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

[hopemax]

We stayed at Aulani 9/2-9/4. Our room was 1454 (Ocean View Studio). During the planning stage, my DH wasn't sure the view would be worth it, but whatever made me happy. When we got there, I wanted to cry, I was so happy.





Looking straight down. You can see the little stage where they have live music at night. It was lovely to have the patio door open and have live music

 

[wdrl]

We stayed at Aulani 9/2-9/4. Our room was 1454 (Ocean View Studio). During the planning stage, my DH wasn't sure the view would be worth it, but whatever made me happy. When we got there, I wanted to cry, I was so happy.

Did your DH think the view was worth it after he saw the villa? Do you think you'll request an ocean view on your future visits to Aulani?

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

 

[hopemax]

Yes, there would be no problem convincing DH to get an Ocean View if we were to return. Unfortunately, I don't know if that will happen. We rented points when we were on Oahu for a family event with my brother-in-law's family involving our nephew. My Mom is a WDW CM, so I keep joking we need to go with her when they have the steep discounts. I know they come up, because her co-workers have gone. But then we're dependent on short notice airfare.

I'd love to go back though!

 

[TaiTai1]

Hello! We will be at Aulani in January/February, and will certainly be renting a car for the entire stay. What good rates/deals/specials have you found? We'll be picking it up at the Honolulu Airport and returning it there. We'll rent it for about 13 days. Have you found any good deals? Are there special places on the internet to look?

 

[jerseygal]

GORGEOUS PICS!!!!!!!!!!THANK YOU FOR POSTING!

Hopefully the thought of our Aulani May trip will get me through these soon to be too long winters! Can't complain, up till now, fall weather has been mild and awesome! I know the lousy cold sunless days will be coming, but I need to keep thinking Aulani and May! CANNOT WAIT!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Hello! We will be at Aulani in January/February, and will certainly be renting a car for the entire stay. What good rates/deals/specials have you found? We'll be picking it up at the Honolulu Airport and returning it there. We'll rent it for about 13 days. Have you found any good deals? Are there special places on the internet to look?

I always check Costco Travel online... they seem to have good rates.
There was also another thread on the DVC resorts board here a while back that had some great discount codes... one of them wound up saving me $300!

here is that thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3179180

Maybe try some of those codes listed along with your dates and see if they help.

 

[amym2]

Yes, yours are the photos I was impressed with! Do you remember specifically what you asked for? High floor? Long wing of Ewa tower? Or did you actually say room ending in xx75, xx81, xx87?

I'll have to add photos when I'm not jet lagged, but I wanted to add that this was my post and I got exactly what I'd requested... we were in room 1575. It was perfect! It's pretty much the same view as 1577 that's already in the photos, but it's a 2 bedroom island view. We had a great view of the Starlit Hui, which DH watched from our balcony because he had a college friend and his wife visiting for a few hours and you have to be a guest to sit on the lawn. We loved the views and the location of the room.

 

[LoveBugs]

Just wanted to chime in with what we ended up with for our trip two weeks ago. I had requested a high floor, long wing Ewa, ending in xx77. We ended up with 1677!! It was perfect. It was an island view one bedroom but we could easily see the ocean. I was extremely impressed with the view considering we booked island view and will definitely be requesting the same in the future.

 

[Airb330]

Just checked into 759. A one bedroom standard view. For a standard view I don't think this can be beat! I wouldn't be happy if I landed in 859 at island view prices. Our view at the Westin Kaanapali Villas was better, but overall Aulani is a much more impressive resort. Maybe next time I'll have enough points for a pool view, otherwise I'd really be happy with this one. Does anyone find it odd the balconies/Lanais do not have lights? It's really dark out here. Just a sconce between the living room and bedroom sliding glass doors would make a big difference.

 

[pharmama]

I'm not sure if this is really the right place/thread but if not maybe someone can point me where I should post.

We're in early possible planning stages for a trip in April (2014). Looking at variety of booking options (we are a family of 5 and would like to do a 1br villa) and wondering if DVC point rental should be on our list of options? I don't totally understand how booking a villa through Disney vs DVC is different in terms of availability- are all villas DVC villas so if there is villa availability through Disney it would be available through DVC?

Basically what I'm getting at is do we have a hope of booking DVC for next April or is it too hard to get? It does look like there are villas available through Disney.

Aulani looks AMAZING.

 

[Cinderpamela]

I'm not sure if this is really the right place/thread but if not maybe someone can point me where I should post.

We're in early possible planning stages for a trip in April (2014). Looking at variety of booking options (we are a family of 5 and would like to do a 1br villa) and wondering if DVC point rental should be on our list of options? I don't totally understand how booking a villa through Disney vs DVC is different in terms of availability- are all villas DVC villas so if there is villa availability through Disney it would be available through DVC?

Basically what I'm getting at is do we have a hope of booking DVC for next April or is it too hard to get? It does look like there are villas available through Disney.

Aulani looks AMAZING.

