Yet another WWYD? RIV vs. AUL

[J-Dog]

So, we currently have 449 direct RIV points and 50 resale RIV points. So far, we have spent about 2/3 of our points at RIV and the other 1/3 at Aulani. We live in Washington state - so plane tickets fare prices and time on the plane are almost the same for each of them.

Add-on-itis is hitting hard.

There is currently a resale contract available at AUL for 100 points. That would be bought with the idea of it allowing us to book a couple of days at AUL at 11-months, and would plan to eventually add more points there.

The other option would be to buy 50 more points at RIV direct. The cost of the both contracts would be about the same (the AUL contract may be slightly cheaper if the seller accepts a low-ball offer). The advantage of this is that those points at RIV would obviously be available at both RIV and AUL - but of course not until 7-months at AUL.

The RIV points would of course carry about half the cost for dues. Because it's half the points. I am aware of the subsidized AUL contracts, and have looked for one, but I have yet to see one with an October UY (and I have no interest in buying a separate UY).

I'm torn, because it seems that AUL is available at 7-months for most of the year, with a few rare exceptions, so AUL points might be wasteful - especially since they won't be useable at RIV. So far, the restrictions have actually worked-out fine for us, because we borrowed direct points to book Aulani, then banked our resale points and ended-up with enough extra points at RIV the next year for 2 extra days. I guess that this technique might work with AUL resale points, but I'm not completely sure - will probably depend on each individual situation/points chart, etc.

Any advice or prior experiences? Thanks very much.

 

[J-Dog]

Also, and it might be irrational, but I am slightly worried that DVD will end-up selling AUL at some point in the future, leaving us stuck with points from some other timeshare company, and therefore worthless at other DVC resorts. Thoughts?

 

[bobbiwoz]

All I can say is people have mentioned Disney getting rid of Vero Beach for most of the time we have been members. It hasn’t happened, I can’t imagine it happening to Aulani. But who really knows?

 

[lilsonicfan]

I've wanted to buy points at Aulani but it's so point heavy with a family of 5 that I haven't really seen the point of buying a contract under, say, 200 points, which even then would only get us a week if we banked or borrowed. Based on availability charts I think I could get what I needed at 7 months. Standard view, or studio, probably is harder, but I don't need those anyway. I wouldn't be too keen on flying to Oahu for just a couple of nights (we are west coast too) so I'd either want enough points for the full week, or just use my SSR points there.

 

[J-Dog]

I've wanted to buy points at Aulani but it's so point heavy with a family of 5 that I haven't really seen the point of buying a contract under, say, 200 points, which even then would only get us a week if we banked or borrowed. Based on availability charts I think I could get what I needed at 7 months. Standard view, or studio, probably is harder, but I don't need those anyway. I wouldn't be too keen on flying to Oahu for just a couple of nights (we are west coast too) so I'd either want enough points for the full week, or just use my SSR points there.

Yes, I completely agree. My current plan, if we bought AUL points, would be to book, say, 2 days in a 1Br with the idea of adding-on at 7-months. Then, as we went along, we would slowly add more AUL points to eventually use those exclusively.

But, I am not convinced that plan is worth it. Similar to what you said, it seems just as easy to have more RIV points, and just use the whole thing at AUL at 7-months every once in a while.

Hard decisions....

Thanks!

 

[lilsonicfan]

Yes, I completely agree. My current plan, if we bought AUL points, would be to book, say, 2 days in a 1Br with the idea of adding-on at 7-months. Then, as we went along, we would slowly add more AUL points to eventually use those exclusively.

But, I am not convinced that plan is worth it. Similar to what you said, it seems just as easy to have more RIV points, and just use the whole thing at AUL at 7-months every once in a while.

Yeah I would not be able to deal with a 4 month gap between initial booking, and adding on more days... I know myself and I would be so frustrated waiting and trying to check to see that room didn't get booked up, etc. I realize the tough thing of a resort not being a home resort is that you don't get standard views/cheap rooms, but for me, I don't vacation a ton, I'm totally fine with going to Hawaii and having a view of something other than the parking garage. Or to WDW and seeing the lake instead of the parking lot. Obviously that's just me.

 

[intamin]

So, we currently have 449 direct RIV points and 50 resale RIV points. So far, we have spent about 2/3 of our points at RIV and the other 1/3 at Aulani. We live in Washington state - so plane tickets fare prices and time on the plane are almost the same for each of them.

Add-on-itis is hitting hard.

There is currently a resale contract available at AUL for 100 points. That would be bought with the idea of it allowing us to book a couple of days at AUL at 11-months, and would plan to eventually add more points there.

The other option would be to buy 50 more points at RIV direct. The cost of the both contracts would be about the same (the AUL contract may be slightly cheaper if the seller accepts a low-ball offer). The advantage of this is that those points at RIV would obviously be available at both RIV and AUL - but of course not until 7-months at AUL.

The RIV points would of course carry about half the cost for dues. Because it's half the points. I am aware of the subsidized AUL contracts, and have looked for one, but I have yet to see one with an October UY (and I have no interest in buying a separate UY).

I'm torn, because it seems that AUL is available at 7-months for most of the year, with a few rare exceptions, so AUL points might be wasteful - especially since they won't be useable at RIV. So far, the restrictions have actually worked-out fine for us, because we borrowed direct points to book Aulani, then banked our resale points and ended-up with enough extra points at RIV the next year for 2 extra days. I guess that this technique might work with AUL resale points, but I'm not completely sure - will probably depend on each individual situation/points chart, etc.

Any advice or prior experiences? Thanks very much.

