Aulani prices

[Budzooka]

Aulani prices seem to be falling. The question is how low will it go. There are a couple of listings that I am eyeing, but don’t have the same use year as my existing Aulani contract. With the large influx of listings a few months ago, I don’t see this correcting any time soon. Thoughts?

 

[Brian Noble]

The question is how low will it go.

Eventually, $0.

I worry less about timing the market, and more about getting a good fit for what I need. If it costs a few extra dollars, fine.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Aulani would be great to own for islanders or people who can easily make the trek. But it’s a long distance. For others it could be an expensive annual burden, which is probably why the price is dropping a bit during uncertain times. It isn’t just the cost of Aulani; it’s also the cost of getting on that long airplane trip.

 

[tom1944]

Aulani would be great to own for islanders or people who can easily make the trek. But it’s a long distance. For others it could be an expensive annual burden, which is probably why the price is dropping a bit during uncertain times. It isn’t just the cost of Aulani; it’s also the cost of getting on that long airplane trip.

I posted on the Aulani site asking some questions because I am thinking maybe I should buy some points for a 5 day trip every 3 years in a 1 bedroom. I would add an additional 5 days to that stay via cash.

One issue I have with additional points is my age- 67 and the fact that I add my daughter to the contracts so what burden am I leaving her as the sole owner at a certain point.

My plan is to have a separate account covering dues for at least 5+ years, so she has that burden covered and time to decide what she wants.
I have only owned for 2 plus years and so far, I have been able to make the initial contract work for a vacation every year. I really do not have to purchase until I cannot make our current points work the way I want.

 

[kgou]

I have only owned for 2 plus years and so far, I have been able to make the initial contract work for a vacation every year. I really do not have to purchase until I cannot make our current points work the way I want.

this is good advice and something I am holding in mind for my own circumstances, as well. thanks for this perspective!

 

[AstroBlasters]

Aulani prices seem to be falling. The question is how low will it go. There are a couple of listings that I am eyeing, but don’t have the same use year as my existing Aulani contract. With the large influx of listings a few months ago, I don’t see this correcting any time soon. Thoughts?

A large seller has essentially gone in and flooded the market with listings and prices have fallen significantly because of it.

It will take a while to work through this inventory and then you probably have people who want to sell, but are holding on because it makes more sense to rent out the points with the current market dynamics. That will create another waive of listings.

The most popular time for people to buy Aulani is while on a trip to Aulani or right after a trip to Aulani…. which would generally be the summer.

Probably not a lot of buying from Europe, Asia, Canada, Australia, etc right now so that also impacts the demand side of the equation.

I’d be aggressive with offers and see the current market as a buying opportunity.

 

[Brian Noble]

One other thought: There are a LOT of really great places to stay in Hawaii, across all four "main" islands. Most of them are quite a bit cheaper than Aulani---either as a DVC owner or on cash.

Everyone who has stayed at Aulani seems to like it, so it's not like you'd ever regret owning there. But unlike, say, WDW, Disney is far from the only well-located game in town.

 

[DanCali]

Aulani prices seem to be falling. The question is how low will it go. There are a couple of listings that I am eyeing, but don’t have the same use year as my existing Aulani contract. With the large influx of listings a few months ago, I don’t see this correcting any time soon. Thoughts?

I can't tell you if prices are going up or down other than, as mentioned previously, those contracts will be worth $0 in 2062 so the very slow long-term trend is down.

What I can tell you with a high degree of certainty is that the market greatly undervalues the financial value of the subsidized contracts - i.e., the premium you are asked to pay for a subsidized contract above the prevailing price of a non-subsidized contract is much less than the value of the subsidy itself. In my view, that's the way to go.

 

[Disdreaming479]

The price I paid for 4 people to fly to Aulani this June makes me want to choke. I can’t imagine spending that much yearly on one vacation.

 

[DanCali]

The price I paid for 4 people to fly to Aulani this June makes me want to choke. I can’t imagine spending that much yearly one one vacation.

I'm sure that's right, but points have different uses.

First, AULs is always among the top contracts when discussing SAP points. For example, spring or summer in PVB standard studios is almost never a problem at 7 months.

And also - Aulani points are very easy to either rent or transfer when not used (and probably at higher than average prices).

 

[Disdreaming479]

I'm sure that's right, but points have different uses.

First, AULs is always among the top resorts when discussing SAP points. And also - Aulani points are very easy to either rent or transfer when not used.

Yes I have sap points at wdw, where I can drive if I have to. We love Florida and in future will likely drive, as we will be snow birding around the state.

 

[Brian Noble]

The price I paid for 4 people to fly to Aulani this June makes me want to choke

I tend to go to Hawaii (roughly) once every other year. But, when I go it is for at least two weeks, and preferably three. That makes the airfare easier to swallow.

