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

[parrotheadlois]

were going aug/sep, have booked our flights from uk($1175pp cheap from the uk)
Now have to wait untill the 7 month window for room
only looking for a studio think we will be ok getting in? 2 weeks stay(if your flight times travelling are 24 hours you have to stay 2 weeks)
Paul

We booked our studio exactly 7 months out with no problem, 8 nights, ocean view. Then we wanted to switch over to a 1BR for our last 3 nights and had no problem booking that either.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

We are back from a fabulous week at Aulani. We booked a 2 bedroom lockoff pool view villa. I had requested 5 th floor and that is what we got!! We were in the new long wing of the Ewa building. I would definitely request this location again. 578 was the studio and 576 was the one bedroom portion. We were right above the water slide and got great video of family on the slide! Friends traveled with us and they got 876, a one bedroom OV just above us. We had linked our reservations and were pleased that our villas were so close.

View from the living room balcony of 576.

View from 876.

View from the edge of 578 (studio).
I'd be happy to answer any questions! We LOVED Aulani and can't wait to go back. Looks like our points aren't going back to WDW anytime soon!

 

[wdrl]

I'd be happy to answer any questions! We LOVED Aulani and can't wait to go back. Looks like our points aren't going back to WDW anytime soon!

Thanks for sharing your photos! I've added both your villa and your friends' villa to the list in Post #1.

I'll take you up on your offer to answer some questions. Were either of your villas handicapped accessible? I remember you had some questions about HA villas before your stay. Next time you visit Aulani, do you think you'll request the same Pool view category? When we were at Aulani in September, the CMs mentioned that Aulani will be expanding the General Store and will be moving the Hoho Excursions desk to be closer to the front desk. Have they started any remodeling in those areas?

 

[shari2137]

By "long balconies" do you mean the non-angled balconies? The villas with the non-angled balconies are in the Ewa Building/Phase 1 wing (villas #xx50-xx59) and the Ewa Building Short Wing/Phase 3 (villas #xx60-xx69). The villas with the balconies angled at 45 degrees are in the Waianae Building Phase 2 (villas #xx02-xx13) and the Ewa Building Long Wing/Phase 3 (villas #xx70-xx86).

In some pictures I see the angled balconies. It looks to me with the angled balconies that you have 2 separate balconies. Is this correct or does it just appear this way from the pictures I have seen. We will have 7 family members and am hoping to be able to relax on the balcony together after dinner one night in the dedicated 2-bedroom OV room. Thank you again so much for all your help with the questions.

 

[wdrl]

In some pictures I see the angled balconies. It looks to me with the angled balconies that you have 2 separate balconies. Is this correct or does it just appear this way from the pictures I have seen. We will have 7 family members and am hoping to be able to relax on the balcony together after dinner one night in the dedicated 2-bedroom OV room. Thank you again so much for all your help with the questions.

I have not been in a dedicated two-bedroom villa, so there is a chance I might be wrong. However, I've looked at several of my photos and it appears that the angled walls extend all the way to the balcony railing, causing the balconies to be separated even for the dedicated two-bedrooms. Therefore, I'm almost certain that all villas with the angled balconies have separate balconies.

I suggest you look through this thread and PM a guest who has stayed in a dedicated two-bedroom with villa #xx02-xx13 or #xx70-xx86. They could tell you for sure. If you find out, can you post back?

 

[shari2137]

I have not been in a dedicated two-bedroom villa, so there is a chance I might be wrong. However, I've looked at several of my photos and it appears that the angled walls extend all the way to the balcony railing, causing the balconies to be separated even for the dedicated two-bedrooms. Therefore, I'm almost certain that all villas with the angled balconies have separate balconies.

I suggest you look through this thread and PM a guest who has stayed in a dedicated two-bedroom with villa #xx02-xx13 or #xx70-xx86. They could tell you for sure. If you find out, can you post back?

Thank you again. During our upcoming stay there will be 4 studios, 1 2-bedroom dedicated and 1 1-bedroom. Will try to get pictures of views from all rooms. Appreciate all the help reading through the thread.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Thanks for sharing your photos! I've added both your villa and your friends' villa to the list in Post #1.

