Resale:Aul vs other resorts

[gskywalker]

So I noticed an Aulani contract today, looked back at historical sales and it made me wonder. Why don't more people buy aulani for flexible points (or whatever the term is for not planning to use them at the home resort)? I figured I can get the contract for $80 or less a point and it is good for 8 years longer than SS and it's tough to get SS and OKW past ROFR whereas Aulani never gets taken? I know the dues can be slightly higher but it's not like they are high like Vero or HH? What am I missing?

 

[CarolynFH]

One reason: If you definitely want to go to WDW, and you own SSR or OKW, you can book at 11 months and know you have accommodations even if you can’t switch to another resort at 7 months. If you own AUL or VB or HHI, if nothing at WDW is available at 7 months, you’re SOL.

 

[Eric Smith]

So I noticed an Aulani contract today, looked back at historical sales and it made me wonder. Why don't more people buy aulani for flexible points (or whatever the term is for not planning to use them at the home resort)? I figured I can get the contract for $80 or less a point and it is good for 8 years longer than SS and it's tough to get SS and OKW past ROFR whereas Aulani never gets taken? I know the dues can be slightly higher but it's not like they are high like Vero or HH? What am I missing?

Aulani has higher maintenance fees than a lot of other resorts and won't give you any advantage at WDW. It's generally easy to book Aulani at 7 months unless you're going during Christmas.

 

[sethschroeder]

What am I missing?

What happens if availability gets extra tight at the original resorts? Are you very flexible on when you can travel?

What happens in 2042 when the whole trading system gets shifted on its head when 14% of the points that map to WDW expire? What happens when MK is the only park adjacent resorts so people who own at VGF, POLY, BLT, CCV never move resorts on the resale ownership side?

In 2054 25% (at the time) of the WDW points are removed via SSR expiration
In 2057 40% (at the time) of the WDW points are removed via OKW/AKV expiration
In 2060 21% (at the time) of the WDW points are remove via BLT expiration

You now are left in 2057-2062 with the only resorts besides AUL being VGF, CCV, BLT, POLY. Do you really think you will be able to trade in? I find it doubtful to the point they might lock down trading of points the last few years of resorts (I know others have brought this up with BWV)

Some people look at AUL and look for the subsidized contracts to try and save money but personally not worth the "little" savings you likely will accomplish honestly.

Points Per Resort of the Original 14:

Resort	Points
Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo	1803844​
Animal Kingdom Villas- Kidani	5595400​
Aulani	11519025​
Beach Club Villas	3027124​
Bay Lake Tower	5732762​
Boardwalk Villas	4888837​
Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge	1961969​
Copper Creek Cabin & Villas	3321966​
Hilton Head Island	1368962​
Old Key West	7674852​
Polynesian Villas and Bungalows	4032720​
Saratoga Springs Resort	13124069​
Saratoga Springs Resort - Treehouse Villas	905250​
Vero Beach	1616438​
Villas at Grand Californian	1136865​
Villas at Grand Floridian	2520379​

 

[gskywalker]

One reason: If you definitely want to go to WDW, and you own SSR or OKW, you can book at 11 months and know you have accommodations even if you can’t switch to another resort at 7 months. If you own AUL or VB or HHI, if nothing at WDW is available at 7 months, you’re SOL.

Maybe this is where my inexperience comes into play as most of the time I have owned DVC has been during the pandemic. Are there really times that people can't book anywhere at the 7 months mark? I figured I would just use them at aulani once or twice and probably use 2 or 3 years points at a time. Otherwise use them at Disney world. If I got them for $75 it seems like it should work out well unless I wouldn't be able to get anywhere at the 7 months mark?

 

[CarolynFH]

Maybe this is where my inexperience comes into play as most of the time I have owned DVC has been during the pandemic. Are there really times that people can't book anywhere at the 7 months mark? I figured I would just them at aulani once or twice and probably use 2 or 3 years points at a time. Otherwise use them at Disney world. If I got them for $75 it seems like it should work out well unless I wouldn't be able to get anywhere at the 7 months mark?

There are times people can’t find what they want at 7 months (particularly studios at certain times of year, such as first two weeks of December). But if you’re flexible on dates, villa size, resort, length of stay, you can usually find “something.”

 

[CastAStone]

There are times people can’t find what they want at 7 months (particularly studios at certain times of year, such as first two weeks of December). But if you’re flexible on dates, villa size, resort, length of stay, you can usually find “something.”

*any* room in early December. Otherwise you can pretty much always grab a 1BR at SSR if you have even marginal flexibility. But the way they’re adjusting the point charts I think it’s fair to expect the fast-to-book seasons to adjust considerably from historical norms.

 

[gskywalker]

I decided today, when in doubt always offer on DVC......sounds like the right answer from a finance guy right? I ran the numbers and I decided that if I make a lowball offer I make a sizeable profit even if it becomes worthless with 10 years to go. I doubt they will accept, or counter offer low enough, but if nothing else if they are desperate to get out of it I can help them and Disney and it costs me nothing but a bit of time.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

Simple, HI will be a once in a lifetime trip for me. Its too far. i am sure AUL is beautiful but I want to own a resort I will be able to use. AUL never gets taken because they have been selling it for the past 10 years and still not sold out.

 

[gskywalker]

Simple, HI will be a once in a lifetime trip for me. Its too far. i am sure AUL is beautiful but I want to own a resort I will be able to use. AUL never gets taken because they have been selling it for the past 10 years and still not sold out.

I agree with a lot of the points people have made. I made an offer of $70 a point. I figure at that price or slightly more I will just use them for bouncing around points and for 1 or 2 trips in my lifetime to Hawaii. I wouldn't even go there once except my wife wants to for our 25th. We were supposed to be there now for our 20th but scrapped that for obvious reasons. To me I would rather go to Cuba, Mexico etc to an all inclusive resort for a beach vacation but if it makes her happy I will torture myself on the 10 hour flight. I also like that if I get it for a cheap price Disney won't take it on me like they have on 3 BLT contracts already and probably will this week on my AKV contract.