Poly Preferred + Aulani Pool Garden, or Poly Standard + Aulani Ocean View?

[Road_Dog]

I’ve banked 150 of my Oct ‘24 UY points into Oct ‘25 and plan to borrow from Oct ‘26 for a total of 450 points. The goal was to cover two main trips:

• March 2026: 5 nights at Poly (our home resort) for our family of 4
• May 2026: 5 nights at Aulani with our family of 4 + my in-laws

Right now I’ve got a Preferred View studio booked at Poly for March—140 points total. I requested a 3rd-floor longhouse room so we can catch the fireworks from the balcony.

The plan was to follow that up with a 2-bedroom Pool Garden View at Aulani (310 points). I figured Standard View would be long gone by 7 months, and Island Garden didn’t really appeal to me compared to Pool Garden. I know a lot of people rave about the Ocean View, but at 345 points we’d be 35 short—so even OTU points wouldn’t cover it.

Here’s the snag: I decided not to “walk” my Aulani reservation (maybe a mistake), and now—just a couple days before I can officially book—the dedicated 2-bedrooms for our dates are gone. Only lock-offs left (which I'm OK with, but I guess it makes me nervous that availability is going to get snagged up immediately the morning of the 7-month window). I’m not thrilled about waitlisting, and since our United flights are already booked (Saver fares, huge win), I don't want to adjust the dates (plus once you get into June, availability is snagged up as it's a popular time).

That got me thinking... If I switch our Poly stay to Standard View (125 points), that frees up 15 points. Add in 24 OTU points and I’ve got 39 more to work with—just enough for a 5-night Ocean View at Aulani (345 points). There’s actually solid Ocean View availability for our dates, likely since that’s the category with the most inventory, so it might be the safer play.

So now I’m torn:

We originally picked Preferred View at Poly because

• It’s our first DVC trip
• We wanted the “best” Poly experience
• It’s for our daughter’s 4th birthday
• We thought fireworks from the balcony would be easier than trying to keep wrestle tired kids at the park or the beach show
• If the kids crash early, at least my wife and I could still watch from the room with a night cap

That said, I have no idea if 15 extra points is a lot for these perks, or if the points are "better spent" on what the Ocean View provides me. I thought requesting a 1st floor for the Pool Garden would be cool and easy to get to the pool area.

For anyone who’s stayed at both, what would you do? Stick with the Preferred View at Poly and Pool Garden at Aulani, or go Standard at Poly to lock in an Ocean View at Aulani?

 

[JackosinDIS]

Tough choice! I would think you have a better chance of a partial ocean view at Aulani in an island garden room, than you have at a fireworks view in a resort view at Poly. Meaning upgrading a Poly is probably the more valuable view upgrade.
BUT, you may get stuck with a first floor preferred view at Poly, and wish you had gone for resort view.
Personally, I would go preferred view at Poly if I wanted to pay for the view. Although in real life I would go with the cheapest option at both as I’m mainly asleep when I’m in the room.

 

[Road_Dog]

Tough choice! I would think you have a better chance of a partial ocean view at Aulani in an island garden room, than you have at a fireworks view in a resort view at Poly. Meaning upgrading a Poly is probably the more valuable view upgrade.
BUT, you may get stuck with a first floor preferred view at Poly, and wish you had gone for resort view.
Personally, I would go preferred view at Poly if I wanted to pay for the view. Although in real life I would go with the cheapest option at both as I’m mainly asleep when I’m in the room.

Thanks. To be clear, I'm not adament we get an Ocean View at Aulani (hence why I was always OK with a Pool Garden View) but I understand the allure and why many people say it's a "must" when you go through the hassle of going all the way to Hawaii (I liken it to, "why stay at AKL if not to do a Savannah view? That's the whole point!"). So it got me thinking if I was foolish to be thinking of anything BUT an Oceanview at Aulani! That being said, I was fine compromising with a room that either A) Provided a partial ocean view if I got a decent 5th floor room or B) Was on the 1st floor so we could walk directly out to the pool area from our sliding door, both of which I think would be great options. If we didn't get our request fulfilled and were stuck somewhere in the 2nd-4th floor range, I guess I'd survive.

I will say though, if I got a 1st floor Preferred View at Poly, I would 100% be very disappointed. Pretty much the whole reason I picked it was so we could get a fireworks view. I have already put in a room request for a 3rd floor or 2nd floor (as long as we can see over the Bungalows, I'm OK) and indicated it was my daughter's birthday in hopes that my request will be fulfilled. Knowing I gave up an Oceanview for a view of the bungalows at Poly would grind my gears!!! Lol I know the requests aren't guaranteed but I figured my chances would be OK.

 

[eticketplease]

This summer we had planned to go to Aulani and I didn't walk and I ended up with multiple individual nights from everything from a Studio to a GV. We ended up cancelling as we weren't going to have a room for an entire day once. I had the 787 dreamliner with lie flat seats booked to and from O'Hare but was able to get my united points back as well.

I would certainly try for Ocean view and downgrade the poly afterall the beach to see the fireworks is just a few steps away even from pago pago.

 

[eticketplease]

You really want to try for the dedicated 2 bed as it has an extra powder room as well that the lock-off doesn't have.

 

[Road_Dog]

This summer we had planned to go to Aulani and I didn't walk and I ended up with multiple individual nights from everything from a Studio to a GV. We ended up cancelling as we weren't going to have a room for an entire day once. I had the 787 dreamliner with lie flat seats booked to and from O'Hare but was able to get my united points back as well.

I would certainly try for Ocean view and downgrade the poly afterall the beach to see the fireworks is just a few steps away even from pago pago.

Aw man, I'm sorry to hear that. I do know that June onward is much busier at Aulani with summer break going on. It seemed like May was easier to book. but I think that these planned pool renovations in late april and early may have caused many to delay their plans and start looking for the same days we had picked out!

We're also flying from O'Hare on the same direct flight.

You really want to try for the dedicated 2 bed as it has an extra powder room as well that the lock-off doesn't have.

Yep that's why I was disappointed it was already gone--I personally think the lock-off is a weaker choice because you don't get 2 real queen beds in the one room, you have to use 1 queen and a pull out couch. And you lose the extra half bathroom.

I was likely going to book the lock-off (providing its available when I book later this week) and then waitlist for the dedicated.

 

[czmom]

Ocean View at Aulani hands down! We have been twice and just love it.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Real Pacific Ocean View

 

[VGCgroupie]

Island garden view at Aulani is a very good value. I would do that while its still the value it is. Eventually there will be a resort that may take the ocean views away from those rooms.