ROFR Thread April to June 2022 *PLEASE SEE FIRST POST FOR INSTRUCTIONS & FORMATTING TOOL*

[prncssjas]

MalorieA---$126-$11404-80-SSR-Aug-0/21, 160/22, 80/23- sent 3/23, passed 5/4

Whaaat?! I had my backup offers all ready to go. I had found a 120 pt contract with an international seller and everything. Sorry to those who got taken with higher ppp. All I can figure is maybe the fact that it had less points on contract helped. Thanks to all who gave advice.

That's great news for you!!! It gives me slight hope that we might still get our contract. CONGRATS!!!

 

[Sandisw]

Delays recording the deed shouldn't delay close though, right?

Correct. You can close a contract and the title company could wait a bit to send it to the comptroller.

The only thing I can think of is that made the suggestion because they are backlogged and no need to close earlier anyway.

But not even sure that matters because MA gets to them when they get to them.

 

[dlam32]

So I got a new tidbit from my broker today, curious if anyone has heard something similar.

My contract had a closing date that was much further out into the future than what I was accustomed to. I hadn't used this broker before, nor have I purchased Aulani before, so I figured it was one of three possibilities. 1) The seller had a trip booked and couldn't close until after that trip was complete, 2) this particular broker just assumes a longer timeline than the ones I've worked with before, or 3) the particularities of the State of Hawaii add more time than I realized.

So I reached out to the broker to confirm if the reason for the extended timeline was one of these, and whether we'd be able to close early if ROFR and all of the other paperwork go smoothly. I didn't get a super clear answer on why the timeline was extended in the first place, but he told me that Disney asks the title companies to delay closing until 2-3 weeks before the contract date at the earliest. So in some ways, no matter how fast things go in terms of clearing the hurdles, you can end up limited in your ability to close early even if buyer and seller agree.

That seems screwy. I just looked back at my VGC that just closed. There is a provision where the closing date was 5/2/2022 or within 45 days from when the estoppel is issued by Disney. That language means that the title company can move to close before the stated closing date in the contract. This was the timeframe i posted on the closing time thread:
Offer made: 2/20/2022
Offer accepted: 2/20/2022
Sent to ROFR: 2/21/2022
Passed ROFR: 3/14/2022
Closing docs received: 3/21/2022
Closing docs returned buyer: 3/21/2022
Closing docs returned seller: 3/22/2022
Closing: 3/28/2022
Deed recorded: 3/28/2022
Contract Showing on Membership (new member): 4/16/2022

What does your contract say?

 

[Einstein509]

Just FYSA for all those folks looking to purchase Aulani (or stay there), because I found what I read alarming, disturbing, and surprising. We have a visit planned there later this year (first time) and I perused the reviews on some well known travel sites to get an overall feeling. I visited the resort and walked around pre-pandemic and during but never stayed there before.

Boy, oh, boy, are there some negative reviews about Aulani out there. It seems like the resort is not what it was pre-pandemic. A lot of things haven't returned, which is understandable since Hawaii in general was one of the last states to open. However, there are a lot of bad reviews about the quality of the beds, beat up furniture and rooms, customer service, hot/cold water issues, noise, overcrowding (even w/ reduced pandemic crowds), roaches in the pool, the craziness surrounding holding on to pool chairs, nothing for people to do in the evening (everything closes by 8pm), and increasingly high prices for everything.

I bring this up, because I never would have stumbled upon these consistently brought up issues had I not looked at reviews. I'll reserve overall judgment after our stay, but be weary. Apparently Aulani has issues. Perhaps that's why it's just not selling out? Just some food for thought for those looking to purchase a stake. You can look for yourself.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Just FYSA for all those folks looking to purchase Aulani (or stay there), because I found what I read alarming, disturbing, and surprising. We have a visit planned there later this year (first time) and I perused the reviews on some well known travel sites to get an overall feeling. I visited the resort and walked around pre-pandemic and during but never stayed there before.

Boy, oh, boy, are there some negative reviews about Aulani out there. It seems like the resort is not what it was pre-pandemic. A lot of things haven't returned, which is understandable since Hawaii in general was one of the last states to open. However, there are a lot of bad reviews about the quality of the beds, beat up furniture and rooms, customer service, hot/cold water issues, noise, overcrowding (even w/ reduced pandemic crowds), roaches in the pool, the craziness surrounding holding on to pool chairs, nothing for people to do in the evening (everything closes by 8pm), and increasingly high prices for everything.

I bring this up, because I never would have stumbled upon these consistently brought up issues had I not looked at reviews. I'll reserve overall judgment after our stay, but be weary. Apparently Aulani has issues. Perhaps that's why it's just not selling out? Just some food for thought for those looking to purchase a stake. You can look for yourself.

Yeah. No. Those people are full of crap.

I was at Aulani in January 2020, immediately before COVID. I was at Aulani in February 2022, when most of the country had moved on from COVID but Hawaii was still very much restricted. Aulani is just as amazing as ever.

I've stayed at every Disney resort in the United States except for Vero Beach and Paradise Pier. I rank them as follows.

