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

[eandesmom]

Can anyone tell me about the quality of food at AMA AMA? We have reservations for dinner there on one of the nights.
We also have a 15 year old son. Is the menu there one that teens would like? He's not a picky eater per se, but one never knows.
I also read the post where dinner and wine for two was $175.00. Was it worth it? My DH and I are not wine drinkers, so maybe our tab will be less. We don't mind paying a little bit more, if it is worth it... after all, we are on vacation and if worth it, this will be our 'splurge' dinner.
Or, does anyone have any other suggestions? Where did you dine and think it was exceptional service and food?

We absolutely loved AMA AMA for dinner. I'd have to dig up the receipt but believe we spent around $120 for the 2 of us, for 2 entrees and 2 drinks, including tip. It seems to me we spent about the same at Roy's and while the food quality was equal, the ambiance and service at AMA AMA was vastly superior. We would go back to AMA AMA in a heartbeat, not so sure about Roy's. Fine dining prices with a bar atmosphere. I know it's Hawaii but....

All of our kids would be able to find something they liked on the menu however it may be more than I'd want to spend for a family meal unless I knew they would really appreciate it as the entrees are not cheap. It is more likely we would do a family dinner at Monkeypod. We liked it so much we went there 3 times, happy hour, lunch and dinner. Nice variety on the menu so while you can do a lovely seafood entree, you can also get (or your child can) a burger or pizza. Lovely patio and frequent live music.

Our kids would also like Makahiki and for overall dollar value, between the 2, we'd likely try that versus AMA AMA with the kids. We didn't eat there for dinner but did enjoy the breakfast buffet.

 

[audrey2580]

Villa 1077
1 Bedroom island view (with a hint of ocean and a great view of the Starlight Hui)

 

[wdrl]

Villa 1077
1 Bedroom island view (with a hint of ocean and a great view of the Starlight Hui)

Thanks for the photo, audrey2580! I think villas like yours are probably the best Island View villas at Aulani.

 

[disneybirds]

Thanks for all the great info. I looked through lots of pages, but didn't see a floor plan like the one posted on http://www.parkinfo2go.com/ for Beach Club. Does anyone have this info? We are headed there is alittle over a week and would love to see a floor plan of the actual rooms.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Thanks for all the great info. I looked through lots of pages, but didn't see a floor plan like the one posted on http://www.parkinfo2go.com/ for Beach Club. Does anyone have this info? We are headed there is alittle over a week and would love to see a floor plan of the actual rooms.

Are you looking for a floorplan of the Aulani rooms?
Davids has them posted on his site here, if you page down to the bottom:
http://www.dvcrequests.com/aulani.htm

 

[htmlkid]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. We are currently at Aulani and staying in a 1 Br villa Island view but really 1/2 an ocean view in room 1577 which we requested. Nice to get the ocean view for cost of an island view.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. We are currently at Aulani and staying in a 1 Br villa Island view but really 1/2 an ocean view in room 1577 which we requested. Nice to get the ocean view for cost of an island view.

http://s908.photobucket.com/user/htmlkid/media/image.jpg.html

Did you request that particular room number? What building were you in? If not how did you make your request?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Villa 1077
1 Bedroom island view (with a hint of ocean and a great view of the Starlight Hui)

What building were you in?

 

[wdrl]

Both #1077 and #1577 are in the Long Wing of the Ewa Building, which was part of Phase 3, and face away from Aulani's Waikolohe Valley. Most of the vacation homes in this wing that face away from Waikolohe Valley are classified as Island View, but there are a few Ocean Views as well.

If you look at the villa layout charts in Post #1, these vacation homes can be found in the last chart.

