Aulani or GC reservations at the 7-month mark

[northshoremama]

Looking at purchasing resale. Checking out either GC or Aulani as our home resort. Originally thinking Aulani, but I heard because GC has way less villas that it would be more difficult to get a room at GC at the 7-month mark. Has anyone experienced this?...and that supposedly since Aulani has more villas, booking a room there would be more possible than GC at the 7-month mark. And I'd have beget chances of booking a room at GC at the 11-month mark.

We live on the west coast and getting to DL is more doable for us. And we go to HI once a year as well...and I figured making a reservation at the 7-month mark for a resort at WDW should be okay (since there are many more resorts to choose from).

Thoughts??? Input??

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The times of the year you go can play a big part in the answer. Also, would you be able to book in the home priority booking window for which ever one you bought?

 

[northshoremama]

The times of the year you go can play a big part in the answer. Also, would you be able to book in the home priority booking window for which ever one you bought?

That's what the agent at TTS eluded to...that if I bought GC, I could book at the 11-month mark. Let me confirm tomorrow...that's a good question!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That's what the agent at TTS eluded to...that if I bought GC, I could book at the 11-month mark. Let me confirm tomorrow...that's a good question!

Oh sorry I wasn't more clear. You will be able to book VGC at 11 months if you own there. What I meant is if you personally would be able to plan that far in advance? Many west coasters complaint was that they planned their DL trips on shorter notice so that VGC didn't really work for them since they never would plan that far in advance.

If you would plan your DL trips in the 11-7 month time and if you aren't looking to go to Aulani in early Summer or over the Christmas/NY holiday and aren't set on the cheaper views there then I'd recommend VGC. If you can't book that far in advance then it doesn't make sense to pay a premium for the points. And, if you go to Hawaii every year during the times I mentioned they can be difficult at 7 months. There's still a lot of that resort that isn't sold so it's hard to say how availability will evolve but for awhile those timeframes have been the only ones with real difficult at 7 months.

 

[northshoremama]

If you would plan your DL trips in the 11-7 month time and if you aren't looking to go to Aulani in early Summer or over the Christmas/NY holiday and aren't set on the cheaper views there then I'd recommend VGC. If you can't book that far in advance then it doesn't make sense to pay a premium for the points. And, if you go to Hawaii every year during the times I mentioned they can be difficult at 7 months. There's still a lot of that resort that isn't sold so it's hard to say how availability will evolve but for awhile those timeframes have been the only ones with real difficult at 7 months.

Our recent HI trips have been in the summer....2013 July, 2014/2015 August. We haven't spent Christmas back home since 2010 so the plan was to head there this year for the holidays. We like to head to DL during non-peak times (we are heading there during the 3rd week of September and were there the second week of December for the past few years). Thinking of heading to DL during the last week of January to celebrate DD's 9th birthday.

so question....if I were to purchase Aulani (or GC) points later (like 3-4 years from now), can I combine points from the two different contacts to book a reservation? Does that make sense?

Thanks for the information....I'm back to thinking that maybe I should purchase Aulani if my DL trips are typically off-peak????

Decision, decisions!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You could split and buy points at both. And as long as you get the same UY it's easy to combine and use points from both for a reservation at 7 months, or in this case if these are the only 2 locations you'd visit you could book part of the trip in the 11-7 month window and add on days from the other contract at 7 months.

There's also banking and borrowing so you could plan to use each contract every other year. One year you go to VGC and the next HI. You'd try to get contracts at each that was approx 1/2 of the points for your normal stay at each. You'd then use 2 years worth of points for your VGC stay and then the next year use 2 years worth of points from your Aulani contract to stay there. If you regularly go to each that would give you home resort priority at both but you'd also have the option to try and book at 7 months with the different resort points.

 

[Whitters87]

Also west coaster and doing the same research!

My findings were that if you want to book at Disneyland regularly, you need your points to be at Disneyland/VGC. There just aren't very many rooms there. Aulani seems to have quite a bit of availability. So if I was completely set on one of those two resorts for points I would pick VGC.

For my family (Disneyland once a year, Hawaii once a year and Disney World every 3 years), we decided financially it's best to just buy points at WDW at SSR (much cheaper) and only plan on using them for the WDW and Hawaii trips. For Disneyland there are some good hotels with suites within walking distance we can use (we typically just do 4 day weekends at DL). I will definitely be looking to see if there are any rooms available right at the 7 months mark though! I just can't justify spending almost twice as much per point!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Also west coaster and doing the same research!