I'll take you up on your offer to answer some questions. Were either of your villas handicapped accessible? I remember you had some questions about HA villas before your stay. Next time you visit Aulani, do you think you'll request the same Pool view category? When we were at Aulani in September, the CMs mentioned that Aulani will be expanding the General Store and will be moving the Hoho Excursions desk to be closer to the front desk. Have they started any remodeling in those areas?

I absolutely would get the same pool view category, if not OV. I would not get Island View at all. I had fantastic sunset views thanks to the angled balcony right from my bed!

We originally had booked an HA 2 bedroom L/O. However, about 2 months ago I called the resort to see the location of the HA villas. They wouldn't give the exact location- they are 4th floor. BUT in talking to the CM he said that the HA villas don't have the trundle under the TV! Even when it's a regular 1 bedroom attached to the HA studio. Apparently it would block access to the balcony and a wheelchair's use of it when the bed is down? I wish someone could confirm this. Anyway- our kids are girl and boy, 15/12... Who definitely don't want to share a bed! The extra bed in 1 bedrooms is why we own at AKV/VGC! So, long story short- we decided peace for 7 nights trumped my FIL not being able to step into a tub- he could use the master shower if needed. When we originally booked we thought he'd need a scooter perhaps, but he did just fine without one.

The general store was kind of 2 parts- more kiddie stuff and Disney stuff on one side, and the more upscale stuff/art on the other side. There was a register on each side and plenty of CMs to help. I don't know if that was any different than what you saw. The Holoholo excursion desk was on the lobby level, Ewa long building just past the store.

Any other questions? I'll be happy to help any DVC members!

 

[eva]

We are back from a fabulous week at Aulani. We booked a 2 bedroom lockoff pool view villa. I had requested 5 th floor and that is what we got!! We were in the new long wing of the Ewa building. I would definitely request this location again. 578 was the studio and 576 was the one bedroom portion. We were right above the water slide and got great video of family on the slide! Friends traveled with us and they got 876, a one bedroom OV just above us. We had linked our reservations and were pleased that our villas were so close.

View from the living room balcony of 576.

View from 876.

View from the edge of 578 (studio).
I'd be happy to answer any questions! We LOVED Aulani and can't wait to go back. Looks like our points aren't going back to WDW anytime soon!

This post gives a great idea of the difference between a 5th floor pool view and a lower floor ocean view. Thanks so much. I just emailed MS to request 5th floor for our pool view 1 bedroom. Sure wouldn't mind the one you had. Love that you still get a bit of ocean view too.

 

[wdrl]

BUT in talking to the CM he said that the HA villas don't have the trundle under the TV! Even when it's a regular 1 bedroom attached to the HA studio. Apparently it would block access to the balcony and a wheelchair's use of it when the bed is down? I wish someone could confirm this.

I looked through our trip report from our September visit to Aulani and here is what I learned while taking a tour of the Aulani villas:

The Guide escorted us to the 10th floor and first showed us the lock off two-bedroom. I didn't realize the pull out murphy bed that is built into the living room's TV armoire is only in the lock off villas. The dedicated two-bedroom villas have the sleeper chair similar to BLT and AKV-Kidani instead of the murphy bed. In addition, there are some differences in the dedicated two-bedroom's master bathroom compared to the one-bedroom (lock off villa) master bedroom. ​

The general store was kind of 2 parts- more kiddie stuff and Disney stuff on one side, and the more upscale stuff/art on the other side. There was a register on each side and plenty of CMs to help. I don't know if that was any different than what you saw. The Holoholo excursion desk was on the lobby level, Ewa long building just past the store.

It sounds just like it was when we were there in September. A General Store CM told us there are plans to expand the size of the store. According to the CM, the wall where the drink dispenser is now located will be pushed back a few feet, giving the General Store more space to carry more food items. The General Store is suppose to take over the space currently occupied by the Holoholo excursion desk, and the excursion services are suppose to move to the alcove directly across from the front desk.

