Is 8am EST really the time?

[dischris11]

I’m having a very hard time pulling together a reservation for Aulani. Every morning I log in at 8 am on the dot and the reservation I want is already gone. Do they go live earlier than 8am? This has been very frustrating. Any other tips? I haven’t had this hard of a time before,

 

[seashoreCM]

Have you tried logging in sooner, like 7:55? Or 7:30?

 

[dischris11]

Have you tried logging in sooner, like 7:55? Or 7:30?

I haven’t yet. That’s why I’m starting to wonder if it actually opens earlier. I’m going to try, it can’t hurt.

 

[PrincessKL]

I think you want to log in before 8 am, have everything about the room you want entered, and click “search” exactly at 8 am.

 

[dischris11]

I think you want to log in before 8 am, have everything about the room you want entered, and click “search” exactly at 8 am.

Yeah, I did that and it was still gone right at 8am.

 

[dischris11]

And now I just looked and the reservation that starts on the 20th just disappeared even though there wasn’t one available for the 19th. How is this happening?

 

[Dobermanns]

And now I just looked and the reservation that starts on the 20th just disappeared even though there wasn’t one available for the 19th. How is this happening?

Someone who had a stay booked to start on the 17th or 18th, for example, decided to extend their stay to include the 20th?

 

[dischris11]

Someone who had a stay booked to start on the 17th or 18th, for example, decided to extend their stay to include the 20th?

Yeah, maybe. It just keeps happening, which is odd.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Are you booking at the 7 month mark? June is so popular at Aulani, it's really hard to get at 7 months.

 

[lilsonicfan]

There may be people walking a reservation too, for example someone who booked June 12-19 might now be walking it toward their desired date of June 24-July 1, just as an example.

 

[dischris11]

Are you booking at the 7 month mark? June is so popular at Aulani, it's really hard to get at 7 months.

Yes, I’m trying. I foolishly thought because the points showed it as not peak season that I would be able to book. I’ve gone at other times and haven’t had a problem. Is it like this for the entire summer? I’m trying to take family with us.

 

[Nabas]

Yes, I’m trying. I foolishly thought because the points showed it as not peak season that I would be able to book. I’ve gone at other times and haven’t had a problem. Is it like this for the entire summer? I’m trying to take family with us.

I watched the months from June to September 2024 in preparation for booking our September 2024 trip. We got the nights we wanted in September (loved the trip!) but the months before were booked solid.

 

[jcolvin5]

There may be people walking a reservation too, for example someone who booked June 12-19 might now be walking it toward their desired date of June 24-July 1, just as an example.

Bingo

 

[lilsonicfan]

Yes, I’m trying. I foolishly thought because the points showed it as not peak season that I would be able to book. I’ve gone at other times and haven’t had a problem. Is it like this for the entire summer? I’m trying to take family with us.

Summer in general is super popular at Aulani but honestly I think June is worse BECAUSE the points are lower. Many DVCers are notoriously cheap with their points, so going in a lower season makes the points go further.

 

[dischris11]

It happened again! I had everything teed up and hit reserve at exactly 8 and the reservation was gone. This is painful!

 

[LadybugsMum]

It happened again! I had everything teed up and hit reserve at exactly 8 and the reservation was gone. This is painful!

Keep trying. Somebody probably just has faster internet. Also keep checking back to see what opens up.

 

[jcolvin5]

It happened again! I had everything teed up and hit reserve at exactly 8 and the reservation was gone. This is painful!

It is, but keep at it. As you already know, perseverance is everything when it comes to Disney scheduling!

 

[Brian Noble]

For Hawaii specifically, it could make sense to use Interval.

For example, I stayed at Marriott's Kauai Beach Resort in Lihué a few years back on an Interval exchange using one of my unbranded weeks. This is a hotel conversion, not purpose built, which is a downside. On the upside, the location is fantastic--easy reach to both "ends" of the island, in a lovely lagoon that is protected from most of the ocean swell, but still has a little action. Enough so that a few folks can often be found surfing over by the far right as you face out to the water. The pool is great, and the resort has a very nice garden area. Many of the units are oceanfront (ours was), and the resort provides loungers down by (but not exactly on) the beach.

Don't get me wrong, it is not as nice/posh as Aulani. But, an exchange to a 1BR there tops out at 130 points for a week.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/lihka-marriotts-kauai-beach-club/overview/

Ko Olina (the Marriott right next to Aulani) also sometimes shows up. The exchanges here are more points, because it has a higher rating.

You almost certainly need an ongoing search to get something at either of these for summer because you will not have Marriott internal preference. But there's no harm in placing one and seeing what happens while you try to play the 8AM game now. I'm 95% sure Interval allows DVC members to start a search without having to deposit points (I know I can with my unbranded weeks).

And there is always the possibility of renting out some DVC points and using the cash to book something on one of the islands.

 

[eticketplease]

For Hawaii specifically, it could make sense to use Interval.

For example, I stayed at Marriott's Kauai Beach Resort in Lihué a few years back on an Interval exchange using one of my unbranded weeks. This is a hotel conversion, not purpose built, which is a downside. On the upside, the location is fantastic--easy reach to both "ends" of the island, in a lovely lagoon that is protected from most of the ocean swell, but still has a little action. Enough so that a few folks can often be found surfing over by the far right as you face out to the water. The pool is great, and the resort has a very nice garden area. Many of the units are oceanfront (ours was), and the resort provides loungers down by (but not exactly on) the beach.

Don't get me wrong, it is not as nice/posh as Aulani. But, an exchange to a 1BR there tops out at 130 points for a week.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/lihka-marriotts-kauai-beach-club/overview/

Ko Olina (the Marriott right next to Aulani) also sometimes shows up. The exchanges here are more points, because it has a higher rating.

You almost certainly need an ongoing search to get something at either of these for summer because you will not have Marriott internal preference. But there's no harm in placing one and seeing what happens while you try to play the 8AM game now. I'm 95% sure Interval allows DVC members to start a search without having to deposit points (I know I can with my unbranded weeks).

And there is always the possibility of renting out some DVC points and using the cash to book something on one of the islands.

I really wish I had thought about this earlier. Just released my Aulani rooms the other day as it was not going to be a vacation.

I had 6 of 7 nights in June but every night but the last two we would be moving between everything but a grand villa.

 

[drusba]

About June 7 through July 5 is the second highest DVC demand time of the year at Aulani (Dec 23-Jan 2 is the highest). That the time has lower point requirements in June is actually one of the major reasons for that -- i.e., having lower point costs does not indicate lower demand but, in fact, is one cause for having very high demand for the applicable time.

It can be difficult to get anything at 7 months out during that June to July time, particularly if seeking anything other than ocean view (and that is itself often gone, particularly for studios). If you are seeing openings right at 8 that then disappear almost instantly that is most likely caused by the fact that very few rooms are open in the applicable room category and the only ones open are those from which members are checking out on that date.

After July 6 through August is an easier time to get reservations. Standard view, except possibly 1BRs is usually filled before 7-months out year round. Ocean view, including studios, is usually open at 7-months out July 7 through August. Pool/garden and Island/garden views are hit or miss, and often one or the other but not necessarily both are open for times during that period.