies. It works. It's kind of a pain but you get what you want.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Chris, what is walking a reservation? shaggy

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Chris, what is walking a reservation? shaggy

Can you walk a point reservation? - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I am platinum and I rarely have trouble getting anything I want. The key to having the wait list work for you is to know how to use it properly.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Sounds like you guys need to start walking these reservations.

I don't own BG but when I book my DVC I call back to make sure that they see the waitlist and make them tell me what it is. I just tell them that I forgot what I told them to waitlist and could they please read it back for me.

Many DVCrs walk their ressies. It works. It's kind of a pain but you get what you want.

No need to walk reservations in BG. Doing it won't work. In fact, it won't work in Wyndham or WorldMark either. I doubt it will work in any system other than DVC.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

No need to walk reservations in BG. Doing it won't work. In fact, it won't work in Wyndham or WorldMark either. I doubt it will work in any system other than DVC.

I guess that makes us DVC owners special.

[hac Member Find all posts View Profile Close hac]

I agree that owners need to learn how to work the wait list system and there is certainly a trick to it, I am sure. However, in many of the cases listed in this thread, it doesn't appear as though Bluegreen owners aren't understanding the waitlist process correctly - it sounds as though the reservations folks are not always getting this stuff right. In our case they took our names for a wait list that apparently never existed, or was discontinued. Sounds like they booked the wrong resort for someone else.

[midmobuilder Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close midmobuilder]

Well, we just had our bad experience with the waitlist process. We are platinum members and had waitlisted some 2BR lodge units for Wilderness Club for NEXT 4th of July. Our request was to check in on Sunday (not Friday or Saturday). So this morning when we call to check, we're told we didn't get our reservation......
This now begs the question. Are they telling me that there EVERY unit in Wilderness Club has been reserved by Platinum members who either 1) waitlisted ahead of us on the calendar/clock; or 2) are checking in on Friday or Saturday? Something doesn't smell right here. We are told over and over that Platinum membership is less than 10% of all Bluegreen Owners. Obviously the 15 month wait list is a big advantage----but something seems amiss when the explanation is that Fri/Sat arrivals used up every single unit. Sorta defies logic in my little brain.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

To use the line of another thread that is going around now, "I'm just sayin".
I guess next time I try to use it, I will need to call every week to verify the request is actually on the wait list.

[midmobuilder Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close midmobuilder]

There is also one other universe of owners competing for this time---that would be the owners who have deeded weeks and who say "yes" I want my deeded week reservation. (bout forgot about them)
It still just doesn't quite feel right to me---------just sayin'.