Subsidized Aulani Contract-Opinions?

[jenhelgren]

I have been searching for a small contract as a our 1st to become DVC members and am in negotiations with a subsidized Aulani. Are there any negatives I should be aware of with Aulani or the subsidized contract? I have been reading (probably too much) and scaring myself out of it. I saw some negative comments on Aulani based on the fact that it is based in Hawaii and subject to their laws and not Florida law. Is there anything to aware of skeptical of with the subsidized contract? I know these boards are the best place for advice and info! Thanks in advance!

 

[sethschroeder]

Are you wanting to stay in Aulani most years? If not then not worth it.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

If you're using it at Aulani, go for it. WE LOVE IT. And whats wrong with Hawaiian law?

 

[Royal Consort]

Mirroring previous advice, if you are looking to almost exclusively use the contract for Aulani, it works out well. If you want to use this at WDW though its not a good idea at all.

 

[MBTigger]

If you don't want to book at WDW more than 7 months out, I would give it real consideration

 

[davidl81]

Are you wanting to stay in Aulani most years? If not then not worth it.

Mirroring previous advice, if you are looking to almost exclusively use the contract for Aulani, it works out well. If you want to use this at WDW though its not a good idea at all.

Hot take, but depending on buy in cost Aulani subsidized can actually be the best value for SAP in all of DVC. Lowest dues in DVC and they don’t expire till 2062. I was actually looking for Dec Aulani sub points for a while before I added on at SSR and it was just for the sleep around points. But I also find no issues with booking at 7 months while your results may vary.

 

[sethschroeder]

Hot take, but depending on buy in cost Aulani subsidized can actually be the best value for SAP in all of DVC. Lowest dues in DVC and they don’t expire till 2062. I was actually looking for Dec Aulani sub points for a while before I added on at SSR and it was just for the sleep around points. But I also find no issues with booking at 7 months while your results may vary.

Except what is that price difference a couple hundred to guarantee you can't book WDW until 7 months? Also AUL is starting to out increase the WDW resorts and your biggest obstacle is certain things that Disney gets discounts based on volume in FL are not present in HI.

I just hear stories of how easy it was booking studios and such 10 years ago and it seems every year it will get harder including now a bunch of points that are being banked forward from missed trips in 2020. I also am not a big fan of SAP though either rather not spend $10k/$20k/$30k+ and let $200/year get it so I can't make sure I have a trip to WDW when I want it.

 

[davidl81]

Except what is that price difference a couple hundred to guarantee you can't book WDW until 7 months? Also AUL is starting to out increase the WDW resorts and your biggest obstacle is certain things that Disney gets discounts based on volume in FL are not present in HI.

I just hear stories of how easy it was booking studios and such 10 years ago and it seems every year it will get harder including now a bunch of points that are being banked forward from missed trips in 2020. I also am not a big fan of SAP though either rather not spend $10k/$20k/$30k+ and let $200/year get it so I can't make sure I have a trip to WDW when I want it.

To be honest I find booking now at 7 months just about the same as I did when I first started in DVC 12 years ago. Studios included. It was always tough to get BCV studios in the summer, or WL during Christmas. None of this is really new. Now yeah COVID could make 2021 and 2022 weird years, but that is the exception and not the norm. Also honestly at that price point the other option for resale is SSR, and it’s not like SSR is booking out at 7 months. Depending on the OPs age I think there is real value in the 8 extra years on the Aulani contract versus a SSR contract or of course any 2042 contract. Closest comp to me is AKV, but AKV has higher dues than sub Aulani dues. I just personally do not think Aulani sub is a bad deal at all.

 

[poofyo101]

Aulani sub is the best deal for SAP IMO.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I always make an exception case for SAP: If you want them for use at WDW and ever travel in fall buy a resort that has an 11-month window at WDW.

 

[Budzooka]

On the hunt for AUL sub dues contract. There are a couple out there but are priced too high.

 

[Alice Sr.]

To be honest I find booking now at 7 months just about the same as I did when I first started in DVC 12 years ago. Studios included. It was always tough to get BCV studios in the summer, or WL during Christmas. None of this is really new. Now yeah COVID could make 2021 and 2022 weird years, but that is the exception and not the norm. Also honestly at that price point the other option for resale is SSR, and it’s not like SSR is booking out at 7 months. Depending on the OPs age I think there is real value in the 8 extra years on the Aulani contract versus a SSR contract or of course any 2042 contract. Closest comp to me is AKV, but AKV has higher dues than sub Aulani dues. I just personally do not think Aulani sub is a bad deal at all.

