After getting the ROFR kicked out of me for several months bidding on AKV and SSR, I am strongly considering Aulani (most likely unsubsidized). It would be my first DVC purchase but almost certainly not my last. The only thing giving me pause right now is that there seems to be a lot of factors that can or could impact the overall cost that are particular to Aulani & Hawaii, and I'm struggling gathering all those variables so that I can make a decision. I'd appreciate any info that can help me understand these "hidden", as in not posted on a resale listing, costs. Here are a couple specific questions, but again any info would be really helpful.
I heard something about a daily tax when staying there. How much is that? Does that apply when using Aulani points at the other resorts too? Or only when staying in HI?
Closing costs - would I be paying more in closing costs as compared to FL resorts? If so, how much?
Maintenance fees - though the unsubsidized fees are only slightly more than what I would have paid at AKV, there seems to be a lot of people who think that those fees will rise higher and more quickly at Aulani. How real is that?
Staying at Aulani - if I buy Aulani I will stay at Aulani once every few years. If I bought at the resort I want to stay at most, AKV, I'd probably use all my DVC points there, vacation in HI less frequently and almost certainly stay somewhere other than Aulani when I do go to HI. Bottom line though, I would have no problem with banking and borrowing to spend my points on big trips to HI if I ever found myself in a jam unable to book at AKV or one of the other handful of WDW resorts I like at the 7 mo window, EXCEPT that I hear it's very expensive. Other than airfare, what makes it so much more expensive than a WDW resort. Food? Activities? Do they charge for things that are complimentary at other resorts?
Again, any info on hidden costs here, whether specific to these questions or not, would be super helpful. Thanks all.
And again, thanks in advance
I heard something about a daily tax when staying there. How much is that? Does that apply when using Aulani points at the other resorts too? Or only when staying in HI?
Closing costs - would I be paying more in closing costs as compared to FL resorts? If so, how much?
Maintenance fees - though the unsubsidized fees are only slightly more than what I would have paid at AKV, there seems to be a lot of people who think that those fees will rise higher and more quickly at Aulani. How real is that?
Staying at Aulani - if I buy Aulani I will stay at Aulani once every few years. If I bought at the resort I want to stay at most, AKV, I'd probably use all my DVC points there, vacation in HI less frequently and almost certainly stay somewhere other than Aulani when I do go to HI. Bottom line though, I would have no problem with banking and borrowing to spend my points on big trips to HI if I ever found myself in a jam unable to book at AKV or one of the other handful of WDW resorts I like at the 7 mo window, EXCEPT that I hear it's very expensive. Other than airfare, what makes it so much more expensive than a WDW resort. Food? Activities? Do they charge for things that are complimentary at other resorts?
Again, any info on hidden costs here, whether specific to these questions or not, would be super helpful. Thanks all.
And again, thanks in advance