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

[Royal Consort]

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

No sign whatsoever at this stage. Food is really good though at Makahiki. I think I prefer it!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

No sign whatsoever at this stage. Food is really good though at Makahiki. I think I prefer it!

Makahiki TS is better than Makahiki buffet, I agree, but Makahiki TS is worse than AMA AMA TS, despite being price dang near as high.

 

[Drewferin]

Makahiki TS is better than Makahiki buffet, I agree, but Makahiki TS is worse than AMA AMA TS, despite being price dang near as high.

Are they doing non-character breakfasts a couple days a week or did they stop that last month? Can you order multiple plate of your TS order at Makahiki? My teenagers eat way more than 1 plate...

 

[HIRyeDVC]

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 was in Aulani in February and my room was immaculate. Sure the fixtures feel a bit dated but the resort IS 10 years old. The Ulu cafe still had great food, and the pools were great. The spa is probably the best in all of DVC. Here are things I don't like post pandemic and generally.

1. Aunty's Beach House is still closed.
2. Makahiki Character B-fast buffet still not back. The current 3 course breakfast is a rip-off and the limited character interaction is terrible.
3. Ama Ama still closed. But Mina's Fish house next door at the Four Seasons is great!
4. Limited Pool chair availability, still an issue. Limited double inflatable tubes for the volcano slide.
5. Speaking of pool chairs, I just spent 10 nights at VGC and boy, those cushioned pool chairs spoiled me. Makes Aulani and every other DVC resort pool chairs suck!
6. Everything at Aulani is EXPENSIVE, including the points chart and food.
7. I hate that annoying Transit Accommodation Tax.
8. Check in process can take forever depending on what time you arrive. The West Coast really needs to catch up with magic bands and online check in.
9. Line to get pool bracelets can also be very long.
10. No more adult pool.

Besides these sticking points, we are a Hawaii family that stays 3-4 times a year and we love it every time. We have another stay coming up in early June. Will report back on how things are.

 

[Sandisw]

We seem to be getting off track with Aulani…let’s maybe keep this thread for ROFR.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

For the benefit of those reading who haven't been, I'll break these up into categories:

COVID stuff:

1. Aunty's Beach House is still closed.
2. Makahiki Character B-fast buffet still not back. The current 3 course breakfast is a rip-off and the limited character interaction is terrible.
3. Ama Ama still closed. But Mina's Fish house next door at the Four Seasons is great!

Adding to this, for cash guests, continued lack of daily housekeeping.

Aulani stuff:

4. Limited Pool chair availability, still an issue. Limited double inflatable tubes for the volcano slide.
5. Speaking of pool chairs, I just spent 10 nights at VGC and boy, those cushioned pool chairs spoiled me. Makes Aulani and every other DVC resort pool chairs suck!
8. Check in process can take forever depending on what time you arrive. The West Coast really needs to catch up with magic bands and online check in.
9. Line to get pool bracelets can also be very long.
10. No more adult pool.

For my part, having only visited in the Winter (and traveling on the weekends so most of my resort time is midweek), I've never had crowd problems at Aulani, whether that's pool chairs, front desk, pool bracelets, Ulu Cafe, or anything else. My party of 8 had no trouble finding chairs together on our last trip. For some reason, everyone seems to go to the same towel counter when there are almost always two others open at any given time. (Never go to the towel counter by the lazy river, go to the one by the splash pad or the check-in area for Rainbow Reef.) Everyone besides me tends to comment on crowding issues/lines, so I guess I've just been lucky.

Hawaii stuff:

6. Everything at Aulani is EXPENSIVE, including the points chart and food.
7. I hate that annoying Transit Accommodation Tax.

The points chart seems fair to me. A studio runs 119-217 points depending on season and view. Bay Lake Tower runs 102-241. Paying more for BLT TP View than Aulani Ocean View strikes me as insane.

We seem to be getting off track with Aulani…let’s maybe keep this thread for ROFR.

I swear I hadn't seen this when I posted!

 

[HIRyeDVC]

We seem to be getting off track with Aulani…let’s maybe keep this thread for ROFR.

I didn't start it!

 

[BeachClub2014]

BeachClub2014---$154-$24132-150-BCV-Aug-0/20, 48/21, 84/22, 150/23- sent 4/7, passed 5/4

Yippee!

 

[Sandisw]

I didn't start it!

I am just as guilty in some threads myself! No worries!

 

[NorCalDisFan]

A broker claimed that here some buyers write down lower price and some sellers do vice versa, so don't 100% trust the data in disboards. Why would users do that? For swag? I can't find the reason. My offer was rejected so I just gently (IMO) said the price was higher than what I saw in disboards, so I would look for others. Did I offend the agent? Feel weird either ways.