 

[Anal Annie]

It's getting closer! Just booked the VGC portion of our trip yesterday and will be going online in a few days to book our Aulani portion. DH does not want a "standard" view of anything & would prefer as nice a view as what we can "afford". If we book an OV studio we have points to spare but if we book a 1 bedroom of any sort we'd have to borrow....so will likely just book an OV studio.

Looking at the map in the first post it looks like any of the villas in the short building that directly faces the ocean would be pretty far away from the ocean so I was thinking maybe I should request the "Long wing of the Ewa building, higher floor, facing the pool" so we'd have a little bit of everything to look at. Would you say that's about right? (And would that also get us a sunset view?!) If you're not facing the pool what do you see on the other side of that long building? Is that the Marriott side? Do you have more of an "island" view rather than a "pool" view to go along with the ocean? TIA for your thoughts...I just want to ask DH what he'd rather see along with the ocean (pool & sunset or island / other properties).

 

[wdrl]

Looking at the map in the first post it looks like any of the villas in the short building that directly faces the ocean would be pretty far away from the ocean so I was thinking maybe I should request the "Long wing of the Ewa building, higher floor, facing the pool" so we'd have a little bit of everything to look at. Would you say that's about right? (And would that also get us a sunset view?!) If you're not facing the pool what do you see on the other side of that long building? Is that the Marriott side? Do you have more of an "island" view rather than a "pool" view to go along with the ocean? TIA for your thoughts...I just want to ask DH what he'd rather see along with the ocean (pool & sunset or island / other properties).

Yes, the Ewa Building Long Wing (even numbers #xx70-xx86) will give you a sunset view. It will also give you a view of the Waikolohe Valley and you hear the music as well.

The other side of the Ewa Building Long Wing (odd numbers #xx71-xx85) has only four Ocean View lock-off two-bedrooms (floors 10-14), so that will reduce your odds of getting assigned to that side. But the JW Marriott is not on that side of Aulani -- its on Aulani's north side near the Waianae Building. There is another Marriott further away from Aulani but it doesn't interfere with views. If you click on Villa 881 (an Island View, by the way), you'll see some photos of the views from an 8th floor villa on that side of the Long Wing. An advantage to being on that side is that you'll be able to watch the Starlit Hui show from your balcony. Be advised there is no pool view from that side of the Long Wing.

Relatively speaking, the villas in the Ewa Building Short Wing (even numbers #xx60-xx68) are further away from the ocean than some other Ocean View villas. Only you can decide whether that distance will be material to you. These villas will have views of the ocean and overlook the Starlit Hui, but you don't see the pool and I doubt that you'll see the sunset.

 

[paulh]

We booked our studio exactly 7 months out with no problem, 8 nights, ocean view. Then we wanted to switch over to a 1BR for our last 3 nights and had no problem booking that either.

thanks for that, now have to wait till end of jan to book
Paul

 

[lodge]

You booked airfare first, then plan to book Aulani... I'm wondering if there's ever a chance that it DOESN'T pan out, and space is too limited to get what is needed? Is the 7 month window the best option or can 11 months work? I plan most things WAY out!

 

[Anal Annie]

OK, so I have studied nearly every post with pics in the first post. Not so many standard view or island views posted as yet to help know what to ask for with those. Looking ahead at the resort availability I can just now see Day # 1 of what would be our stay there...that day is already gone on the 1 bedroom "pool view" rooms...and I am afraid that DH might not be happy with an IV if there's too much "other crap" included in the view (parking garage roofs & other buildings etc.) and I already know he doesn't want a "standard" view anything. So I am still probably looking at booking an OV studio. I was on the member website to see if there was one of those 360 videos of the units and when I read thru the amenities for the units it did not list a toaster as being included in the studios. There is always one in the WDW ones....can anybody confirm whether or not there IS a toaster or NOT in the Aulani studios? I DO use that for breakfasts quite a bit. I would hate to have to go out to BUY one but I suppose I could....I'd just rather NOT have to...

I also looked at the floor plans...it appears that you can't see the TV from the sofa in the studios. Has anybody found that to be odd or annoying? Do we all have to pile onto the bed together in order to watch the TV?

