Full-on views of the ocean

[squirk]

Are the "end-cap" rooms in Phases 2 & 3 (i.e., the rooms directly above Ulu Cafe and Aunty's) all DVC Grand Villas?

If so, are these the only DVC villas with full straight-on views of the ocean, with little to none of the resort buildings or islands encroaching on your view?

Thanks.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yes, the end-caps of those buildings are all DVC Grand Villas. There are no other DVC villas on those end-caps, so any other type of room will have the rest of the buildings "encroaching" on the view.

 

[squirk]

Thx. I figured, but was hoping I was wrong.

I need to book three bedrooms next Feb. I don't have enough points for an OV GV, but I do have enough for an OV 2-bdrm + an OV studio. Just trying to figure out the best floor/bldg to get me the closest full-on OV.

 

[pepperandchips]

Sounds like the ideal vacation to ask a friend (or make a new one, if necessary) to transfer you some points to get that Grand Villa! Maybe that's just my dream. If you end up booking it and need new friends, I'm free in February! Good luck. Please come back and post the views from the villa(s) you stay in!

 

[squirk]

Sounds like the ideal vacation to ask a friend (or make a new one, if necessary) to transfer you some points to get that Grand Villa! Maybe that's just my dream. If you end up booking it and need new friends, I'm free in February! Good luck. Please come back and post the views from the villa(s) you stay in!

Thanks. Yes, the thought of finding a friend to transfer points to me did come up. However, I need about 250 extra points, which will tack on ~$3000 to the vacation (if I want to reciprocate my "friend's" generosity). I need to think about whether or not the unobstructed GV view is $3000 better than the other DVC ocean views.

Plus, not for nothing, the third bedroom is for my MIL. I adore her, but seven days in the same GV unit is a whole lot of togetherness. A separate but adjacent studio might be in everyone's best interests.

 

[hilarys]

Thanks. Yes, the thought of finding a friend to transfer points to me did come up. However, I need about 250 extra points, which will tack on ~$3000 to the vacation (if I want to reciprocate my "friend's" generosity). I need to think about whether or not the unobstructed GV view is $3000 better than the other DVC ocean views.

Plus, not for nothing, the third bedroom is for my MIL. I adore her, but seven days in the same GV unit is a whole lot of togetherness. A separate but adjacent studio might be in everyone's best interests.

If the $3,000 is something that works for you financially, I would say they are worth it. We stayed in one for 3 nights on our first visit before half the family left and we moved down to a 1BR. The view is glorious, the balcony is great and they are really spacious. They have a nice big table in the dining area where the whole family can eat together. The stable in the two bedroom feels cramped to me when you get more than 5 around it. If you plan to have family time in the villas (in Hawaii as opposed to WDW or DL) we like to have breakfast and about half our dinners in the villa. Plus evenings are usually spent just hanging out since Hawaii is not a "night time activity" destination. We leave in a week and a half for a week in a 2BR with my family of 4 (2 teens) and my parents. I would love to be in the Grand Villa but we go to Hawaii every 2 to 3 years so I need to save the points. This was our view from the Grand Villa:

 

[hilarys]

This was our view (zoomed in on the camera) from a 2BR ocean view in EWA at Thanksgiving 2015. Very nice ocean view, but a lot of noise from the deliveries that came down the side drive into the resort. We decided to save the points this time and trade the delivery noise for pool noise and try a pool view. We will see how we like it.

 

[wdrl]

This was our view from the Grand Villa:View attachment 226732

Do you remember the villa number of your grand villa? If I had to guess, I'd say it was 489 or 589.