1. Aulani

*Gigantic, huge, monstrous gap.*

2. Grand Cal
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge

*Gigantic, huge, monstrous gap.*

4. Disneyland Hotel
5. Polynesian
6. Yacht Club
7. Riviera
8. Wilderness Lodge
9. Old Key West
10. Saratoga Springs
11. Grand Floridian
12. Contemporary
13. Boardwalk
14. Beach Club
15. Coronado (Gran Destino)
16. Port Orleans Riverside
17. Port Orleans French Quarter
18. Caribbean Beach
19. Coronado Springs (non-Gran Destino)
20. Art of Animation
21. Pop Century
22. All Stars

I may have forgotten some but that's off the top of my head.

 

[aprilb123]

Just FYSA for all those folks looking to purchase Aulani (or stay there), because I found what I read alarming, disturbing, and surprising. We have a visit planned there later this year (first time) and I perused the reviews on some well known travel sites to get an overall feeling. I visited the resort and walked around pre-pandemic and during but never stayed there before.

Boy, oh, boy, are there some negative reviews about Aulani out there. It seems like the resort is not what it was pre-pandemic. A lot of things haven't returned, which is understandable since Hawaii in general was one of the last states to open. However, there are a lot of bad reviews about the quality of the beds, beat up furniture and rooms, customer service, hot/cold water issues, noise, overcrowding (even w/ reduced pandemic crowds), roaches in the pool, the craziness surrounding holding on to pool chairs, nothing for people to do in the evening (everything closes by 8pm), and increasingly high prices for everything.

I bring this up, because I never would have stumbled upon these consistently brought up issues had I not looked at reviews. I'll reserve overall judgment after our stay, but be weary. Apparently Aulani has issues. Perhaps that's why it's just not selling out? Just some food for thought for those looking to purchase a stake. You can look for yourself.

Interesting. I stayed there last July, and while I have no reference to compare to how it was pre-pandemic, my family and I had an absolutely amazing time and experienced none of the issues you mention. Pool chairs do tend to get scarce (especially shady ones) but we were always able to grab some. Just have to get down there a little early (not hard to do when you're on mainland time), and the CMs were very good about clearing unoccupied chairs throughout the day.

I look forward to going back once more things come back (namely, Aunty's Beach House). Oh, and it has to be said: I am NOT a spa person by any means but DO NOT pass up an opportunity to go to Laniwai Spa. LIFE. CHANGING.

 

[chicagodisfan]

chicagodisfan---$135-$23546-160-AKV-Mar-0/21, 160/22, 160/23-International Seller- sent 5/4

Okay, dusting myself off and getting back in the saddle again! Many, many thanks to @pks_domer for letting me know that their international seller had a second contract available.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Interesting. I stayed there last July, and while I have no reference to compare to how it was pre-pandemic, my family and I had an absolutely amazing time and experienced none of the issues you mention. Pool chairs do tend to get scarce (especially shady ones) but we were always able to grab some. Just have to get down there a little early (not hard to do when you're on mainland time), and the CMs were very good about clearing unoccupied chairs throughout the day.

I look forward to going back once more things come back (namely, Aunty's Beach House). Oh, and it has to be said: I am NOT a spa person by any means but DO NOT pass up an opportunity to go to Laniwai Spa. LIFE. CHANGING.

The complaints usually fall into a few categories.

1. People who book something with "Disney" on the name and expect it to be a theme park with enough to fully occupy you for an entire week or more.

2. DVC members who are used to doing Walt Disney World "on the cheap" and resent that everything in Hawaii is expensive.

3. People who don't understand that certain things about Aulani are just how things are in Hawaii. Stuff closes early in Hawaii. That's just a thing. Aulani's pool closing at 8 isn't out of the ordinary.

4. People frustrated with Aulani's pace of reopening post-COVID. I fall into this category myself, but I give them the benefit of the doubt. I know what it's like to hire people right now and I really do believe they're trying their hardest. Some of the stuff that's still closed isn't a grand conspiracy to screw the guests, it's a bunch of good people in management positions trying to make the best decisions in an impossible situation.

 

[Royal Consort]

Just FYSA for all those folks looking to purchase Aulani (or stay there), because I found what I read alarming, disturbing, and surprising. We have a visit planned there later this year (first time) and I perused the reviews on some well known travel sites to get an overall feeling. I visited the resort and walked around pre-pandemic and during but never stayed there before.

Boy, oh, boy, are there some negative reviews about Aulani out there. It seems like the resort is not what it was pre-pandemic. A lot of things haven't returned, which is understandable since Hawaii in general was one of the last states to open. However, there are a lot of bad reviews about the quality of the beds, beat up furniture and rooms, customer service, hot/cold water issues, noise, overcrowding (even w/ reduced pandemic crowds), roaches in the pool, the craziness surrounding holding on to pool chairs, nothing for people to do in the evening (everything closes by 8pm), and increasingly high prices for everything.

I bring this up, because I never would have stumbled upon these consistently brought up issues had I not looked at reviews. I'll reserve overall judgment after our stay, but be weary. Apparently Aulani has issues. Perhaps that's why it's just not selling out? Just some food for thought for those looking to purchase a stake. You can look for yourself.