 

[Saralyn]

You can be as specific as you like in an email request, which is what I always do. General rule is the less specific you are, the better change you have but in our case I requested Ewa long wing, highest floor possible (10th or higher) and a room ending in xx72, xx78 or xx84. At check in, which I deliberately didn't do online as we arrived late the night before and had 1 night in a standard view, the lovely Malia informed me the only room with a high floor available was in the Wainaea building, the only thing in the Ewa long was on the 6th floor. Seeing that we were disappointed with that she said "let me see what might be coming up soon" and went back into the system. After a good 5 minutes of poking around she found a room that met our exact requests in 1084. What I learned from that is that they are (at least at Aulani) looking for actual available rooms, versus ones scheduled for checkout that day) first.

Though the room was still occupied when she checked us in at 10:30, amazingly we got the "ready" text at 11:30!

Is checking in in person better than doing it online in terms of getting your room request? We expect to arrive at the resort at 2-3 pm. If I check in online and then find that the assigned room doesn't fit our request (no odd #s, nothing in the xx6x's, prefer xx02 or xx08, high floor), can't they switch me to another available room at check-in? TIA!

 

[wdrl]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. We are currently at Aulani and staying in a 1 Br villa Island view but really 1/2 an ocean view in room 1577 which we requested. Nice to get the ocean view for cost of an island view.

Thanks for the contribution, htmlkid! The Island View vacation homes like yours that are on that side of the Ewa Building Phase 3 have great views.

I must admit having just a little bit of trepidation about starting this thread. Villas like #1577 have great views of the ocean but only cost the same as an Island View villa that is on a much lower floor and overlooks the driveway. My fear is that someone will book an Island View hoping to get something like #1577, but will be very angry and verbally abusive with the CMs when they get a driveway view instead. I hope that never happens, but. . . .

 

[wdrl]

Is checking in in person better than doing it online in terms of getting your room request? We expect to arrive at the resort at 2-3 pm. If I check in online and then find that the assigned room doesn't fit our request (no odd #s, nothing in the xx6x's, prefer xx02 or xx08, high floor), can't they switch me to another available room at check-in? TIA!

I really don't know whether its better to do online check-in or wait until we arrive. We have had success, and failure, both ways. We have had four stays at BLT and three out of four times we got want we wanted: High Floor, Even Number (outside view). On our last trip we booked three two-bedroom villas for our family gathering and again asked for High Floor, Even Number and did online check-in. All three villas were on the 7th floor (not really high but not really low either) and only one was an even number. But we were happy with all three villas.

On our next visit to Aulani, we'll request an Ocean View overlooking Waikolohe Valley on a high floor. Maybe we'll get it, maybe we won't.

We usually make a room request with Member Services about the same time we make our reservations. However, its gotten to the point that I accept whatever they offer.

 

[eandesmom]

I really don't know whether its better to do online check-in or wait until we arrive. We have had success, and failure, both ways. We have had four stays at BLT and three out of four times we got want we wanted: High Floor, Even Number (outside view). On our last trip we booked three two-bedroom villas for our family gathering and again asked for High Floor, Even Number and did online check-in. All three villas were on the 7th floor (not really high but not really low either) and only one was an even number. But we were happy with all three villas.

On our next visit to Aulani, we'll request an Ocean View overlooking Waikolohe Valley on a high floor. Maybe we'll get it, maybe we won't.

We usually make a room request with Member Services about the same time we make our reservations. However, its gotten to the point that I accept whatever they offer.

I don't know which is better either. My general luck has been far better with in person but it also could be time of day. As far as room switching to something that else that is available if you already did online check in, I think it's a hit or miss thing. Some resorts may let you do that even if you've done online but I know others may not or at least have heard that here and there though have never tried personally. It does negate any benefit dervied from the online check in if you do ask for a change, as they have to reprint everything if you've asked for a change.

 

[htmlkid]

Did you request that particular room number? What building were you in? If not how did you make your request?

Sorry I should have mentioned its the EWA building and yes I mention this room as well as a few others listed in a previous thread

 

[Mommyserenity]

We just returned from eight days at Aulani and loved it! We had a fantastic view. We were in Ewa Tower in a two bedroom, ocean view villa. Room #1180. I've attached a photo to show the view we had from our villa.

