Frustrated with ressie attempts! Any tips/tricks?

[twinsmom44]

My 7-month window opened yesterday for the target dates in June we are stalking. I logged in before 8:00 a.m. this morning trying to get any 2-BR or even a 3BR any view or even L/O. With people walking reservations forward and the system constantly crashing (at least 7 times while trying to book something actually available), I'm extremely frustrated right now.
The best I could do in between the system crashes and refreshing was:
6/11 2BR Ocean- waitlist
6/12 2BR Ocean- confirmed
6/13 2BR Ocean- waitlist

I went in to try to grab any studios or even a 1 BR I could find available since we may have more than 9 adults, but after the system kept crashing as I was midway through the reservation, I just gave up and came over here to see if any of you could offer any tricks/tips.

Thanks!

 

[Lew]

It has been my experience that attempting to book before 8:00am eastern time is problematic. I'm thinking IT may be working on the website before that time.

If you still cannot book online after 8:00am, I'd recommend calling Member Services for assistance.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

That's just peak time at Aulani. June, early July, and Christmas are the dates that are going to give you headaches.

 

[JC1984]

Second what the Captain said.

 

[Chuck S]

7 month reservations may be problematic for the next several months. International travel is reopening, there is a glut of points from those international owners, and everyone is scrambling to book to either travel themselves or rent out as annual dues time gets closer.

 

[To the honeypots]

There are several categories with 1 bedrooms available now for June 11. It definitely is hard to grab the reservations at 7 months but June 11th opened on November 11th so my only tip would be to make sure you have the correct opening dates. From the above, it looks like you were trying a day after they opened for your travel dates. I do wish you pixie dust in your reservation coming through.

 

[twinsmom44]

Thank you everyone. We are flexible with our dates but have two teachers in the family so we do have to wait until both are out in June to travel, just like everyone else. I logged on this morning 11/14 using dates 6/14-6/21, had my world timer set did my search so all I had to do was click on the button to reserve the room and received the "not in your 7-month window message." Where do I have to start before 8:00 a.m. EST to be ready to click and grab the room I want? do I have to start right at the search window? I thought I read on another post that I could get to the search list, then sit and wait for the world clock to say 7:59:59 and click right at 8:00:00:00 to snag a room, but i still received the "not in your window message."

 

[crisi]

Between trying to book for June - always a problem and international travel opening up making all reservations tight, its going to be tough.

 

[twinsmom44]

FINALLY!!!!! I persisted and finally scored my coveted June week-long ressie at Aulani! I was just about to give up, but thought I would just keep giving it a try. This time, I brought out both my new iPad and my laptop. I still wasn't 100% certain on the strategy of stop at the first window where you enter the dates, resort, room type to push "Check Availability" OR the next step where just the available rooms show in a list, OR the next step where you select the room and just click "Continue". It was the last one. Woo hoo! Happy Dance!

I just about dropped my new iPad on the floor when I realized I had actually been able to grab the ressie for a 2-BR Ocean View!

Thank you everyone for your advice. Much appreciated!

Now if only I could get my ticker to work for the countdown!

 

[kes601]

Glad you got it. Was going to follow up and say that at 7 months it is worth stalking throughout the day as people who booked at 11 months may switch to something else at 7 months. We just grabbed a 7 day reservation in mid June at CCV, presumably because someone switched from CCV to something else. I could have even gotten a RIV Standard View studio if I had been quicker.....