Aulani Questions

[beachbunny]

I just visited Aulani today. I think I'm hooked. But before I buy, can I please get some help?
1. If I purchase Aulani, will I have any problem booking AKL savannah view at any time during the year 7 months out? Currently, I stay at AKL one or two times each year (non-DVC) but I live in Hawaii so I think having my home resort closer would be better as I get older and don't want to travel cross-country - otherwise, it would be a no-brainer and I'd be buying AKL.
2. If I close now and Aulani doesn't open until August 2011, do I get 2010 points? (I don't start paying dues until September 2011 if that makes any difference).
3. The current incentives are $8 for 160-190 points, $10 for 200-319 points, and $12 for 320+ points. I haven't heard of any other incentives. Is this the best I can get right now?
4. Do I have to deal with the guide who showed me around today? I didn't get a warm-fuzzy feeling from her.
Thank you for helping a newbie.

 

[lilpooh108]

I just visited Aulani today. I think I'm hooked. But before I buy, can I please get some help?
1. If I purchase Aulani, will I have any problem booking AKL savannah view at any time during the year 7 months out? Currently, I stay at AKL one or two times each year (non-DVC) but I live in Hawaii so I think having my home resort closer would be better as I get older and don't want to travel cross-country - otherwise, it would be a no-brainer and I'd be buying AKL.
2. If I close now and Aulani doesn't open until August 2011, do I get 2010 points? (I don't start paying dues until September 2011 if that makes any difference).
3. The current incentives are $8 for 160-190 points, $10 for 200-319 points, and $12 for 320+ points. I haven't heard of any other incentives. Is this the best I can get right now?
4. Do I have to deal with the guide who showed me around today? I didn't get a warm-fuzzy feeling from her.
Thank you for helping a newbie.

Hi You must be up because it's only 9pm in Hawaii . . .I'm a newbie too but I'll try to answer your questions since everyone else seems to be asleep

1) Availability changes from moment to moment (literally), and it really depends on when you plan on traveling, and when you call for book. I booked AKV Savannah view for Labor Day weekend at 4 months away, and successfully booked AKV Sav view studio at 7 months for 3rd week of December for Christmas vacation. I had to waitlist for 2 BR AKV Sav view--and it never came thru. So, it depends.

2) You do not get 2010 points, and you will get billed in January 2012 for the MFs for 2012, and the MFs prorated for 2011. MFs for 2011 do not start until Sept 2011. My guide was unsure whether we'd get 2 separate bills.

3) There may be "additional" incentives if there are events available or if you attend a sales presentation on a cruise. I attended the DLR event, and if you purchased 160+ you'd get either an additional $2 off (on top of the incentives you mentioned) OR FREE 2012 MFs. I read on the Cruise boards that this same deal is being offered for cruise sales presentations.

4) I think the person you first speak to becomes your guide, but if you really don't like her you can ask to switch.

I bought after I visited Ko'Olina for a quick trip..and I agree with you...love the location! Hope this helps.

 

[rparmfamily]

I don't have the answers, but I'm hoping to be able to stay at Aulani at the 7 mo mark! We are BLT and SSR owners.

 

[adminjedi]

We (my DH and I) think you should buy AKV. Here is our thinking:

If you want to go do DW, you have a home resort with 11 month booking window. If you want to stay at Aulani, because you live there, you have great flexibility and last minute opportunity to go without worrying about plane tickets and can use your AKV points to stay.

 

[Sandisw]

I believe that points for Aulani begin until 2011. Therefore, the earliest you will have points would be February 2011, if you chose a Feb UY. And, when we bought BLT, we could not use points for stays anywhere until the resort was open. So, if it works the same way, any points you get would not be eligible for stays before opening, Sept 2011. To me, buying points now that can not be used for an entire year would be difficult.