Okay...help?? I can't get the photo to show up other than a little blue box! I clicked the photo icon and added my link as directed, but no luck.
Here's the link in case someone wants to see it anyway! It's the very first photo in the album.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100706293991815666928/albums/5890430711340279697/5890430909853442594?pid=5890430909853442594&oid=100706293991815666928

 

[aclov]

Can anyone tell me about the quality of food at AMA AMA? We have reservations for dinner there on one of the nights.
We also have a 15 year old son. Is the menu there one that teens would like? He's not a picky eater per se, but one never knows.
I also read the post where dinner and wine for two was $175.00. Was it worth it? My DH and I are not wine drinkers, so maybe our tab will be less. We don't mind paying a little bit more, if it is worth it... after all, we are on vacation and if worth it, this will be our 'splurge' dinner.
Or, does anyone have any other suggestions? Where did you dine and think it was exceptional service and food?

Our bill last night was about $180 with tip for 3 people, I had the red snapper which was very good, my husband the pork chop he loved and 18 yr old step son the steak which looked delicious.

 

[Mommyserenity]

Can anyone tell me about the quality of food at AMA AMA? We have reservations for dinner there on one of the nights.
We also have a 15 year old son. Is the menu there one that teens would like? He's not a picky eater per se, but one never knows.
I also read the post where dinner and wine for two was $175.00. Was it worth it? My DH and I are not wine drinkers, so maybe our tab will be less. We don't mind paying a little bit more, if it is worth it... after all, we are on vacation and if worth it, this will be our 'splurge' dinner.
Or, does anyone have any other suggestions? Where did you dine and think it was exceptional service and food?

We just returned this past weekend from Aulani and my BIL/SIL tried AMA AMA for dinner one evening while we were there. Dinner, 2 alcoholic drinks, and tip came to $180 for them. They said the food was really good, but thought the bill was maybe a bit high for what they got overall.

 

[wdrl]

We just returned from eight days at Aulani and loved it! We had a fantastic view. We were in Ewa Tower in a two bedroom, ocean view villa. Room #1180. I've attached a photo to show the view we had from our villa.


Okay...help?? I can't get the photo to show up other than a little blue box! I clicked the photo icon and added my link as directed, but no luck.
Here's the link in case someone wants to see it anyway! It's the very first photo in the album.

That is a nice view, Mommyserenity! I'll add your villa to the list in Post #1. By the way, I took a peek at your other photos and really liked the ariel view of Aulani. Did you take that when you were flying into HNL?

As for your problem with posting the photo: I'm not sure of the solution. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me could advise you. I use PhotoBucket for my photo links and I always have to use the IMG image in order to get it to work. Since your link works, its not necessary but if you want, you can email me your photo and I'll post it for you. You can send me a PM (private message) and we can exchange email addresses.

 

[Cinderpamela]

That is a nice view, Mommyserenity! I'll add your villa to the list in Post #1. By the way, I took a peek at your other photos and really liked the ariel view of Aulani. Did you take that when you were flying into HNL?

Actually I am reading Mommyserenity's TR over on Mouse owners (apparently I can't post that site here)... they did a helicopter tour!!! Sounded like a fun thing and I might just have to add it to our list! Its a good report if you want to check it out its in the trip report section and her user name there is DisFanx2... I would post the link but it apparently is blocked by the DIS.

 

[Mommyserenity]

Yes, my husband and I did a helicopter tour around Oahu and loved it! The company we booked with picks up at Ko Olina Marina, which you can get to via the free resort shuttle. It was def worth the money and we got a great birds eye view of the island...including flying over Aulani! My husband also got some great shots of Aulani from the plane when we flew into Honolulu too though

And yes, I just finished my TR over at Mouse Owners if anyone wants to look at some other photos I have up over there.