Recommendations for Aulani room type

[lauriehalligan]

Just wondering if anoyone who has stayed at the Aulani has a recommendation on which tyoe of view would be best. We normally don't stay in the room much during the day, so a view is not that important to us. However, sometimes island view rooms are far from the pools, and for this reason inconvenient. We are thinking just about a studio. Thanks.

 

[boiseflyfisher]

The distance from the pool area isn't an issue at Aulani. IMO, you should feel comfortable booking whatever category room you are most comfortable with. We were in both Island View and Standard and both were just an elevator ride away from the pool.

 

[snackyx]

Book the size of the room you want...all rooms have easy access to the pools.

The views are another issue--most who have had the "ocean view" have not seen much of the ocean and have paid preminum points. Like the "Magic Kingdom" views at BLT that are really "Parking Lot Views", Disney has an annoying habit of overstating some of the views, but have no problem with charging the big points for these "preminum views".

 

[BrotherBear]

The resort wraps around the pool area so you are always close to the pool. You do not need to worry about that, as every room is close. (Unlike OKW, where you might have to take a bus to get to the main pool!)

We just got back from 1 week at Aulani. We reserved an Ocean View and it was a TOTAL disapointment. The view was of a parking structure with Ocean WAY WAY off in the background.

I would suggest a pool view. It is floors 1 to 5 of the even numbered rooms, and faces the interior resort with pool view. Less points than "ocean" and MUCH better IMHO.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

The resort wraps around the pool area so you are always close to the pool. You do not need to worry about that, as every room is close. (Unlike OKW, where you might have to take a bus to get to the main pool!)

We just got back from 1 week at Aulani. We reserved an Ocean View and it was a TOTAL disapointment. The view was of a parking structure with Ocean WAY WAY off in the background.

I would suggest a pool view. It is floors 1 to 5 of the even numbered rooms, and faces the interior resort with pool view. Less points than "ocean" and MUCH better IMHO.

We had an "ocean view" and were also disappointed! I would have chosen pool had I known considering the ocean is sooo distant and all I could see and hear was the pool anyway! (We had 7th floor.)

 

[PetePanMan]

Agree all rooms close to pool and pool view is best - oceanview not worth it

 

[kajohnson]

We got back from Aulani a few weeks ago and we had an excellent view of the pool as well as the ocean. If staying there again, I would want to have a room on a higher floor. We were on the fifth floor, right over the restaurant and we could hear the lounge singers every night. (still not as loud as being in the Contemporary right over Chef Mickey's...)

I don't see how a partial ocean view would include the parking garage, the ocean is on the opposite side of the hotel. I can see having a partial view of the J.W. Marriott along with your partial ocean view, but not the parking garage.

You also need to ask yourself if you want a kitchen (or do you have a car)? Are you fine eating on property your entire stay? We loved having the kitchen (the separate bedrooms and bathrooms weren't bad either) and dining area; being able to prepare our own meals (but we're practical like that; we understand some people don't mind spending $130 on the breakfast buffet) made it feel more relaxing.

When people say that Aulani is far, far away from anything else, they're not kidding; it was a 45 minute drive to Pearl Harbor on a Saturday morning. So, if you can get a car to stop off at Target or Safeway and pick up a few things for your meals it will be easier on the budget. Just remember the kitchen doesn't have anything but dishes, silverware, and pots and pans. There aren't any spices, sugar, or salt and pepper.

Hope that helps,

 

[CocosMeme]

I am so glad that this thread is here! I am 1 month away from my booking window (7 month) and I had intended to splurge on an Ocean View - after all, it is Hawaii!), but now I am leaning towards a pool view. Decisions-decisions!! We are going on the NCL cruise around the islands either before or after our stay, so I will get plenty of ocean views while there. Thanks for the 1st hand info!!!

 

[cleopatra]

We booked a 2 bed ocean view in January and initially got put on the side where most of our view was the very ugly Ihilani resort next door with a tiny corridor view of the sea in the distance at 90 degrees to the balcony. We asked to be moved and got changed to a 6th floor ocean view which was really a pool view with the ocean in the distance and that was fine. Next time definately a pool view for us. Don't waste your points on ocean view.

 

[Kelblum]

Just booked a pool view 1BR for September. I was also planning on splurging for the ocean view and after reading this thread decided not to. Thanks everyone for the advice!

 

[taaren]

Here's a link to post #5 of my mini-TR which includes pictures of both the Ocean view we got, which was stunning since it was on the inside of the view, and the Island view we got a month later which was also beautiful, but yes, you're looking partly at Ihilani and some see the parking lot.

The Ocean view is a gamble because if you're on the inside of the Aulani "V" its a great view, if you're on the outside you get a view like my Island view only higher up. The pool view is the same as the inside Ocean view only on a lower level (I think its 5th floor and down?).

The other thing to keep in mind if you're debating room size between dedicated and lock-off 2 bedrooms go for the dedicated since it has 2 1/2 baths, whereas the lock-off only has 2.

 

[mouseaider]

We originally booked an Island View Studio for our April trip and changed it to a Pool View Studio a few weeks ago when I found out it was available and only cost us 18 more points total.

I can't wait to get there.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[TagsMissy]

We originally booked an Island View Studio for our April trip and changed it to a Pool View Studio a few weeks ago when I found out it was available and only cost us 18 more points total.

I can't wait to get there.

Good luck with your decision.

In reality you were afraid of my threats of water balloon bombing... be honest

 

[jlwhitney]

I hope our ocean view works out, either way I am sure it will be fine.

 

[mouseaider]

In reality you were afraid of my threats of water balloon bombing... be honest

But of course..... you scared the heck out of me.

 

[dstupper]

Oh yah...Pool view is awesome! Highly recomend it! As the rental car! I am a fan of AMA AMA, and the chocolate cake is to die for!! I couldnt afford to eat there w/o an occasion though. Safeway, Target, and kmart (and soon to be WALMART) are 5 minutes away, as well as some real decent places to eat. When I stay out there...I am thinking about food I realize alot of you are thinking of seeing the Island.