On going searches worth trying or are these Impossible? [Aulani & Ko'olina]

[Ridewithme38]

So my plan for Summer 2016 has changed a bit, Hopefully, i'll have a large group going so i'll need these to come through for the same week, i'm going to put in an on-going search with RCI (using 60 TPU's) for a Disney Aulani (1br or 2br) Between July 1st - August 25th and an On Going reach with II for Marriott's Ko Olina (using my 2br SBP)(2br) between July 1st - August 25th

But i've never really used on-going searches with either of these exchange companies....

Obviously, the ideal is to have everyone stay in one resort, but i'd need a 3br for that and if only staying in one resort, i'd prefer it be Aulani, for the 'disney magic' and we all know, i won't be able to exchange into that...

What are the odds, i'll be able to get a rooms at BOTH of these resorts for the same week?

I'm considering talking to one of the Marriott 'power renters' but because of cost, thats a last resort

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I am an exchange newbie but can you really do anything four years out? How could there be any inventory yet?

 

[bnoble]

It's too soon to know if Aulani is impossible---we'll just have to see what develops. I don't follow II that closely, but from what I've read, Marriott's new points program has had a material and negative impact on II inventory. Not having Marriott internal preference will make it even harder---you might not see this until very close in if at all. Add in the constraint that it has to be the same week, and, well...

As this is a group, not just you, it sounds like you need to have some plans in advance that you can count on. Given that, if it were me, I'd probably retarget to one of the other islands (most of which, IMO, are better destinations anyway) and/or suck it up and rent. Alternatively, you could go with one of the Oahu HGVCs, which are quite nice in their own right. HGVC tends to bulk bank approximately once or twice per year; the HI 2013 bank went in a month or two ago.

 

[DeniseM]

I am an exchange newbie but can you really do anything four years out? How could there be any inventory yet?

He can't put the ongoing request in yet, but the whole point is to put it in BEFORE the deposits come in and before the competition so that you are in position to get the exchanges are soon as they are deposited.

That being said, in Hawaii the "Disney Magic" is secondary to the "Hawaii Magic," so I certainly wouldn't limit my request to 2 resorts in one area.

 

[MichaelColey]

I would definitely give it a try. I suspect that Aulani won't be that hard to exchange into.

 

[BevL]

Aulani might be like the Manhattan Club, the TPU value is so high that they sit around for a while. I'd definitely expect 60 on that one.

 

[LAX Mom]

Ko'Olina in the summer months will be difficult without the Marriott preference. The Hawaii Marriotts go very quickly and rarely last past the preference period.

 

[Ridewithme38]

RCI On going search

You cannot search more then 24 months in advance form today's date. Please modify your search dates.

That's going to screw me up a bit, BTW, that's RCI's typo, not mine!

 

[classiclincoln]

For what it's worth, if you know when you want to go away, the only way to go is to put your request in as early as you can. We've always done that and have always gotten what we wanted; even for week 51. You see, if you put in your request now, you are on the "top of the list", so as soon as what you want is deposited, you get it. Remember, what you see on line right now is what no one else wanted.

I'd also agree that you should put in for multiple places. When we only want to go to one resort, we (personally) only request the II Gold Seal resorts, and a few Silver one's that we've researched. The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to get what you want.

 

[DeniseM]

Have you looked at air fare from NY to Hawaii, and the length of the flight? Personally, I would not go to Hawaii for just 7 days from the East Coast:

Day 1 - 10 hours flight (if you are lucky)
Day 2 - recover from 10 hour flight & jet lag
Day 3 - Hawaii
Day 4 - Hawaii
Day 5 - Hawaii
Day 6 - Hawaii
Day 7 - 10 hour fight (if you are lucky)

Too far and too expensive for such a short trip - I won't even go to Hawaii for 7 days from California!

 

[Ridewithme38]

Have you looked at air fare from NY to Hawaii, and the length of the flight? Personally, I would not go to Hawaii for just 7 days from the East Coast:

Day 1 - 10 hours flight (if you are lucky)
Day 2 - recover from 10 hour flight & jet lag
Day 3 - Hawaii
Day 4 - Hawaii
Day 5 - Hawaii
Day 6 - Hawaii
Day 7 - 10 hour fight (if you are lucky)

Too far and too expensive for such a short trip - I won't even go to Hawaii for 7 days from California!