 

[squirk]

If the $3,000 is something that works for you financially, I would say they are worth it. We stayed in one for 3 nights on our first visit before half the family left and we moved down to a 1BR. The view is glorious, the balcony is great and they are really spacious. They have a nice big table in the dining area where the whole family can eat together. The stable in the two bedroom feels cramped to me when you get more than 5 around it. If you plan to have family time in the villas (in Hawaii as opposed to WDW or DL) we like to have breakfast and about half our dinners in the villa. Plus evenings are usually spent just hanging out since Hawaii is not a "night time activity" destination. We leave in a week and a half for a week in a 2BR with my family of 4 (2 teens) and my parents. I would love to be in the Grand Villa but we go to Hawaii every 2 to 3 years so I need to save the points. This was our view from the Grand Villa:View attachment 226732

Yeah, I just showed that GV OV view to my wife, and she was unswayed. For a 7-day trip, she wants her mom to have a separate room, full-on ocean view be damned.

 

[hilarys]

Do you remember the villa number of your grand villa? If I had to guess, I'd say it was 489 or 589.

Unfortunately I don't remember exactly - it was in the summer of 2013. either fourth or fifth floor sounds about right - maybe fifth? And it was obviously an "89" room.

 

[longboard55]

Hawaii takes their views serious. Ocean Front is a Sand to Water view from your bedroom
Ocean View means you can get a good view of the Ocean from your balcony
Partial Ocean means you can see some water but it will be partially blocked

Most rooms in Hawaii are ocean view because most hotels sit perpendicular to the water

 

[heaven2dc]

I just want to chime in here and say that Aulani does not have ocean front rooms. The closes to an unobstructed ocean view is as others have said and that is in the 3bedroom Grand Villa. Just my two cents

 

[BobNed]

I just want to chime in here and say that Aulani does not have ocean front rooms. The closes to an unobstructed ocean view is as others have said and that is in the 3bedroom Grand Villa. Just my two cents

To be fair, Aulani does not advertise ocean front rooms or villas. They are careful not to offer even a full ocean view. From the Aulani Web site:

• Ocean View: Includes at least a partial view of the ocean from the room or balcony
• Poolside Gardens View: Includes at least a partial view of the pool, courtyards, water features or landscaping from the room or balcony
• Island Gardens View: Includes at least a partial view of the mountains, spa or landscaping from the room or balcony
• Standard View: Includes either a view of the conference center, parking lot or parking garage from the room or balcony

 

[Cali Cat]

If the $3,000 is something that works for you financially, I would say they are worth it. We stayed in one for 3 nights on our first visit before half the family left and we moved down to a 1BR. The view is glorious, the balcony is great and they are really spacious. They have a nice big table in the dining area where the whole family can eat together. The stable in the two bedroom feels cramped to me when you get more than 5 around it. If you plan to have family time in the villas (in Hawaii as opposed to WDW or DL) we like to have breakfast and about half our dinners in the villa. Plus evenings are usually spent just hanging out since Hawaii is not a "night time activity" destination. We leave in a week and a half for a week in a 2BR with my family of 4 (2 teens) and my parents. I would love to be in the Grand Villa but we go to Hawaii every 2 to 3 years so I need to save the points. This was our view from the Grand Villa:View attachment 226732

Do you happen to know what the garden area is? It looks like it's on top of Auntie's beach house.

 

[kdonnel]

Do you happen to know what the garden area is? It looks like it's on top of Auntie's beach house.

That is the roof of Ama Ama.

 

[Cali Cat]

That is the roof of Ama Ama.

Ohhh, ok thank you. I wonder what it's up there for. Herb garden?

 

[pepperandchips]

Ohhh, ok thank you. I wonder what it's up there for. Herb garden?

So that the people in the uber-expensive Grand Villas have something to look at besides an ugly roof?

 

[cedricandsophie]

We always get an ocean view one or two bedroom in Ewa building in the 50 series rooms at or above 9th floor. The 50 series rooms are closer to the main building, have a view of the lazy river and out to the ocean. Not as good a view as the rooms closer to the ocean. But we prefer these because we like to sit outside and listen to the music at night from the ohelo room while having our wine and the balconies are much bigger in this section.