Building Excitement for Aulani Trip

[AlaskaMOM]

How many of you come to the Aulani board a couple times a week (or everyday) to hopefully find new posts to help you get excited for an upcoming trip?

Just me?

I know when planning a WDW or even a DL trip you can spend hours a day finding new things to help build the excitement, but alas not so for Aulani.


Here's an Aulani sunset pic to make it worth opening thread.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Spotify playlist "Disney Aulani Sounds."

 

[adagrl]

me!! first timer to this board and to aulani!

 

[BradleyCB]

Definitely me! We are surprising our girls with our first trip to Aulani next summer.

 

[Cupcaker]

We were there recently and took this photo which has now become my zoom background so that I can still feel like I’m there

 

[alohamom]

One thing you might want to do, if you have not done this already, is head over the the DVC trip reports section of these boards and read through some of the old reports.
I think they were posted in the DVC section because there has not always been an Aulani section .
I stumbled upon this sub section of the DisBoards a few years ago when I was looking into DVC information
Obviously lots has changed since many of them have been posted but there are some great ones there to get you pumped up.
Here are some links...

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...n-aulani-with-preschoolers-june-2015.3417333/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/j...2016-updated-6-4-complete-dl-tr-link.3528738/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...eport-update-9-25-going-home-the-end.3467739/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/duffy-in-paradise-an-aulani-trip-report.3419060/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/a...e-making-and-then-some.3460703/#post-54684775
https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...ith-a-toddler-oct-2017.3644379/#post-58497728

 

[BradleyCB]

I'm very concerned I will be tempted to buy into DVC at Aulani after going there. It doesn't make any sense in the world for us, but these pictures....

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I'm very concerned I will be tempted to buy into DVC at Aulani after going there. It doesn't make any sense in the world for us, but these pictures....

Aulani isn't too too difficult to get into at 7 months if you're flexible with your room type. If you decide to buy DVC, I'd recommend buying Saratoga Springs resale, with the option to use those points at Aulani at the 7 month booking window.

 

[AlaskaMOM]

Spotify playlist "Disney Aulani Sounds."

Great idea!

 

[AlaskaMOM]

me!! first timer to this board and to aulani!

Welcome to the Dis. I'm not nearly as active on the boards as I used to be; but have found them to be a great wealth of info on practically everything - Disney and non-Disney related.

Are you planning a trip to Aulani soon, or just meandering?

 

[AlaskaMOM]

Definitely me! We are surprising our girls with our first trip to Aulani next summer.

Oh how fun!
I don't think I could do a surprise trip; I love talking and planning and "outloud dreaming" of our next trip in January. Mentally it's a necessity for me to have this to look forward to. (as with most of the world also needing something good to hold on to after ....)

 

[AlaskaMOM]

We were there recently and took this photo which has now become my zoom background so that I can still feel like I’m there
View attachment 619870

Just a couple more months and I get to feel this picture! Thanks for sharing!

 

[AlaskaMOM]

One thing you might want to do, if you have not done this already, is head over the the DVC trip reports section of these boards and read through some of the old reports.
I think they were posted in the DVC section because there has not always been an Aulani section .
I stumbled upon this sub section of the DisBoards a few years ago when I was looking into DVC information
Obviously lots has changed since many of them have been posted but there are some great ones there to get you pumped up.
Here are some links...

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...n-aulani-with-preschoolers-june-2015.3417333/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/j...2016-updated-6-4-complete-dl-tr-link.3528738/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...eport-update-9-25-going-home-the-end.3467739/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/duffy-in-paradise-an-aulani-trip-report.3419060/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/a...e-making-and-then-some.3460703/#post-54684775
https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...ith-a-toddler-oct-2017.3644379/#post-58497728

Thanks for the list. I will definitely start reading through some. I've read many a trip report when planning our trips to WDW. But haven't been back to WDW in a number of years (medical issues causing some physical limitations) but have instead gone to Aulani to use our points instead - so didn't even think of trip reports.

 

[AlaskaMOM]

I'm very concerned I will be tempted to buy into DVC at Aulani after going there. It doesn't make any sense in the world for us, but these pictures....

I am tempted to every time we're there as well - or at least add on more points. Especially when the vacation's winding down and reality is getting closer.
We sold off one contract to help DS finance college a number of years ago, but have held onto our (beloved) OKW points, and they work rather well for a trip every other year. We haven't been too picky about which room category so have mostly found it just as easy to book Aulani as it is to book another resort (excepting Disneyland, I can NEVER find availability there).
I do say if Aulani is a place you want to stay at frequently (or semi-frequently) DVC points are definitely the best "affordable" option - either renting or using points from another contract, I'm not sure the cost of Aulani directly, that may not be the most affordable option.

 

[AlaskaMOM]

Aulani isn't too too difficult to get into at 7 months if you're flexible with your room type. If you decide to buy DVC, I'd recommend buying Saratoga Springs resale, with the option to use those points at Aulani at the 7 month booking window.

Agree - or mostly agree. I'm not sure Saratoga Springs is the best one - You'd want to shop around and research resale costs and then factor in maintenance (annual dues) costs for the resorts you're looking at.

I remember years ago Vero Beach looked so, so good price-wise (I think around $49/point), but the resort had been hammered by big storms for a few years and the annual dues were outta sight (I think mostly insurance costs went thru the roof). So it wasn't a great a deal.

 

[JC1984]

65 days 11 hours 46 minutes but I’m not counting

 

[AlaskaMOM]

65 days 11 hours 46 minutes but I’m not counting

I wasn't counting, until I saw yours.
61 days 5 hours 40 minutes

 

[CaptainAmerica]

 

[SueInBoston]

too long...266 days!!

 

[MommyCMickey]

35 days!!!!