Here's a question I get at least once a week: "Mark, can I use DVC points for something besides Disney World?" The answer is yes, and the best version of that answer is Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii. It's the only DVC property where you can spend your points on a genuine Hawaiian beach vacation with zero theme parks involved. After 25 years selling DVC contracts, I still think Aulani is one of the most interesting purchases in the whole system because it changes what DVC ownership means for a family.
But it comes with trade-offs. The annual dues are the highest of any DVC resort. The resale prices reflect that. And the logistics of vacationing in Hawaii are fundamentally different from driving to Orlando. So let me give you the complete picture, the good and the complicated, so you can decide if Aulani belongs in your DVC portfolio.
Where Is Aulani, Exactly?
Aulani sits in Ko Olina on the western coast of Oahu, about 35-40 minutes from Honolulu International Airport depending on traffic. Ko Olina is a planned resort community with several hotels, a golf course, and four man-made lagoons carved into the coastline. It's quieter and more resort-oriented than Waikiki, which is the main tourist strip in Honolulu.
This location choice was deliberate. Disney wanted a setting where families could have a self-contained resort experience without needing to fight Honolulu traffic every day. And Ko Olina delivers on that. The lagoons provide calm, protected swimming areas perfect for kids. The beach is right there. You can spend an entire week at Aulani without getting in a car.
That said, you'll probably want to explore Oahu during your trip. The North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and dozens of other attractions are worth seeing. And that means you'll need a rental car. Unlike Disney World where buses and monorails handle everything, Aulani has no transportation system beyond the resort grounds. A rental car isn't optional here. It's a practical necessity unless you truly plan to stay on-site the entire trip.
The Resort: Disney Quality, Hawaiian Soul
Disney did something smart with Aulani. They hired Hawaiian cultural consultants from the beginning and built a resort that genuinely respects Hawaiian culture rather than creating a mainland fantasy version of it. The architecture references traditional Hawaiian design. The artwork throughout the property was created by Hawaiian artists. And the cultural programming goes way beyond what you'd expect from a corporate resort.
The Aunty's Beach House kids' club is staffed with counselors who teach Hawaiian language, music, and crafts. The KA WA'A lu'au tells the story of Hawaiian culture through dance and music. The resort regularly brings in local practitioners to share traditions with guests. It's educational without being heavy-handed, which is a hard balance to strike.
Disney characters do appear at Aulani, but it's a limited cast. You'll see Moana (obviously), Mickey and Minnie in Hawaiian outfits, Stitch, Goofy, and a few others. But this isn't a character-driven experience the way the parks are. The characters are a nice touch for kids but they're not the main attraction. The beach, the pools, the cultural programming, and the sheer beauty of the Hawaiian setting are the draw.
The Pool Complex and Lazy River: This Is Why People Come
The Aulani pool area is, honestly, the best pool complex at any DVC resort. It's not even close. The Waikolohe Pool features a volcanic mountain backdrop, waterslides, a splash zone for little ones, and an adults-only infinity pool called the Wailana Pool. But the crown jewel is the Waikolohe Stream, a lazy river that winds through the property with gentle currents, waterfalls, and underwater viewing areas.
Families with kids could spend three or four full days just at the pools and lazy river without anyone getting bored. I've had clients tell me their kids didn't even want to go to the beach because the pools were so good. And the beach is right there. Ko Olina's lagoon provides a protected swimming area with calm water that's safe for young children. Real ocean swimming, real sand, with the protection of the man-made lagoon walls keeping the waves manageable.
For adults, the Laniwai Spa is a full-service spa that's considered one of the best hotel spas in Hawaii. Outdoor treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy garden, and services that incorporate Hawaiian wellness traditions. If one parent wants to hit the spa while the other hangs with the kids at the pool, Aulani makes that work beautifully.
Room Types: What Your Points Get You
Studios
Standard studios sleep four with a queen bed and a queen sleeper sofa. They include a kitchenette with the usual DVC setup: mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and toaster. The rooms are well-appointed with Hawaiian-inspired decor and many have at least partial ocean views.
Point costs for studios vary by season. During fall (Aulani's lowest demand period), you might get a studio for 15-18 points per night. During summer and holidays, expect 22-28 points per night. A week in summer runs roughly 150-180 points in a standard studio.
One-Bedroom Villas
One-bedrooms add a separate bedroom with a king bed, a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a living area. They sleep five. The full kitchen is particularly valuable at Aulani because dining in Hawaii is expensive. Being able to cook breakfast and pack lunches saves real money over the course of a week.
Two-Bedroom Villas
Two-bedrooms sleep eight or nine and combine the one-bedroom with an attached studio. For families traveling with grandparents or bringing another couple, these are ideal. The second bathroom is a lifesaver when you're dealing with six or seven people getting ready for a beach day.
Three-Bedroom Grand Villas
The grand villas are the top tier, sleeping twelve with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. These are large family reunion territory. The point cost per night is steep, but split among three or four families, the per-person economics can actually work out reasonably.
