Thinking of upgrading to 1 bedroom

[MouseOfCards]

The 1BR villa actually has 1 full bathroom (consisting of sink, toilet, and shower) and a half bathroom (consisting of sink and whirlpool tub). Click on the pictures in this link (one of the pictures shows a floorplan of the 1BR villas):
https://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/rooms-offers/villas/one-bedroom-villa/

 

[jtba]

here's the half bath:



and here's the full bath, with sink, toilet, and shower to the right of the toilet:

 

[vikequeen]

There are two sinks, 1 toilet. So 1 BR area with sink, toilet and shower. a second area with sink and tub connected to the master. that helped with getting ready in the morning, but 2 full bathrooms would obviously have been better.

 

[bnk1120]

My vote is to stick with the studio and spend the $ on food. I hate cooking, so the idea of doing it on vacation is awful! Food is more expensive in Hawaii, even buying from the grocery store. Every time DH and I talk about going back to Aulani we talk about all the restaurants we want to eat at. While we did spend time on our balcony staring at the beautiful ocean, we were rarely in the room. And if this is a one time trip you will want to enjoy as much of Hawaii as possible.

 

[CailinFig]

If you have small kids or like to cook def splurge for the 1 bedroom. The first time we went to Aulani we stayed In a studio and the second we stayed in a 1 bedroom. I don't think I can go back. The space and the ability to cook for the kids is worth the cost difference for us.

 

[heaven2dc]

The 1BR villa actually has 1 full bathroom (consisting of sink, toilet, and shower) and a half bathroom (consisting of sink and whirlpool tub). Click on the pictures in this link (one of the pictures shows a floorplan of the 1BR villas):
https://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/rooms-offers/villas/one-bedroom-villa/

I just wanted to clarify that the 1-bedroom villas only come with one full bathroom. The 1-bedroom parlor suites have 1 1/2 bathrooms. Hope this helps!

Link to 1-bedroom villa: https://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/rooms-offers/villas/one-bedroom-villa/
Link to 1-bedroom parlor suite: https://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/rooms-offers/rooms-suites/one-bedroom-suite/

 

[SonomaCountyDad]

Another option to consider would be to do both. In March, we started in the 1 bedroom ocean view, and finished in a studio standard view.

 

[MouseOfCards]

Another option to consider would be to do both. In March, we started in the 1 bedroom ocean view, and finished in a studio standard view.

That's actually a great idea! But I would do it in reverse order, start with the studio and end with the one bedroom, so that the trip ends on a high note.

 

[wfgamble]

Thanks to everyone! We were on a waiting list and am excited to announce that we now are in a one bedroom. I think splitting the week is a great idea that we will just have to try on our next visit--because there WILL be a next visit

 

[Sepo]

my kids are 8 and 11 (7 & 10 last year). I hope you have nice weather. Wind kept us off the long zip on our last trip. we were so bummed, but it just means we will have to go back again. Its better to be safe. I am terrified of heights, but they do such a good job there I loved it enough to go back. Happy Birthday!

Hi. We also were interested in Climbworks. Some questions:

1) what's the best time slot to go relative to traffic? Map says 70 minutes, is this accurate?
2) did anyone have a child undergo the tandem requirement with a guide? If so, was the experience still pretty unhampered? My daughter is most frustrated by this possibility and wanted to get some feedback from anyone who saw this firsthand.

Thanks in advance.

 

[twodogs]

Hi. We also were interested in Climbworks. Some questions:

1) what's the best time slot to go relative to traffic? Map says 70 minutes, is this accurate?
2) did anyone have a child undergo the tandem requirement with a guide? If so, was the experience still pretty unhampered? My daughter is most frustrated by this possibility and wanted to get some feedback from anyone who saw this firsthand.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe someone will jump in who has been. We go in less than 4 weeks, and are doing Climbworks. I will report back. We have two daughters, ages 8 and 10. The younger weighs 58 lbs, so they said she may be with an instructor or my other daughter depending on the wind that day. If the wind is calm, they said she may be able to go alone. I think they will be having such a blast, they won't even care! I told the girls of the possibility, and they seemed ok with it. I showed them the videos on their site, and they were super excited!

 

[vikequeen]

I can't recall timing for sure, but that sounds about right. I used the Waze app which was generally pretty good with real time traffic issues.

