Now what do I do?

[KiminChicago]

Our son graduates from high school next year, so we were planning on taking a family trip to Hawaii since this may be the last vacation we'll be taking as a family for a while. We have almost enough airline miles to book 4 first class round trip tickets (yes, we've been saving up for a quite a while) and I had dates picked out in June. If we go to Aulani for 6 nights in early June (Choice season) and borrow our 2016 points, I have enough points for a pool view 2 bedroom. I thought I had everything all planned out.

Then DD auditions for (and gets) a spot on the elite competition team at the dance studio she attends. While I'm happy for her, between competitions and recitals, there isn't a single week in June that we can get away. Looking at July, I might be able to get a two bedroom island view for 6 nights (I'm assuming that by the time my 7 month window opens, the standard view will be gone) or we might be able to do a one-bedroom for the full week, but then the kids have to share the sleeper sofa.

So how are the sleeper sofas? Would they be comfortable for a week? Or how hard would it be to find someone to rent me the 50 or so points I would need for a two-bedroom pool or ocean view?

We're trying to keep the costs down since we'll have a student in college next fall, but we also want to do something extra special this trip.

 

[JimMIA]

Can't really help much with the points question, although it seems like you should be able to get someone to transfer points into your account. I would try the DIS Rent/Trade board.

I feel your pain with the dance team, tho, and I'm sure many others do as well. My daughter is a competitive figure skater and her training and competition schedule rules our lives.

I'm leaving in 30 minutes for the rink for 2 hours, followed by an hour of hard exercise, followed by a bike ride (because she hasn't had any play time in weeks). Then a competition next weekend, regional team sendoff exhibition the following weekend, South Atlantic Regional competition the next week in Atlanta (her first, and a BIG deal) , Halloween Show (group number and a solo), Christmas Show (group number and a solo), and we're already researching music for both shows and two programs next year -- it just never stops!

One suggestion I have is to get your flights as soon as you possibly can. Depending on the airline and aircraft you fly, first class seats will be very limited. For example, a 777 only usually has 16 first class seats and you want 1/4th of them. Business class might offer a viable alternative and will be fewer miles.

We are coming up to Chicagoland next April for the US Figure Skating Program Components Camp and I already have our frequent flyer tickets for that trip.

 

[Evette]

Maybe a 1 bedroom will work for you, along with the sleeper sofa is also a pull down bunk bed. We will be staying in a 1 bedroom in 3 weeks, my adult daughter will sleep on the bunk bed and our adult son will use the sleeper sofa. Hope everything works out for you!

PS - We're neighbors, I live in Elgin.

 

[DebbieB]

Just a heads up regarding airline miles. If you are counting on using the lowest mile rewards, they can be difficult to get, especially for 4.

 

[KiminChicago]

Is the bunk bed big enough to fit a 15 year old girl? I thought that it was much smaller than that -- more like a padded bench than a bed.

I was waiting to book the flights until we had her dance schedule because I'm one of those people who believe that when you commit to a team, you really commit -- I'm always puzzled by the girls who are on the team and then don't show up for recitals or competitions because they are on vacation.

The flights I'm looking at don't seem to be very popular -- I've been watching one flight for a couple of weeks, but because it's an overnight flight with a couple of stops, there are at least four seats available. I won't be able to use that one now since we're going to have to change our dates, but I think I should be able to find something. The overnight one would have worked well for us since we're travelling with older teens, and it wasn't the lowest level mileage award either. Even my DD said it would be perfect because we wouldn't lose a whole day in travel.

I'm sure I'll come up with something -- I just wish that the competition was in July (although then we would have probably needed to be at practice in June, at least this way it will all be over by July).

 

[Evette]

Is the bunk bed big enough to fit a 15 year old girl? I thought that it was much smaller than that -- more like a padded bench than a bed.

I think the bed should be fine, I believe it is like the ones at the Grand Californian. My daughter has slept on that one twice so far (two, 7 night vacations) and she was fine. To me it seems more like a twin bed than anything. My daughter is under five feet but she is chubby, I think a 15 year old girl should be fine. I think the length of the mattress was much longer than my daugther.

 

[JimMIA]

I was waiting to book the flights until we had her dance schedule because I'm one of those people who believe that when you commit to a team, you really commit -- I'm always puzzled by the girls who are on the team and then don't show up for recitals or competitions because they are on vacation.

Yeah, with a TEAM sport, you're either in or you're out. It's not fair to the teammates to bail out at the last minute. Also not fair to the kid who didn't quite make the cut, but who would have showed up.

The flights I'm looking at don't seem to be very popular -- I've been watching one flight for a couple of weeks, but because it's an overnight flight with a couple of stops,

You might also look at a layover. The last time we went to Hawaii, we flew Miami-LAX-HON on the way out, but on the way back we laid over for three days in San Francisco -- which was a) wonderful at the end of a 10-day trip to three islands, and b) worked great with the flights. A friend of ours set that up for us, and I'm not sure how he did it because I thought only a one-night layover was possible. But he did it somehow. He was closely affiliated with the airline, so he may have gotten us a special deal.

But even a one-night layover might open up a lot of flight options.

 

[mickeylr]

My 5'11" 20 year old son slept on the fold out bed at Aulani when we went last time and will be quite happily doing so again when we go at Christmas.

I did not measure it, but the specs say that it is a twin sized bed and it should be more than fine for your daughter.

DS sleeps on the fold down bed at Aulani and the chair at Animal Kingdom Lodge, because his two sisters share the fold out couch. Given the choice between the extra bedroom and the extra nights - they choose the extra nights every time.

Mary

 

[Mom B]

It depends on your kids and their sleeping habits/preferences. Our second Disney trip (before DVD), our then 18 and 20 yr olds opted to sleep on the floor rather than take turns on the pullout (in the Wilderness Lodge Junior Suite...similar to a 1 bedroom...). Even now, I know a couple of them (the oldest are now 38 and 40) wouldn't mind sleeping on the floor as long as they were in Hawaii. But it's all in what you're used to...our previous family vacations were always tent camping, so they were just happy to be off the ground and NOT in the rain!)

 

[Anal Annie]

FWIW I've always read that the early June (choice season) villas are hard to get at 7 months because they ARE lower points. And typically the standard views are booked by owners before the 7 mo. window opens so I wouldn't even think about that one. You may have better luck booking altogether for July.

We just came back a few weeks ago and had an IV studio that really was a true island view. I have pics posted in my TR. We were already in borrowing mode to do the trip AT ALL so that's why we went with IV. Honestly, we weren't even IN the room all that much. I got over it - I mean we were in HAWAII. It's kind of like booking a balcony or an OV cabin on a cruise. While the balcony is NICE it's not always necessary if it means the difference of going or not. While we would liked to have had an OV if we have to book IV again whenever we go back we will. There are SOME IV villas with good views...

Even tho you are hoping to get "free" flights I would wait until I secure the ressie before I book them and I would try to go for longer than 6 nights if at all possible. It is so far and you don't know when you'll get back (esp. if you wipe out your miles and have to PAY for the flights next time).

Maybe you could bring a twin air mattress for one of them and they could take turns with who sleeps on the pullout?! You could even pick up a cheapish one at the local Target once you get there (the pumps can be pricey tho - I would probably bring my own (or borrow one from someone to bring)).