Ocean View vs. Standard View
At Aulani, view categories matter more than at most DVC resorts. An ocean view room at Aulani means you're looking at the Pacific Ocean from your balcony. A standard view might face the parking area or the island view. The point difference between standard and ocean view can be 3-5 points per night, which over a week adds up. My recommendation: splurge on the ocean view. You're in Hawaii. Wake up looking at the ocean. It's worth the extra points.
Resale Pricing: The Math Is Different Here
Aulani contracts trade on the resale market between $80 and $100 per point. That's significantly less than most Florida DVC resorts, which might seem like a bargain until you understand why.
The answer is annual dues. Aulani's dues are approximately $10.50 per point, the highest in the DVC system. On a 200-point contract, that's $2,100 per year in dues alone. Compare that to Saratoga Springs at around $7.00 per point ($1,400 on 200 points) or Copper Creek at $8.50 ($1,700 on 200 points). You're paying $400-700 more per year at Aulani than at most Florida resorts.
That higher ongoing cost pushes the resale purchase price down. Buyers factor lifetime dues into their total cost of ownership, and Aulani's dues make the effective cost higher than the sticker price suggests. For a detailed breakdown of how annual dues affect your total ownership cost across all DVC resorts, our dues analysis covers the math.
For a 200-point contract at $90 per point, the purchase price is $18,000. Add the $500 Disney administration fee and $500-700 in closing costs. Your all-in cost is around $19,000-$19,200. That's less upfront than most Florida DVC resorts. But your annual dues of $2,100 mean you're paying more each year to maintain your ownership. Over a 20-year period, the dues add up to roughly $42,000 (assuming no increases, which won't happen), plus the original $19,000 purchase. Total 20-year cost: around $61,000+ for 200 points per year.
Is that worth it? For a week in a Hawaiian beachfront resort that would cost $500-700+ per night at rack rate, the answer for many families is absolutely yes. A week at Aulani in a one-bedroom villa at cash rates runs $4,000-6,000+ depending on season. Do that for 20 years and you've spent $80,000-120,000. DVC ownership cuts that cost dramatically even with Aulani's high dues.
ROFR: Disney Rarely Takes These Back
Here's good news. Aulani has low ROFR activity. Disney rarely exercises their right to buy back Aulani contracts on the resale market. The combination of high dues and the Hawaii-specific nature of the property means Disney isn't aggressively recapturing this inventory the way they do at Florida monorail resorts.
What this means for buyers: you can make competitive offers without worrying too much about Disney stepping in. Contracts priced in the $80-100 range are passing ROFR consistently. I've seen contracts in the high $70s pass through as well, though those are less common and usually involve stripped points or very small contract sizes.
For context on how ROFR varies across resorts, check our contract expiration and ROFR guide.
Contract Expiration: 2062
Aulani contracts expire in 2062, giving you about 36 years from today. That's decent but not the longest. Newer Florida resorts like Riviera (2070) and Copper Creek (2068) have longer remaining terms. But 36 years is still substantial. A family buying today with young children will have this contract for their kids' entire childhood, college years, and well into their adult lives.
The expiration date should factor into your per-year cost analysis. Divide your total investment (purchase price plus projected lifetime dues) by 36 years to get your annual cost of ownership. Then compare that to what you'd spend on comparable Hawaii accommodations. For most families, the DVC math wins even with the 2062 expiration.
The Honest Downsides
I wouldn't be doing my job if I only told you the good stuff. Aulani has some genuine drawbacks that every buyer should consider:
Getting there costs real money. Flights to Honolulu from the mainland aren't cheap, especially for a family of four or five. You're looking at $400-800+ per person round trip depending on where you live and when you travel. A family of four could easily spend $2,000-3,000 just on airfare. That's on top of your DVC ownership costs. Florida DVC owners who live on the East Coast or Southeast can drive to Disney World. Nobody's driving to Hawaii.
You need a rental car. I mentioned this already but it bears repeating. Budget $400-700 per week for a rental car in Hawaii. Without one, you're limited to the Ko Olina property. And while Aulani is fantastic, you didn't fly all the way to Hawaii to never leave the resort. Oahu has incredible sights and experiences that require transportation.
Limited Disney character interaction. If your family's primary DVC motivation is Disney character experiences, theme parks, and that immersive Disney World atmosphere, Aulani will feel different. It's a beach resort with Disney touches, not a theme park resort. Some families love that distinction. Others feel like something is missing.
The dues are high and climbing. At $10.50 per point with annual increases, Aulani's dues will eventually become a significant annual expense. In ten years, you might be looking at $13-14 per point. On a 200-point contract, that's $2,600-2,800 per year. If your family's financial situation changes or you stop traveling to Hawaii, those dues still come due every January.
Booking can be competitive. Aulani has limited DVC inventory compared to most Florida resorts. During peak seasons (summer, Christmas, spring break), popular room types book up quickly. You'll want to book at your 11-month home resort window for any holiday travel. At the 7-month window, availability can be thin.
Who Should Buy Aulani?
