Aulani: what are most of you buying??

[bakenatj]

I won't buy Aulani points because I love Maui. When I go to Hawaii I want to go to Maui. Oahu doesn't really interest me except to see Pearl Harbor once, so I will take my chances at 7 months when we decide to take a trip.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

We go to Hawai'i every other year with our family and I go annually for a Kona trip with my buddies (Kona Brew Fest, yeah!).

We have been to all of the major islands and, as others have mentioned, Oahu really does come in last when ranking them. HOWEVER, it is still Hawai'i and can be a total blast. As mentioned above, there is lots to do in Oahu that doesn't involve Waikiki or traffic jams. It is a gorgeous island and far better scenery that what we get here in Northeast Ohio!

We chose not to add on because either (a) we will get in at 7 months or (b) we will just go to one of the other islands and stay somewhere else.

I think Disney will do a great job and can't wait to visit!

 

[Dean]

If I were looking at DVC HI and wanted a chunk of points retail, I'd have to consider buying the guaranteed week option, esp if tied to a school calendar. Doubly so if there was a chance I'd travel around Xmas or NY or week 7.

 

[kimberh]

When I think of Hawaii, it's Maui for us. We stay there a week, then Island hop. All we do at Oahu, is Pearl Harbor. We have been there and done that. Just can't see us staying a week there. I'm sure DVC will be great, I will try to get a few nights depending on reviews, but at 7 month window.

 

[AnnaS]

Great thoughts and advice. Consider splitting the contract, the size you will need, how often you want to go and travel expenses. Of course being very comfortable with your annual dues must come into play.

Good luck deciding, planning and keep us posted.

 

[bearpele]

We bought. We have been blessed with two military assignments on Oahu. We know the islands well and will spend about 2 weeks every 2 years in Hawaii visiting the islands.

 

[MiaSRN62]

My suggestion to anyone who buys (at any DVC for that matter), would be to purchase not just the exact amount of points you figure for a summer in a one bedroom (as an example). Buy extra points as a buffer should there be another big point allocation. I know we purchased an amount 11 years ago that we figured would keep us in a 2 bedroom at OKW for a week. That big point allocation blew that plan out of the water. It was nice while it lasted, but in order to vacation after the allocation we either had to choose less days for a stay or downsize our unit size to accomodate the increase in points. Our "normal traditional" vacation jumped up 30 points with the allocation. So just some words of advice. Give yourselves a buffer ----which I feel is even more important with a vacation such as Aulani since it is a far and fairly expensive trek for most people.
Good luck !

 

[Mazz519]

whatever you decide on just don't buy a large 1 contract. If its's over 150 pts I would splite it up into 2 contracts. Smaller contracts are easier to sell if you need to get rid of some pts.

If you look at the resales contracts (for any DVC) you will see a lot of high pt contracts that have been there a long time.

Very true You should not have more than 200 pts on a single contract

 

[chalee94]

NM - already addressed...

 

[OHJ]

We bought blind - never been to any of the islands. We decided to buy because we LOVE Disney and DVC and as far as we were concerned, if Disney put a resort in Hawaii it would have to be great. So, we bought 109 points (yes, 109 - weird number) so we could have an 2br island view every three years in January. I wanted to pay cash at the time and that's all I could afford. I am rethinking that and am planning to purchase additional to give me an ocean view as well as a little buffer.
Also, our first trip to Aulani will be in Jan 2013 where we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary by renewing our vows Disney style. We l plan to only have our 5 children with us so depending on minimum size for Disney weddings, we may be inviting Aulani guests to join us. If you are there in Jan 2013, you may be getting an invitation.

 

[GEB@okw]

We bought blind - never been to any of the islands. We decided to buy because we LOVE Disney and DVC and as far as we were concerned, if Disney put a resort in Hawaii it would have to be great. So, we bought 109 points (yes, 109 - weird number) so we could have an 2br island view every three years in January. I wanted to pay cash at the time and that's all I could afford. I am rethinking that and am planning to purchase additional to give me an ocean view as well as a little buffer.
Also, our first trip to Aulani will be in Jan 2013 where we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary by renewing our vows Disney style. We l plan to only have our 5 children with us so depending on minimum size for Disney weddings, we may be inviting Aulani guests to join us. If you are there in Jan 2013, you may be getting an invitation.

