Has anyone used Aulani points?

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Hello all,
I called MS today and attempted to borrow my 2011 Aulani points into the 2010 use year for an upcoming trip. I was planning to book within the 7 month window so that we could stay at a different resort. I was told by MS that I could not use my Aulani points yet. What?! We paid in full for those points months ago and we've already paid our 2011 MFs, and I was under the impression that Disney has already started taking Aulani reservations. So, WHY is there a problem borrowing those points into the prior year for use at other resorts? Has anyone else used their Aulani points yet... and did you encounter any restrictions?
Thanks for any info,
Evey

 

[Sandisw]

You can not use points from a new resort until that resort opens. It was the same with BLT. No BLT points could be used until its opening date, August 4th.

I believe the reason is that the room that your points are associated with is not available for other owners yet. If they allowed Aulani points in to book at someone else's resort, that resort owner would have no where to go. I know that is simplistic way to look it.

For example, I own 210 points at BLT. Those points have a room to go with them. If I choose not to use them at BLT, I then open up my spot at BLT for another owner.

When a resort is not yet opened, there is no inventory to cover the points.

Hope this makes sense. I am surprised that they did not tell you this when you bought. I bought BLT points in Feb 2009 and was told that the points could not be used for stays prior to the opening date.

As far as MF's, they should be prorated for 2011 from the date of occupancy and not for the whole year. My MF's didn't start until opening and they were prorated from that date until the end of the year, even though I had a June UY and had points become current then.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

The PP is correct, you can't pull those points in for a trip before the 8/29 opening.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Until the resort opens your points cannot be used, anywhere. Your dues should be prorated based on the opening date of the resort instead of the full year too.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Thanks for the responses. I understand what you've posted. I do, however, wish we hadn't purchased the points so early now. Hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it?!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Thanks for the responses. I understand what you've posted. I do, however, wish we hadn't purchased the points so early now. Hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it?!

This should have been in the documents you signed and received. I'd have to check in our documents for when we bought in AKV before it opened, but I remember seeing/signing something regarding this.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We purchased on the first day Aulani went on sale, over the phone, without viewing paperwork first. Honestly, it was such a whim purchase in excited anticipation of our 30th anniversary... so hubby just said "okay" without his usual thorough analysis. We trusted everything our guide told us (which was actually rather incomplete info now that we look back) and didn't scour the paperwork as closely as we should have when it did arrive. I'm really glad we didn't sink too much into it...

 

[JWG]

Thanks for the responses. I understand what you've posted. I do, however, wish we hadn't purchased the points so early now. Hindsight is always 20/20, isn't it?!

On the plus side, you're not paying any more in MF then you would have had you waited until close to open. And, you likely paid less per point then anyone else who waits regardless of upcoming incentives.

 

[Sandisw]

We purchased on the first day Aulani went on sale, over the phone, without viewing paperwork first. Honestly, it was such a whim purchase in excited anticipation of our 30th anniversary... so hubby just said "okay" without his usual thorough analysis. We trusted everything our guide told us (which was actually rather incomplete info now that we look back) and didn't scour the paperwork as closely as we should have when it did arrive. I'm really glad we didn't sink too much into it...

That's what the thought of love and romance in Hawaii will do to you!!!! Have a great anniversary trip!!!!!

 

[TagsMissy]

Hello all,
I called MS today and attempted to borrow my 2011 Aulani points into the 2010 use year for an upcoming trip. I was planning to book within the 7 month window so that we could stay at a different resort. I was told by MS that I could not use my Aulani points yet. What?! We paid in full for those points months ago and we've already paid our 2011 MFs, and I was under the impression that Disney has already started taking Aulani reservations. So, WHY is there a problem borrowing those points into the prior year for use at other resorts? Has anyone else used their Aulani points yet... and did you encounter any restrictions?
Thanks for any info,
Evey

Your resort is not open yet, you cannot use those points until so for other locations. The wording is somewhere in the docs, it was the same for BLT and the previous resorts. Your 'dues' for Aulani won't come into play until the resort opens for the remaining months in the calendar year. If I remember correctly our first set of dues for BLT were due in October, a couple months after the resort opened -- those dues were only a partial year's worth to cover from August whatever the opening date was until the close of the year.

 

[TagsMissy]

We purchased on the first day Aulani went on sale, over the phone, without viewing paperwork first. Honestly, it was such a whim purchase in excited anticipation of our 30th anniversary... so hubby just said "okay" without his usual thorough analysis. We trusted everything our guide told us (which was actually rather incomplete info now that we look back) and didn't scour the paperwork as closely as we should have when it did arrive. I'm really glad we didn't sink too much into it...

Did you ask about the points being available previous to opening... it's not much longer until it's open and the points will be available to you... a handful months months waiting to use points vs decade of use the points doesn't seem to be that bad of a deal The info was there and unfortunately in this instance was missed but think of all the upcoming vacations you guys can enjoy, in the long term is this one instance of not being able to use the points going to taint all future trips? I sincerely hope not; I am envious you were able to purchase

 

[palaemon]

So, I would guess that at the end of Jan (1/29) you should be able to book somewhere else (for stays on or after 8/29), since it's the 7-month window.