Aulani - When is it difficult to book?

[suebeelin]

my extended family is looking to go to aulani in 2018. We will need 5 rooms, preferably std studios (such a point intensive property!!) for a week.

I'm curious-- when is it harder to book at aulani? Is it possible to actually get 5 std or hotel rooms for a week?

For 5 rooms for a week, I believe we are looking at about 850- 1,100 points, depending on the room category and season. That's a lot of points. Any help is much appreciated!!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Considering there are only 8 rooms total in the "standard hotel room" category, getting 5 of them may be tricky. If you have some flexibility on your dates it could be possible.

Typically the lowest point categories can often be the first to be booked up. If you are trying to go during a typical school holiday that will make your odds of getting what you want harder. If you are going during a slower season you may have better luck.

Check out the thread "Aulani Villas and Views" for helpful info and tips as well as pictures of the views from each category of room here: http://www.disboards.com/threads/aulani-villas-views-updated-05-22-2016.2907389/

That thread also has a total room count for each view category on the first page, so you can see the quantity of rooms for what your trying to book. The lock off 2 bedroom consists of a one bedroom and then a studio that connect, so looking at that, it shows only 18 studios in the standard view category whereas the next category up "Island View" has 92.

Could you book 2 bedroom suites and then have relatives share? That may give you more flexibility than everyone having studios.

 

[suebeelin]

Considering there are only 8 rooms total in the "standard hotel room" category, getting 5 of them may be tricky. If you have some flexibility on your dates it could be possible.

Typically the lowest point categories can often be the first to be booked up. If you are trying to go during a typical school holiday that will make your odds of getting what you want harder. If you are going during a slower season you may have better luck.

Check out the thread "Aulani Villas and Views" for helpful info and tips as well as pictures of the views from each category of room here: http://www.disboards.com/threads/aulani-villas-views-updated-05-22-2016.2907389/

That thread also has a total room count for each view category on the first page, so you can see the quantity of rooms for what your trying to book. The lock off 2 bedroom consists of a one bedroom and then a studio that connect, so looking at that, it shows only 18 studios in the standard view category whereas the next category up "Island View" has 92.

Could you book 2 bedroom suites and then have relatives share? That may give you more flexibility than everyone having studios.

We can try for one 2bd, but everyone else only has enough for a studio. My older sister is insisting on going in July

 

[Cinderpamela]

We can try for one 2bd, but everyone else only has enough for a studio. My older sister is insisting on going in July

If it's over July 4th weekend its gonna be harder.... after then it may be more open. Is each family using their own points to book for themselves? I would think if you are each online right at the window opening and ready to press the "book it now" button you should be able to get something. Just know that the higher view category's are the last to fill up. So you would have way better odds of getting an oceanview studio than you would a standard view studio or hotel room standard category. Book what you can, and then waitlist the rest.... and check every day on the DVC website for changes. Things can open up as people change their dates and such.

One year we went over Christmas, one of the hardest times to book.... initially our reservation had us moving room category's 3 times.... through checking back all the time on the website I was able to get it down to one move. The first night we were in a standard view studio and then we moved to an Island View One bedroom for the remainder of the week.

 

[drusba]

Hotel rooms and standard view, any size room, are difficult year round at Aulani as nights disappear for those before 7 months out even during slow seasons. It is possible you could get lucky although likely impossible for 5 rooms. In other words, if hotel room or standard view must be the choice, then be prepared to be disappointed.

For other views, except for holiday times (including some Asian holidays), best chances are between mid-Jan to mid-May, July after about July 7 or 8 to early Aug, and Sep after Labor day to mid-Dec, although you can have issues at times even seeking Island Garden rooms and sometimes pool view, particularly if seeking studios (and particularly if seeking five of them). June to about July 7 or 8 is Aulani's highest demand time of the year and holiday times tend to have difficulties at 7 months in all room categories, and last half of Aug is kind of in between for demand but likely not a time to get five studios even in ocean view.