Aulani Island View (need Locals' opinions or BTDT DVC'ers)

[lilpooh108]

Not sure if this belongs in Miscellaneous or Planning, but in any event...

We are going to Aulani for Christmas and we have an Island View booked...but from the pictures/videos of Aulani on the internet, the Island View looks like sparse brownish mountain views. I've been to the Ko'Olina resort, and this side of the Island in Kapolei does not appear as green as other parts of Oahu.

Has anyone who has stayed Island View before let me know if this view category is "worth it"? Or can any locals out there who have been to Aulani tell me whether I will get a view of an ugly brown "mountain"?

TIA!~

 

[vacationclub]

We just stayed there. The mountain side was sort of medium green and brown. Still not bad, but not lush green. Ocean view is way better in my opinion.

Here is a video review....Travel Channel style....that has been getting a lot of hits since posting on Friday. There's one shot of the mountain view in there, and not a really wide shot.

I created this video...
http://www.vimeo.com/29434941

 

[DisWitt]

I'm writing this from a 2bd ocean view at Aulani. DW and I were just talking about how we'll probably add points because the view is so awesome. We won't be happy in an island view. Bummer, too, because points cost $$$. Pool view is a good way to economize. But the Waikolohe Valley is so spectacular that if you anticipate spending any amount of time in your room, I'd pony up next year's points.

 

[jmatias]

Aulani is located on the leeward side of the island.....that means less rain....that means not as much green tropical foliage as other parts of the island. Our island view room overlooked the Koolina golf course which was nice and green.

I'm not going to spend extra points for ocean/pool view since we live here and see the ocean everyday.

In the past, when we stayed at the Marriott Koolina, I have to admit that I enjoyed the ocean view very much. And I would think a visitor to Hawaii would love the ocean view room too.

But, now with a resort in our "backyard" I'd rather go on several weekend stays and sacrifice the view.

 

[lilpooh108]

vacationclub--thanks for the video. You did an awesome job!

Diswitt--I wish I had the extra points to splurge for the oceanview, but we're doing a F&W trip as well this year and we've already "bought" the one time use points for our UY. Totally maxed out for this year and next. No more trips for a while after the Aulani one.

jmatias--thanks for the insight. I will call and request a view overlooking the golf course. what a great idea

 

[mouseaider]

We own two small contracts and we like to conserve our points as much as possible, so here is my thoughts about Aulani views.

We do not spend a lot of time sitting in our room as we are always on the go. When we are at WDW we are up and out the door as soon as we are ready and although we return to the room to freshen up or grab a bite to eat, we are not there very long.

When we decided to spend our money for our Aulani trip, we also knew we would spend a lot of time enjoying the beach, pool and the area around the resort much more so we decided to save the points.

We are headed to OKW and BWV in a week for seven nights and we return to WDW in January for our first AKV (seven night)stay.

We could have used the points for our Aulani trip and booked an ocean view or use them for another WDW trip with our annual passes but I think we made the right decision for us.

I hope you make the right decision for you. Good luck.

 

[TagsMissy]

We thought about this for weeks once we knew we were going... Pool View or Island View.. back and forth until we decided that in reality we won't be in our room all that much and so we're saving some points to either extend on a cash-paid WDW stay with a friend of ours in Sept of 2012 or banking for 2013.

If you are the type of vacationer that likes to relax in your room and hang out there then yes pay more for points but if you are always on the go I don't see the point.

At WDW we are turning the tide and as we get more and more trips under our belt we realize that we do spend more time relaxing on the balcony, etc and so we 'paid' more for a boardwalk view as we spent time relaxing and observing on our balcony.

 

[mkburme]

Great Video!
We are headed there in Feb for a week.
Let us know how your trip is when you get back.

 

[jmb910]

I stayed there on a standard view (faced the mountains and the conference center) and I thought the view was still beautiful. Would I have liked an oceanview, of course! Would I waste the points, no. I would rather take the view points and add on another night. We went on the balcony a few times to watch the sunrise and read. Other than that, we were at that pool. All the time! There were so many chairs out in the pool area that you could sit on and watch the ocean there. Also the hot tub has an amazing view as well.

 

[PrincessYessenia]

I stayed there on a standard view (faced the mountains and the conference center) and I thought the view was still beautiful. Would I have liked an oceanview, of course! Would I waste the points, no. I would rather take the view points and add on another night. We went on the balcony a few times to watch the sunrise and read. Other than that, we were at that pool. All the time! There were so many chairs out in the pool area that you could sit on and watch the ocean there. Also the hot tub has an amazing view as well.

I agree. We opted for the standard view because we are never in our room. Wake up, get dressed, and out the door...that's our routine. We saved the points because FOR US it just wasn't worth it. Obviously every family is different, just sharing how we've planned around the different view options

 

[RweTHEREyet]

We just stayed there. The mountain side was sort of medium green and brown. Still not bad, but not lush green. Ocean view is way better in my opinion.

Here is a video review....Travel Channel style....that has been getting a lot of hits since posting on Friday. There's one shot of the mountain view in there, and not a really wide shot.

I created this video...
http://www.vimeo.com/29434941

I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Thanks for sharing the link.

 

[Joey7295]

What do standard views typically overlook?

 

[jmb910]

We overlooked the mountains and conference center. There was a nice grassy area and some fountains in the area.