Aulani Villas & Views -- REVISED 07/22/2017

[shoedude1971]

Posting pictures of room 964, overlooking the new area for the Starlight Hui.
https://picasaweb.google.com/103537273931794347492/RANDOMPICTURES#5796767932797564242
https://picasaweb.google.com/103537273931794347492/RANDOMPICTURES#5796767882179448066

 

[DVCTiff]

We are in #784 Studio and have an amazing view of the ocean and pool area. No complaints. This place is paradise. I had no problems booking at the 7- month window, and I honestly can't remember if I booked online or by phone. I'm guessing by phone because I just made online readies for next April, and I was a nervous wreck so I'm guessing I made these by phone.

 

[Psychodisney]

After being here at Aulani i have new appreciation for all the pictures. I would make a suggestion for an additional room category. I would divide the ocean view into two. 1. Partial ocean view and 2. Deluxe ocean view. This would solve the problem of some people getting a much better view than others who are paying the same amount in points. Even some of the garden/pool view rooms could be moved to the partial ocean view room category. When we get to Kauai tomorrow I will post pictures of our room. A garden/pool view room with a peek-a-boo view of the ocean through the trees. We have thoroghly enjoyed our stay here at Aulani. The attention to detail is what makes this such a level above other resorts in the same class. We can hardly wait to return to Aulani with our children and grandson. Perfect place for a multi-generational vacation.

Aloha!

P.S. We need a hula dancer smiley.

ITA with both...room category and hula dancer!
We were very happy with our even numbered ocean view but after seeing some of the odd numbers.......we would have been very disappointed over there!

 

[wdrl]

When we get to Kauai tomorrow I will post pictures of our room. A garden/pool view room with a peek-a-boo view of the ocean through the trees.

I'll add your villa to the list in Post #1 once you post your photos. Mahalo!

Posting pictures of room 964, overlooking the new area for the Starlight Hui.

I've added villa 964 to the list in Post 1. I'll also update the charts in Post 1 to show that villas xx64 are studios and xx62 are one-bedrooms. Appreciate your contribution to this thread!

We are in #784 Studio and have an amazing view of the ocean and pool area. No complaints. This place is paradise.

I totally agree: Aulani is paradise! I've added to the charts in Post 1 that villas with room number xx84 are studios. Do you have any photos you would like to share? Mahalo!

 

[lark]

1204, studio -- pretty spectacular views.

Moved to 363, Standard View 1 BR. Nice to have the extra space, but one could easily call this room, "no view." Still, they let us in at 9:00 a.m., which was great. As an aside, it felt like this room had only very recently opened. Some of the stuff in the room seemed never used -- like, literally. I don't think many guests have stayed in this room at all yet.

 

[wdrl]

1204, studio -- pretty spectacular views.


Moved to 363, Standard View 1 BR. Nice to have the extra space, but one could easily call this room, "no view." Still, they let us in at 9:00 a.m., which was great. As an aside, it felt like this room had only very recently opened. Some of the stuff in the room seemed never used -- like, literally. I don't think many guests have stayed in this room at all yet.

Thanks for sharing your photos, lark! I've added both villas to the list in Post #1. I'll also need to revise my layout charts to show that villas with room numbers ending in xx63 are one-bedroom villas.

Yes, I agree that villa 1204 has pretty spectacular views. Last month, we were 9 floors below you in villa 304, a Pool View studio. Although we were very happy with the view from 304, it would have only cost us an extra 2 points a night to upgrade from Pool View to Ocean View.

Villa 363 felt like a new villa because it probably was a brand new villa. Aulani just opened villas in Phase 3 in the past few days and villa 363 is one of the villas in the Short Wing of Phase 3.

Now that you have experienced both an Ocean View and a Standard View, which do you think you'll book for your next visit to Aulani?

 

[lark]

Now that you have experienced both an Ocean View and a Standard View, which do you think you'll book for your next visit to Aulani?

It's a really good question. I'm not sure we'll be back for a while, but if we could get another ocean view that was close to as good as 1204, I'd be hard pressed not to use extra points.

One thing that I noticed is that in the ocean view room, we didn't mind being in the room. You never have that feeling like you're missing stuff that's going on without you -- just open your balcony door, and you're right there. In the standard view room, I definitely felt a much more pressing desire to get the heck out of the room. Sitting there in our ground floor lanai was out of the question, when you could just go sit at the pool area. Sometimes I think view is overrated, but not in this case -- it really did make a difference.

We were jet lagged so got up around 4:30 the first couple of days. Sitting on the balcony in the ocean view room watching the resort wake up was awesome and added to the vacation. If standard view was the only way I could have enough points to make the trip work, I wouldn't hesitate. But if it is just a question of whether to use the extra points, ocean view is definitely better.

 

[wdrl]

These photos are courtesy of theOCdisney.

Villa 482 is a Pool View one-bedroom on the fourth floor and is in the newly opened Phase 3 Building.

Looking to the right toward the lobby. The hotel wing is across the way on the left.

Looking to the left toward the ocean and the sunset:

Looking straight ahead. The Waianae Building is across the way on the right and the JW Marriott Resort is in the distance. You can see people climbing up the volcano to ride the water slide.

