Need Aulani waitlist advice

[Ashlotte]

We are new Aulani resale members and are booking our first trip as owners for next June. We are almost in the seven month window, so I need to make decisions quickly before the non-owners are able to jump in. We previously had five nights booked in a two-bedroom island view room and then we were going to fly to Maui and stay at our other timeshare for an additional five nights. I had to book my airfare this week because my companion certificate on Alaska airlines was expiring, so had to lock in our trip. The airfare didn’t work for our original plan, so we dropped Maui, changed our arrival day at Aulani, and are now staying at Aulani for seven nights. The problem is, now the room we are in for the first half of our trip is unavailable for the second half, so we will have to switch rooms and waitlist. I often hear about the waitlist coming through in general, but I’m wondering if that still applies to Aulani, since it’s a different sort of trip and there aren’t any roadtrippers canceling plans last minute. Does anyone have a success story to share?

What is the best waitlist strategy? Currently we have four nights in a 2bd island view, then two nights in a 1 bd island view, then back to a 2 bd island view. I really don’t want to move twice, and the 1 bed island view is available for all of those three nights (for now… the seven month window is about to open). I waitlisted each of the other two nights separately, thinking this might enhance my chances of getting them. Is this a bad strategy? Should I just book the last three nights in a 1 bedroom in case we don’t get the waitlist (to avoid moving again) and put in a waitlist for a three day chunck instead, possibly decreasing the odds of a match? Also, how inconvenient is it to switch rooms at Aulani? Do they offer somewhere to put perishables while you are between rooms?

We are a family of four with 19 and 17 year olds. We could definitely fit in a one bedroom, but have traveled using timeshares their whole lives so we are used to staying in two bedrooms and we all enjoy having our own space and being on our own sleep schedules. I think if we were at WDW it would be less of an issue because we’d be at the parks all day, but I know Aulani shuts the pools down early and there is definitely more downtime. A two bedroom is everyone’s preference for this trip.

 

[Sandisw]

Honestly, I’d book the three nights in the 1 bedroom so you move only once. If you have the points, keep that last night in the 2 bedroom as well and waitlist the fifth night and then stalk to see if it comes shows up on its own.

Just remember That a waitlist is all or nothing so if you choose to replace it replaces all not just some. So, if you need the points from the nights you have booked in the 1 bedroom to fill the nights in the 2 bedroom, make sure you call MS and tell them to only cancel the one night and not all.

 

[Curiousporpoise]

I would book the 1 bedroom right now, then stalk the calendar for the 2 bedrooms. June is a super popular month at Aulani and lots of people are looking for June dates as the point chart increases in July.

I just purchased Aulani resale too, and booked the end of May, and June was completely open. Then the 7 month window opened, and now there’s only random nights available in different room types.

 

[AZMermaid]

I think I’d do what you have done- separately waitlist the single nights. being single nights and island view… I think you’ve got a solid chance. Are you reserved in a regular 2 bedroom or a lock off? Lock off will be harder to come through. It’s a gamble though. Moving will be annoying- but ok. They’ll hold your stuff at bell services. You could plan to be offsite those day to eliminate the homeless feeling. Go off, explore, come back to the new room. It sounds like your family will be much happier in a 2 bedroom and worst case, two scrunched nights is better than 5!

 

[AZMermaid]

Another idea! With teens- maybe book the middle two nights in Waikiki and explore there for a couple days and then return to Aulani to relax again if the WL doesn’t come through. That’s more work to totally move though and you lose the kitchen… but maybe an idea to kick around. If you have to move anyway- it might be more fun to make it an adventure.

 

[Ashlotte]

Thanks, everyone. I checked again and there was a two-bedroom lock off island view for those same two days, so I switched to that designation. That still has us moving twice if the regular 2 bd island view doesn't come through, but at least the point value is the same, so I don't need to worry about that. A lock off isn't a great solution because there is only one bed in the second bedroom, so someone will get a nice, big bed and the other gets a pullout, but at least we will have our own rooms and extra bathrooms. I'm glad we now have rooms and plane tickets secured!

 

[AZMermaid]

Two nights- they each do a night on the couch, lol! Great update- hope the WL comes through still though

 

[Ashlotte]

Two nights- they each do a night on the couch, lol! Great update- hope the WL comes through still though

Yes! You are totally right. Each gets a turn and no one is allowed to complain because we are somewhere wonderful.

 

[jekjones1558]

I just want to reiterate what others have said: don't just waitlist. Check on your own as often as you can. Many times I have been able to book a room that I was waitlisted for. I don't know when the system does the matching for waitlists, but it hasn't worked nearly as well for me as just repeatedly checking on my own.

 

[Ashlotte]

I just want to reiterate what others have said: don't just waitlist. Check on your own as often as you can. Many times I have been able to book a room that I was waitlisted for. I don't know when the system does the matching for waitlists, but it hasn't worked nearly as well for me as just repeatedly checking on my own.

Good advice. Thank you!

 

[Ashlotte]

Waitlist came through!

 

[jekjones1558]

That is great news! Congrats!

 

[AZMermaid]

Yahoo!!