I am in Aulani now and it's great. CMs are wonderful, rooms are the same, pool is clean and areas perfectly maintained. Aulani never had anything to do in the evening so that's not new. Ama Ama isn't open so that's a difference. Pool chair issues, again, had been a thing at busy times pre-pandemic. At the moment I can walk down and get a chair any time of day. Aulani is gorgeous.

 

[Drewferin]

I am in Aulani now and it's great. CMs are wonderful, rooms are the same, pool is clean and areas perfectly maintained. Aulani never had anything to do in the evening so that's not new. Ama Ama isn't open so that's a difference. Pool chair issues, again, had been a thing at busy times pre-pandemic. At the moment I can walk down and get a chair any time of day. Aulani is gorgeous.

Sure hope Ama Ama opens by next month when we arrive...

 

[alohatok1986]

I've stayed at every Disney resort in the United States except for Vero Beach and Paradise Pier. I rank them as follows.

Just here to say I 1000x agree with your ranking. Spot on. I'd toss Fort Wilderness in the top 8 there. A cabin around Xmas with a golf cart is *chefs kiss*

 

[GrandpAwesome]

Yeah. No. Those people are full of crap.

I was at Aulani in January 2020, immediately before COVID. I was at Aulani in February 2022, when most of the country had moved on from COVID but Hawaii was still very much restricted. Aulani is just as amazing as ever.

I've stayed at every Disney resort in the United States except for Vero Beach and Paradise Pier. I rank them as follows.

1. Aulani

*Gigantic, huge, monstrous gap.*

2. Grand Cal
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge

*Gigantic, huge, monstrous gap.*

4. Disneyland Hotel
5. Polynesian
6. Yacht Club
7. Riviera
8. Wilderness Lodge
9. Old Key West
10. Saratoga Springs
11. Grand Floridian
12. Contemporary
13. Boardwalk
14. Beach Club
15. Coronado (Gran Destino)
16. Port Orleans Riverside
17. Port Orleans French Quarter
18. Caribbean Beach
19. Coronado Springs (non-Gran Destino)
20. Art of Animation
21. Pop Century
22. All Stars

I may have forgotten some but that's off the top of my head.

What about Bay Lake? I assume it's different ranking than Contemporary???

 

[Royal Consort]

Sure hope Ama Ama opens by next month when we arrive...

Off the Hook has turned into table service and taken over the space. There are construction guys refurbishing the area as well. I don't think it will be open for your trip.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

What about Bay Lake? I assume it's different ranking than Contemporary???

I don't draw much distinction between the two, to be honest. Same with Jambo versus Kidani and Copper Creek versus Boulder Ridge (Boulder Ridge's current spot in the refurb cycle aside).

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Off the Hook has turned into table service and taken over the space. There are construction guys refurbishing the area as well. I don't think it will be open for your trip.

Any sign of buffet returning to Makahiki? I imagine they want their buffet to be a buffet again before they reopen their normal TS.

 

[HappyThoughtsTees]

Delays recording the deed shouldn't delay close though, right?

Correct. Closing is completed prior to recording so a longer recording time will extend the timeline in general. I did find that the time to receive closing docs took longer with my AUL contracts compared to VGC. My WDW property is direct so I don't have a resale comparison.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Correct. Closing is completed prior to recording so a longer recording time will extend the timeline in general. I did find that the time to receive closing docs took longer with my AUL contracts compared to VGC. My WDW property is direct so I don't have a resale comparison.

Everything I've read sort of points to all of WDW plus VB being the easiest, Hilton Head and Grand Cal in the middle, and Aulani the worst.

 

[scoobdoo]

Let's go boys.

I can't believe you successfully grabbed AUL @ $100!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I can't believe you successfully grabbed AUL @ $100!

I felt a tiny bit guilty when my wife googled our seller and it turns out she's selling the contract in her divorce, and now I'm dancing the hula on the smoldering ruins of her once-happy marriage.

 

[TotallyMinnie83]

Yeah. No. Those people are full of crap.

I was at Aulani in January 2020, immediately before COVID. I was at Aulani in February 2022, when most of the country had moved on from COVID but Hawaii was still very much restricted. Aulani is just as amazing as ever.

I've stayed at every Disney resort in the United States except for Vero Beach and Paradise Pier. I rank them as follows.

1. Aulani

*Gigantic, huge, monstrous gap.*

2. Grand Cal
3. Animal Kingdom Lodge

*Gigantic, huge, monstrous gap.*

4. Disneyland Hotel
5. Polynesian
6. Yacht Club
7. Riviera
8. Wilderness Lodge
9. Old Key West
10. Saratoga Springs
11. Grand Floridian
12. Contemporary
13. Boardwalk
14. Beach Club
15. Coronado (Gran Destino)
16. Port Orleans Riverside
17. Port Orleans French Quarter
18. Caribbean Beach
19. Coronado Springs (non-Gran Destino)
20. Art of Animation
21. Pop Century
22. All Stars

I may have forgotten some but that's off the top of my head.

This makes me feel good since I already have AKV, I just passed ROFR for VGC, and I am currently waiting for ROFR on Aulani!