Best (read: least crowded) time to plan for summer?

[thisismyusername]

We're planning a trip on DVC points for 2 summers from now, and I am really concerned that it might not be a good experience based upon the reviews of overcrowding that I'm reading. Because we would be taking a combined California (Disneyland)/Hawaii trip, we absolutely have to go during the summer months since we can't yank our kids from school for more than one week, and we're likely going to need at least 2 weeks to do everything we want to do. Our kids are also fairly busy in August with school sports, so our best time to travel would be June or July, but we would be willing to think about August if it would be *significantly* less crowded.

Any thoughts on the best time to travel in the summer? Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

I am really concerned that it might not be a good experience based upon the reviews of overcrowding that I'm reading.

Not sure where you are reading about overcrowding at Aulani. We are here now (been here for over a week) and I understand that on at least one of those days the house was full (i.e. no rooms available). I don't think the resort is overcrowded.

 

[buffettgirl]

On the plus side in the August column, schools start the first week of August in HAwaii, so everything is less crowded after that.

 

[joeyandangiesmom]

We were at Aulani 2 years ago mid/late July...could have fooled me if it was 'full'! Was a totally enjoyable experience!!!!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

Just to update my post above, we were at Aulani May 7 to 19 and never felt the place was over crowded.

 

[girli565]

So, does that mean that anytime after May is lower crowds? So is summer a good time for Aulani? I'm a teacher and summer is the only time we can take a trip for longer than 4 days.

 

[OKW Lover]

I don't know about lower crowds, but the points chart for DVC members shows this to be the most "expensive" season. That would indicate to me a bigger demand for the resort.

 

[girli565]

I don't know about lower crowds, but the points chart for DVC members shows this to be the most "expensive" season. That would indicate to me a bigger demand for the resort.

That's why I asked because as a DVC owner the point charts throw me off from fully believing May through summer is lower crowds. I guess with higher points per night maybe people aren't going? I don't know. I worry that at the 7 month mark I won't be able to get a studio according to the DVC booking patterns

 

[Gorechick]

When I was there in January, the CM's said any time that kids are out of school it is crowded.

 

[girli565]

Thanks, that's what I figured. Just like summer bookings at WDW, summer is crowded once kids are out of school. It's unavoidable for us.