Owners can book their "home" resorts at 11 months so they get first dibs and then owners of other DVC "home" resorts get to book at 7 months out. So to rent, you want to in most cases have it lined up before the 7 month mark. For April 2014 that would have been September of 2013.

You would also need to compare pricing of paying cash through Disney and paying to rent points. Davids DVC rentals is a great place to start, he has a great points calculator to tell you how many dollars you would be spending to rent a DVC vlla from one of his owners.

are all villas DVC villas so if there is villa availability through Disney it would be available through DVC?

The villas listed on the Disney website as "villas" are technically DVC villas, but DVC holds aside some villas for cash reservations. But just because they are showing open villas for cash reservations does not mean that a DVC member could use their points to book it. There is a mathematical formula for DVC villas that are declared for members and thus can be booked on points.... based on how many of the DVC memberships for that particular resort have been purchased.

Depending on the week you are wanting you would want to check ASAP with a point rental company such as Davids or owner who you rent from. Suprisingly April still has some availability depending on what view category & when you want... but probably not for much longer.

With most DVC point rental situations there is not the ability to cancel as the owner of those points could then potentially completely loose those points... but the savings of renting points can be quite significant over the prices that Disney is charging ... so you have to decide which works better for you.

 

[jerseygal]

Hoping to get a standard 2 BR dedicated, but for now booked on a 2BR island view. Maybe we'll be lucky for May 2014 and the waiting list will move! Really prefer to "save" the 63 points, but if this is all we can get, "oh well"...Just thrilled to be able to go to Aulani in May!

AMYM2...Is 1575 a Dedicated or Lock Off 2BR?

Would love to see photos if you have any!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wdrl]

Just checked into 759. A one bedroom standard view.

Thanks, Airb330, for sharing your photos. We already had photos of villa 759, but its always nice to get more!

AMYM2...Is 1575 a Dedicated or Lock Off 2BR?

Villa 1575 is a dedicated two-bedroom. All villas ending in xx75 are dedicated two-bedrooms.

 

[jerseygal]

We also will be in an Island View 2 BR Dedicated! Sounds like a great location! Waianne Tower appeals to us for the Fitness Center being
accessible! CANNOT WAIT!

 

[CailinFig]

I'm not sure if this is really the right place/thread but if not maybe someone can point me where I should post.

We're in early possible planning stages for a trip in April (2014). Looking at variety of booking options (we are a family of 5 and would like to do a 1br villa) and wondering if DVC point rental should be on our list of options? I don't totally understand how booking a villa through Disney vs DVC is different in terms of availability- are all villas DVC villas so if there is villa availability through Disney it would be available through DVC?

Basically what I'm getting at is do we have a hope of booking DVC for next April or is it too hard to get? It does look like there are villas available through Disney.

Aulani looks AMAZING.

I was able to rent points for our late October Aulani visit at the end of September through the DVC rental store. It was for a deluxe ocean view studio. ...So you may want to contact one of the rental places and give it a try!

 

[amym2]

Hoping to get a standard 2 BR dedicated, but for now booked on a 2BR island view. Maybe we'll be lucky for May 2014 and the waiting list will move! Really prefer to "save" the 63 points, but if this is all we can get, "oh well"...Just thrilled to be able to go to Aulani in May!

AMYM2...Is 1575 a Dedicated or Lock Off 2BR?

Would love to see photos if you have any!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, it was a dedicated. We loved having the 3rd bathroom even though there were just 5 of us. I will try to figure out how to post photos soon!

 

[Airb330]

I was able to rent points for our late October Aulani visit at the end of September through the DVC rental store. It was for a deluxe ocean view studio. ...So you may want to contact one of the rental places and give it a try!

Agreed. As of 3 weeks ago everything was available except standard studios, 1 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms. As of last week most rooms were still open except the standard views, 1 & 2 bedroom pool view.

We love to travel this time of year to Hawaii as it's just getting cold in Philly and it's a slow time here. Perhaps we will even rent points so we can do a pool view next time. If we weren't with family a studio would probably be enough anyways.

 

[pharmama]

Thanks all. Seems like point rental is a viable option then. We are not firm enough on our dates yet. I have to 'bid' for vacation time a calendar year at a time and the bid is happening now for 2014 so I won't even know my vacation dates for sure for another couple of weeks. And we may decide to go for next October instead anyway (because then our youngest will be 3 and can go to the kids club. I'm assuming the kids club is like the cruise ships where they need to be toilet trained as well?).

Anyway- thanks for the help! Hopefully I'll be trying to figure out what room we should request and really digging in to this thread soon!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[wdrl]

I'm assuming the kids club is like the cruise ships where they need to be toilet trained as well?).

Yes, Auntie's Beach House requires that the kids be potty trained if you want to leave them.

By the way, we will be (hopefully) at Aulani October 5-12, 2014. The 11th window opens this coming Tuesday and we will booking an an Ocean View studio for 7 nights. Perhaps we'll see you by the pool if you travel during the same time!

 

[jerseygal]

Would very much appreciate when you get a chance a pic of your 2 BR dedicated as well as any views from the villa that you have!