Aww! Your mean! Truth me told, i want to stay at Aulani as much if not more then my daughter does! So i'm going to do what ever it takes to make this happen

BTW: I'm going to send you an email in a couple days to ask you some questions

 

[DeniseM]

Not mean - just realistic: Just about the time you have adjusted to the time change and you are really into Hawaii - it will be time to go home. For us - Hawaii is a 2 week trip.

 

[slum808]

I live in Hawaii and have to fly to the continent for our vacations. We normally always go for a week, partially due to school schedules, partially because that's all I can afford. I look at it this way, 1 week is better than no weeks.

BTW flying to Hawaii is easier than flying from Hawaii. When you're on east pst, or est in Hawaii you just wake up a little early. When you're on Hawaiian time and trying to wake up for the rope drop at disney, your body thinks its 3 am.

 

[bnoble]

That's going to screw me up a bit, BTW, that's RCI's typo, not mine!

Set something up for two years hence. A year from now, move it to three years hence. Two years from now, move it to four. You can modify an ongoing search without changing your initiation date, thereby preserving your "place in line."

 

[Ridewithme38]

Set something up for two years hence. A year from now, move it to three years hence. Two years from now, move it to four. You can modify an ongoing search without changing your initiation date, thereby preserving your "place in line."

This is why i love this forum! thank you bnoble!

 

[MichaelColey]

The problem you're going to run into is that the deposit will expire before then.

You'll need to do a high value deposit, timed so that it will expire shortly after the end of the timeframe when you're going. As soon as the deposit is in place, do your ongoing search. If it's too far out, make it for as far out as you can and then edit it when you can.

This is one place where a real deposit has an advantage over a combined deposit. A real deposit is good for up to 3 years (if it's made 1+ year in advance), while a combined deposit is only good for 2 years.

 

[gnorth16]

The problem you're going to run into is that the deposit will expire before then.

You'll need to do a high value deposit, timed so that it will expire shortly after the end of the timeframe when you're going. As soon as the deposit is in place, do your ongoing search. If it's too far out, make it for as far out as you can and then edit it when you can.

This is one place where a real deposit has an advantage over a combined deposit. A real deposit is good for up to 3 years (if it's made 1+ year in advance), while a combined deposit is only good for 2 years.

What about changing the deposit after the request is made?

After 18 months switch it with something from 2014?

 

[alwysonvac]

A two bedroom for the summer on Oahu might be hard

I would make backup plans for a house/condo rental and do a night or two at Aulani. Also, by the time 2016 rolls around, summer crowds at Aulani might be unbearable.

Interval International's travel demand table (see below), shows high demand/less availability from week 24 to week 31 (mid June thru early August). There will be less competition in late August (just before school starts - see week 35).

I've done one week trips to Hawaii but due to the rising cost of airfare, I now try to stay at least two weeks. If it's your 1st time to Hawaii, I would suggest going for two weeks if you can. A 2nd week during the summer on the Big Island might be doable via RCI & II.

 

[Bourne]

Classic case of II & RCI comparison.

You have a better shot at getting Aulani than the Marriott. With RCI, if and the big if, Aulani starts getting loaded. Its a matter of TPU cost. If you can afford it, you will get it.

Marriott is another animal. Having traded in II for a decade + now, you are practically dead in the water during summer months for a Marriott. That said, if you get it, it would probably be within 1-20 days of check in. Then airfare starts becoming a problem.

 

[Ridewithme38]

Have you looked at air fare from NY to Hawaii, and the length of the flight? Personally, I would not go to Hawaii for just 7 days from the East Coast:

Day 1 - 10 hours flight (if you are lucky)
Day 2 - recover from 10 hour flight & jet lag
Day 3 - Hawaii
Day 4 - Hawaii
Day 5 - Hawaii
Day 6 - Hawaii
Day 7 - 10 hour fight (if you are lucky)

Too far and too expensive for such a short trip - I won't even go to Hawaii for 7 days from California!