I can not get behind that statement, but then again I'm not a DVC guru and never rent studios. I think I might agree with the rest of your statements if I disregarded the age qualifier and knew what SAP was referencing. Aye yai yai, I hope that learning about subsidized Aulani offerings is not going to lead me down the path to more DVC.

 

[jenhelgren]

Thanks for all the advice! We have never booked more than 7 months out because we have always used friends and family points so that is not too much of an issue for us. Honestly, any contract may be SAP for us because we like to switch things up and split stays are common for us to make dates work. I made an offer on SSR and the seller went with a higher offer the AUL contract was my 2nd choice. When I found out it was subsidized dues, I was even more interested but I haven't spent much time looking into AUL and it seems to have the most negativity posted out of all DVC. We will probably use the points as well as friends or rent since 50 is much less than we usually use, but it is a start! They will not be used exclusively for Aulani but I am drawn to the low dues.

 

[jenhelgren]

On the hunt for AUL sub dues contract. There are a couple out there but are priced too high.

What price range have you been finding lately? I am trying to quickly access the market and offer a fair price that also suits me. I know smaller contracts usually sell a bit higher so I am trying to consider all angles. I had not been doing much research on AUL until this one popped up so I am behind in the game a bit

 

[Budzooka]

What price range have you been finding lately? I am trying to quickly access the market and offer a fair price that also suits me. I know smaller contracts usually sell a bit higher so I am trying to consider all angles. I had not been doing much research on AUL until this one popped up so I am behind in the game a bit

There are 3 contracts listed on one site between $125-$129, which is much higher than I am willing to pay. A 400 point contract was listed at $95 just a couple of weeks ago, but that is more points than I need, and it sold immediately.

Most regular contracts are listed in the $90s, so I’m looking around $100ish for subsidized. Don’t know if I’ll get there, but I’m not in a hurry and will continue to wait it out.

 

[LilyJC]

What price range have you been finding lately? I am trying to quickly access the market and offer a fair price that also suits me. I know smaller contracts usually sell a bit higher so I am trying to consider all angles. I had not been doing much research on AUL until this one popped up so I am behind in the game a bit

The best I’ve seen recently was $85/point for a loaded 160 March UY contract. Fidelity usually is the broker that has these unicorn deals. I’m not personally looking for Aulani, but was definitely tempted when I clicked on it out of curiosity as March is one of my UYs. I was shocked to see it was a subsidized contract!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We have never booked more than 7 months out because we have always used friends and family points

As an owner, why not change this behavior?

 

[Great3]

Yeah, if you are mainly using for WDW, I say buy a WDW resort, so you can guarantee you can get in at the 7 months - 11 months mark at high demand times. I understand you always getting in at 7 months before, but probably aren't looking to go during high demands. If that's the case, than cheapest SAP will work.

But your behavior may change, once you own DVC, so why limit yourself to only 7 months if you get AUL, but will mainly be using it at WDW? At least give yourself the option of > 7 months booking at WDW if needed.

Having said that, I do own two subsidized AUL contracts and love it, but I haven't used it at WDW resort either, so if you are truly flexible on dates for WDW, than sub. AUL contracts are the best to use for SAP.

Great3

 

[RoseGold]

I almost bought one for SAP, but I went with the old standard SSR instead because of FL law. I do not want to go to Hawaii, and would stay somewhere more adult if I did.

The 7.25% "transient tax" charged on Hawaii timeshares was recently added (1999), even to existing timeshares. FL has never made such a dramatic increase in taxes. I have more faith in the stability of FL timeshares, but maybe your crystal ball is different than mine.

Also, AUL will be on sale for two decades at this rate. I would rather be selling SSR in resale, if I choose to sell. Plenty of resale coming and going in good ole SSR.

 

[shaunacb]

AUL sub dues are the best 7 mo SAP without question. I have two contracts. They are rare. Price $90-100 is about right. Lowest dues and long ownership period. Also Aulani is amazing.