As you mention, your MF"s won't start until Sept 2011, but you will be billed around October or so. That is what happened with BLT. And, if you happen to have an Oct or Dec UY, then you probably will only owe MF's from Oct or Dec 2011.

What I might do is buy some AKV points now and then add on additional points at Aulani so that you get the best of both worlds. DVC has been very good of giving you the incentives based on totals.

So, say you wanted 200 points. Figure out what would be a good amount to start with for AKV (maybe to cover at least one of your trips) and then go with that. With banking and borrowing, you could also look at doing some alternate trips. So, maybe doing 100 AKV and 100 Aulani.

But, with owning at least some AKV points, you can book there at 11 months and make sure you get your SV rooms at least most of the time. At 7 months, you can then extend your stay with the Aulani points or book the 2nd trip.

Good luck

 

[beachbunny]

Thank you for the responses. My guide has told me that my incentives expire tomorrow so I need to make a decision soon. (One of the reasons I didn't really like her was that it seemed like she was putting pressure on me. I thought DVC was no pressure. On the other hand, she did let slip that her last job was selling Marriott timeshares.)

I agree that buying points that I can't use for a year is problematic.

So nobody thinks the distance from my home resort, if I chose AKV, would be a problem?

Yesterday, I was all but sold on Aulani. Now, I'm not so sure. So here are some AKV questions:
1. What is the current price/incentives for AKV?
2. I'm going to WDW in November. Does anyone have the name of a really excellent guide? If I haven't purchased Aulani before that time, it'll probably be a sure sale.

 

[adminjedi]

I agree that buying points that I can't use for a year is problematic.
So nobody thinks the distance from my home resort, if I chose AKV, would be a problem?

Not if you have and plan to continue going to WDW

]here are some AKV questions:
1. What is the current price/incentives for AKV?
2. I'm going to WDW in November. Does anyone have the name of a really excellent guide? If I haven't purchased Aulani before that time, it'll probably be a sure sale.

According to DVCnews:

Animal Kingdom Villas

$120 base price less $8 promotional discount; 100 points
$120 base price less $8 promotional discount; 160-199 points
$120 base price less $15 promotional discount; 200+ points

Special Offer 1: With a referral from a current DVC member, prospecitve owners will receive a $25 gift card for completing a sales presentation via telephone. Unspecified incentive pricing will be offered during the phone tour. contact Administrator@DVCNews.com to obtain a referral. CAN be combined with other offers!
Special Offer 2: With the "Magical Beginnings" program, save an extra $5 per point by selling-back first year's points to DVC

However, if you are at the Aulani sales office, they may have a better incentive for AKV.
I believe once you have a guide assigned, they are yours = no matter where you buy.

 

[beachbunny]

If I'm stuck with this guide for life that really sucks. She knows next to nothing about WDW and has never been there. Regarding Aulani, I'm an absolute newbie regarding DVC and I knew about as much as she did.

 

[adminjedi]

If I'm stuck with this guide for life that really sucks. She knows next to nothing about WDW and has never been there. Regarding Aulani, I'm an absolute newbie regarding DVC and I knew about as much as she did.

I guess you can call a generic DVC number and ask about getting a new guide. It never hurts to ask!

 

[beachbunny]

I think I could deal with her lack of knowledge. After all, Aulani sales just opened and there is a learning curve. But I absolutely can't stand her heavy hitting timeshare sales attitude. I just bought a car and that salesman put less pressure on me.

Can I get a name of a guide at WDW that I can ask to be transferred to?

 

[wdrl]

Can I get a name of a guide at WDW that I can ask to be transferred to?

I'm sure Disney would gladly assign a different Guide to you if you made that as a contingent of a possible. By the way, not all Guides at WDW will be able to sell Aulani to you. Our Guide said that the State of Hawaii has some licensing requirements for timeshare salespeople. He can sell to almost anyone EXCEPT residents of the State of Hawaii.

Good luck on your decision!

