My goodness! The OVGVs at Aulani are out of this World, gorgeous!

[bobbiwoz]

Just spent a week. Point cost was crazy ( we paid 5 nights worth in points, DCuz paid for the other two nights). However, I suppose those points opened up availability at BWV where the majority of my points were from.

We thought it was a one and done GV stay, we had been to Aulani two other times, but DCuz thinks another trip could be arranged.

I know Aulani is not sold out, but that’s another resort that has a lot of points sold to people who do not have the total for a week in an OV GV, 854. It took a lot of banking and borrowing from BWV.

Just one view, we just admired, didn’t take a lot of pictures.

 

[BCV23]

Just spent a week. Point cost was crazy ( we paid 5 nights worth in points, DCuz paid for the other two nights). However, I suppose those points opened up availability at BWV where the majority of my points were from.

We thought it was a one and done GV stay, we had been to Aulani two other times, but DCuz thinks another trip could be arranged.

I know Aulani is not sold out, but that’s another resort that has a lot of points sold to people who do not have the total for a week in an OV GV, 854. It took a lot of banking and borrowing from BWV.

Just one view, we just admired, didn’t take a lot of pictures.

View attachment 354233

So gorgeous. Thanks for posting the photo. We are using tons of points (mostly BCV points) to stay a week in a GV in January preceded by four nights in a 2BR. It will be our first stay in a GV at Aulani. We had booked one for 1/2017 but needed to cancel. Can't wait. Any hints? We've requested the tower it appears you were in. That is very exciting that you may do it again!

 

[bobbiwoz]

So gorgeous. Thanks for posting the photo. We are using tons of points (mostly BCV points) to stay a week in a GV in January preceded by four nights in a 2BR. It will be our first stay in a GV at Aulani. We had booked one for 1/2017 but needed to cancel. Can't wait. Any hints? We've requested the tower it appears you were in. That is very exciting that you may do it again!

See, everyone has a favorite tower, we did not have a preference, we just requested high, and we were the highest GV, floor 11.

We were in Waianae tower, the other is Ewa.

Pluses of Waianae tower in my opinion would include that it is a shorter hall, and is nearer the parking garage and the adult pool.

Pluses of Ewa tower in my opinion is it affords a better view of sunsets. The Four Seasons gets in the way in the Waianae tower. This also is nearer the grills!

Our view of sunset from Ewa, not GV. This was never duplicated for us this year, but we never did look out of the side of the balcony at sunset. It had to be better there rather than looking past the Four Seasons.

From Ewa

 

[jerseygal]

Just spent a week. Point cost was crazy ( we paid 5 nights worth in points, DCuz paid for the other two nights). However, I suppose those points opened up availability at BWV where the majority of my points were from.

We thought it was a one and done GV stay, we had been to Aulani two other times, but DCuz thinks another trip could be arranged.

I know Aulani is not sold out, but that’s another resort that has a lot of points sold to people who do not have the total for a week in an OV GV, 854. It took a lot of banking and borrowing from BWV.

Just one view, we just admired, didn’t take a lot of pictures.

View attachment 354233

GORGEOUS! Hope you had an awesome time!! Beautiful Aulani! Did you hear anything by any chance while you were there about the property next door being converted to an Atlantis property? Thought I read this somewhere about a year ago and admittedly haven’t followed it. From my recollection at the time, the Atlantis project seemed awesome

 

[BCV23]

Gorgeous shots! We've not requested a tower on our previous stays, ended up in Ewa (2 BR oceanview) and loved it. I'm sure we'll be happy wherever we end up.

I wonder if the sunset moves enough Southerly by January that it won't be blocked as much by the Four Seasons?

Did you enjoy any of the restaurants? We plan to dine Ama Ama at least once for B, L & D. Will do the character breakfast one day which will be new for me. May try the Four Seasons restaurants. We stayed there when it was a JW before Aulani was built.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We did the character breakfast. That’s been a must do each time! It is delicious

Ama Ama’s Breakfast was also delicious, as was dinner. ( dinner especially is pricey, with tip, no desserts or drinks or appetizers and for two, without tip was $122)

I also enjoy the buffet dinner at Makahiki, but we did not have it this time.

All 6 of us enjoyed Chef Perry’s Macaron demonstration! We tasted 7-8 macarons. Plenty of water was provided for us to drink, and it was a definite sugar high! I kept the brochure and MAY try to make a batch.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Cousin took this

 

[BCV23]

Oh, that is beautiful.

