Aulani Grand Villa Standard vs Ocean View Question

[ONealFamily]

Hey everyone,

So my small family's trip to Aulani next February has continued to grow. We went from a 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom and now we are looking at booking a Grand Villa for our trip for 7 days. I am curious what the difference is between the Standard View and Ocean View other than the view. Are the standard view grand villas all on the 1st floor or are some included on the 2nd floor? It would be nice to have a private balcony and just want to know what we are getting ourselves into.

Thanks!

Scott

 

[cad8689]

It is my understanding that currently there is only one standard view grand villa. It is on the first level. Perhaps someone knows if more standard view villas will be built by next year. Our family is going in September 2012. We are not staying in a grand villa but I did note that the standard view villa is still available. So maybe it isn't too difficult to book the standard view grand villa in the off months. Good luck with your plans.

 

[ONealFamily]

It is my understanding that currently there is only one standard view grand villa. It is on the first level. Perhaps someone knows if more standard view villas will be built by next year. Our family is going in September 2012. We are not staying in a grand villa but I did note that the standard view villa is still available. So maybe it isn't too difficult to book the standard view grand villa in the off months. Good luck with your plans.

Thanks, I actually reread one of my earlier posts regarding a different issue and saw that it looks like the 1 standard is on the first floor. Will definitely miss the privacy of having a private balcony and I see that it is available 11 months out. I may walk the reservation just to be safe. I called our Guide just to see if there is anything she can do for us since this is our first time using our membership.

 

[wdrl]

Presently, the only Aulani Standard View Grand Villa is on the first floor. Its villa #101 and is on the end cap of the Ewa Building.

When Phase 3 opens at Aulani in 2013, two more Standard View Grand Villas will be added to its inventory. They will be villas #289 and #389 and will be on the second and third floors, respectively. Like in the Ewa Building, the Phase 3 Grand Villas will be on the end cap of the building facing the ocean.

So, if you really want a Grand Villa with a balcony, you might have to wait for Phase 3 to open next year.

 

[ONealFamily]

Presently, the only Aulani Standard View Grand Villa is on the first floor. Its villa #101 and is on the end cap of the Ewa Building.

When Phase 3 opens at Aulani in 2013, two more Standard View Grand Villas will be added to its inventory. They will be villas #289 and #389 and will be on the second and third floors, respectively. Like in the Ewa Building, the Phase 3 Grand Villas will be on the end cap of the building facing the ocean.

So, if you really want a Grand Villa with a balcony, you might have to wait for Phase 3 to open next year.

Thanks, I figured that out. I think we are pretty set on the February trip. I think we can manage without the balcony this time. Perhaps next time we need a balcony the others will be available.

 

[wdrl]

All the information I've posted on this and other threads about Aulani views is based on statements in the Aulani Public Offering Statements in 2011. Disney has the power to reclassify villas from one view category to another. It has done that with some of the villas at AKV (they switched several Savanna View to Standard View in 2011(?)) and they are switching 10 BLT Theme Park Vacation Homes to Standard View in 2013. If Disney gets enough negative feedback from guests about a view, its possible that Aulani will undergo some view reclassifications in the next few years.

Hopefully, everything will work out the way you want!

 

[BrotherBear]

The nice thing about being on the first floor (especially Grand Villa) is you can literally walk right out your sliding glass door and into the pool area. You don't need to walk half way back to lobby, ride the elevator down, and walk back out to the pool. (Not a big deal either way, but I do like that 1st floor feature)

 

[ONealFamily]

The nice thing about being on the first floor (especially Grand Villa) is you can literally walk right out your sliding glass door and into the pool area. You don't need to walk half way back to lobby, ride the elevator down, and walk back out to the pool. (Not a big deal either way, but I do like that 1st floor feature)

Thanks, yeah this shouldn't be a big issue for us. Do you know if the first floor "patio" has any sort of fence around it or is it wide open? I think I saw a video on youtube of what looked like a 1st floor GV and it appeared to have a rail around the patios but I couldn't see too clearly outside the sliding glass door so I couldn't be sure.

 

[danjulia]

Is there a map online anywhere that shows Aulani room numbers/views. I am going in April and want to try to avoid the not so great oceanview reviews I have read. We have a 1BR oceanview and really hope not to be looking at the Marriott...

Thanks!

 

[wdrl]

Is there a map online anywhere that shows Aulani room numbers/views. I am going in April and want to try to avoid the not so great oceanview reviews I have read. We have a 1BR oceanview and really hope not to be looking at the Marriott...

Thanks!

Take a look at this thread on the DVCNews Forum about Aulani views: http://dvcnews.com/forum/showthread.php?6530-Aulani-Rooms-and-Views-Phase-1-amp-2-UPDATED. Post #11 discusses the location of the Ocean Views relative to the Marriott.

Hope this helps.

 

[dstupper]

Hey Scott, I will ask tomorrow when I go over to Hob-Nob and have lunch. The DVC ppl are very accessable.

 

[ONealFamily]

Hey Scott, I will ask tomorrow when I go over to Hob-Nob and have lunch. The DVC ppl are very accessable.

Thanks! We can't wait for our trip, even though it's 11 months away.

 

[ONealFamily]

So sadly there was a tragic flaw in my planning of this trip. I neglected to realize that the one time use points are only available 7 months out.

I needed 5 extra points to get the Grand Villa and now am unable to get it today at the 11 month mark.

The good news is I booked a two bedroom villa and a one bedroom villa and saved some points.

I will try again at 7 months and wait list the GV if possible. We will see.

It's going to be a long 11 months.

 

[DenLo]

I think the chance of anyone getting the standard view GV at the 7 month will be slim to none with so few villas. Many DVC members like to save points when booking a stay and want as large as room as their points will allow.

And I think that DVC members who are successful will be booking a couple of nights and their dates will be very flexible. The standard view GVs are just too few.

Good luck to the OP and enjoy your Aulani vacation.

 

[dstupper]

ok...I talked to the DVC folks there, as far as I can gather...that whole tower facing the ocean are 3-bedrooms. They said there are not any more...yet. I will try and answer anything you need O'Neals

 

[ONealFamily]

Thanks, I have a one bedroom and a two bedroom for first night and GV for the next 6. All standard view. Thanks for all your help.

 

[dstupper]

Wow!! Thats alot of space! For my 11th, I am leaving all the "precious ones" at home and celebrating the fact that my Awesome wife has put up with me this long! I am an only child...so my parents created a monster...its all about me