 

[AKVDisneyFan]

A broker claimed that here some buyers write down lower price and some sellers do vice versa, so don't 100% trust the data in disboards. Why would users do that? For swag? I can't find the reason. My offer was rejected so I just gently (IMO) said the price was higher than what I saw in disboards, so I would look for others. Did I offend the agent? Feel weird either ways.

I have read from others that some people won’t work with certain agents or brokers because the agent has given them a hard time in the past for lower offers. I don’t recall which agent/broker they were talking about because I’ve quietly followed these boards for a few years before finally creating an account, but I remember that this topic has been discussed before. That probably doesn’t really help much but you’re not alone.

 

[GBC1]

GBC1---$157.5-$32345-200-BCV-Sep-0/20, 0/21, 306/22, 200/23-seller pays MF 22- sent 4/5, passed 5/4

 

[hglenn]

BeachClub2014---$154-$24132-150-BCV-Aug-0/20, 48/21, 84/22, 150/23- sent 4/7, passed 5/4

Yippee!

GBC1---$157.5-$32345-200-BCV-Sep-0/20, 0/21, 306/22, 200/23-seller pays MF 22- sent 4/5, passed 5/4

Yeah! Congrats. Great prices on these!

 

[keirabella2012]

Mine was taken on March 10th and my close date is tomorrow. Absolutely nothing from Disney yet. Broker is telling me Disney is running behind. Honestly very disappointed in both Disney and honestly the board sponsor who has basically been 100% hands off since Disney took it in ROFR.

I don't blame you, I'd be disappointed as well. It seems unfair. My broker told me to call Disney to make sure that the address on my account matches the information that I provided to the broker otherwise it would delay the closing. Not sure if that would really make a difference in terms of at least getting an email from Disney. Did they provide you any contact information?

 

[Sandisw]

Mine was taken on March 10th and my close date is tomorrow. Absolutely nothing from Disney yet. Broker is telling me Disney is running behind. Honestly very disappointed in both Disney and honestly the board sponsor who has basically been 100% hands off since Disney took it in ROFR.

I was told today that they don’t hear from Disney either and realize it frustrating for us. Once it’s in Disney hands, they really are out of the loop.

 

[Sandisw]

I don't blame you, I'd be disappointed as well. It seems unfair. My broker told me to call Disney to make sure that the address on my account matches the information that I provided to the broker otherwise it would delay the closing. Not sure if that would really make a difference in terms of at least getting an email from Disney. Did they provide you any contact information?

Nothing from Disney and they don’t have any info to give. Supposed to be only on CM assigned to handling these.

I think we just have to wait…though I am sending an email to MA anyway.

 

[BKGODZILLA]

BKGODZILLA---$137-$22678-160-AKV-Sep-0/21, 92/22, 160/23-seller pays closing- sent 5/4

 

[TroJo]

Nothing from Disney and they don’t have any info to give. Supposed to be only on CM assigned to handling these.

I think we just have to wait…though I am sending an email to MA anyway.

I mean - is there any legal standing ground regarding this instead of just waiting? I just looked at my direct purchase contract and it states “You have the right to sell your Ownership Interest, if you choose. However, DVD has a right of first refusal to repurchase your Ownership Interest on the same terms and conditions, including financing that your buyer has offered. Please note that DVD does not provide any assistance in the resale or rental of an Ownership Interest.”

It says same terms and conditions. If it doesn’t meet the original agreed upon terms and conditions, i.e. the original closing date, would that forfeit their right to purchase?

IDK maybe I’m just a bitter reseller that really wants to find a way to stick it to Disney.

 

[Ginamarie]

A broker claimed that here some buyers write down lower price and some sellers do vice versa, so don't 100% trust the data in disboards. Why would users do that? For swag? I can't find the reason. My offer was rejected so I just gently (IMO) said the price was higher than what I saw in disboards, so I would look for others. Did I offend the agent? Feel weird either ways.

I don’t think anyone here is making fake posts. I guess it’s possible but I don’t believe that’s happening.

Some brokers don’t like to present lower offers. Others are more receptive. You’ll learn as you bid what kind of responses you’ll get.

 

[Jgc014]

I don’t think anyone here is making fake posts. I guess it’s possible but I don’t believe that’s happening.

Some brokers don’t like to present lower offers. Others are more receptive. You’ll learn as you bid what kind of responses you’ll get.

I think I may have put in lower bids with the same broker. I was told she knows that some of these posts aren’t entirely truthful as she recognized the contract, and it didn’t match up with the reality.

Just based on human nature that some people lie, I would think that may be true for some posts, but I certainly feel that the vast majority are truthful.

Good luck finding the right fit!