Non-owners and Aulani

[jpeka65844]

I just finished up the Aulani review on this week's DisUnplugged podcast.

Wow. Just wow.

How long could a non-owner expect to wait to be able to get a reservation???

 

[wink13]

I just finished up the Aulani review on this week's DisUnplugged podcast.

Wow. Just wow.

How long could a non-owner expect to wait to be able to get a reservation???

I think that's a difficult question with the resort not being open yet. We were able to book our October 2011 stay at the 7 month window without issue but who know what the future brings.

I do agree. WOW!!!

 

[tjkraz]

It's a big resort. Even if the resort books to 60-70% occupancy by owners prior to the 7 month window, there will still be a couple hundred villas available at 7 months. That is, once the resort is fully open and available for points bookings.

IMO, worst case scenario is that there will be very small periods (mostly holidays) which are harder to get at 7 months. Standard View and perhaps Ocean View will be consistently harder for non-owners.

But if you're ready to call at 9am exactly 7 months out, chances for success will be nearly 100%.

 

[ACDSNY]

We were successful at the 7 month mark for Jan 2012. I've listened to part of the interview and now I'm even more excited to check the resort out.

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

It's a big resort. Even if the resort books to 60-70% occupancy by owners prior to the 7 month window, there will still be a couple hundred villas available at 7 months. That is, once the resort is fully open and available for points bookings.

IMO, worst case scenario is that there will be very small periods (mostly holidays) which are harder to get at 7 months. Standard View and perhaps Ocean View will be consistently harder for non-owners.

But if you're ready to call at 9am exactly 7 months out, chances for success will be nearly 100%.

I think Ocean View will be the easiest category to book, as the majority of the rooms will have ocean view. They are also the most points, so I think the pool, island, and standard will be the hardest to book.

 

[tjkraz]

I think Ocean View will be the easiest category to book, as the majority of the rooms will have ocean view. They are also the most points, so I think the pool, island, and standard will be the hardest to book.

You could be right. Hard to predict at this point.

I wouldn't make any predictions based upon cost alone because people have a way of splurging for what they feel is best. Things like BLT MK view, BWV BoardWalk view and AKV Savanna View are very popular despite the existence of lower-priced alternatives.

I know we won't get to Hawaii often and would almost certainly pay a little more for the ocean view if available. If I'm going to pay nearly $4,000 for plane tickets, might as well look out at the ocean rather than in toward the island.

The breakdown by view is:

Standard View: 7%
Island Gardens View: 37%
Poolside Gardens View: 12%
Ocean View: 44%

The Standard and Island views would be the least compelling to me. Of course, I've never cared about our view at WDW so even I'm employing a different philosophy here.

 

[Steamboat Girlie]

You could be right. Hard to predict at this point.

I wouldn't make any predictions based upon cost alone because people have a way of splurging for what they feel is best. Things like BLT MK view, BWV BoardWalk view and AKV Savanna View are very popular despite the existence of lower-priced alternatives.

I know we won't get to Hawaii often and would almost certainly pay a little more for the ocean view if available. If I'm going to pay nearly $4,000 for plane tickets, might as well look out at the ocean rather than in toward the island.

The breakdown by view is:

Standard View: 7%
Island Gardens View: 37%
Poolside Gardens View: 12%
Ocean View: 44%

The Standard and Island views would be the least compelling to me. Of course, I've never cared about our view at WDW so even I'm employing a different philosophy here.

Thank you for your percentage breakdown!!
Forgive me, as I'm a bit slow, but I'm just realizing your DVC News Tim!!!
How awesome is your site!!!! I live and breathe it! That's how I knew that the most rooms would be ocean view, from your awesome website!!!!!
Thank you for such a comprehensive resource!
Oh, and I think you might be on to something about wanting to spluge on view in Hawaii. But it's good to know that it is such a big resort. Fingers crossed for 7 month window. Or maybe an add on in my future! Cheers!

 

[jagson]

How likely is it to get a split reservation, ie stay at Aulani 2-3 days, then island hop for a week, and then 2-3 days back at Aulani at the end of a vacation; as a DVC member from SSR? Any ideas where to visit/what to do while in Hawaii? Cost is not a concern, to a degree. I've thought of wedging an island cruise in there. We've never been to Hawaii. Whats Hawaii like in March? Thinking of going 3/13.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

By 3/13 the second phase will be open, and the 3rd phase would be coming on soon. As long as your dates are somewhat flexible you should be able to work something out.

So far, a lot of people are reporting success at the 7 month window. As the resort sells out that will change I'm sure.

 

[Texas Disney Fan]

We have our fingers crossed that we can get in for early June. This wait till November is going to be torture for me. We usually have our next summer plans already made by now.

 

[taaren]

Yesterday I called to check availability for this November since we have friends in Cali who are trying to decide between honeymooning in Hawaii vs Orlando and we're going to gift them some points as the wedding present. For the weeks we were looking at in mid-November, studios were open in the Island and Ocean View categories. Trying to convince them to take 6 nights at OKW rather than 3 nights at Aulani but they haven't been home in awhile so I think they're leaning towards island hopping.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

Called MS on the exact 7 month mark and didn't have any problems getting a one-bedroom ocean view for a week. We were SO nervous they wouldn't have anything available. To make matters even better we got airfare for two out of our city of Jacksonville, Florida for $1048, and now the same itinerary is $2,555. So it definitely paid for us to book early. I hope everyone else has the same luck!

 

[erikawolf2004]

How likely is it to get a split reservation, ie stay at Aulani 2-3 days, then island hop for a week, and then 2-3 days back at Aulani at the end of a vacation; as a DVC member from SSR? Any ideas where to visit/what to do while in Hawaii? Cost is not a concern, to a degree. I've thought of wedging an island cruise in there. We've never been to Hawaii. Whats Hawaii like in March? Thinking of going 3/13.

We loved the Kauai Hyatt when we stayed there in 1996.

 

[Homemom]

We loved the Kauai Hyatt when we stayed there in 1996.

I agree, we stayed there in June 2004. It was an amazing island not to be missed!

 

[crisi]

How likely is it to get a split reservation, ie stay at Aulani 2-3 days, then island hop for a week, and then 2-3 days back at Aulani at the end of a vacation; as a DVC member from SSR? Any ideas where to visit/what to do while in Hawaii? Cost is not a concern, to a degree. I've thought of wedging an island cruise in there. We've never been to Hawaii. Whats Hawaii like in March? Thinking of going 3/13.

Hawaii is a complicated place to visit. Island cruising will give you a little taste of each island....or you can pick one island or two. I wouldn't spend less than three days on any single island. What island to visit depends on what you want to do. The Big Island is rural. Active volcanos, cowboys. Tall mountains. Maui has great beaches and is touristy, but its a nice sort of touristy - comfortable to travel in. Humpback whales like to hang out in the channel from December through March. Those are the two I've been to. Oahu has Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. I've heard Kauai is beautiful, laid back - Maui but less tourist. Lanai is even LESS touristy - small with two resorts.

But island to island generally involves a small plane ride. The islands are really too rich to see in a day. We enjoyed surfing and snorkling when we were there.

 

[heatherwillmom]

If I understood John correctly on the podcast, non-owners cannot book villas as early. I guess we will have to suffer with the regular hotel