Is 1 bedroom at Aulani worth it?

[VGCgroupie]

According to the DVC Field Guide that @Add-On-Itis posted, there are ocean view rooms with a luau view. I was able to add "Ewa Tower with luau view" to my ocean view one bedroom - request added anyway. I'll let you all know in April if I got it.

Have you looked at the room view photos? Im trying to imagine what rooms on that side of EWA would give a better OV than IGV. I dont think there is but I could be wrong.

 

[Wedgeout]

That Ocean View category is pretty weak overall unless hanging out in a GV. They need to include the Lewis & Clark “IN” for the rest “Ocean In View”. (That way it can be up to 20 miles away but can still see it).

 

[cruisehopeful]

Have you looked at the room view photos? Im trying to imagine what rooms on that side of EWA would give a better OV than IGV. I dont think there is but I could be wrong.

Looking at the field guide, it looks like high floors and not a ton of rooms. I think the ", ocean view" category is counting anything that has a sliver of a view or even just a view from the balcony and not the room. I stayed in an ocean view studio many years ago and it was truly a very loud pool view room with a tiny bit of ocean off in the distance.

The only reason I booked an ocean view this time is because it was the only room available when I booked. If it wasn't on borrowed points 6 weeks from the end of my use year, I would have played the slots to get a different room. Alas, these points would be toast if I downgraded the view.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Looking at the field guide, it looks like high floors and not a ton of rooms. I think the ", ocean view" category is counting anything that has a sliver of a view or even just a view from the balcony and not the room. I stayed in an ocean view studio many years ago and it was truly a very loud pool view room with a tiny bit of ocean off in the distance.

The only reason I booked an ocean view this time is because it was the only room available when I booked. If it wasn't on borrowed points 6 weeks from the end of my use year, I would have played the slots to get a different room. Alas, these points would be toast if I downgraded the view.

Darn. I would for sure look at room views and then request those rooms to optimize your view. This could be perfect though if you want to see the ocean but not have the pool view.

 

[DoggoneVGC]

I did not go through all the posts so I apologize if this was already posted or discussed.
Have you toured the studio and 1 Bedroom Aulani rooms that they have near the Disneyland Hotel; across from the Frontier Tower?

 

[Genie+]

Looking at the field guide, it looks like high floors and not a ton of rooms. I think the ", ocean view" category is counting anything that has a sliver of a view or even just a view from the balcony and not the room. I stayed in an ocean view studio many years ago and it was truly a very loud pool view room with a tiny bit of ocean off in the distance.

The only reason I booked an ocean view this time is because it was the only room available when I booked. If it wasn't on borrowed points 6 weeks from the end of my use year, I would have played the slots to get a different room. Alas, these points would be toast if I downgraded the view.

This might help - it shows the exact room numbers for each window:

https://***********.com/resorts/aulani/rooms/

Oops eta - I didn’t realize this site was blocked Not sure why, seems to be affiliated with the companies of this site?

 

[cruisehopeful]

I did not go through all the posts so I apologize if this was already posted or discussed.
Have you toured the studio and 1 Bedroom Aulani rooms that they have near the Disneyland Hotel; across from the Frontier Tower?

I've never heard of that. When did you see that?

 

[Girlstar30]

Ok so I decided on 4 nights island garden studio and 7 night island garden 1 bedroom. The availability chart has decided I will be staying in the island garden studio so far

 

[VGCgroupie]

I've never heard of that. When did you see that?

Me either

 

[DoggoneVGC]

I've never heard of that. When did you see that?

About a month ago, I was on property and our guide reached out and asked if we wanted to take a look... and we did. I thought they were pretty awesome.

 

[Girlstar30]

About a month ago, I was on property and our guide reached out and asked if we wanted to take a look... and we did. I thought they were pretty awesome.

I am going back to vdh next month and would love the see the aulani rooms! So I just go to the vdh podium and ask?

 

[DoggoneVGC]

I am going back to vdh next .onth and would love the see the aulani rooms! So I just go to the vdh podium and ask?

Yes they should be able to arrange for you to see them.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I was just there and even talked to a couple guides in passing. It's too bad that they didn't tell me about it. I would have enjoyed seeing it.

 

[DoggoneVGC]

I was just there and even talked to a couple guides in passing. It's too bad that they didn't tell me about it. I would have enjoyed seeing it.

Apparently they have been there since before Covid. It is what they used to show, probably more actively before VDH was built. Seeing them definitely made me want to book a stay there one day.

 

[Flossbolna]

This post has graphics showing which room is which category:

Thread 'Aulani Villas & Views -- Updated 03/21/2017'
https://www.disboards.com/threads/aulani-villas-views-updated-03-21-2017.3570961/

It’s a bit confusing as the Luau view rooms are in two different graphics, in the third graphic (Ewa wing Phase 3) it’s short wing facing towards ocean and in the fourth graphic (also Ewa wing Phase 3) it‘s long wing facing away from pool. As you see, the short wing has quite a lot of ocean view rooms facing the Luau lawn. I like the short wing rooms as they don’t have the triangular balconies, but traditional ones.

 

[TDK44]

Regarding the 2BR recommendation, I wonder if it would work out where if you got a 2BR lockoff for the portion of the stay where your family will be there, they would be able to keep you in the same studio for at least part if not all of your stay.

Leg 1 – just you in the studio side
Leg 2 – your family moves into the 1BR side for the 4 days and you all have use of the whole 2BR including kitchen and laundry
Leg 3 – your family checks out and the kickoff door is closed again

It may require 1 move for you but I highly doubt it would require 2 (and potentially none).

I’m not sure how the points cost works out this way, but you’d save from having the 1BR the whole time and being cramped in there for 2 days, and you’d be able to do laundry mid-trip. This is probably how I would try to make it work if it were my trip, and I’d just flag it to the front desk in the room request and when checking in.

FWIW, we stayed in a 2BR garden view in the Ewa tower and could see the ocean. The 2BR was so nice and spacious (3 adults, 2 kids under 5).