Aulani availability 7 months

[Redsred3]

We just purchased DVC and wanted to use points for a trip to Aulani. We were thinking of March 2024. How hard would it be to get an island view 2 bedroom during March? What about early June as a back up (prefer March). Its hard to not plan more than 7 months out for a big trip like Hawaii, but I don't think it would be worth it long term for us to own there as a home resort.

 

[Anal Annie]

The lower point value villas like IV will always book first - as long as you're not looking at Easter / spring break week (Easter is March 31st next year) you're probably OK but I'd probably go ahead & plan on using more points for a higher value villa (PV or OV) as the IV will go first to owners and the fastest fingers. June is a lower point value season so it also books quickly since Aulani is very point intensive. We were lucky enough several years ago to snag an IV studio in August and currently have an OV studio booked for late April. I think smaller size villas also book faster than the larger more expensive units.

 

[tidefan]

You should be OK if you are flexible with view categories and are on at 8am EST right at 7 months out.

 

[intamin]

We just purchased DVC and wanted to use points for a trip to Aulani. We were thinking of March 2024. How hard would it be to get an island view 2 bedroom during March? What about early June as a back up (prefer March). Its hard to not plan more than 7 months out for a big trip like Hawaii, but I don't think it would be worth it long term for us to own there as a home resort.

There are a plethora of views at Aulani. As long as you have the points to swing for the slightly more expensive views it shouldn’t be a problem at 7 months. Like Derek says, the most desired DVC rooms are the studios with the worst views..

 

[LilyJC]

We just purchased DVC and wanted to use points for a trip to Aulani. We were thinking of March 2024. How hard would it be to get an island view 2 bedroom during March? What about early June as a back up (prefer March). Its hard to not plan more than 7 months out for a big trip like Hawaii, but I don't think it would be worth it long term for us to own there as a home resort.

March will actually be more realistic/attainable than June. June (before the point jump) is super popular and pretty tough to grab the lesser views.

 

[drusba]

Easy in March is getting Ocean View, standard views are typically gone by 7 months out, Island/garden and pool/garden views are often open but sometimes a day or two may be missing in a week, and next year, with the early March 31 date for Easter, there may be problems getting time in the week leading up to Easter. June 7 to July 6 is the second highest DVC demand time of the year for Aulani (just behind Christmas week) and island/garden view will likely be gone for multiple days of any week before 7-months out: moreover, even ocean view rooms can be difficult to get that time of year at 7-months out.

 

[Redsred3]

Thanks everyone. Seems like I should try for March...although it is the end of March and easter is right after, so I may end up disappointed and unable to book our trip Any other suggestions? Is Thanksgiving week just as bad? What about transferring points from someone that owns AUL and booking with theirs? And then renting mine out? Boy this sounds complicated.

 

[intamin]

Thanks everyone. Seems like I should try for March...although it is the end of March and easter is right after, so I may end up disappointed and unable to book our trip Any other suggestions? Is Thanksgiving week just as bad? What about transferring points from someone that owns AUL and booking with theirs? And then renting mine out? Boy this sounds complicated.

If you’re low on points and will only be able to make the trip work with a standard view room it wouldn’t be a bad idea; however, I think you’re overthinking it, Aulani is generally not a difficult resort to book at 7 months

 

[starry_solo]

You should be ok. I got an island view studio at 6 months for April

 

[drusba]

As to Thanksgiving week, it is the third highest DVC demand time of the year at Aulani. As to that March week leading up to Easter in 2024, the risk is that island and pool views may have at least a few days filled before 7-months out (that was true for the week before Easter in 2022 and 2023), but ocean view is usually available. For March 2023, island and pool view rooms were open at 7-months out except for one day in the last week of March, but Easter was mid-April; for 2022, March 31 (Palm Sunday) was gone before 7-months out for Island view but not pool view rooms, and island view had a day missing in the week leading up to March 31.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you do not own Aulani you should never plan based on a Standard View. If you are extremely flexible and okay booking 1 night, you may be able to get a night or two during your intended period, but they are unlikely to be consecutive nights.

 

[Redsred3]

If you do not own Aulani you should never plan based on a Standard View. If you are extremely flexible and okay booking 1 night, you may be able to get a night or two during your intended period, but they are unlikely to be consecutive nights.