So far, my favorite landing spots have been: Hilton Waikoloa Village (particularly Kings' Land), Kauai Beach Villas in Lihue (no longer an option--the resort is folding), and Wyndham Shearwater on Kauai's north shore. I last went in '23, and am next going in '26. I am thinking about Hilton Hawaiian Village (in the Grand Waikikian) as the anchor and am not sure what I am going to pair it with.

 

[Disdreaming479]

I tend to go to Hawaii (roughly) once every other year. But, when I go it is for at least two weeks, and preferably three. That makes the airfare easier to swallow.

So far, my favorite landing spots have been: Hilton Waikoloa Village (particularly Kings' Land), Kauai Beach Villas in Lihue (no longer an option--the resort is folding), and Wyndham Shearwater on Kauai's north shore. I last went in '23, and am next going in '26. I am thinking about Hilton Hawaiian Village (in the Grand Waikikian) as the anchor and am not sure what I am going to pair it with.

Also I do plan to go to the other islands but definitely when we’re a party of 2 and can travel in lower demand seasons. But for DVC ownership, it makes very little financial sense as sap considering the flight costs.

 

[DanCali]

But for DVC ownership, it makes very little financial sense as sap considering the flight costs.

I am not sure I follow this argument, at least for the subsidized contracts. When we don't go to Hawaii, we can just use our AULs at WDW with dues of $7.60 (as of 2025). SSR and OKW are almost always available at 7 months, but we've actually never stayed at those resorts (with the exception of the Treehouse Villas) because, at least during some of the times we visit, I've always been able to book other places we prefer more like PVB, AKV, BLT, VGF and even BWV and BCV.

And if you prefer to rent out those points, getting $20-$23/pt on dues of $7.60 is not a bad proposition.

 

[Disdreaming479]

I am not sure I follow this argument, at least for the subsidized contracts. When we don't go to Hawaii, we can just use our AULs at WDW with dues of $7.60. SSR and OKW are almost always available at 7 months, but we've actually never stayed at those resorts (with the exception of the Treehouse Villas) because, at least during the times we visit, I've always been able to book other places we prefer more like PVB, AKV, BLT, VGF and even BWV and BCV.

And if you prefer to rent out those points, getting $20-$23/pt on dues of $7.60 is not a bad proposition.

i guess there should be an asterisk **for me** in that comment. If I add the $4000 flight cost difference *for me* to my yearly cost to use my SSR points at Aulani, that adds $6.44 per point to my 621 point reservation for this June.

 

[SugarSweetLee]

One issue I have with additional points is my age- 67 and the fact that I add my daughter to the contracts so what burden am I leaving her as the sole owner at a certain point.

I don't fully grasp the concept of DVC inherited as a burden. If anyone was left a contract and didn't want it or the dues that came with it, could they not - at the very least (assuming they couldn't sell it for minimal $) - surrender it back to Disney?

Can anyone correct me if I am misunderstanding?

 

[intamin]

The price I paid for 4 people to fly to Aulani this June makes me want to choke. I can’t imagine spending that much yearly on one vacation.

The cost of flights definitely hurts. We went twice last year and are going again this year close to July 4th and the cost of flights ultimately made it so we didn't take my sister in law. I'm kind of glad to "only" have 200 points there to not overcommit on yearly trips to Aulani. It's pretty easy to burn through points there though so whenever I come close I suppose I'll just upgrade ourselves to a 1/2BR. We've been booking the hotel room category for a week at a time though since we're cheap and it only costs 120 for each week.

 

[Disdreaming479]

The cost of flights definitely hurts. We went twice last year and are going again this year close to July 4th and the cost of flights ultimately made it so we didn't take my sister in law. I'm kind of glad to "only" have 200 points there to not overcommit on yearly trips to Aulani. It's pretty easy to burn through points there though so whenever I come close I suppose I'll just upgrade ourselves to a 1/2BR. We've been booking the hotel room category for a week at a time though since we're cheap and it only costs 120 for each week.

Yes. I was heavily banked before planning for Aulani and finally had to actually borrow for the trip with two weeks at wdw this year already.

 

[Psymonds]

Aulani would be great to own for islanders or people who can easily make the trek. But it’s a long distance. For others it could be an expensive annual burden, which is probably why the price is dropping a bit during uncertain times. It isn’t just the cost of Aulani; it’s also the cost of getting on that long airplane trip.

closer to us than WDW, but even for us we only go to Hawaii every 3 years or so, and now we're going on 5 years between trips and 9 years between Aulani. on a 3 year cycle we could make Aulani points work.

 

[tom1944]

I don't fully grasp the concept of DVC inherited as a burden. If anyone was left a contract and didn't want it or the dues that came with it, could they not - at the very least (assuming they couldn't sell it for minimal $) - surrender it back to Disney?

Can anyone correct me if I am misunderstanding?

No, you are correct, but I want to give her a cushion where she will not have to sell quickly.