Twenty-five years of matching families with the right DVC resort has taught me that Aulani buyers share some common traits:
Families who already love Hawaii. If your family goes to Hawaii every year or two and plans to keep going, Aulani turns that existing travel habit into a smart financial decision. You're converting cash hotel spending into an owned asset. The math works best when Hawaii is already part of your regular rotation.
West Coast families. Flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, or Portland to Honolulu are shorter and cheaper than cross-country flights. For West Coast DVC owners, Aulani is genuinely accessible for a long weekend or extended trip in a way that doesn't apply to families flying from New York or Chicago.
People who want DVC beyond the theme parks. Some DVC owners hit a point where they've done Disney World dozens of times and want something different. Aulani gives them a completely new vacation experience using the points system they already understand. Beach days replace park days. Snorkeling replaces Space Mountain. It's a welcome change of pace.
Families building a DVC portfolio. Some of my savviest clients own points at two or three DVC resorts. They might have 150 points at a Florida resort for their annual Disney World trip and 100-150 points at Aulani for a biannual Hawaii trip. Splitting ownership between Florida and Hawaii gives them vacation flexibility that a single-resort purchase can't match.
People who can stomach the dues. This sounds blunt but it matters. If $2,100+ per year in annual dues (and rising) gives you heartburn, Aulani might not be for you. The ownership economics only work if you can comfortably absorb that annual cost for decades. If the dues are a stretch, a Florida resort with lower ongoing costs might be the wiser choice.
Renting Points: An Alternative Approach
Here's something I suggest to clients who love the idea of Aulani but aren't sure about the long-term commitment: rent points first. DVC point rentals let you book a stay at Aulani without buying a contract. You typically pay $18-22 per point to a DVC owner who rents their unused points.
A week in a studio during fall might cost 120 points. At $20 per point rental rate, that's $2,400 for a week at a beachfront Hawaiian resort. That's competitive with other Ko Olina properties and it gives you a trial run of the Aulani experience before committing to a purchase.
If you rent once and your family goes crazy for it, then buy. If you rent once and decide you'd rather stay at a different Hawaiian resort, you saved yourself $19,000+ and years of annual dues. Our guide to renting DVC points walks through how the rental process works.
Comparing Aulani to Florida DVC
I always tell clients to think about their vacation patterns over the next 15-20 years, not just next summer. Here's how I frame the Aulani vs. Florida decision:
If your family plans to go to Disney World every single year and Hawaii occasionally, buy Florida DVC and rent points at Aulani when you want to go. Your annual dues will be lower, your contract will probably last longer, and you'll have 11-month priority at a resort you'll use most years.
If your family wants to alternate between Disney World and Hawaii, or if you plan to go to Hawaii more often than Disney World, Aulani ownership makes sense. You get 11-month priority at a resort that's harder to book with non-home-resort points, and you can use your Aulani points at Florida resorts during the 7-month window when you want a Disney World year.
If you live on the West Coast and the Grand Californian is too expensive (and it usually is), Aulani gives you a DVC option that's geographically reasonable without paying Grand Californian premiums.
Compare the real numbers across all resorts at DVCHomeResort's annual dues tracker before making your final decision.
Practical Tips for Aulani Buyers
Buy 150-200 points minimum. Aulani's point charts aren't cheap, and between the studios and one-bedrooms, you'll want enough points for a full week plus some buffer. Buying 100 points means you're limited to short stays or lower-demand seasons only.
Consider a fall trip for your first visit. September through mid-December (excluding Thanksgiving week) is Aulani's lowest demand period. Points costs are lower, availability is better, and the weather in Hawaii is gorgeous year-round. There's no bad time to visit Oahu. Taking advantage of the lower point requirements during fall means your contract stretches further.
Budget for the full trip cost. Your DVC points cover the room. But flights, rental car, food, and activities add up. A realistic budget for a family of four at Aulani for a week, beyond the room, is $4,000-6,000. Make sure that total trip cost fits your family's budget before committing to the contract purchase.
Book at 11 months for summer and holidays. I can't stress this enough. Aulani's DVC inventory is limited. If you want a specific room type during peak season, you need to be on your computer the morning your 11-month window opens. Waiting even a week can mean settling for a different room category or different dates.
My Take After 25 Years
Aulani occupies a unique spot in the DVC system. It's the resort that breaks the mold. No monorails, no theme parks, no character dining plan, no bus to Hollywood Studios. Just a world-class Hawaiian beach resort owned and operated by Disney with all the quality that implies.
The high dues scare some people off, and I understand that. But when you compare Aulani ownership to paying cash rates at comparable Hawaiian resorts year after year, the math favors ownership for families who will actually use it. The key phrase there is "who will actually use it." If Hawaii is genuinely part of your family's vacation future for the next 20-30 years, Aulani is a smart purchase at $80-100 per point on resale.
If you're curious about available Aulani contracts, browse our current listings or call me directly. I'll give you the same honest assessment I've given every client for the past quarter century. No pressure, just straight talk about whether Aulani fits your family.