Looking down toward the Lazy River:

A sunrise and a sunset photo:

 

[theOCdisney]

Thank you so much for taking the time to upload my photos. Just a note about the last two pictures. They are so dark you can not see what we could in person...the ocean between the trees. We forgot our good camera and only had our iPhones to use for pictures. The sunset was spectacular from the balcony. Can't say enough about the quality and workmanship of the resort. They have stamped tree roots into the concrete along parts of the lazy river to give it a sense of age and permanence. The attention to detail is what sets it apart and makes it a magical place.

 

[parrotheadlois]

It's a really good question. I'm not sure we'll be back for a while, but if we could get another ocean view that was close to as good as 1204, I'd be hard pressed not to use extra points.

One thing that I noticed is that in the ocean view room, we didn't mind being in the room. You never have that feeling like you're missing stuff that's going on without you -- just open your balcony door, and you're right there. In the standard view room, I definitely felt a much more pressing desire to get the heck out of the room. Sitting there in our ground floor lanai was out of the question, when you could just go sit at the pool area. Sometimes I think view is overrated, but not in this case -- it really did make a difference.

We were jet lagged so got up around 4:30 the first couple of days. Sitting on the balcony in the ocean view room watching the resort wake up was awesome and added to the vacation. If standard view was the only way I could have enough points to make the trip work, I wouldn't hesitate. But if it is just a question of whether to use the extra points, ocean view is definitely better.

Thanks for posting your pictures. We are going in March. We also booked an ocean-view studio for the first 8 nights, then are switching to a standard for the last 3. If we got your studio - we'd be THRILLED!! and I'm pretty sure we'd feel the same as you about the standard - but we would be in Hawaii!! Thanks again

 

[Iceman93]

They have stamped tree roots into the concrete along parts of the lazy river to give it a sense of age and permanence. The attention to detail is what sets it apart and makes it a magical place.

Yes, I have to agree with this. The tree roots are just one example of dozens I noticed, which means there are hundreds I didn't. Disney really pulled out all the stops on Aulani!

 

[JonLouisB]

2 Bedroom Island Garden View, Room 787. Ewa Tower.

View ends up being a lucky find since the ocean is very visible as well as the wedding reception area, Auntie's Beach House playground, etc.

 

[LisaT91403]

2 Bedroom Island Garden View, Room 787. Ewa Tower.

View ends up being a lucky find since the ocean is very visible as well as the wedding reception area, Auntie's Beach House playground, etc.

Thanks for posting! I think that's an awesome view for Island Garden. I hope we get something similar when we go in 2 weeks!

 

[saintstickets]

2 Bedroom Island Garden View, Room 787. Ewa Tower.

View ends up being a lucky find since the ocean is very visible as well as the wedding reception area, Auntie's Beach House playground, etc.

Great pics! I believe this grassy area is where they are moving Starlit Hui.

 

[YankeeFirecracker]

Getting closer to the 7 month window to book a Grand Villa for June 2013. Any suggestions for location requests? Have enough points for 7 day ocean view GV (with banking and borrowing). Celebrating our 50 th anniversary with the kids and grand kids and want it to be special. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[DenLo]

JonLouisB looks like the ocean is to the right, and the other two views are straight ahead/down. Is that correct? Was the view to the left a view of the short wing building?

Since a wedding was being set up it looks like you might have had a great view of the Starlit Hui. Thanks for sharing these photos.

 

[wdrl]

Thanks JonLouisB for sharing your photos!! It looks like you have a great view of the ocean. Frankly, I'm surprised that Aulani doesn't classify that villa as an Ocean View rather than an Island View. I'm not sure why, but the Ocean View villas don't start until the 10th floor on that side of the Phase 3 Long Wing.

I noticed that Aulani's new BBQ grills can be seen in the upper right corner of your second photo.

 

[NC State Tigger]

How many standard view GVs are complete now and how many will there be when phase 3 is complete? How "bad" is the "standard view"? Would I have a chance of getting one at 7 months?

Trying to decide if I want to try and book a GV (and don't have the points for an ocean view) or book a 2 bedroom and 1 studio. Would be myself and DH, DD, her DH and DGD (3 years old) and DS and a more than likely his girlfriend. My children are all in their late 20s.

This may be my "once in a lifetime" trip to Hawaii.

Trying to decide between May/June 2013 or Oct/Nov 2013.

Any advise?

 

[wdrl]

There are only two Standard View Grand Villas at Aulani. They are on the 2nd floor (villa #289) and 3rd floor (villa #389) of the Long Wing on the Ewa side of the resort. They are located right above Auntie's Beach House. You might be able to see some of the beach and ocean from their balconies, but I suspect most of the view is blocked by the roof line of the Ama'Ama restaurant.

There use to be a Standard Grand Villa (villa #101) on the first floor of the Waianae Building. However, that space is being converted into a cafe type restaurant.

I don't have a good photo of the balconies for GV #289 or #389. The photo below was taken from the lagoon looking back at the resort. The Ewa Building is on the right and the Grand Villas are all on the end cap facing the ocean. The top GV is on the 11th floor, and the 2nd and 3rd floors are blocked from view by Ama'Ama.

I don't know what the demand has been like for Aulani's Grand Villas, or for the Standard View GVs in particular. Thus, I can't venture a guess whether you'll have any luck getting a Standard View Grand Villa at the 7-month mark. But I hope it works out in your favor. As I have said many times before, Aulani is a great resort.

 

[dstupper]

Wdrl, is it really? Oh Man! I like the bottom floor rooms. I like the option to quickly get out into the action!! We will be back out there on Friday, looking forward to seeing what they have accomplished.