THANKS!!

 

[wdrl]

OK, so I have studied nearly every post with pics in the first post. Not so many standard view or island views posted as yet to help know what to ask for with those. Looking ahead at the resort availability I can just now see Day # 1 of what would be our stay there...that day is already gone on the 1 bedroom "pool view" rooms...and I am afraid that DH might not be happy with an IV if there's too much "other crap" included in the view (parking garage roofs & other buildings etc.) and I already know he doesn't want a "standard" view anything. So I am still probably looking at booking an OV studio. I was on the member website to see if there was one of those 360 videos of the units and when I read thru the amenities for the units it did not list a toaster as being included in the studios. There is always one in the WDW ones....can anybody confirm whether or not there IS a toaster or NOT in the Aulani studios? I DO use that for breakfasts quite a bit. I would hate to have to go out to BUY one but I suppose I could....I'd just rather NOT have to...

When we were at Aulani in September, I think there was a toaster in the studio. A toaster is listed as an appliance for the one-bedrooms, so I believe it should be available for a studio as well. Also, it seemed to me that our mini-refrigerator was larger than the studio refrigerators we've had at the WDW DVC resorts.

Also, the DVD player in our studio was a Blu-Ray player.

I also looked at the floor plans...it appears that you can't see the TV from the sofa in the studios. Has anybody found that to be odd or annoying? Do we all have to pile onto the bed together in order to watch the TV?

A few weeks ago I responded to someone's questions about viewing the TV from the studio's sofa. Click here to read the thread and see some photos I posted. By the way, the studios with the non-angled balconies have the 'normal' DVC studio configuration with the bed and sofa on the same side of the villa and the TV on the opposite wall.

 

[BlazerFan]

The studios DO have toasters. When we were there in November with a large group we "borrowed" one from one of our studios to make massive amounts of toast in our 2 bedroom

 

[Anal Annie]

When we were at Aulani in September, I think there was a toaster in the studio. A toaster is listed as an appliance for the one-bedrooms, so I believe it should be available for a studio as well. Also, it seemed to me that our mini-refrigerator was larger than the studio refrigerators we've had at the WDW DVC resorts.

Also, the DVD player in our studio was a Blu-Ray player.




A few weeks ago I responded to someone's questions about viewing the TV from the studio's sofa. Click here to read the thread and see some photos I posted. By the way, the studios with the non-angled balconies have the 'normal' DVC studio configuration with the bed and sofa on the same side of the villa and the TV on the opposite wall.

Thanks guys...the toaster is one appliance that I use every day in a studio. We often do frozen waffles & fruit for breakfast.

 

[paulh]

You booked airfare first, then plan to book Aulani... I'm wondering if there's ever a chance that it DOESN'T pan out, and space is too limited to get what is needed? Is the 7 month window the best option or can 11 months work? I plan most things WAY out!

BWV our home resort, so we have to book at the 7 month window.as have been looking at flights for a while they were coming out at around $1540 pp and flight travel time of 32 hours. then they droped to $1100 and flight travel time to 24 hours. so booked and have fingers crossed for the 7 month window

Paul

 

[disneybirds]

We booked our flights and then tried to get in Aulani for next June. Since I didn't book online on the 7 month mark, we were not able to get consecutive nights together. About a month later, I was online and saw that there was availability for the first week of July. I was able to change our flights for free (since they had changed the schedule) and now have 4 nights the first week of July. You need to read the thread about booking online and be ready to book at 8:00 a.m. Also, I would make short waitlist requests. We had a waitlist filled on Christmas day! Good Luck!

 

[Anal Annie]

So I am assuming there are laundry rooms available for those people who only have studios like there are at WDW in FL? Can anybody tell me about the laundry facilities & where they're located? Were they busy? I don't NORMALLY do laundry while on vacation but since Aulani will be Part 2 of 3 (Part 1 will be DL for a few nights) I was thinking I might do a couple of loads before we move on to Maui...just to help cut down on the packing problems. Thanks!