My findings were that if you want to book at Disneyland regularly, you need your points to be at Disneyland/VGC. There just aren't very many rooms there. Aulani seems to have quite a bit of availability. So if I was completely set on one of those two resorts for points I would pick VGC.

As I mentioned - times you want to travel do make a big difference.

 

[northshoremama]

You could split and buy points at both. And as long as you get the same UY it's easy to combine and use points from both for a reservation at 7 months, or in this case if these are the only 2 locations you'd visit you could book part of the trip in the 11-7 month window and add on days from the other contract at 7 months.

There's also banking and borrowing so you could plan to use each contract every other year. One year you go to VGC and the next HI. You'd try to get contracts at each that was approx 1/2 of the points for your normal stay at each. You'd then use 2 years worth of points for your VGC stay and then the next year use 2 years worth of points from your Aulani contract to stay there. If you regularly go to each that would give you home resort priority at both but you'd also have the option to try and book at 7 months with the different resort points.

Good to know about the use year and keeping it the same if I get a second contract!

Also west coaster and doing the same research!

My findings were that if you want to book at Disneyland regularly, you need your points to be at Disneyland/VGC. There just aren't very many rooms there. Aulani seems to have quite a bit of availability. So if I was completely set on one of those two resorts for points I would pick VGC.

For my family (Disneyland once a year, Hawaii once a year and Disney World every 3 years), we decided financially it's best to just buy points at WDW at SSR (much cheaper) and only plan on using them for the WDW and Hawaii trips. For Disneyland there are some good hotels with suites within walking distance we can use (we typically just do 4 day weekends at DL). I will definitely be looking to see if there are any rooms available right at the 7 months mark though! I just can't justify spending almost twice as much per point!

Agree on the price of VGC. The listing I was looking at is $148 per point for VGC...$105 per point for Aulani...BTW, Good financial strategy on getting SSR!

I think we are leaning towards Aulani only because we normally know a year in advance when we are heading to HI...and you made a great point about some great hotels in walking distance from DL (we can stay at one of them if VGC is not available at the 7-month mark).

 

[zavandor]

Good to know about the use year and keeping it the same if I get a second contract!

It is certainly a good move, it makes things much easier. However if you find a good contract that suits you in terms of size and price, then I woulnd't wait to get the same UY, in the scenario above. You are paying a premium to get contracts at Aulani or VGC, for buy in price and MF: it makes sense if you plan to use the home priority window with both contracts. So the ability to easily combine points at 7 months doesn't really matter much. And yu can still do it with a bit of hassle.
It is more important when buying two contracts for the same home resort or when you plan to use the 7 months windows more often. Buying different UY could be even better if you plan to travel to the two resorts mostly at different time of the year.

 

[drusba]

As to availability at 7 months out:

Aul is very often open at 7 months out in at least one booking category, ocean view, and usually also at least either poolside or island garden view, and often both, for much of the year other than June and hoilday times. Standard view and hotel rooms are usually difficult much of the year.

VGC can have issues almost any time of year, and is very often hit or miss, with your chances best between mid-Jan and early May other than holiday and race times, more miss than hit during the summer months, and somewhat worse Oct to Dec.

 

[OKW Lover]

Just adding another data point(s) to the discussion. We've booked Aulani at the 7-month window three times now; April 2014, February 2015 and May 2016. We were able to secure an Ocean View Grand Villa for each of those stays without difficulty.

We have tried to book VGC at the 7 month window 4 times, but only successful once. We got a 2BR villa in December 2013, IIRC.

 

[bobbiwoz]

As to availability at 7 months out:

Aul is very often open at 7 months out in at least one booking category, ocean view, and usually also at least either poolside or island garden view, and often both, for much of the year other than June and hoilday times. Standard view and hotel rooms are usually difficult much of the year.

VGC can have issues almost any time of year, and is very often hit or miss, with your chances best between mid-Jan and early May other than holiday and race times, more miss than hit during the summer months, and somewhat worse Oct to Dec.

Is there any time in February that is difficult at 7 months? We would like an ocean view 2 bedroom. We had gotten an ocean view 2 bedroom for September last year at 7 months.

 

[northshoremama]

Just adding another data point(s) to the discussion. We've booked Aulani at the 7-month window three times now; April 2014, February 2015 and May 2016. We were able to secure an Ocean View Grand Villa for each of those stays without difficulty.

We have tried to book VGC at the 7 month window 4 times, but only successful once. We got a 2BR villa in December 2013, IIRC.