We have gone to climbworks twice. By kids were 8 and 11 on our last trip, and they are small/light for their age. I think the oldest is only maybe 60 pounds now (and that might be pushing it). The need to go tandem will depend to a great extent on the weather. It is windy, they could go tandem (and for us, the wind kicked up and the longest line got closed, which was a huge disappointment, so be prepared). It was also my impression that they got faster/better equipment between our two visits. The first trip, they both had to tandem almost every ride except the shortest/easiest line. They could not tandem with a parent -- it had to be with a guide or heavier kids. This trip, they got to go solo every time except one line where they had to tandem together. I think they would both say they had fun both times, but it was definitely a lot more fun and they were super happy not to have tandem this trip. I would not let the need to tandem stop me from going -- still worth while. And the guides made it really fun either way. We think they do a fantastic job.

 

[Silver Queen]

Renting DVC points for our november trip. We currently are booked in a studio but the DVC member has enough for a 1 BR upgrade. The thought of eating out every meal is just wearing me and my budget out so I thought the kitchen would really help with this. Does anyone have any insight they would care to offer? Very excited about this trip and I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks!

We just came home from our first trip to Aulani. We are two adults and had a one bedroom. We loved it, but when we came home and started doing the math we decided that we could probably do a studio next time with very little trouble. We ate all of our breakfasts in the room, but we don't eat much in the morning--cereal or a English muffin or toast. We also had several lunches in the villa which were either sandwiches or leftovers from the last night's dinner which could easily be prepared in the studio. We prefer to eat dinners out. On one occasion we went across the street and bought fried chicken, a prepared salad, and fruit--all of which could work in a studio. We really don't care to hang around the room much and don't watch TV much on vacation so we're thinking that we could get by comfortably in a studio for a week and therefore get to Aulani more often. This was supposed to be a once in a lifetime bucket list trip, but we're hooked and determined to go back.

 

[jtba]

We just came home from our first trip to Aulani. We are two adults and had a one bedroom. We loved it, but when we came home and started doing the math we decided that we could probably do a studio next time with very little trouble. We ate all of our breakfasts in the room, but we don't eat much in the morning--cereal or a English muffin or toast. We also had several lunches in the villa which were either sandwiches or leftovers from the last night's dinner which could easily be prepared in the studio. We prefer to eat dinners out. On one occasion we went across the street and bought fried chicken, a prepared salad, and fruit--all of which could work in a studio. We really don't care to hang around the room much and don't watch TV much on vacation so we're thinking that we could get by comfortably in a studio for a week and therefore get to Aulani more often. This was supposed to be a once in a lifetime bucket list trip, but we're hooked and determined to go back.

funny, because we're thinking of our return trip as well and are considering downgrading from the one-bedroom villa we had two weeks ago. would you happen to know what the differences are between a standard hotel room vs. a studio? would either work for a family of four, assuming we all go to bed at the same time?

the reason we did the one-bedroom this was that DS and DD currently are in bed by 8 p.m. whereas DH and i typically stay up until 11 or 12, and plus we wanted a kitchen. but like you other than ham and eggs during the mornings, we didn't end up cooking as much as we thought we would. so perhaps next time we just eat cereal for breakfast, and maybe the fried chicken like you for lunch, then head over to Ama Ama / Monkeypod / Roy's for dinner.

anyway, would like to know what the difference is between standard hotel room vs. studio. thank you. is there a pull-out sofa bed in either for DD and DS to share?

 

[Silver Queen]

funny, because we're thinking of our return trip as well and are considering downgrading from the one-bedroom villa we had two weeks ago. would you happen to know what the differences are between a standard hotel room vs. a studio? would either work for a family of four, assuming we all go to bed at the same time?

the reason we did the one-bedroom this was that DS and DD currently are in bed by 8 p.m. whereas DH and i typically stay up until 11 or 12, and plus we wanted a kitchen. but like you other than ham and eggs during the mornings, we didn't end up cooking as much as we thought we would. so perhaps next time we just eat cereal for breakfast, and maybe the fried chicken like you for lunch, then head over to Ama Ama / Monkeypod / Roy's for dinner.

anyway, would like to know what the difference is between standard hotel room vs. studio. thank you. is there a pull-out sofa bed in either for DD and DS to share?

