Hi Yael! Thanks for asking me your question on Aulani-A Disney Resort & Spa. I can tell you that if you and your family visit Aulani you absolutely won't regret it! Planning ahead for 2014 is definitely the key for a Hawaii vacation with kids and gives you lots of time to budget. As a general rule, the least expensive times to visit are in September and October, and the first two weeks of December. You will want to avoid any major holidays, and summer breaks. For a family of 5, your best bet will be a 1 bedroom vacation villa - don't worry if you are not a DVC member, as these villas are also available to be booked for a cash rate per night. You will also want to keep up to date on any discount offers that may arise - the
Aulani-A Disney Resort & Spa website has a link for checking current offers plus a calendar that shows seasonal rates. Mousesavers.com is also a great website for listing discounts and offers at Aulani.
As far as whether or not to book directly with Disney or with a travel agent, in this case, I don't have a strong opinion either way. Definitely, if you have a favourite agent that you like to deal with, then by all means use them. They will have access to the same prices and offers that booking through Disney would give you, plus they can assist you with booking flights if needed. At this time, there are no advantages to booking directly with Disney, so really it is your personal preference.
When you do decide to book your vacation, I would be more than happy to offer advice on flights to Hawaii, and how best to get there! Please don't hesitate to ask me any more questions you have about Aulani - it is my pleasure to introduce others to such a special place!
Kristen