Helpful tips for Booking Aulani at 7 months Needed!

[cpc430]

I went online this morning at 8am Eastern (actually it was 8:01am) to make a late June reservation at Aulani for a one bedroom, Ocean view (but would have also taken pool view or island view). The 1st day of the reservation was already gone! Boo! I am going to try again tomorrow.

Does anyone have any tips to share that could better my chances of getting through? I will definitely be logged into the site earlier tomorrow. Should I go straight to the reservation page or use the availability checker, then go to reservation from there (is it held while I am entering the rest of my party's info)?

We are new members, joined in July. This is my 1st time making a 7 month window reservation and I'm feeling the pressure for sure!

 

[chainkid]

The only tips I can give is to check availability before 8AM then be ready at 8AM immediately. One thing you can do is to find a time frame that is open and pretend you are booking it. This will allow you to put all your pertinent information into the system . You only need to put one person's name on the room preferably yours. you can call member services later and put in other names and make requests but to reserve you only need one name, address etc. If you do the reservation you can secure it and it will require you to submit all your information. Then after you receive a number you go to my travel plans and cancel it. You have now created a memory so when at 8AM you want to make a new reservation a lot of the info will be there. you will still have to take points from your contract but it will be quicker. If you can't get the first day you are not going to be allowed to book. Once you have that day take what you can and waitlist the rest. Call member services back to request first day that you couldn't get be put on your waitlist. I have seen inventory be gone and then a week later open up. some people are walking their reservations in order to get that first day so they may release them soon after. Most people have had luck with Aulani in the past.

Once you start to book and the time frame is available starting with first day then you have 20 minutes while its held for you. Make sure you scroll down the acknowledgements and check off I agree or you will waste time. Give basics only to get that reservation number. I would then stalk the tool several times a day looking for your opening. Do not just sit back and wait for member services or your nights could be snagged by someone online. Good Luck .

 

[Sur]

I've watched whole weeks open up then an hour later be unavailable here and there. I'd venture to say people are moving things around...just stalk, stalk, stalk, early morning, late at night, get one here and one there if you can. When we did a complicated 7 month booking, we needed to buy OTU points too, which meant bringing member services in...it was SUPER stressful, but eventually all days were there. Poor MS had to combine reservations so that TONS of mailings didn't come and we kept same room. They do work very hard!

 

[mrsR123]

I've watched whole weeks open up then an hour later be unavailable here and there. I'd venture to say people are moving things around...just stalk, stalk, stalk, early morning, late at night, get one here and one there if you can. When we did a complicated 7 month booking, we needed to buy OTU points too, which meant bringing member services in...it was SUPER stressful, but eventually all days were there. Poor MS had to combine reservations so that TONS of mailings didn't come and we kept same room. They do work very hard!

Not the OP, but this is very encouraging. Thanks.

 

[cpc430]

Just wanted to update!

I was able to make my reservation for the end of June! Woohoo! I took chainkid's advice and checked availability just prior to the 8am online window opening. Once I saw the room was available for my date, I clicked on "book a resort" and filled out everything (dates, resort, room type, kids ages, etc). I waited until my computer showed to 5am (I am on Pacific time and was literally counting down at 4:59) and as soon as I did, I submitted it. Luckily, it was available and I grabbed it! From then, I had 20 minutes to put the rest of our info.

Yay! This will be our 1st trip to Aulani and Oahu (for me and the kids, my husband has been before as a kid and for work). Super excited!!!

 

[mrsR123]

Back to update, too: I had to compromise on dates, but I managed to get five days in a row across two views as of this morning. We won't be at Aulani for our anniversary, but we will be there for DH's 50th.

Be patient and keep checking.