Aulani Question about a 1 bedroom villa

[DisneyJewel]

Hi all, hope this is OK to ask. We are not DVC owners but are planning to go Aulani over New Years. The only accomodation available for our group of 5 (me, DH, kids 12 and 15 and grandma) are the DVC villas.

What are your thoughts on the 1 bedroom villas for 5 people? Have you stayed there with 5 people? Does it feel super-cramped or OK? The two bedroom villa is a lot more, and only island view is available -- I don't want to spend a week looking at the parking lot.

Any other villa tips? We are really excited! Oh, also do you think we need to book right away? Does it tend to fill up over New Years? I'm guessing the hotel is already booked since the only availability we are being offered is the villas?

Thanks so much!

 

[abdmom]

Aulani will definitely be full over New Years.

Here is a youtube video of a one bedroom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFUXuzeyPHk

We stayed in a 1 bedroom (mom + dd13 + ds6) The bed that is under the TV is suitable for someone under the age of 10, maybe younger. It looks larger on the video than it actually is, it's only about 4 feet long. There are two other places to sleep - the queen bed in the bedroom, and the sofabed. It would be very cramped for 5, even 4, unless those 4 are two couples or someone is a small child. I would go for something that gave you a minimum of 4 beds - 2 studios/2 hotel rooms/1 bedroom + studio/2 bedroom.

 

[abdmom]

Also, you probably didn't see hotel rooms because they only sleep up to 4. I'm seeing hotel rooms in all view categories for the week between Christmas and New Years.

 

[DisneyJewel]

Thank you! It sounds like it would be a bit cramped. We didn't get any hotel suites pulled up for 5 people, even though there are supposed to be some. Maybe it is the suites that are sold out at that time. We would love to have the kitchen, that's the advantage of the DVC villas. Maybe I will see if a 1 bedroom villa and a studio for my mom is available. Thanks again!

 

[abdmom]

The kitchen is very appealing. However, they do have room service and restaurants onsite and nearby. When we stayed on points, we spent the first night in a studio and the next 4/5 in a one bedroom. With points, the one bedrooms are almost twice as much as the studios. It does give you more space, but if I had stayed in a studio and rented out the excess points I spent on the one bedroom, I would have been ahead $260 per night! I could have eaten lunch and dinner very nicely for that price.

 

[floribr1]

Aulani will definitely be full over New Years.

Here is a youtube video of a one bedroom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFUXuzeyPHk

We stayed in a 1 bedroom (mom + dd13 + ds6) The bed that is under the TV is suitable for someone under the age of 10, maybe younger. It looks larger on the video than it actually is, it's only about 4 feet long. There are two other places to sleep - the queen bed in the bedroom, and the sofabed. It would be very cramped for 5, even 4, unless those 4 are two couples or someone is a small child. I would go for something that gave you a minimum of 4 beds - 2 studios/2 hotel rooms/1 bedroom + studio/2 bedroom.

I'm sure you just mis-typed, but just wanted to point out that the bed in the bedroom is actually a king sized bed, not a queen.