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).

 

[Amyunder]

For me it comes down to the bathrooms. We are a family of 4 and work well in the 1 bed. We don't really cook in the room but we do bbq with some rice over two nights there and the kitchen is nice. Also the full fridge is fantastic for beers and juice and leftovers. Because my boys are little, the one bathroom works. However, if my mom comes with us then we do 2 studios because it's two bathrooms. We use the free laundry (not as nice as the in room laundry but you can do more than 1 load at a time). Boys are still on the pull out couch but sometimes our couch and sometimes grandmas couch. If you are a group that needs more privacy.... 2 studios. If no 1 bed is awesome. I wish every DVC 1 bed had 2 baths. That is our ideal layout.

 

[MsChristy12]

Yes we also stayed at Disney world for a month on our first stay so you can see what kind of travelers we are

A month?!?! I like your style

I think the trips away from California should definetely be one bedrooms. I LOVED christmas in wdw and I think a huge part of that was staying in the one bedrooms. We ended up in a studio for the last leg of our trip and it just wasnt the same at all. I found myself wanting to go home. Ok now I sound like a spoiled brat, but I am used to this one bedroom life now lol!

We are 1-bedroom people too and it's just 2 of us We basically bought DVC for the 1-bedroom. But we don't mind staying ina studio if it's a split stay and we are in a 1-bedroom after. Have you ever stayed in the CCV cabin? Wait until you try that and you're like...I need a hot tub in every villa!

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

Great choice! I think 1-bedroom is a must when your stay is so long. I know you'll get one less bathroom but for the full kitchen and washer/dryer, I think I rather have those over the extra bathroom. We didn't really cook when we stayed there, but we ALWAYS had leftovers!

I personally don't want to waste my points on OV villa, we stayed in a IGV and it was still lovely. To be fair, we stayed at the Turtle Bay Resort (now Ritz Carlton) before we switched to Aulani, and every room at Turtle Bay is OV (even their partial is pretty much full OV to me) and their OV compared to Aulani...it's truly stunning and 10x better! North Shore is also a quaint little surf town, worth spending a couple nights there if you are willing to modify your itinerary or even future trips to Oahu. Drive up to Kahuku and go to Da Bald Guy and Ry's Poke Shack (both are food trucks), trust me, you won't regret it. While you're at Aulani, definitely go Don Don Don Donnnkiiiii and Costco at Kapolei like others have suggested.

 

[Girlstar30]

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).

This is a great idea and would actually save points if it works by not having the 1 beddy the whole time! Im going to look into attempting this, thank.you for the suggestion! It would probably be easier for me to get a reservation to not having to look for 11 days In a row which im pretty sure wont happen so ive put my expectations in check on that

 

[Girlstar30]

For me it comes down to the bathrooms. We are a family of 4 and work well in the 1 bed. We don't really cook in the room but we do bbq with some rice over two nights there and the kitchen is nice. Also the full fridge is fantastic for beers and juice and leftovers. Because my boys are little, the one bathroom works. However, if my mom comes with us then we do 2 studios because it's two bathrooms. We use the free laundry (not as nice as the in room laundry but you can do more than 1 load at a time). Boys are still on the pull out couch but sometimes our couch and sometimes grandmas couch. If you are a group that needs more privacy.... 2 studios. If no 1 bed is awesome. I wish every DVC 1 bed had 2 baths. That is our ideal layout.

Same thats one of the reasons I love pit so much!