Aulani availability and other questions

[WDWorld2003]

Our daughter is getting married and they are going to Hawaii on their honeymoon and plan on spending the first three nights on Oahu in mid September. We have offered a studio at Aulani and I have checked availability in early September and it seems the studios go fast and there is only partial availabilty or none. I am worried that I will not be able to get it for all three nights. I would be using borrowed points so I am unsure if I need to walk the reservation (and not even sure I know how). I would love to get them an ocean view.

We have never been to Aulani so don't know if it is enjoyable as a honeymoon destination. Reviews seem mostly positive. Any thoughts would be appreciated. They are visiting other islands after.

 

[Meemoo]

Hi there. The Ocean View rooms are usually the last to go, the standard rooms fill up the fastest so you should be right if you're right onto it when the 7 month mark opens for you. It is beautiful, so for me I would say yes, I would love it as a honeymoon destination. So as long as you are mindful that it is a Disney hotel so there will be children around a lot. Some people that don't have kids, don't like this, I guess it depends on the person. Having said that, they do have an adults only pool, hot tubs and a beautiful day spa.

 

[Anal Annie]

We have been able to book studios for August 2x now - the lower point values seem to go first but all views can (and DO) go quickly (sometimes within minutes of the 8:00 online booking window). Walking with borrowed points would be difficult. Any way you could consider a 1 bedroom or the DVC hotel rooms if you need to? Whenever I booked I was online BEFORE 8:00 AM eastern and had everything set up & filled in, ready to hit enter the second the clock on the computer turned to 8:00. I also only initially booked with myself in the room to save time filling in the blanks and I called MS later that day to add my DH & DS.

As far as thoughts about Aulani as a honeymoon destination I think it would be fabulous! It is a beautiful resort…and I would think by September would have fewer kids and better availability because of school. We went to Maui after a week at Aulani last summer (because we always end our Hawaii trips on Maui) but this time we were wishing we'd reversed the trip and finished at Aulani because it was soooo nice. Good luck!!

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks for the information. Wow - this is going to be even tougher than I thought! To experiment I just checked availability starting at the 7 month mark in September and all studios and hotels rooms are showing no availability on 9/15 and partial availability after. As suggested, I will be online with everything filled in before 8:00 a.m. If for some reason I do not get all three nights is there a chance a wait list would come through?

 

[Anal Annie]

There's always a chance for a wait list….some people may book and then might wait to see if they can find a better deal on airfare. If they can't afford the air after watching for awhile they may cancel. We had to cancel our first trip at the last minute (8 days out) due to a medical emergency with our DS which left him unable to fly for 3 weeks. I know that's REALLLLLY last minute but "stuff happens" so a waitlist is not completely out of the question. Since it's your DD AND her honeymoon you may have to look into the idea of a partial cash reservation!!

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi,

I've recently booked 8 nights in an ocean view studio for August at the seven month mark. Availability leading up to my dates was going very quickly and I got very nervous and ended up walking my booking. Weirdly, as I know the lesser point rooms usual book first, I was initially only able to get a hotel room which I began to walk and then one morning I lucked out and got an ocean view studio, so in effect had two reservations that I was walking. I knew there was still a slim chance that Aulani owners could swoop in at the last minute and book my extra dates, so I was reluctant to give up either booking until my dates were totally covered off.

It did involve me ringing disney everyday and walking the bookings forward, and then I dropped the hotel room altogether and secured my total stay in the ocean view room I'd originally wanted. A lot of work, but for me it was worth the time and effort. Wishing you the best of luck.

 

[WDWorld2003]

I am concerned as when I check availability at 7 months from today all studios and hotel rooms are gone. I would love to walk the reservation but will be using borrowed points for all 3 nights so I don't think that is possible.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I am concerned as when I check availability at 7 months from today all studios and hotel rooms are gone. I would love to walk the reservation but will be using borrowed points for all 3 nights so I don't think that is possible.

Why can't you walk when you've borrowed the points? Are you needing to use the borrowed points for the reservation anyway? If so, then it won't matter - as the points are being used anyway. I borrowed points to walk my reservation above (but I didn't borrow anymore than I was going to be using anyway - as once borrowed they can't be put back).

Good luck

 

[WDWorld2003]

I realized I should not have said that is not possible.... I was concerned I would not be able to get the whole reservation and would be stuck with points I could not bank or use. Availability seems to open up after September 20th... unsure what is going those two weeks in mid September but availability is very low then.

I have been able to secure the first 2 nights and will add the additional one tomorrow so will be set and now have to work on what area to request for an ocean view! I have been reading about the new Four Seasons and don't want them to have a view of a crane - any suggestions would be appreciated!