Got our "Welcome to Aulani" booklet!

[dvc_john]

This is my 'ocean view' view. I think it's more like a 'partial ocean view'. Room 813. That's the J.W. Marriott hotel next door. Room 713 1 floor below is considered 'island view'. Rooms 913 and above undoubtedly have a better view.

This is a view I would consider a real ocean view. Room 1006, which is the 'open house room'.

Actually, I think my view is probably better than any standard or island view rooms, but probably not as good as most ocean view rooms. Also, probably better than some pool view rooms, but probably not as good as some other pool view rooms.
I would guess the best 'ocean view' rooms would be the higher floors on the pool side of the building. Actually, the very best views would be the Grand Villas, which are on the endcaps of the buildings and directly facing the ocean.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks, John! I wouldn't call your view a true ocean view either. I'd be disappointed if I spent OV points and had basically the same view as someone a floor below me who paid IV points. Looks like I'll be asking for high floor.

 

[wdrl]

Thanks, John! I wouldn't call your view a true ocean view either. I'd be disappointed if I spent OV points and had basically the same view as someone a floor below me who paid IV points. Looks like I'll be asking for high floor.

This thread has the layout of the Aulani villas by view category and accommodation type. Several Aulani guests have posted photos of their views from their villa, so you can get a feel for what views to expect from the different parts of the resort.

All of the villas that have a view of Aulani's Waikolohe Valley -- the name for the area with the main pool and lazy river -- have even numbered rooms. The odd numbered rooms face outward from the resort and are mostly, but not exclusively, Standard and Island Views.

Aulani's Phase 3 is scheduled to open by January 2013. Since Phase 3 is larger than Phases 1 and 2 combined, it will increase your chances of getting an ocean view villa that overlooks Waikolohe Valley.

Good luck on getting a nice view. Aulani is a beautiful resort and, in my opinion, the best of the eight DVC resorts we have stayed at so far.

 

[CarolAnnC]

The points chart shows there are Standard and Ocean View Grand Villas. If I am reading this thread right, it states all Grand Villas are "end cap" and face the ocean. Is that right? Or are there some Grand Villas that face somewhere else?

Planning ahead...thanks!

 

[wdrl]

The points chart shows there are Standard and Ocean View Grand Villas. If I am reading this thread right, it states all Grand Villas are "end cap" and face the ocean. Is that right? Or are there some Grand Villas that face somewhere else?

Planning ahead...thanks!

All 21 Grand Villas at Aulani are on the endcaps of the Waianae Building (GV ##01) or the Ewa Building (GV ##89) and they all face toward the ocean. There are no other GVs at Aulani.

Currently, there is one Standard View Grand Villa on the first floor of the Waianae Building (#101) and two Standard View Grand Villas on the second and third floors of the Ewa Building (Villas #289 and #389). In October, Disney will permanently eliminate GV #101, putting a pool side cafe in its place.

Here is a link to Grand Villa #1001 showing its view.

 

[Iceman93]

I just returned from five nights in the 2br ocean-view villa 1003. I was paying cash, as I wasn't a DVC member until this trip. I completely agree with John that it was a disappointing "ocean view", and the gentleman who sold me my DVC membership said they've been hearing that a lot from those rooms. Given how proactive Disney is being with the restaurant, pool, and lounge chair renovations I would not be at all suprised to see rooms reclassified or the addition of a partial ocean view category as John suggested.

I'll post pictures of the villa and the views once I get settled in back here at home!

 

[trs518]

We were there in a March and we had two different rooms; an Island View and a Standard View. Both were studios. The standard view was the best room for view and size. The Island view was on the third floor and faced the Marriott. The room was also not a rectangle and somewhat smaller than our Standard View. The Standard View was on the 5th floor, I think, and over looked the conference center. It looked out on the Island, which was fairly interesting.

 

[aclov]

It made me feel realistic about my trip "yea this is really going to happen!"