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

[MMcCarthy]

We just returned and had a dedicated 2 bedroom. The balcony extended across all three rooms with doors in all three rooms. I think the lock offs have a separate balcony off the 2nd bedroom

 

[YankeeFirecracker]

We have a reservation for a week in June in a Oceanview Grand Villa. Do I need to request a certain building, view or floor? Or are Grand Villas usually well located?

 

[NC State Tigger]

We just returned and had a dedicated 2 bedroom. The balcony extended across all three rooms with doors in all three rooms. I think the lock offs have a separate balcony off the 2nd bedroom

Thanks so much. Was your balcony "straight" or "angled"? What building/view/room did you have? Were you able to walk from one end of the balcony to the other end or was it divided, depending on what room it connected to?

Family seems to think they will want to spend a lot of time on the balcony. Think they plan on it being an extra space for snacking and drinks while they "people watch" and enjoy the view.

 

[wdrl]

We have a reservation for a week in June in a Oceanview Grand Villa. Do I need to request a certain building, view or floor? Or are Grand Villas usually well located?

All of the Aulani Grand Villas are located at the end caps of the Waianae Building and the Ewa Building Long Wing. I believe Disney is not assigning guests to the Waianae at the present time, so you'll probably be assigned to the Ewa Building. The Grand Villas on the 2nd and 3rd floors (#289 and #389) are classified as Standard View and the Ocean Views are on floors 4 through 11).

 

[YankeeFirecracker]

All of the Aulani Grand Villas are located at the end caps of the Waianae Building and the Ewa Building Long Wing. I believe Disney is not assigning guests to the Waianae at the present time, so you'll probably be assigned to the Ewa Building. The Grand Villas on the 2nd and 3rd floors (#289 and #389) are classified as Standard View and the Ocean Views are on floors 4 through 11).

Thank you for your prompt reply, that is good information. I think I will request an upper floor.

 

[wdrl]

We just returned from our Aulani stay We were in a one bedroom pool view villa in the Ewa wing, room #676

This is very interesting! According to the Aulani documents, the Pool View villas are no higher than the 5th floor and the Ocean Views start with the 6th floor. Did you get a free upgrade from Pool View to Ocean View? Is it possible that Disney has had to move some guests with Pool View reservations into Ocean View villas because the Waianae Building is not being used? Or has Disney reclassified some of the villas from Ocean View to Pool View? (I highly doubt it because it would require some reallocations on the Aulani point chart).

I haven't yet added your villa to the list in Post #1. I'd first like to get clarification of the view classification.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

This is very interesting! According to the Aulani documents, the Pool View villas are no higher than the 5th floor and the Ocean Views start with the 6th floor. Did you get a free upgrade from Pool View to Ocean View? Is it possible that Disney has had to move some guests with Pool View reservations into Ocean View villas because the Waianae Building is not being used? Or has Disney reclassified some of the villas from Ocean View to Pool View? (I highly doubt it because it would require some reallocations on the Aulani point chart).

I haven't yet added your villa to the list in Post #1. I'd first like to get clarification of the view classification.

We rented points so we didn't see any paperwork when we checked in at the resort. I did online check in though and had looked up my reservation prior to arriving and both said pool view.

I was very surprised checking in because I also thought floor 5 was the highest. The resort didn't seem packed or overly busy...in fact when when our rental house (after Aulani) didn't work out and we decided to come back to Aulani on cash, all standard room and one bedroom villa views were open (we booked for same day arrival). However maybe with one tower of villas not being used they just are filling rooms in the Ewa tower?

I am not sure... I'm just glad we got the view we did it was a great stay!

 

[wdrl]

We rented points so we didn't see any paperwork when we checked in at the resort. I did online check in though and had looked up my reservation prior to arriving and both said pool view.

I was very surprised checking in because I also thought floor 5 was the highest. The resort didn't seem packed or overly busy...in fact when when our rental house (after Aulani) didn't work out and we decided to come back to Aulani on cash, all standard room and one bedroom villa views were open (we booked for same day arrival). However maybe with one tower of villas not being used they just are filling rooms in the Ewa tower?

