Online check in and room requests

[skylynx]

Took a couple tries to check in this morning for our December 2 Aulani stay. First it didn't recognize my confirmation number, then it said the site wasn't working due to maintenance and I should try again November 19 (four days ago). Eventually, I got to my reservation.

After confirming our details which we already there, I tried in two different browsers to add a room request. Both times, the page or pop-up for adding a room request loaded almost transparently like an overlay, so you could barely read it. What I could read made it appear the only request you could ask for was ground floor, though it says you can add up to two requests. I'd like to request a high floor overlooking the interior pool area (we have an ocean view) but I don't know whether to call Aulani or DVC since we booked with points and with online check in, they will pre-assign us a room without any chance to request at all. Has anyone who requested a particular view or area of the resort in advance just called up? And if so, who did you call (Aulani or DVC)?

Thanks in advance if you can help!

 

[LCC]

I rented points, but the owners called DVC for me and put in my room request.

 

[iheartcoasters]

We rented points and I emailed and had the company contact the seller to add it to our upcoming reservation. We stayed in a villa in 2015 also and I think I called Aulani directly to do it. I plan on phoning at our ten day check in to confirm the request.

 

[Hayla]

I had the same concern during online check in. I tried calling Aulani and they said I had to talk to dvc and they connected me. I requested highest floor possible and got 15th floor! (Could have waited longer for 16th floor, but wanted to get in the room). Good luck!

 

[ozliz]

I'm getting the error message referencing 19 November too. I'm on DVC points rental through Davids so a little nervous that I cannot at least pull up my reservation (which is what I was told to do to check it when I first received confirmation). Has anyone contacted Disney to check on this? I guess I should try again tomorrow and hope that it has fixed itself. I don't mind missing out on online checkin but need to be sure I still have a booking! I love points rentals but worried that if I call Disney they'll tell me I have to go through DVC which means getting the broker involved - when to do this???

ETA - contacted Davids. They got back to me really quick with screen shots saying they can see my reservation so I won't worry now. Not too fussed if I cans do online check in since there are so few standard view DVC studios that they all have the same lousy views.

 

[ozliz]

I finally got on to do online check in but had a similar problem with that grey transparent overlay - not room preference options were showing at all. Gave up and will take my chances.

 

[ihearthawaii]

I had to input my reservation 4 times before it recogized it. We rented points through dvc rental store back in October. We reserved an Oceanview studio and the only option I was given when I did online check in was ground floor. I was able to request my room when we checked in (interior facing room) on the 8th floor, the highest they had available.

 

[kathleendsm]

We called for our high floor near elevator request. We got just what we wanted, 14th floor right by the elevator (incredible ocean view from 1458!).

 

[skylynx]

On hold for 15 minutes, then was able to have our room requests added to our two Aulani reservations (island hopping in the middle of the trip). Don't know why the check-in process is so sketchy. Have to do it again in two days for the second part of our stay, so keeping expectations low.

Thanks for everyone's comments on their experiences! You can hardly complain about being at Aulani at all, but if you can have a crack at your ideal location, why not?

 

[jodybird511]

For those of you who called after being unsuccessful with the online request form, did you call Aulani directly or DVC Member Services?

 

[skylynx]

I called DVC directly...and the agent was able to enter the room request.

 

[Gracies Moms]

Quick Question - We will be arriving at Aulani Thursday...First timers. I did the online check in yesterday....after being on hold forever. I didn't request a specific room. Should I? Or can I? We are not DVC. We have the Mahalo package deal with a Partial Ocean View.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[skylynx]

We will be arriving one day after you! Not sure if partial ocean view rooms are located in designated areas already, but with ocean view you have the option of asking to face the interior pool area of Aulani. There are rooms on the "outside" of the resort, (so opposite of pool view) still with an ocean view, but with also the view of other resorts, other parts of Aulani's grounds, etc. We wanted to face the inside of the resort where the pool and most everything else is located because we don't care if it's noisy and we think it looks beautiful at night. So that may be something to consider.