Scoping out DVC- booking at Grand California & Aulani at 7 months?

[Deb & Bill]

If you book using RCI, more than likely you will get SSR. Not Aulani or GCV.

 

[zavandor]

That is awesome!! With WorldMark you get one housekeeping token for each 10,000 points you own (basically a week's worth of points). Any stays after the first one and you have to pay $85 in housekeeping.

It makes things a bit more fair, however DVC is now set up in a different way and it would be very difficult to change it. When I opened a thread asking if people would like something similar (lower MF but a checkin fee) reactions were really against the idea.

 

[Dean]

Thank you! You've all been very helpful! At this point, I am crunching the numbers, comparing WorldMark to DVC. Obviously DVC is much, much nicer, but in terms of room to spread out, they are similar. Taking the buy in cost out of it and just using the maintenance fees to look at weekly rates (using SSR's fees, since that's probably what I would buy), it looks like a studio for a week at Aulani (when the fees are converted to cash) would run $685.32 to $1,178.72, depending on the view and season and a one-bedroom would run $1,370.65 to $2,360.57. A week at GCV in a one-bedroom would run $1,278.19 to $2,512.86. These are all very reasonable. However, my WM dues are cheaper to the point that DVC doesn't seem like a good alternative, at least at Disneyland (even though the DVC product is far superior, I know we are not comparing apples to apples). A week at the WM Anaheim (a mile or so from the park) in a one-bedroom is $858 in dues and a two-bedroom would be $1,056 for a week. That difference is almost the cost of the park tickets, so I'd rather stay somewhere less nice, but go more often.

I wish these numbers were closer, so I could justify the purchase!! I am still tempted to do it just for Aulani. I know that trading WM through RCI to other resorts in Hawaii (Marriotts) is a great, and affordable option (we are going to Marriott Waiohai this summer- it cost $660 in dues + the $200 exchange fee for a week in a two-bedroom), but nothing compares to the Aulani lazy river! We've been spoiled for life. Nothing else will measure up.

So far with our WDW trips we were successful in securing II/RCI trades into WDW. I'm not sure if those were really low seasons, though (mid-May and end of August), or if that pattern would continue in the future.

Thanks again. I haven't taken the idea completely off the table, but it's good to know what I'm looking at exactly.

On a side note, if I wanted to rent a few nights at Aulani, is there a reputable company that I could go through, or do people mostly do private rentals?

IMO you might be able to remove the upfront costs for cheaper options but not for DVC. I believe one has to factor in the upfront costs into the cost of the room

It makes things a bit more fair, however DVC is now set up in a different way and it would be very difficult to change it. When I opened a thread asking if people would like something similar (lower MF but a checkin fee) reactions were really against the idea.

People are always against extra fees whether they're reasonable or not. Personally I think pay to play is a better system done appropriately but that's the rub I guess. There really has to be a balance.

Still how likely is one to go to HI and not stay the better part of a week. I know some do/have but most will stay around a week or longer. For those looking for other options but more flexibility, the Marriott Trust system might offer a good alternative, esp for HI.

 

[Ashlotte]

If you book using RCI, more than likely you will get SSR. Not Aulani or GCV.

You are so right. That's the main reason why I am considering buying, just so I can go to Aulani and GVC. I've been offered an RCI trade once at both resorts, but that is over a span of five years on the wait list. It's a rarity!

 

[Dean]

You are so right. That's the main reason why I am considering buying, just so I can go to Aulani and GVC. I've been offered an RCI trade once at both resorts, but that is over a span of five years on the wait list. It's a rarity!

I haven't followed RCI for Aulani though I'm sure others here have and/or on TUG. However, I'd be surprised if there weren't deposits there given the specifics, esp for 1 BR villas. I'd put in an ongoing search for a 1 BR. Even if you need more space you might be able to get 2 exchanges.

 

[Ashlotte]

I haven't followed RCI for Aulani though I'm sure others here have and/or on TUG. However, I'd be surprised if there weren't deposits there given the specifics, esp for 1 BR villas. I'd put in an ongoing search for a 1 BR. Even if you need more space you might be able to get 2 exchanges.

