Anyone else have their Aulani Reservation changed?

[lilpooh108]

We are being moved from having a kitchen, washer/dryer and living room.

Yea that's a bummer. Hope you get the option of keeping your 2 bedroom.

 

[pilferk]

They did not say why. I asked if the rooms are not going to be completed and was told that they just did not have my room category available. We had reserved a 2 bedroom garden view and they are giving us 2 connecting partial oceanview hotel rooms. I was surprised by the whole situation and kind of relieved that they were not canceling our reservation altogether since we already have our flight reservations. They are giving us more than 50% of our points back. It seems like they are charging us 12 points a night per room which I guess is good. What concerns me is not having a kitchen or washer/dryer. It is probalby a good idea to see if they will give us a food credit instead since DH usually will not do breakfast.

There will likely be an on site free DVC laundry available (there is at virtually every other DVC resort). I'd investigate the possibility of getting access to that. Usually, it's behind a "key swipe" door that only allows access to those staying in DVC villas....but I would think they could get you access on your room key if directed to provide it.

 

[hakepb]

I don't get how Aulani can be overbooked at opening. They only declare the owned percentage of the resort to book on points. So if 50% of the DVC resort was booked on points and the do not estimate completing 25% of the resort, oh-well, no members impacted because 75% of the resort is open.

This is either a super major construction delay, or something stupid in the system that never happened before, like an accidental 100% allocation, counting 2BR lockoffs as a 2BR and Studio and 1 BR, or depositing way way too much into RCI...

 

[Dean]

There will likely be an on site free DVC laundry available (there is at virtually every other DVC resort). I'd investigate the possibility of getting access to that. Usually, it's behind a "key swipe" door that only allows access to those staying in DVC villas....but I would think they could get you access on your room key if directed to provide it.

I suspect there will be but won't it likely be in the "other building" from the hotel units?

I don't get how Aulani can be overbooked at opening. They only declare the owned percentage of the resort to book on points. So if 50% of the DVC resort was booked on points and the do not estimate completing 25% of the resort, oh-well, no members impacted because 75% of the resort is open.

This is either a super major construction delay, or something stupid in the system that never happened before, like an accidental 100% allocation, counting 2BR lockoffs as a 2BR and Studio and 1 BR, or depositing way way too much into RCI...

As I understand it there are 2 portions, the hotel portion and the DVC portion. The DVC portion is being phased in. Since DVC normally books anticipate an opening or availability date, if there are less units in the DVC side than anticipated, there will not be enough DVC units to go around. As a rule DVC is good at being on time or ahead but this is HI so there may have been unexpected delays or there could have been a computer issue where they simply overbooked. Either way it appears this is going to be an issue. This is certainly not the first time where rooms were booked but not available. At WDW I can think of 3 examples. These are AKV for the Savannah with no animals, when the AKV concierge rooms were being redone, in both cases they were mostly moved to SSR IIRC. A SSR studio is certainly not the same as an AKV concierge studio. Fairly recently BWV BW view guests were relocated, many to BCV.

 

[slowly]

Originally Posted by slowly
Not to spread vicious rumors but I think there has been preferential treatment for those who are from the Mainland and those flying to HI over local residents. Case and point we had reservations for Labor Day weekend confirmed back in Novemeber and got bumped a few days ago along with other families who booked during the 7 month window and got bumped to the hotel side.

The common denominator for all families is that we all live here. Not going into detail on what we got to make us happy but hopefully this is not an on going issue. They blamed it on numerous things but each reason was different. I am all for tourists coming to HI but we have family plans as well. Again hopefully this is an isolated issue for the first big weekend for Aulani.

Sorry to but a damper on things but not everyone in HI is happy! Then again living in HI is a blessing in itself!


***The above was what I posted on another thread not knowing this thread had started. I think there is some truth to what I mentioned about locals but it looks like they started the calls with us first and as a business move that was their best option.

I do feel bad for those who are having to fly to HI. Trust me it's still difficult to swallow since our reservations were requested in November. Another factor was that although we are the guests the reservations were made by an Aulani owner. We own at another DVC property. I guess they took the lesser poisons first. Our friend got the call and he booked during his 7 month window. Was that the case for everyone else also?

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I do feel bad for those who are having to fly to HI. Trust me it's still difficult to swallow since our reservations were requested in November. Another factor was that although we are the guests the reservations were made by an Aulani owner. We own at another DVC property. I guess they took the lesser poisons first. Our friend got the call and he booked during his 7 month window. Was that the case for everyone else also?

We are owners, purchased on the first day Aulani sales opened, also have significant points at two other resorts, live on the mainland, booked before the 7 month window opened, and got the call. I don't think they are targeting folks in Hawaii. If anything, I would think they would prefer to keep the non-owners on the DVC side rather than the hotel side. If you think about it, those who already own Aulani are not potential customers who will be swayed by staying on the DVC side. Those who DO NOT already own at Aulani would be more likely to make a purchase of Aulani points while they are there. So, if they were looking at where you live or where you own before bumping people, I would think Aulani owners would be the first to be moved. I'm not saying that is what Disney did... I'm just saying IF there was any conspiracy here, I think it would be the other way around.