We are planning celebrate our 35th on Jan 28, 2013 for about ten days in an ocean view Aulani one bedroom.

 

[mommacat56]

I purchased Aulani blind! I've never been to Hawaii, but this gives me just the excuse I needed to finally get there I bought 210 points, enough to have a 2 BR unit every third year (or maybe even every other, since I travel in adventure season mostly). I had my purchase broken into three 70 point contracts. I had to pay closing costs on each...I feel that the cost was minimal ($72.60 each) and was well worth it to me to have the smaller contracts. I'm booked on the Hawaii cruise next April-May and will definitely take the "shore excursion" to Aulani, which I'm sure will be heavily marketed by DVC and encouraged by the cruise line while we are at sea for 4 days! I'm sure I'll be drinking the Koolaid some more once I see it! And, I will be booking my first stay for early in 2013. Can't wait!

 

[JWG]

We know Hawaii would be a rare trip for us. We may go in 2013, but wouldn't again for quite some time. That mixed with the resort not being in the best part of Hawaii according to many means we'd likely just do a cash resie and rent our points.

 

[normr]

I would purchase something in WDW to get the 11 month window and then once in a while, book exotic and go to Hawaii. Unless all you are going to do is to bank all your points one year and in the next year use those second years points and borrow the 3rd years points.

But that seems like a waste to me.

 

[BlackRock]

I have been told to buy in small amounts; people are always looking for small contracts to add on.

BlackRock

 

[adminjedi]

I have been told to buy in small amounts; people are always looking for small contracts to add on.

With the new Disney ROFR fees to be assessed on Aulani resales, smaller contracts will be less financially attractive than in the past. Also, due to location and travel costs, fewer people will see the value in 1 or 2 day contracts (25-50pts). A 100pt contract is 4 nights each year or 8 nights every-other-year in a January oceanview studio, which to me seems like a minimum level to consider.

 

[stanamy]

Ok, help me understand owning points at more than one DVC property. Let's say I own 160 points at BLT and 100 points at Aulani. Can I bank my 160 BLT points and use them with my 100 Aulani points and book Aulani at 11 month out? Or, can I only use my 100 Aulani points at 11 months out and wait to extend my Aulani stay or upgrade to a larger room at 7 months using my 160 BLT points?

I've read that some DVC'ers have multiple contracts at different resorts to lock in the 11 month rule at different resorts. But if you have very small contracts like 50 points/each at multiple resorts, you can't get many days at the 11 month mark unless you can combine points from your other resorts. Sorry, we're farily new to this timeshare stuff.

 

[chalee94]

Ok, help me understand owning points at more than one DVC property. Let's say I own 160 points at BLT and 100 points at Aulani. Can I bank my 160 BLT points and use them with my 100 Aulani points and book Aulani at 11 month out?

no. you have the 11 month window at aulani for the 100 aulani pts but not the BLT pts. the BLT pts can only be used at aulani at 7 months out if there is still availability.

I've read that some DVC'ers have multiple contracts at different resorts to lock in the 11 month rule at different resorts. But if you have very small contracts like 50 points/each at multiple resorts, you can't get many days at the 11 month mark unless you can combine points from your other resorts.

you can bank and borrow from your aulani contract to have up to 300 aulani pts every third year. this is what many people do. (some will spend half their vacation at BWV and then the other half at OKW for variety.)

 

[slum808]

With the new Disney ROFR fees to be assessed on Aulani resales, smaller contracts will be less financially attractive than in the past. Also, due to location and travel costs, fewer people will see the value in 1 or 2 day contracts (25-50pts). A 100pt contract is 4 nights each year or 8 nights every-other-year in a January oceanview studio, which to me seems like a minimum level to consider.

Could you expalin what the new ROFR fee is at Aulani.

Thanks

 

[CarrianneB]

We bought 160 points for a 1 bedroom every three years. We have only been to Hawaii once - 10 years ago. But we really want to go back, and this is a reason to push us there. We have a trip planned for spring break of 2012 and we are hoping to visit at least one other island while we are there.