Advise for Booking Aulani at 7 Months

[chefconti]

Hi. I'm looking for advise on booking Aulani at 7 months out...

-Which months (or times of the year) are easiest to get
-Which views are easiest to get
-Which room category is easiest to get
-other?

We can go anytime of the year. Thanks.

 

[tidefan]

We booked a 2-Bdrm for early June at 7 months this year and there was availability in all categories...

 

[gonzalj1]

We were able to secure a few days in a PV studio followed by a few days in an OV 1BR at 7 months for August 2013. It seemed the lowest point rooms went first. Booked them both online at exactly the 7mo window with no need to WL anything.

 

[Reppstir]

Hi. I'm looking for advise on booking Aulani at 7 months out...

-Which months (or times of the year) are easiest to get
-Which views are easiest to get
-Which room category is easiest to get
-other?

We can go anytime of the year. Thanks.

I think it completely depends on the time of year.
I was able to book deluxe studio - poolside gardens Oct 11-17 last year (2014) less than two months out.
All you can do is try, it works out a lot of times!

 

[CMOORE185]

We booked June 1st of this year and wanted a two bedroom. The only Two bedrooms available were ocean view. Oh well, guess we will have to suffer with our ocean view.

 

[DenLo]

Ocean view 1BR would be the easiest to get. And the first three weeks of June would be the hardest to get. The rest of the year you should be okay--so far. Since Aulani is not sold out it is easy to get in at the 7 month mark. The most difficult villa to get will be a standard view Grand Villa as there are only two of them.

Aulani is like most DVC resorts that 1BRs are the last rooms to book.

The hardest view to get at the 7 month mark is standard view. Aulani owners book these rooms often during the home resort advantage. So if you are traveling during the vacation or holiday periods for Hawaii schools expect to have trouble getting standard view rooms at Aulani.

I will always google the Hawaiian School holidays before booking after the crowds we encountered in early October 2014. Plus Aulani was offering great discounts to locals for DVC studios for that week and people were taking advantage of them. One family we talked to booked ten studios to get a deeper discount and convinced people from their daughter's preschool to join them.

 

[fofinia]

I booked Presidents day weekend February 2015- 2 weeks out!!!! Booked at 7 months -1 bed and Island Garden view was the cheapest point view available. No standard. Booked flights on different days than originally planned. Waitlisted the first night a Friday. Never came through. I found a 1 bed Poolside garden view available. So I booked that. Have to switch rooms first night. But Hey I'll be in Hawaii!!

 

[Minniesgal]

I have been watching April as we want to go April (we were thinking 2016 but it is now moving to 2017). April is doable at 7 months but June always looks jammed solid.

 

[tidefan]

I have been watching April as we want to go April (we were thinking 2016 but it is now moving to 2017). April is doable at 7 months but June always looks jammed solid.

We booked June 1-8 this year at 7 months and at least right at 7 months, there was availability in all 2-Bdrm categories

 

[Rebecca 27690]

I am trying to Book Aulani for September-7 months out. Has anyone gone on a waitlist and it came through? The weekends -Friday-Saturday nights=are not available. Any input appreciated. Kittie

 

[Anal Annie]

I have been able to book studios for early-mid August 2x now. The first time was OV and the 2nd was IV. I go online BEFORE 8:00 and have everything selected & ready to hit submit when the clock on the computer turns to 8:00. I just start the ressie with my name and book it with only me to save time then I call MS later to add everyone else. The point charts for the summer months (July and 1st half of August) are going up into the premier category for 2016 so I think that June will become even harder to book, especially the lower point value villas like IV. I noticed when planning before that airfare went down by a fair amount if we could have waited for mid-August to go (because people with kids in school have to get home by then). I would think the last week of August heading into Sept. would be a good time to go as there should be less kids and cheaper airfare. Early May is crowded as there is a major Japanese holiday that lasts like a week and they tend to go to Hawaii in flocks then. I would guess later in May might be another good time to go… This last summer was my 5th trip to Hawaii and I have only ever had fantastic weather. I have been in late April / early May (when I ran into the overrun of Japanese tourist problems), July, Labor Day week and once in Oct. Aulani will be FULL over the summer so if you can go in a shoulder season you'll find it less crowded. Also, if you go over the summer you run the risk of hurricanes. Late May might be perfect….

 

[wendypooh]

Been in May twice, both times booked at less than 7 months out - both times the resort was very manageable, meaning NOT packed. I think you have a pretty good shot regardless, though, I've read some people say that June/July can be VERY crowded. Good Luck