Aulani Villas & Views -- REVISED 07/22/2017

[Iceman93]

Thanks for posting your photo! One question about your villa. Did Aulani put a fence between your patio and the walkway? There weren't any fences when we were there in September 2012, but I thought Aulani had installed some in the last few months.

Yes, there was a fence with an easy-to-open gate between the patio and that rock pathway you can see in the picture. If you look very closely, you can just barely see part of that fence in the bottom right corner of the photo.

 

[davemd]

I just went to Aulani in September and stayed in room 510. A pool view studio villa in the Waianae building. This room was excellent. I definitely had a nice view of the pool and the beach! The room was close to the elevators but still quiet. you could hear the kids playing in the pool area when the door is open, but I actually did not mind. I could also hear the musicians playing and singing from the Bar. This was really nice at night. I called DVC an put in the request for a room ending in 10 and a high floor and this is what I got.

 

[Airb330]

We're going in less than a month and couldn't find an exact answer.

It seems we'll be in the Ewa or the Phase 3 building. The standard views don't look too bad really. Especially the ones that overlook that special events area. What I'm curious about is do all of the one bedrooms have "straight" balconies? I see Villa 759 (http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46604471&postcount=98) has a straight balcony. I'd vastly prefer that since there will be 5 of us staying and I just think that'd work better than the angled separate balconies. Two of our party might actually stay next door at the JW Marriott to give us more space, but would still be on the reservation & would want to hang out at night for drinks and dinner. The 5th person *just* decided to come, so while we can squeeze in at Aulani, they may want more space.

I won't be disappointed either way really as the place looks amazing! But, if there is a way to increase the chances of the straight balcony I'd like to request it. I'll probably already request a higher floor.

 

[Cinderpamela]

I just called to try and reserve a Cabana for our Christmas trip and all 8 of them were completely booked for both Dec 24th and 25th.... dang!

I guess I should have known better and been on it right at 90 days instead of waiting till 74 days out... my bad. My DH is happy 'cause it just saved him some money!

While on the phone I did confirm with the CM that there are only 8 Cabanas... you think they would have added a few more with the expansion but no such luck.

 

[wdrl]

We're going in less than a month and couldn't find an exact answer.

It seems we'll be in the Ewa or the Phase 3 building. The standard views don't look too bad really. Especially the ones that overlook that special events area. What I'm curious about is do all of the one bedrooms have "straight" balconies? I see Villa 759 (http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=46604471&postcount=98) has a straight balcony. I'd vastly prefer that since there will be 5 of us staying and I just think that'd work better than the angled separate balconies. Two of our party might actually stay next door at the JW Marriott to give us more space, but would still be on the reservation & would want to hang out at night for drinks and dinner. The 5th person *just* decided to come, so while we can squeeze in at Aulani, they may want more space.

I won't be disappointed either way really as the place looks amazing! But, if there is a way to increase the chances of the straight balcony I'd like to request it. I'll probably already request a higher floor.

All of the Standard View villas just happen to be in the parts of Aulani that have the non-angled balconies. So yes, if you have booked a Standard View One-bedroom then you will have a non-angled balcony.

I'm not sure what you mean by "the [Standard View] ones that overlook the special events area." The Standard View villas will overlook the street, parking spaces, or the convention center.

 

[wdrl]

I just went to Aulani in September and stayed in room 510. A pool view studio villa in the Ewa building.

Thanks for posting your photos. Actually, Villa #510 is in the Waianae Building.

 

[Airb330]

All of the Standard View villas just happen to be in the parts of Aulani that have the non-angled balconies. So yes, if you have booked a Standard View One-bedroom then you will have a non-angled balcony. I'm not sure what you mean by "the [Standard View] ones that overlook the special events area." The Standard View villas will overlook the street, parking spaces, or the convention center.

Thanks for the information.

What I said was 'special events' would be the part of the convention center. The outdoor areas of it aren't a bad view honestly.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Thought someone may have interest in our home away from home this last week. It is not on the list yet.

1610 WaianaeTower Oceanview Studio

Here was our view for the week, looking right:

I'll add more pictures showing the panoramic view later.

- Dreams

ETA: As promised, here are more pictures taken from the balcony of our studio villa, 1610.

Looking right


Looking down and to the slight right, you can match up the pool water from the picture above with this one to see how they fit together, location-wise



Looking directly in front of our room, you can match up the Rainbow Reef snorkel area (darker blue whiter) with the picture above to see how they fit together, location-wise. You can also see the children's play area in this picture.


Panning to the left, you can match up the four umbrellas along the right edge of the Lazy River with the picture above to see how they fit together


Looking to the far left, you can match up the trees with the picture above to see how they fit together, location-wise


Hope these help someone,
Dreams

 

[jerseygal]

We are not going to "splurge" for a non-standard 2 BR on our Aulani trip with the "kids", 18 and 27!Decided instead to do a quick "alone" trip in December 2014 in a studio at one of the properties at WDW!

Hopefully, will "luck" out with a decent 2 BR in Aulani. Non standad views are lovely, but the draw of going on another trip, just hubby and I weighs out more.

Any suggestions for a 2 BR request?

THANKS MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR OUR AULANI TRIP!

 

[wdrl]

Thought someone may have interest in our home away from home this last week. It is not on the list yet.

1610 WaianaeTower Oceanview Studio

Here was our view for the week, looking right:

- Dreams

Thanks for adding your villa to the list.

For those unfamiliar with Aulani, allow me to point out some features in Disney Dreams' photo of the view from villa 1610.

The villa overlooks Waikolohe Valley, the home to the main pool and the water slide, which is the 'volcano' you see in the lower left of the photo. You can see just a tiny bit of the Lazy River in the extreme lower right edge of the photo.