Just about the time you have adjusted to the time change and you are really into Hawaii - it will be time to go home. For us - Hawaii is a 2 week trip.

I've done one week trips to Hawaii but due to the rising cost of airfare, I now try to stay at least two weeks. If it's your 1st time to Hawaii, I would suggest going for two weeks if you can. A 2nd week during the summer on the Big Island might be doable via RCI & II.

The problem with taking more then 1 week at Hawaii, is a couple things, one is a contractual issue, i get three weeks with my daughter over the summer, but the settlement between me and the ex specifically states that i can only use one week at a time, they can not be consecutive....Maybe i can convince the Ex to go...But spending more then a week with her....One can only stay cordial with an ex for so long

The second problem, is I believe a common problem, if i need to rent these weeks instead of being able to exchange into them, the costs will be very prohibative...Lets assume i magically can get 2 weeks in Aulani as RCI exchanges(i have the TPU's to do it, its just about availability), the average cost of a 2br at Ko Olina for the summer runs between 2,500-4,500 a week and if its the Aulani i need to rent, it'll be even more expensive! That would leave VERY little in my budget for other expenses, like air fare, food and fun

 

[DeniseM]

You could rent two weeks at very nice resort that's not Aulani or a Marriott for the same price as one week at those resorts. Or exchange for two weeks in a 2 bdm. for your available tpu's. I understand that Aulani is a beautiful resort, but Hawaii is so much more than Disney... Don't get me wrong - I like Disney, but after you get there, the Disney aspect will be secondary to the beauty and culture of Hawaii.

 

[gnorth16]

Classic case of II & RCI comparison.

You have a better shot at getting Aulani than the Marriott. With RCI, if and the big if, Aulani starts getting loaded. Its a matter of TPU cost. If you can afford it, you will get it.

Marriott is another animal. Having traded in II for a decade + now, you are practically dead in the water during summer months for a Marriott. That said, if you get it, it would probably be within 1-20 days of check in. Then airfare starts becoming a problem.

That is why you book your trip inluding a cancellable hotel room and watch the sightings board. Make sure the plane you are flying on has wi-fi!

At what point will Aulani even become available to trade? The list must be so long at this point becuase everyone wants to stay there.

 

[SOS8260456]

If your exwife wouldn't negotiate so your daughter can have a trip like this, that just sucks. I totally agree with the others about trying to make it a two week trip.

I may be opimistic but I see no reason why if you have the TPUS and get your search in as soon as you practically can, why you can't get both units at Aulani for a week.

We haven't done the Hawaii trip yet, but these guys are pros and are giving lots of good advice.

 

[MichaelColey]

A week is fine if you can't do more. More is far more economical for us (since the major expense is just getting there), but you have to do what you have to do.

The jet lag isn't as much of an issue in Hawaii, because you just wake up early. We've gone both directions (Europe and Hawaii), and I'd much rather wake up early than late. In fact, we were originally planning to go East in our RTW trip (still in the very preliminary planning stages) but will go West instead because of that.

We took a 6 day trip to Europe (Italy and the Swiss Alps) a few years ago. We were pretty wiped out the first day, but we schlepped through it and had an awesome time. That was just me and my wife, though. It would have been tougher with kids.

 

[rickandcindy23]

The Imperial in Waikiki Beach is supposed to be pretty nice, and if you deposit a week at Hawaiian Timeshare Exchange, I am fairly certain you can get a week there for any time of year with a little planning.

It would be cheaper, too, and some of us (Like Denise and yours truly) have deposits we can use and add your name as a guest. Hawaiian doesn't have the same rules as RCI and II about "renting exchanges."

Believe it or not Maui is a pretty easy exchange with II, so if you want to consider another island, I think you have a great chance of getting a nice place there. Trading Places Maui can probably help you with an exchange into Maui Lea, too.

Aulani may be available via exchange by then, but there are no guarantees. Villas at Grand Californian has been a very difficult trade. The Aulani weeks may be nearly impossible. But who would have guessed DVC inventory for July would be so plentiful? Not me.