I will have to remember to watch for the cooking demonstration in the daily bulletin. Do you know if it was still available the evening at the front desk?

Our first trip in January of 2013, dinner at Kakahiki was buffet or a la carte. We aren't big buffets fans so really liked the option of a la carte. Think it was our arrival night that we did that. We also like an early dinner at the 'Oleo room but my two grandchildren will be along this trip so I don't know if that is an option? Wonder if children are allowed?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I booked the Macaron demonstration about 3 months ago. The previous time we went to Aulani, February 2017, it was filled when we arrived.

 

[DenLo]

Wish we had the points to stay in a Ocean view Grand villa at Aulani. I think it would wipe out most of our points for year. Great photos. I can't wait to return in 2020.

 

[disneynutz]

I expect that Atlantis will block the view just like the Four Seasons when it is built.

Bill

 

[jerseygal]

I expect that Atlantis will block the view just like the Four Seasons when it is built.

Bill

Hope not!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I toured a GV when on an Aulani stay a few years ago. Absolutely beautiful and would be such fun to stay in. Lucky you Bobbi!

I also think that Aulani in general is the best DVC resort.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I do not think Atlantis will block much ocean view because their land also has a bay in front of it. The ocean views on that side of Ewa building are not that good, and not all of that side is “ocean view” anyway. So, maybe adjustments will be made.

 

[BCV23]

I booked the Macaron demonstration about 3 months ago. The previous time we went to Aulani, February 2017, it was filled when we arrived.

Thank you. Couldn't find it on the Aulani website but did find it on the member site. Have to check with my DD to see if she is interested.

Wish we had the points to stay in a Ocean view Grand villa at Aulani. I think it would wipe out most of our points for year. Great photos. I can't wait to return in 2020.

I am using well over a years worth of points so I hope we all think it is worth it. On the other hand since I lost my husband a few years ago, we just don't go to WDW as often. Seems to be working out to about two trips/year on average combined with a cruise usually.

 

[OKW Lover]

Somewhere on another thread I had mentioned preferring the OVGV in the "other" tower. It looks like I mistook the picture of your location for the Ewa tower. Its the Waianae tower that we like better of the two. We've been in the Ewa tower once and the Waianae tower 3 times. After our experience in the Ewa tower (our 2nd visit) we decided that in the future we would prefer the Waianae simply for the slightly shorter walk to the elevator. One of our travel party has difficulty walking distances so that's an important factor for us.

A slightly better view (ie looking away from the four seasons) and being closer to the adult pool were also pluses for us. We will shortly be booking our 2019 stay (had to skip this year) and are looking forward to being back!

Don't know if you @bobbiwoz are a neat freak but if so, how often did you find yourself wiping off the the counters in the kitchen?

Oh, and we have made it a habit of bringing larger coffee mugs with us because the standard Aulani cups are fairly small. We also either bring or buy a Keurig coffee maker there.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Somewhere on another thread I had mentioned preferring the OVGV in the "other" tower. It looks like I mistook the picture of your location for the Ewa tower. Its the Waianae tower that we like better of the two. We've been in the Ewa tower once and the Waianae tower 3 times. After our experience in the Ewa tower (our 2nd visit) we decided that in the future we would prefer the Waianae simply for the slightly shorter walk to the elevator. One of our travel party has difficulty walking distances so that's an important factor for us.

A slightly better view (ie looking away from the four seasons) and being closer to the adult pool were also pluses for us. We will shortly be booking our 2019 stay (had to skip this year) and are looking forward to being back!

Don't know if you @bobbiwoz are a neat freak but if so, how often did you find yourself wiping off the the counters in the kitchen?

Oh, and we have made it a habit of bringing larger coffee mugs with us because the standard Aulani cups are fairly small. We also either bring or buy a Keurig coffee maker there.

Counters were always clear and clean. My main job was coffee maker, and beforehand, I was the planner.

Are there some special characteristics of the kitchen counter that we missed?

 

[OKW Lover]

Are there some special characteristics of the kitchen counter that we missed?

For us it was just the fact that they are glossy black. That meant they showed any single, little crumb and/or fingerprints.

 

[bobbiwoz]

For us it was just the fact that they are glossy black. That meant they showed any single, little crumb and/or fingerprints.

Oh, I didn’t notice that.

 

[bcwife76]

So gorgeous, thanks for posting!! Our home resort I miss it so much!!! Won't be returning until 2020 sometime because we have too many cruises booked in 2019 Including the DVC Oct cruise