Is this true for 1 and 2 bedrooms too? And we were looking at Island view vs garden (I would think garden is the “standard view” since it is cheapest)…so I was hoping that might help? But I know AUL is a different beast than some WDW resorts are…busy at different times.

 

[intamin]

Is this true for 1 and 2 bedrooms too? And we were looking at Island view vs garden (I would think garden is the “standard view” since it is cheapest)…so I was hoping that might help? But I know AUL is a different beast than some WDW resorts are…busy at different times.

There are true standard 1 and 2 bedrooms if I’m not mistaken which may not be showing up simply hecause there are dates missing already?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are true standard 1 and 2 bedrooms if I’m not mistaken which may not be showing up simply hecause there are dates missing already?

Most likely. The true Standard View category is only about 39 total lock offs and they are generally not going to be available at 7 months.

This includes the 1BR. The 1BR is more.popuoar at Aulani because having a kitchen is so valuable in Hawaii due to both the location of the resort and the general cost of food on the island.

 

[drusba]

Is this true for 1 and 2 bedrooms too? And we were looking at Island view vs garden (I would think garden is the “standard view” since it is cheapest)…so I was hoping that might help? But I know AUL is a different beast than some WDW resorts are…busy at different times.

See the maps on this page that provide room categories and locations of rooms at Aulani; as you can see the Standard view rooms make up a very small percentage of all rooms; Ocean view has the most, followed by Island Garden view: https://www.disboards.com/threads/aulani-villas-views-revised-07-22-2017.2907389/

 

[Anal Annie]

Is this true for 1 and 2 bedrooms too? And we were looking at Island view vs garden (I would think garden is the “standard view” since it is cheapest)…so I was hoping that might help? But I know AUL is a different beast than some WDW resorts are…busy at different times.

There are 4 booking (view) categories at Aulani. S = Standard / I = Island / P = Pool / O = Ocean. There are also only 4 "seasons" there VS the 7 "seasons" at the other resorts in FL. Personally, I would look at the point charts and try to plan booking my points on a pool or ocean view "just in case" and if I could ultimately snag the IV category then I'd do a happy dance. Best of luck!

 

[jekjones1558]

As to Thanksgiving week, it is the third highest DVC demand time of the year at Aulani. As to that March week leading up to Easter in 2024, the risk is that island and pool views may have at least a few days filled before 7-months out (that was true for the week before Easter in 2022 and 2023), but ocean view is usually available. For March 2023, island and pool view rooms were open at 7-months out except for one day in the last week of March, but Easter was mid-April; for 2022, March 31 (Palm Sunday) was gone before 7-months out for Island view but not pool view rooms, and island view had a day missing in the week leading up to March 31.

Wow! You have so much knowledge regarding availability! Would February at Aulani be harder to book than March, 7 months out? I need to book a 2 bedroom and a studio and am hoping for island view. I haven't had trouble getting 1 bedrooms but I know that those are always the last to go. TIA for your advice!

 

[Twohsieh]

If you’re low on points and will only be able to make the trip work with a standard view room it wouldn’t be a bad idea; however, I think you’re overthinking it, Aulani is generally not a difficult resort to book at 7 months

We stay at Aulani every year when we island hop to Oahu. We used to use our VGC points to book at Aulani during the summer months but it got tougher to book our desired dates as the years went on. Although we were booking 1-2 BR PV or OV rooms, we had a few unsuccessful attempts of securing our desired dates.

We now own at Aulani so we can book with the 11 month priority advantage.

 

[drusba]

Wow! You have so much knowledge regarding availability! Would February at Aulani be harder to book than March, 7 months out? I need to book a 2 bedroom and a studio and am hoping for island view. I haven't had trouble getting 1 bedrooms but I know that those are always the last to go. TIA for your advice!

For time around Presidents's Day (Friday before to Thurs after), even ocean view rooms can be missing a day or two at 7-months out. Before then Ocean View and pool/garden view are usually open but island/garden studios and 2BRs may be missing a couple days a week. Late Feb (after that Thurs), all but stand are usually open.

 

[jekjones1558]

For time around Presidents's Day (Friday before to Thurs after), even ocean view rooms can be missing a day or two at 7-months out. Before then Ocean View and pool/garden view are usually open but island/garden studios and 2BRs may be missing a couple days a week. Late Feb (after that Thurs), all but stand are usually open.

Thank you for the info!