I have two ongoing requests in right now. One for a one-bedroom and one for a two-bedroom (which is what we got last time). The requests have been in place for a year. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be cool if a room became available.

 

[Dean]

I have two ongoing requests in right now. One for a one-bedroom and one for a two-bedroom (which is what we got last time). The requests have been in place for a year. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be cool if a room became available.

What time of year are you looking at? That's the other issue with trading to HI, some times are MUCH more difficult than others plus there are other factors.

 

[Ashlotte]

What time of year are you looking at? That's the other issue with trading to HI, some times are MUCH more difficult than others plus there are other factors.

I have the request set for anytime going as far forward as it will let me (I think two years into the future). When we were successful exchanging last time, we got the week of February 22- March 1st of last year.

 

[Dean]

I have the request set for anytime going as far forward as it will let me (I think two years into the future). When we were successful exchanging last time, we got the week of February 22- March 1st of last year.

As I noted, I haven't followed deposits there. Maybe Brian or Jim have or someone else. HI, esp Oahu, isn't usually a dramatically difficult exchange in general though certain times are. DVC normally deposits 1 BR (in general) and usually about 6-7 months out. I'm not as familiar with how WM exchanges as some of the others, I wouldn't think exchange power would be an issue with a points based system unless you did a deposit first. You may want to check TUG to see what experiences there are as well. I would expect Aulani to become more difficult as the system grows. I just don't see the resort special enough to have to stay there with other good options. You may want to consider renting or trying for a private exchange if you only need every few years. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Travel and Leisure seems to like Aulani:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/travel-leisure-honors-aulani-and-other-disney-resorts/

 

[Dean]

Travel and Leisure seems to like Aulani:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/travel-leisure-honors-aulani-and-other-disney-resorts/

I wasn't saying I didn't like it or it wasn't a nice resort just that it's not worth buying into DVC just for that resort alone IMO.

 

[Ashlotte]

You may want to consider renting or trying for a private exchange if you only need every few years. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

I contacted three different companies that rent out DVC stays to try and tack on three days before our Marriott Waiohai this August. I heard back from two of them that they had no availability. I'm sure I'll get the same answer from the third one tomorrow.

 

[Dean]

I contacted three different companies that rent out DVC stays to try and tack on three days before our Marriott Waiohai this August. I heard back from two of them that they had no availability. I'm sure I'll get the same answer from the third one tomorrow.

I'm not sure when you're looking but there is some availability, esp for the fall (I didn't check for everything). It's also possible they didn't have points rather than no reservation availability. Since you suggested you had an ongoing search that covered any time, I assume you could do the same with a rental.

 

[Ashlotte]

I'm not sure when you're looking but there is some availability, esp for the fall (I didn't check for everything). It's also possible they didn't have points rather than no reservation availability. Since you suggested you had an ongoing search that covered any time, I assume you could do the same with a rental.

We are looking to rent August 17, 18, and 19th of this year, or two of those days if three aren't available. This is my first time trying to rent DVC, so I'm not sure how it all works.

 

[Dean]

We are looking to rent August 17, 18, and 19th of this year, or two of those days if three aren't available. This is my first time trying to rent DVC, so I'm not sure how it all works.

Other than the 3 BR, there isn't a lot of availability for that time. That's a fairly high demand time, the following week would be much better. HI summer is tough when school's in session though planning ahead can help a lot. There's a chance of cancelations, you might check back with one of the companies in a few days to see. It's possible some are "walking" reservations and will cancel days later. Maui will be most difficult followed by Oahu. DVC is a little anomalous in how they deposit to RCI, other companies can be more predictable. Why not try for the Marriott next door for that full week through II? Or possible contact any one of a number of independent exchange companies that may have separate availability though not DVC.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are two types of availability, and most rental agencies will distinguish the availability issue:

1. The room you want is not available for your dates. If this is true, this is unlikely to change across agencies, save for a really really lucky cancel hitting the system at a perfect moment, or similar, when someone else checks.

2. They do not have the points for the reservation. Because you're within 7 months for booking, this is likely not the case right now. Were this a 7-11 month booking, most agencies would tell you "We do not have home points for this right now, but we can wait list you and when we get points, or when we hit 7 months, we can try again pending availability (see 1)."