I don't know about the hotel room, but I know it's been mentioned in other threads here. The one bedroom villa we were in could sleep 5. There was a king sized bed in the bedroom, a pullout sofa in the living room that could sleep 2 in the living room and also a single pullout that came out of the wooden cabinet under the TV in the living room. The bedroom has it's own TV so it might be possible to have the children go to bed in the living room and the adults could still have their own TV and balcony in the bedroom. As I retread your post I realize that you probably already know this since you just stayed in a one bedroom. Sorry that I can't help you with the hotel room.

 

[jtba]

thanks, @Silver Queen . @crystal1313 kindly sent this URL for those who want to do side-by-side comparisons: https://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/rooms-offers/rooms-comparison/

(thank you, @crystal1313 )

 

[alohamom]

funny, because we're thinking of our return trip as well and are considering downgrading from the one-bedroom villa we had two weeks ago. would you happen to know what the differences are between a standard hotel room vs. a studio? would either work for a family of four, assuming we all go to bed at the same time?

the reason we did the one-bedroom this was that DS and DD currently are in bed by 8 p.m. whereas DH and i typically stay up until 11 or 12, and plus we wanted a kitchen. but like you other than ham and eggs during the mornings, we didn't end up cooking as much as we thought we would. so perhaps next time we just eat cereal for breakfast, and maybe the fried chicken like you for lunch, then head over to Ama Ama / Monkeypod / Roy's for dinner.

anyway, would like to know what the difference is between standard hotel room vs. studio. thank you. is there a pull-out sofa bed in either for DD and DS to share?

We have stayed in both the direct from Disney booked hotel room with a partial ocean view and a standard studio we used rented DVC points for. The differences for us came down to the pull out sofa in the studio vs the 2 queens in the hotel room, the extra room in the kitchenette and having to pay for parking in the hotel room. The hotel space for kitchenette was smaller than the studio but not enough to make me choose a studio over a hotel room. Our preference was the hotel room simply because of the two full beds as we have older teens and the pull out sofa was ok, but just didnt have as much room as a full queen bed. The studio did have more relaxing space once the sofa bed was put away so that is also a consideration. I also wasnt used to not having the room made up as the studio was my first DVC stay (on rented points) but that would not make or break it for me. For me, the differences were minimal.

 

[jtba]

We have stayed in both the direct from Disney booked hotel room with a partial ocean view and a standard studio we used rented DVC points for. The differences for us came down to the pull out sofa in the studio vs the 2 queens in the hotel room, the extra room in the kitchenette and having to pay for parking in the hotel room. The hotel space for kitchenette was smaller than the studio but not enough to make me choose a studio over a hotel room. Our preference was the hotel room simply because of the two full beds as we have older teens and the pull out sofa was ok, but just didnt have as much room as a full queen bed. The studio did have more relaxing space once the sofa bed was put away so that is also a consideration. I also wasnt used to not having the room made up as the studio was my first DVC stay (on rented points) but that would not make or break it for me. For me, the differences were minimal.

thank you for this review.

 

[wfgamble]

We just came home from our first trip to Aulani. We are two adults and had a one bedroom. We loved it, but when we came home and started doing the math we decided that we could probably do a studio next time with very little trouble. We ate all of our breakfasts in the room, but we don't eat much in the morning--cereal or a English muffin or toast. We also had several lunches in the villa which were either sandwiches or leftovers from the last night's dinner which could easily be prepared in the studio. We prefer to eat dinners out. On one occasion we went across the street and bought fried chicken, a prepared salad, and fruit--all of which could work in a studio. We really don't care to hang around the room much and don't watch TV much on vacation so we're thinking that we could get by comfortably in a studio for a week and therefore get to Aulani more often. This was supposed to be a once in a lifetime bucket list trip, but we're hooked and determined to go back.

This sounds exactly like our thinking! We feel like this will be a once in a lifetime or at most once every 10 year trip so we are splurging. I have a feeling when we get home we will be planning our next trip in a studio just to get back there more often

 

[alohamom]

I think how long you are staying might be a consideration when juggling the studio/hotel room/1 bedroom equation. I know that if I was staying for a substantial chunk of time, I would prefer a larger fridge that I could stock rather than the bar fridge in a studio or hotel room. Dont get me wrong, the little fridge is actually on the bigger side when it comes to those but having a large fridge as the full kitchens do allow you to do one large shop for things like jugs of juice, wine, meat etc rather than having to run out a few times during your stay. I know you can always just dash across to the Island Market/ABC Store rather than having to drive out to Safeway or Target but it is just something to consider, especially if you are thinking of stocking up at Costco!