Booking Aulani

[catmegs]

How do you make your reservations for Aulani? I keep bouncing between renting points or a normal cash booking, since we're going in September the fall 30% promotion doesn't make the $ difference too great. However, I'm finding the Disney Aulani website to be pretty random in it's room availability. When I plug in some dates sometimes it will only show certain room categories left (i.e. poolside view), but other times -with the same dates- it will come up with more. Is the website a good predictor of what rooms are available or better to call Disney reservations? Do you also gauge how busy the resort will be based on what rooms are left?

 

[crystal1313]

I always call to book, for all my Disney vacations. I try to look up dates online, and then call to make the reservation. The CM's are super friendly and helpful. In fact, when I booked Aulani, the CM I spoke with was SO helpful! He explained that if I booked a package, I would not have to put as much money down as a deposit. I asked what made a package, and he listed a bunch of things, one being an airport shuttle and we were planning on booking that anyway. It REALLY helped because we had just paid for our airfare and paying the deposit for the room only reservation would have been much more expensive. Plus, this CM was full of info and so very patient with me. Hope that helps!!

 

[Supplanter]

Agree with crystal, always call in. They are very helpful over the phone and there is no worrying about if a deal applies or not, they take care of it.
If you call direct they may offer you free food, free spa day, etc... you won't get any of that if you rent points. I'd only rent points if it saved me a good chunk of cash

 

[GeneralTso]

The website is awful (as is the entire Disney website)--they can't seem to get their tech/website stuff together.

I called and it was very easy. Don't waste time online.

 

[cmph]

I used my usual Disney travel agent to book. I found the same thing with renting points vs booking direct - didn't save anything, and eliminated some perks (daily housekeeping with supply replenishment being the main one I cared about). It wasn't listed on the 30% off special, but she booked me with that and got $50/day resort credit for the length of our stay - 8 nights, so $400! I would definitely call if you don't want to use an agent and renting isn't going to save for your dates.