This is in-line with what was previously noted about early getting ocean view rooms at Aulani at the 7-month mark. We'd be booking a 1-bedroom villa and I'd prefer a standard view room, but may have to "settle" for the ocean view (lol) in order to get home priority at VGC.

I really didn't think picking my home resort was going to be so challenging!!!

 

[drusba]

Is there any time in February that is difficult at 7 months? We would like an ocean view 2 bedroom. We had gotten an ocean view 2 bedroom for September last year at 7 months.

As I mentioned, there can be issues at holiday times; for Feb 2016, even Ocean View, including 2BRs. was booked full for a couple days during Presidents' Day weekend before 7 months out.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I really didn't think picking my home resort was going to be so challenging!!!

Your issue remains that you are looking for Aulani in June and holidays and even the Ocean view won't be a guarantee I believe. July might be easier however. If your also looking at 1 BRs at VGC that can open up things there if you have flexibility but you need to book right at 7 at months. 2nd week of Dec will be your worst time getting a studio there and any race weekend or Valentine's Day in Feb to cover the other times you mentioned. Because you have a high likelihood of needing the home priority for Aulani too I think I'd start there and keep an eye out for a subsidized contract. The size contract could be the question of buying enough to try and use at VGC too or else over buying just a little for every other year use at HI and periodically trying to use at VGC. Then you'll have a little more experience if you need VGC also to stay there when you wish.

We've owned VGC since it went on sale. And I often have done trips there just picking up cancellations well within the 7 month mark although it is nice to have the home priority. And we've gone to Aulani twice on just 60 days notice, but that's been early Dec and late Feb and always Ocean view which usually is the last to book. I've crossed the Christmas holidays and early summer off as options for us even to try at 7 months. If you have flexibility for VGC I still consider it to be amazingly open at many times of the year. A 1 BR even more so.

 

[bobbiwoz]

As I mentioned, there can be issues at holiday times; for Feb 2016, even Ocean View, including 2BRs. was booked full for a couple days during Presidents' Day weekend before 7 months out.

Thanks for the info.

 

[northshoremama]

Your issue remains that you are looking for Aulani in June and holidays and even the Ocean view won't be a guarantee I believe. July might be easier however. If your also looking at 1 BRs at VGC that can open up things there if you have flexibility but you need to book right at 7 at months. 2nd week of Dec will be your worst time getting a studio there and any race weekend or Valentine's Day in Feb to cover the other times you mentioned. Because you have a high likelihood of needing the home priority for Aulani too I think I'd start there and keep an eye out for a subsidized contract. The size contract could be the question of buying enough to try and use at VGC too or else over buying just a little for every other year use at HI and periodically trying to use at VGC. Then you'll have a little more experience if you need VGC also to stay there when you wish.

We've owned VGC since it went on sale. And I often have done trips there just picking up cancellations well within the 7 month mark although it is nice to have the home priority. And we've gone to Aulani twice on just 60 days notice, but that's been early Dec and late Feb and always Ocean view which usually is the last to book. I've crossed the Christmas holidays and early summer off as options for us even to try at 7 months. If you have flexibility for VGC I still consider it to be amazingly open at many times of the year. A 1 BR even more so.

selecting aulani has our home resort. since we are west-coasters, i'm hoping we can snag vgc at the 7month mark since book airfare shouldn't be too difficult!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

selecting aulani has our home resort. since we are west-coasters, i'm hoping we can snag vgc at the 7month mark since book airfare shouldn't be too difficult!

Do look for a subsidized Aulani contract!

 

[northshoremama]

I got a call from my telesales disney guide this afternoon following up on the material that was sent to me a few weeks ago. Told her I was considering resale and she started to go on about the lost benefits of resale. I told her I knew that DCL and adventures by disney were out. And she mentioned how I wouldn't be able to stay at the Disneyland Hotel since that's part of the special collection.....and that with 95% confidence, I would not be able to stay at VGC either. That comment caught me off guard. She said she wanted to be sure I understood that. I told her that's based on availability, not that I cannot book there...but that I won't be able to because there are only 48 villas and those are almost always booked up by folks who have it as their home resort. She added that most DVC folks who don't have VGC as their home resort and bought direct from disney stay at the Disneyland hotel. When I told her that we'd stay offsite if that was the case, she said "then you are paying twice".

So just curious for those of who who do not have VGC as your home resort, at the 7-month mark, how successful were you in securing a reservation at VGC??? I know some of you have chimed in....anyone else have experiences to share?