I am not sure... I'm just glad we got the view we did it was a great stay!

For the time being, I'll show your villa #676 as an Ocean View. Back in January someone was just down the hall in Villa #670/672 and it was considered an Ocean View at that time. But if others start reporting Pool Views above the 5th floor, then I'll revise my charts.

I guess this just proves you are BFF with Tinker Belle and her pixie dust!

 

[Mamiamjo]

I'm trying to decide what room to requets for our trip. We have a Dedicated 2 Bedroom Island View.
Help me understand the Resort Map from Post #1. For some reason, I'm haveng trouble.
Is the Ewa building considered Phase One (Yellow box on map)?
What is the "Long wing" of the Ewa building (it looks pretty short)?

 

[wdrl]

I'm trying to decide what room to requets for our trip. We have a Dedicated 2 Bedroom Island View.
Help me understand the Resort Map from Post #1. For some reason, I'm haveng trouble.
Is the Ewa building considered Phase One (Yellow box on map)?
What is the "Long wing" of the Ewa building (it looks pretty short)?

Its easy to be confused. At Aulani, there is an Ewa side and a Waianae side. The Ewa side actually has two interconnected buildings. I call the Ewa building closest to the lobby the Phase 1 Building. It is a relatively short building with even numbered villas (xx50-xx58) facing the pool and odd numbered villas (xx51-xx59) facing the island. If you have an Island View dedicated two bedroom villa, then you might be assigned a villa ending in xx51 on floors 8 through 16.

The Ewa side also has an "L" shaped building that I refer to as Ewa Short Wing and Ewa Long Wing. This part of the Ewa side was opened as part of Phase 3. There are a few Island View dedicated two bedrooms in the Short Wing (xx60 and xx61) and many more in the Long Wing (xx75, xx81, and xx87).

Hope this helps!

 

[Mamiamjo]

Its easy to be confused. At Aulani, there is an Ewa side and a Waianae side. The Ewa side actually has two interconnected buildings. I call the Ewa building closest to the lobby the Phase 1 Building. It is a relatively short building with even numbered villas (xx50-xx58) facing the pool and odd numbered villas (xx51-xx59) facing the island. If you have an Island View dedicated two bedroom villa, then you might be assigned a villa ending in xx51 on floors 8 through 16.

The Ewa side also has an "L" shaped building that I refer to as Ewa Short Wing and Ewa Long Wing. This part of the Ewa side was opened as part of Phase 3. There are a few Island View dedicated two bedrooms in the Short Wing (xx60 and xx61) and many more in the Long Wing (xx74, xx75, xx80, xx81, xx86 and xx87).

Hope this helps!

Yes, that helps. So If I look at the map on the first post, the Ewa Building(s) are the ones on the right as you face the resort from the beach.
The buildings on the left (as you face the resort from the beach) is the Waianae side. Is that right?

So, if I want to request a Dedicated 2 Bedroom Island view in the long wing of Ewa building, I'd request a high floor ending in either 74, 75, 80, 81, 86 or 87. Is that correct?

 

[MMcCarthy]

Thanks so much. Was your balcony "straight" or "angled"? What building/view/room did you have? Were you able to walk from one end of the balcony to the other end or was it divided, depending on what room it connected to?

Family seems to think they will want to spend a lot of time on the balcony. Think they plan on it being an extra space for snacking and drinks while they "people watch" and enjoy the view.

I found that it was perfect for people watching, drinks, and one night falling asleep. It was not divided, I believe it was a straight. It was in the Ewa building, I requested an ocean view, pool side. I could have spent the whole trip on the balcony but am glad we went other places

 

[wdrl]

Yes, that helps. So If I look at the map on the first post, the Ewa Building(s) are the ones on the right as you face the resort from the beach.
The buildings on the left (as you face the resort from the beach) is the Waianae side. Is that right?


So, if I want to request a Dedicated 2 Bedroom Island view in the long wing of Ewa building, I'd request a high floor ending in either 74, 75, 80, 81, 86 or 87. Is that correct?

You are correct about the Waianae and Ewa sides.