 

[adminjedi]

Actually, we just got a new guide assigned to us as our previous guide "retired". He said that they were trying to match westcoast guides to westcoast members. The CA guides can sell Aulani - that is where we bought. Our guide name:Justin Brown

 

[TLPL]

Beachbummy: I think you should call DVC and ask to speak to a guide that can help you with Aulani, you don't even have to tell them you talked to the local guide there on site.
I would for sure get at least some points from Aulani, since like you said you might one day no longer want to travel cross country for vacation. And how about get points from V@Grand Californian? it is much closer to you and just as cool as AKL!

 

[IandGsmom]

You should definitely get points at Aulani. No 2010 points since we wont start paying till 2011 and can start booking next month I think.

Next time you go to AKL or before you go you can always add on. There always seem to be a lot of AKL on timeshare resale websites too. Last time we were at DL, we got VGC points and called my guide yesterday to add on Aulani. Its almost too easy

If you need a name of a terrific guide who does not pressure you at all but is very knowledgeable, PM me. She is based out the DVC office at DL.

 

[beachbunny]

I think I have some clarity now. Even though it's in my back yard, I don't know how often I'd be going to Aulani. I live on a beach so I wouldn't be going for that, and when I staycation, I usually fly to a neighbor island (in fact, it's faster to fly to a neighbor island than to drive to Aulani). My reason for buying points was for the distant future even though, for now, I intended to use my points mainly at WDW. I think I'm headed in the direction of purchasing AKV and then perhaps, adding a few Aulani points later. That way, I can make use of the 11 month booking window at AKV. How does that sound?

 

[adminjedi]

I think I have some clarity now. Even though it's in my back yard, I don't know how often I'd be going to Aulani. I live on a beach so I wouldn't be going for that, and when I staycation, I usually fly to a neighbor island (in fact, it's faster to fly to a neighbor island than to drive to Aulani). My reason for buying points was for the distant future even though, for now, I intended to use my points mainly at WDW. I think I'm headed in the direction of purchasing AKV and then perhaps, adding a few Aulani points later. That way, I can make use of the 11 month booking window at AKV. How does that sound?

I think you made the right decision....although I am biased since it was what I suggested!

 

[DenLo]

Thank you for the responses. My guide has told me that my incentives expire tomorrow so I need to make a decision soon. (One of the reasons I didn't really like her was that it seemed like she was putting pressure on me. I thought DVC was no pressure. On the other hand, she did let slip that her last job was selling Marriott timeshares.)

I agree that buying points that I can't use for a year is problematic.

So nobody thinks the distance from my home resort, if I chose AKV, would be a problem?

Yesterday, I was all but sold on Aulani. Now, I'm not so sure. So here are some AKV questions:
1. What is the current price/incentives for AKV?
2. I'm going to WDW in November. Does anyone have the name of a really excellent guide? If I haven't purchased Aulani before that time, it'll probably be a sure sale.

Buy where you want to stay. If it's not at Aulani, then buy at AKV. And I would check out the resales and compare the prices for resale versus buying AKV direct. There's a link to the TimeShare Store in the ad above.

The problem of buying somewhere and assuming you can stay somewhere else at 7 months without any difficulties could cause you unhappiness later. Just because AKV is so easy to get into today doesn't mean it will be easy to get reservations at the 7 month later as there will be more DVC owners. The same can be said for Aulani. The more owners that call AKV or Aulani their home resorts, the higher likelihood that the owners will book the villas between 8 and 11 months and the leftovers will be slim.

As far as a guide, your first guide will get credit for any purchase you make within 30 days of your initial contact. A new guide would get could complete credit after the 30 days, but would share the commission with the original contact until the 30 day mark. Our guide told us about this 30 day limit when we went to a BLT tour earlier this year. It's a bonus to the guides who spend time doing face to face contacts at the resorts or at WDW at the Information center. Our guide works from home so most of his sales are from telephone calls.

Good luck and aloha!