 

[slowly]

We are owners, purchased on the first day Aulani sales opened, also have significant points at two other resorts, live on the mainland, booked before the 7 month window opened, and got the call. I don't think they are targeting folks in Hawaii. If anything, I would think they would prefer to keep the non-owners on the DVC side rather than the hotel side. If you think about it, those who already own Aulani are not potential customers who will be swayed by staying on the DVC side. Those who DO NOT already own at Aulani would be more likely to make a purchase of Aulani points while they are there. So, if they were looking at where you live or where you own before bumping people, I would think Aulani owners would be the first to be moved. I'm not saying that is what Disney did... I'm just saying IF there was any conspiracy here, I think it would be the other way around.

WOW! You would be the last person that I would bump if I were Disney!Not sure about your last theory because there was a DVC non-Aulanui owner who lives in HI that still hasn't gotten the call. So my theory went out the window a long time ago! LOL

I hope you have a good time nontheless. The resort is in a nice area and as locals we enjoy going to Roy's Restuarant which is across the street from the resort. Reservations are recommended especially during the Labor Day weekend.

 

[jmatias]

Funny thing yesterday, I was helping a friend of a friend who is a newer DVC owner try to figure out what to do with points that were going to expire.

Anyway, found out that they too had a 1 bed at Aulani and got moved to 2 hotel rooms, and their friends who had a 2 bed at Aulani got moved to 2 hotels rooms! All ressies were for the same Labor Day weekend time frame.

These 2 families are local.

I'm really getting nervous about our ressie!

Jen

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Funny thing yesterday, I was helping a friend of a friend who is a newer DVC owner try to figure out what to do with points that were going to expire.

Anyway, found out that they too had a 1 bed at Aulani and got moved to 2 hotel rooms, and their friends who had a 2 bed at Aulani got moved to 2 hotels rooms! All ressies were for the same Labor Day weekend time frame.

These 2 families are local.

I'm really getting nervous about our ressie!

Jen

Do you know how the reservations are now showing up for these families? When ours was bumped to the hotel side, the reservation number was changed and the booking disappeared off our dvcmember.com page. When I call MS and speak with a manager, they can see the reservation, but from my end, I cannot. Considering how many screw-ups have occurred, that makes me REALLY nervous.

 

[Sandisw]

Do you know how the reservations are now showing up for these families? When ours was bumped to the hotel side, the reservation number was changed and the booking disappeared off our dvcmember.com page. When I call MS and speak with a manager, they can see the reservation, but from my end, I cannot. Considering how many screw-ups have occurred, that makes me REALLY nervous.

Have you tried to plug in your new reservation # into the WDW reservation site?

I wonder if you will get it to come up there since it sounds like it it not under DVC any longer.

Try and see if it comes up at www.mydisneyreservation.com. At least if it comes up there, it will offer a bit of reassurance.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Have you tried to plug in your new reservation # into the WDW reservation site?

I wonder if you will get it to come up there since it sounds like it it not under DVC any longer.

Try and see if it comes up at www.mydisneyreservation.com. At least if it comes up there, it will offer a bit of reassurance.

I tried that, but Aulani is not in the pull-down resort menu! =(

 

[Sandisw]

I tried that, but Aulani is not in the pull-down resort menu! =(

That is too bad. I was hoping for you that it would come up at least one way. Good luck as I am sure that it is frustrating that what you thought you were getting (well, your friends) is no longer it.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

That is too bad. I was hoping for you that it would come up at least one way. Good luck as I am sure that it is frustrating that what you thought you were getting (well, your friends) is no longer it.

Actually, it is working out great for my friend... as long as that reservation really sticks in the system correctly from this point forward. Turns out, she was really happy to get the daily housekeeping on the hotel side. She's also not that fond of the layout for the studio units. I, on the other hand, really prefer having the kitchenette space in the studio and enjoy the privacy of not having hotel/DVC staff in the room on a daily basis. Different strokes for different folks, right?!

I assume that Aulani will be added to the online checkin menu once we get closer to the travel time. I do have a specific contact supervisor with Member Services who is well-versed with our situation, so I believe everything will work out just fine. I just have this (perhaps irrational) fear that my friend will be all the way in Hawaii, in a different time zone when MS will be closed, and might experience checkin issues. Then, what could we do?!

 

[jodifla]

This is why I don't book maiden voyages or stay opening weeks in hotels...too many variables!

Sorry you are going through this, OP. What they offered you is not enough in my book.

 

[Sandisw]

Actually, it is working out great for my friend... as long as that reservation really sticks in the system correctly from this point forward. Turns out, she was really happy to get the daily housekeeping on the hotel side. She's also not that fond of the layout for the studio units. I, on the other hand, really prefer having the kitchenette space in the studio and enjoy the privacy of not having hotel/DVC staff in the room on a daily basis. Different strokes for different folks, right?!

I assume that Aulani will be added to the online checkin menu once we get closer to the travel time. I do have a specific contact supervisor with Member Services who is well-versed with our situation, so I believe everything will work out just fine. I just have this (perhaps irrational) fear that my friend will be all the way in Hawaii, in a different time zone when MS will be closed, and might experience checkin issues. Then, what could we do?!

Well, that is great then! I am glad that something that could have lead to disappointment is at least a positive.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Man, every time I go home and see the message light on my answering machine I fear it's going to be Member Services calling about my Aulani Reservation.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

And Eve, I'm glad your friend is ok with the change!

 

[jmatias]

Man, every time I go home and see the message light on my answering machine I fear it's going to be Member Services calling about my Aulani Reservation.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

And Eve, I'm glad your friend is ok with the change!

I know what you mean! I told my DH if Disney calls for me tell them I'm not home LOL. I check my ressie on the member site daily to make sure its still there to give me a bit of reassurance.....kind of sad really!

Jen