Oops, I made a mistake about Island views in the Long Wing. The only Island View dedicated 2-bedrooms in the Long wing are xx75, xx81, and xx87. There are no Island View dedicated 2-bedrooms that face the lagoon in the Long Wing.

Sorry for trying to confuse you even more. I'll go back and edit original response.

 

[kyton]

We have just returned from Aulani - we are not DVC so paid cash. We had a 2 bedroom villa island view - villa 687 in the Waianae Tower. Had three separate balconies - one of each bedroom and the third off the living room. They all overlooked the lawn so you could view the movies and Starlit Hui as well as view Aunty's playground. We also had ocean views from the balconies.

I have photos but haven't downloaded them off the camera yet.

To be honest I preferred the 2 bedroom villa we had last year which was a ground floor in the Ewa building opening out onto the lawn area adjoining the now closed pool area - the Waianae Tower just feels so big and claustrophobic compared to walking into the much shorter feeling Ewa Tower.

 

[carissa1970]

Now I'm totally confused about which tower we stayed in for Room 406. Maybe someone can tell me? If you wade into the lobby from valet, you'd go right and past the front desk, past the spa...which tower is that?

 

[ACDSNY]

Now I'm totally confused about which tower we stayed in for Room 406. Maybe someone can tell me? If you wade into the lobby from valet, you'd go right and past the front desk, past the spa...which tower is that?

That would be the Waianae tower.

 

[kyton]

If you walk in to the lobby with the pool directly in front of you the tower to the left is the Waianae Tower and the one on the right is the Ewa isn't it?

I must be all mixed up? Last year we stayed in the spa side this year on the opposite side in the really long building.

 

[ACDSNY]

If you walk in to the lobby with the pool directly in front of you the tower to the left is the Waianae Tower and the one on the right is the Ewa isn't it?

I must be all mixed up? Last year we stayed in the spa side this year on the opposite side in the really long building.

If you're facing the pool, valley and ocean and go to the right it's Waianae tower, if you go left towards the market/store it's the Ewa tower. I hope this helps.

 

[SenorGreg]

So, I am wondering if I can get some help with our dilemma.

We are going to Aulani next month, staying in a hotel room, not villa, as we were not able to get a points reservation (rental) for our dates. We would really really like to have a view of the main pool area (Waikolohe Valley). We found a good deal and because we couldn't decide, we booked a Poolside Gardens View AND a Ocean View room. We now need to decide which reservation we will keep.

• Does anyone know whether there are any Ocean View hotel rooms that do not look over the valley? In other words, are on the other side of the building.

On the phone, a helpful person at Aulani did warn us that a Poolside Gardens view room may only be looking straight into a tree, and not actually have any view of a pool.

• Does anyone know if there is much risk of obstructed views from Poolside Gardens view rooms?

Basically, we want a good view of the valley, but if we can save money by not staying in an Ocean View, that would be great.

 

[wdrl]

• Does anyone know whether there are any Ocean View hotel rooms that do not look over the valley? In other words, are on the other side of the building.

On the phone, a helpful person at Aulani did warn us that a Poolside Gardens view room may only be looking straight into a tree, and not actually have any view of a pool.

• Does anyone know if there is much risk of obstructed views from Poolside Gardens view rooms?

Basically, we want a good view of the valley, but if we can save money by not staying in an Ocean View, that would be great.

I can't say with certainty whether the hotel portion of Aulani has Ocean View rooms that do not overlook Waikolohe Valley. However, if you look at the map in Post #1, you'll see the hotel portion of the resort actually has two wings. I don't know if that shorter hotel wing that overlooks the Wailana Leisure Pool (which is temporarily out of commission due to the construction) has any Ocean View rooms.

In regard to your second question about the risk of obstructed views from Poolside hotel rooms: Yes, I think there is a bit of a chance that some landscaping might obstruct your view of the water features in Waikolohe Valley if you get a hotel room on a low floor. Take a look at the third photo in Post #378. The Aulani lobby is in the center portion of the photo and the building to the left is the hotel portion of the resort. As you see in this photo, the lazy river curves right in front of the hotel building but there are some palm trees and other vegetation that may partially block the view of some of the hotel rooms on the lower floors.

Hope this helps.