Not enough points for Aulani would you split 1 bedroom/studio?

[dsneygirl]

We won't have enough points to get a week in a 1 bedroom. We have more than enough for a studio (even ocean view) we could also do 4 nights/3 nights in an Island garden view. Or we need to rent about 75 points for an entire week in 1 bedroom. It will be me, DH, DS (5) and 6 month old.

What would you do?

On one hand I think we will hardly be in the room all together but the kitchen and laundry would be so handy with the baby. I don't think a room switch would be all that bothersome when we could just be hanging out at the resort or touring around from 11-4pm 'til new room was ready.

Thoughts?

 

[spleen]

Personally, I'd just rent the 75 points - with a young one that age and with all the related paraphernalia that needs to come along at that age, I wouldn't want to not have the room to go back to and put the baby down for a nap, diaper change, feed, etc. etc. etc. sp I wouldn't want to lose the room for a 1/2 day - 1 day during the room change. Plus, like you said, the kitchen and laundry would be REALLY useful. JMHO.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with the previous poster. We traveled to Hawaii the first time 36 years ago when our youngest was a baby, and I'd want as much space as I could muster.

FYI, we are going with our grown children in 2013, and are having to book studios to save points too, but everyone's an adult.

 

[nolanboys]

I think I'd be more apt to save the $. Do the studio first and the switch to the 1 bdrm. Then you can have the laundry to do your clothes. You'll be so busy the exploring the resort that I don't think it will be that much of an inconvenience.

 

[vacationclub]

We were in a similar situation. Normally we do a 1BR, but points at Aulani are about twice as much as the other resorts overall. So we did a Ocean view Studio figuring that we will be mostly outside the room (at the pool, driving around Hawaii, etc). For the most part we were right, and enjoyed our room, and for the first time used a public laundry at Disney. We did the best we could with the tiny kitchenette. It was just two of us.

BUT, in your case, with 4 people, that might be worth getting the 1BR. The kitchen alone will allow you to save some money by preparing a lot more of your own meals (instead of paying the crazy prices at the resort and immediate area). But, most of all the laundry and simply the extra space would probably be well worth borrowing or renting the points to get into the 1BR. It's a major trip, better to do it right instead of having the memories of the crowded space. You'll have enough crowded space issues on the plane ride out there!

 

[MamaDrama]

We are doing a studio for one night and a one bedroom for the rest. I could have done a 1 bedroom for all the nights with the lowest point 1 br rooms, but it wasn't available. We are going in 5 weeks!!!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

As a family of 5, we have to book a 1 bedroom but I honestly think for Aulani, it is so worth the extra points because it saved us a TON of money on food. The food choices on property are quite limited and expensive and IMHO, not that good. There is a costco and safeway just a few miles away and we got some frozen pizzas (for the kids), frozen chicken, stir fry veggies, pasta, cereal, breads and fresh fruit and we only really paid for poolside snacks and 1 or 2 dinners out while we were there. The one formal dinner we ate out was just my husband and I at the dinner buffet and it was $106 with tip and only okay food. That was how much we spent total on our trip to costco and that fed 5 of us for several days. If you buy points to cover the one bedroom, you will more than recoup those costs in food savings.

 

[dsneygirl]

Thanks for the feedback. DH saves save the points and do the studio. We could still easily do all our breakfasts and some lunches in the room.

Does anyone know how convenient the laundry is? We plan to book next month (for June) so we really need to crunch the numbers.

 

[jerseygal]

We plan on going Sept.2013, just the two of us! Cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!

Quite frankly, never have done a studio as we always travel with our older kids and usually do 2 BR!

We will do an oceanview Studio at Aulani!

Would Love SOME PICS OF AN OCEANVIEW STUDIO if anyone has any!

Thanks much!!! WHAT A GORGEOUS RESORT!

 

[Brancaneve]

With the high prices at the Aulani restaurants, I am really pushing for a kitchen for our family. I want to be able to have most of my meals in my villa. I would go for the 1 bedroom for that reason.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

For those considering a 1BR for the ability to cook in the room, here's an important tip.

There is a grocery store down in Kapolei (about 8 minutes south of the resort). It is a Safeway. Grocery prices on the island are quite expensive, but if you go to the Customer Service desk first and get the Safeway discount card (it's free) you get really good savings on groceries.

For instance, a box of cereal was $6.99. But if you had a safeway club card, it was $2.99.

 

[dsneygirl]

For those considering a 1BR for the ability to cook in the room, here's an important tip.

There is a grocery store down in Kapolei (about 8 minutes south of the resort). It is a Safeway. Grocery prices on the island are quite expensive, but if you go to the Customer Service desk first and get the Safeway discount card (it's free) you get really good savings on groceries.

For instance, a box of cereal was $6.99. But if you had a safeway club card, it was $2.99.

Good tip.

Making meals isn't the #1 concern. We have managed pretty well in studios for 6 years and I won't be doing any "cooking" it's more about the space. But we'll also be back in 3 years or so, so it's not a once in a lifetime thing. Getting the studio also allows us points for 2 or 3 nights at VGC on the way home.