Aulani front desk upgrades me to 1 bd/DVC site says not available

[OhioDVC]

I had a reservation at Aulani for a three week stay in an ocean-view studio. The day before we went to Hawaii I checked the DVC website and changed the reservation to 6 nights in a 1 bedroom villa and 15 in a studio - the 6 nights were all I could get except for a night here and there in a 1 bedroom.

When we got to Aulani I checked with the front desk and they said no problem...I got the ocean-view 1 bedroom for the whole three weeks! My wife loves me!!!

I did pay the additional points, I never asked for the upgrade for free but too bad DVC doesn't display the actual inventory online.

Next time I can't get a room and settle for a studio, I'm checking with the front desk at check-in to upgrade.

 

[RobDoc]

I had a reservation at Aulani for a three week stay in an ocean-view studio. The day before we went to Hawaii I checked the DVC website and changed the reservation to 6 nights in a 1 bedroom villa and 15 in a studio - the 6 nights were all I could get except for a night here and there in a 1 bedroom.

When we got to Aulani I checked with the front desk and they said no problem...I got the ocean-view 1 bedroom for the whole three weeks! My wife loves me!!!

I did pay the additional points, I never asked for the upgrade for free but too bad DVC doesn't display the actual inventory online.

Next time I can't get a room and settle for a studio, I'm checking with the front desk at check-in to upgrade.

That is actually not surprising with the dynamics of the DVC reservation system. The available inventory can and does change from minute to minute. From your description, it sounds as though the time you were looking for was only missing some of the days you wanted and they became available after you last checked. All it takes is for a couple of reservations to change and some do cancel the day before arrival. Another possibility is that DVD added more villas to the member inventory for sale purposes.

Regardless, it sounds like you did find some pixie dust.

Enjoy your stay.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A nice surprise - congrats on getting the room you wanted! We loved our ocean view 1BR.

Could it be that DVC had allocated rooms over to cash (due to trade outs etc.) but they hadn't been rented out and the resort itself decided to pull it back for points?

I know that when I've done last minute switches on the day before or day of they always check with the resorts on availability.

 

[OhioDVC]

That is actually not surprising with the dynamics of the DVC reservation system. The available inventory can and does change from minute to minute. From your description, it sounds as though the time you were looking for was only missing some of the days you wanted and they became available after you last checked. All it takes is for a couple of reservations to change and some do cancel the day before arrival. Another possibility is that DVD added more villas to the member inventory for sale purposes.

Regardless, it sounds like you did find some pixie dust.

Enjoy your stay.

Actually, I checked the DVC website about 5 minutes before the front desk allowed the upgrade to the 1 bedroom. Aulani had room inventory that was not made available to members via the website or phone reservations. The front desk cast member says it happens all the time. Inventory is held back for various reasons. So if you didn't get the room you wanted, ask again when you check in.

 

[erikawolf2004]

I would think with all the inventory being held back because of the construction they have a little more wiggle room than other properties. Enjoy your stay-we LOVED Aulani and look forward to the day when we can go back.