Availibility tool reliable?

[jpeka65844]

I always heard how hard it was to get a summer ressie at Aulani if you're not an owner. I check the availability tool every week to see how it looks for June 2015 and so far, what we want is still available.

Our booking window opens on Nov 1. Has the new tool been reliable? Anyone had experience comparing it to actual availibility?

 

[Msmithmd]

Yes. The tool shows actual current availability data. Just be aware that "limited availability" means some of the days you are searching are NOT currently available. But they might open later on a cancellation.

It's kinda frustrating that DVC chose this wording for the tool because it seems misleading. Accept it for what it is...

 

[tjkraz]

I always heard how hard it was to get a summer ressie at Aulani if you're not an owner. I check the availability tool every week to see how it looks for June 2015 and so far, what we want is still available.

Looking big picture, it's fairly rare for resorts to be completely booked before the 7 month window. There are exceedingly popular time periods when resorts will fill with owners at 11 months (or shortly thereafter). And there are small "view" categories which will be gobbled up be owners. But more often than not there is SOMETHING left available at 7 months.

Problem comes when there are only 5 rooms available and 50 people wishing to book. The availability tool...and even the website booking feature...doesn't tell you how many villas are vacant. It could be as little as one room remaining.

Summer at Aulani is very popular. Be online at 7:55am eastern and hope for the best. Good luck!

 

[jerseygal]

Hope that it is reliable!

Good Luck with Aulani! Went first week of June last year and it was GREAT; booked right at 7 mos! Be prepared though for STANDARD rooms to be not available at 7 mos; island view, pool view more likely!

 

[automaticsoap]

Yes, this tool is great! I was playing around with it earlier this month to see what resorts were available in early February, when I was already booked in an AKV standard studio. I saw that a value studio was available for my exact dates, and I was able to switch my reservation. I never even waitlisted the value studio because I didn't think I'd have a chance.

 

[DebbieB]

Yes. The tool shows actual current availability data. Just be aware that "limited availability" means some of the days you are searching are NOT currently available. But they might open later on a cancellation.

It's kinda frustrating that DVC chose this wording for the tool because it seems misleading. Accept it for what it is...

The nice thing is you can click on the room type you want and it will give you the availability for the whole month, month before and month after. So you can see 3 months of availability at one time.