The building across the way is the long wing of the Ewa Building.

Just in front of the end cap for the Ewa Building is the peaked roof of the Off the Hook Bar and, behind it, the flat roof of the Ama Ama Restaurant, which has some green foliage on it.

In the background is the green roof of the Ko Olina Wedding Chapel. Its not part of the Aulani resort.

In the lower right corner of the photo is the entrance to the Rainbow Reef area, which is out of the frame.

The new Ka Maka area is not in the photo, but its to the right of the frame.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Thanks for adding your villa to the list.

For those unfamiliar with Aulani, allow me to point out some features in Disney Dreams' photo of the view from villa 1610.

The villa overlooks Waikolohe Valley, the home to the main pool and the water slide, which is the 'volcano' you see in the lower left of the photo. You can see just a tiny bit of the Lazy River in the extreme lower right edge of the photo.

The building across the way is the long wing of the Ewa Building.

Just in front of the end cap for the Ewa Building is the peaked roof of the Off the Hook Bar and, behind it, the flat roof of the Ama Ama Restaurant, which has some green foliage on it.

In the background is the green roof of the Ko Olina Wedding Chapel. Its not part of the Aulani resort.

In the lower right corner of the photo is the entrance to the Rainbow Reef area, which is out of the frame.

The new Ka Maka area is not in the photo, but its to the right of the frame.

I added some more pictures which show more of the view we had of the Waikolohe Valley (Did you spell that without looking it up? If so, KUDOS!)

You could see a TINY little piece of blue water from the Ka Maka pool if you leaned WAY to the left, looking right, but really it was not part of our view at all.

- Dreams

 

[tea pot]

Hi All
thanks so much for all the info

Just booked a OV studio for next May for my DD's Honeymoon

Now need to find out all the details
Transportation
they will not be renting a car
any suggestions?? cab, shuttle??

No meal plan so if we were to load a gift card
any one have a ball park figure for a daily cost?

now off to read back thanks again!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Hi All
thanks so much for all the info

Just booked a OV studio for next May for my DD's Honeymoon

Now need to find out all the details
Transportation
they will not be renting a car
any suggestions?? cab, shuttle??

No meal plan so if we were to load a gift card
any one have a ball park figure for a daily cost?

now off to read back thanks again!

I have read that there are taxis that do flat rates( I seem to recall someone posting a rate of around $55 one way not including tip), but we always rent a car so that we can see the rest of the island, so I can’t speak to it firsthand.

You could certainly load a gift card, but there are also some good restaurants that are across the street such as Monkeypod (has a great happy hour meal menu) and Roy’s. I would hate to be limited to just the resort food. I don't know for sure, but maybe you could buy gift certificates for those places too.

If they are a young couple with limited budget, like we were 20 plus years ago on our Hawaiian honeymoon, any sort of help with food costs would be super helpful!

 

[Anal Annie]

Hi All
thanks so much for all the info

Just booked a OV studio for next May for my DD's Honeymoon

Now need to find out all the details
Transportation
they will not be renting a car
any suggestions?? cab, shuttle??

No meal plan so if we were to load a gift card
any one have a ball park figure for a daily cost?

now off to read back thanks again!

I agree with Cinder - if they are tied to the resort for food they will need a LOT of money budgeted for meals. I would think they would want to get out of the resort and explore the island a little bit tho. There is so much to see and so much good food in Hawaii beyond what is available at Aulani.

We haven't been to Aulani (yet) but a DISfriend told me they spent nearly $250 for dinner (for 2 adults, 1 teen) at AmaAma so that would be an avg. of $83 pp. There are family style room service meals that they could order too which I think were more reasonable. Seems like I remember those prices being posted here at around $80 for 2. They could definitely eat for less off-site sometimes. I think if I were to stay onsite to eat all of my meals I would probably budget around $150 / day for meals that don't include AmaAma and $250 / day for any days that include AmaAma. By the time they get a rental car they would probably cover the cost of a $55 taxi (x2 trips) and all of those onsite meals.

 

[TaiTai1]

I agree with Cinder and Anal Annie. A young couple will want to explore beyond the confines of Aulani. I would recommend a rental car for the whole time they are there, and skip the taxi. That way, they can get to the Target/Costco area any time, and also plan trips to see other parts of the island.

I wouldn't want them to eat all their meals at one Aulani location. There are many restaurants either in walking distance or driving distance (near Target/Costco), that they can eat at much more cheaply. Maybe just have one or two "special" dinners at Ama Ama --- and eat more cheaply at the other times.

We were there for a week last Feb., and are planning an even longer trip this January! Can't wait!

 

[TagsMissy]

Without a doubt rent a car! There's so much to see and do, even if they only use it a few times beyond the drive from and to the airport it'll be good to have.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I didn't want to reply to rental car questions on the Views thread, but since others have... I'll just chime in.

We NEVER rent a car on vacations. We LOVED having a car on Oahu! I would seriously have them reconsider that aspect. When we go back, a car will be a sure thing.

- Dreams

 

[BCV2003]

We are here now on our honey moon and I couldn't imagine not having a car. There is so much to see and do and so many choices for restaurants with a car. I feel like so much would be missed without one.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[sissy_ib]

I just booked our studio today for our May trip. I was originally planing on an IV room to save points but I cant get over how beautiful the OV is so that is what I booked. I'll be calling in the spring to ask for a room that over looks the pool as well.

 

[BowlingAriel]

Disney Dreams
I feel so bad for you - your view! Oh how did you stand it? LOL

Thanks for posting those pics - I am headed there in a little over 2 weeks. We booked an OV 1 bedroom - hope we get a great view.