I bought AUL subsidized as my SAP. I also own RIV although not as much as you. I'm a fan of diversification but I don't think buying AUL for a 1BR is worth it? As you know the 1BRs are the easiest to book and Aulani generally isn't a hard resort to book at 7 months. The biggest booking priority advantage that comes with AUL is booking studios and the hotel rooms. Is there a reason you aren't considering SSR, CCV, BLT or another WDW resort where the dues are typically lower?

 

[J-Dog]

Yeah I would not be able to deal with a 4 month gap between initial booking, and adding on more days... I know myself and I would be so frustrated waiting and trying to check to see that room didn't get booked up, etc. I realize the tough thing of a resort not being a home resort is that you don't get standard views/cheap rooms, but for me, I don't vacation a ton, I'm totally fine with going to Hawaii and having a view of something other than the parking garage. Or to WDW and seeing the lake instead of the parking lot. Obviously that's just me.

Lol, again I completely agree. At RIV, the standard view rooms are in high demand, but I'm one of the weird ones that actually tries to book a preferred view. You're probably right about the stress of the delay in fully booking until 7-months.

I was really wanting AUL points, but I'm starting to talk myself out of it, I think.

Thanks again.

 

[Sandisw]

Having had a contract that could not be used at RIV and other that could, we found it frustrating.

We sold after a year because RIV is somewhere we want to stay. But, if the goal is Aulani and you have other places you use your RIV points on a regular basis it may not be too bad.

For us, it will always be direct from now on

 

[J-Dog]

I bought AUL subsidized as my SAP. I also own RIV although not as much as you. I'm a fan of diversification but I don't think buying AUL for a 1BR is worth it? As you know the 1BRs are the easiest to book and Aulani generally isn't a hard resort to book at 7 months. The biggest booking priority advantage that comes with AUL is booking studios and the hotel rooms. Is there a reason you aren't considering SSR, CCV, BLT or another WDW resort where the dues are typically lower?

Thanks for the advice. As far as booking O14 resorts - that's always an option, but resale goes back to resale restrictions, which seems even more pointless at a resort that I don't plan to stay at.

 

[J-Dog]

Having had a contract that could not be used at RIV and other that could, we found it frustrating.

We sold after a year because RIV is somewhere we want to stay. But, if the goal is Aulani and you have other places you use your RIV points on a regular basis it may not be too bad.

For us, it will always be direct from now on

Thanks! Yes, I'm more and more agreeing with you, I think.

 

[intamin]

Thanks for the advice. As far as booking O14 resorts - that's always an option, but resale goes back to resale restrictions, which seems even more pointless at a resort that I don't plan to stay at.

Sounds like more Riviera it is Can't say I blame you, I'm currently trying to buy another 150-200 at RIV before poly 2 goes on sale.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I was really wanting AUL points, but I'm starting to talk myself out of it, I think.

Thanks again.

Well the obvious choice is to do both, buy ALL the contracts!!

I mean, you could also keep an eye out for a contract at Aulani anyway! Such as one with subsidized dues...lol

 

[AstroBlasters]

Well the obvious choice is to do both, buy ALL the contracts!!

I mean, you could also keep an eye out for a contract at Aulani anyway! Such as one with subsidized dues...lol

IMO, people are drastically overpaying for double stripped AUL subsidized dues when compared to full loaded unsubsidized that are $30pp or more less.

Fellow NWer here… ignore the heavy WDW/East Coast bias and go with more Aulani and negotiate hard for a low buy in price. You can use the Alaska Companion fare once a year and relax in paradise while it’s raining back at home.

 

[J-Dog]

IMO, people are drastically overpaying for double stripped AUL subsidized dues when compared to full loaded unsubsidized that are $30pp or more less.

Fellow NWer here… ignore the heavy WDW/East Coast bias and go with more Aulani and negotiate hard for a low buy in price. You can use the Alaska Companion fare once a year and relax in paradise while it’s raining back at home.

Thanks for the perspective. I don't know what the Alaska companion fare is, as Alaska is my least favorite airline, but it is certainly worth looking into.

And for us, we want to relax in paradise while there is 3 feet of snow back home, not rain.

 

[Chili327]

Sell the Resale RIV & Buy where you want to stay.. if thats Riv then buy RIV, if you want AUL, but there, if you just want SAP buy SSR (or other).
If West Coast why not VDH? (not a fan of the Land, or too pricey?)

 

[J-Dog]

Sell the Resale RIV & Buy where you want to stay.. if thats Riv then buy RIV, if you want AUL, but there, if you just want SAP buy SSR (or other).
If West Coast why not VDH? (not a fan of the Land, or too pricey?)

Thanks. Like I said in the first post, were spend about 2/3 of our DVC time at RIV, so I'm not interested in selling it.

But I agree that there's something to be said about owning at AUL.

And I agree that VDH is solid advice, thanks, but we really have no interest in SoCal as a vacation destination.

 

[Cfabar1]

I'd buy direct, unless you can find an Aulani contract subsidized and you're okay not using those points at Riviera....

 

[intamin]

Deleted

 

[AstroBlasters]

Thanks for the perspective. I don't know what the Alaska companion fare is, as Alaska is my least favorite airline, but it is certainly worth looking into.

And for us, we want to relax in paradise while there is 3 feet of snow back home, not rain.

You must be in the eastern part of Washington state.

If you have the Alaska CC ($95 annual fee) then it gives you a companion fare once a year for $99+tax to anywhere that Alaska flys.

They also have some sign up bonuses that should give you enough points to get one free round trip to MCO or HNL. That alone more than pays the annual fee if you decide to cancel after a year.

My wife and I each have one and fly our family of four to Hawaii direct from Portland. Given that a single round trip ticket is ~$550 it saves us around $670 a year on the two kids tickets.