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

I'm at Aulani for a 5 night stay in room 308, a two brm dvc villa in the Waianae tower. The resort is gorgeous. Our villa cost 59 points a night as it's a poolside garden view room. My thoughts on this room are as follows:

Pros
On the third level which is lobby level and not too far from the reception and elevators. Also it's only two floors down by elevator or stairs to the ground level exit to the pool area. So we didn't really need to use the elevator much, which I liked.
Decent beds
Fully equipped kitchen
Near carpark

Cons
Room was very dark due to high trees outside the room. The ‘pool/garden’ view is through trees, if you want to avoid these trees you need to go to level 5 or 6 I'd guess. So it was a partial pools area view really. Sorry the room view photo comes out on it's side when posted. Not sure how you fix that.

If you want to be in any rooms on the inside of the U shape of the resort, so you are looking out on the pool areas you will need to get the premium points rooms. I wouldn't use 59 points a night on this type of room again.

I am trying an island garden view room next time. You would need to do your homework on this thread though to request a good room in this category. I would even go for the standard room near the conference centre ie rooms 50-59 on the map https://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/aulanimap.htm (however I read about someone being near the aircon units at the end of the block so I would beware of that issue). Use the map plus the room charts at the beginning of this thread if you want to request certain rooms.

I did notice though that the rooms on the ground level (ie level 1) with direct access to the pools would be quite handy to go to and from the pools. However they would be very dark like ours was.

The children’s pool area was being renovated for 4/5 days of our stay. When it reopened there was quite a bit of kiddy noise coming from that area but the rooms are well soundproofed when the door is closed and it closes at 6pm.

Other tips:
An Uber is about $52 from the airport.

I sent a room request via the dvc website asking for 3rd floor view overlooking the Menehune bridge based on someone's recommendation on here. It was good apart from the room being dark.

There are no wall USB ports but there are a couple in the clock radio. However they are quite slow so if you want fast charging then bring your own chargers.

Resort tax for the 5 nights was $169.

There is a convenience store a 6 minute walk from here. The Island Market ABC. Very expensive though. Think $8 on average for an item. If you are going to cook I would bring small packs of condiments etc or else if you have a car go to Costco.

Summary

Even though the room was darkish I liked the level 3(reception level) central location, near the elevator and not having to use the lifts too much.

It was good to look into the pool area, called Waikolohe Valley, to get a sense of the resort but the pool view is quite expensive points wise at 59 points a night. It was really only a partial view with the trees quite high. I would just go for standard view next time, hopefully level 3 still, so I could stay longer pointswise.

The resort must be in the 90% occupied range. It's a beautiful resort that you won't see in that many places around the world. Especially being so family oriented. There was an adult pool for over 18s which was warmer and very nice at night.

Will be back!
 

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One view from the balcony of 1-bedroom lockoff 368, which is the last on the floor, right next to where CMs store tables and chairs for the luau and other events on the lawn.

Floor 5 (room 568) would be the *perfect* Island View 1 bedroom, with a view of the luau (over the tree that blocks 368 and 468) but below Ocean View points gobblers (668 and up).

Another plus: the characters walk below this unit all the time when returning offstage after meet and greets around the resort.

Also, while this unit is at the end of the hall, you only pass about 6 other units to get there. There is a nice 3-chair sitting area at the end of the wing. The elevator bank is the next hallway over (come out of wing, walk 3 steps, and turn into 6-elevator lobby) granting super easy access to a lazy river entrance about 20 steps outside. The gift shops and check-in area are close by as well.

More photos to follow from 2 other cameras.
 

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Additional photos of the views from 368, plus a few from the lawn below looking at the balcony (both through the tree and from underneath it).
 

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Final few photos from 368.
 

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I sent a room request via the dvc website asking for 3rd floor view overlooking the Menehune bridge based on someone's recommendation on here. It was good apart from the room being dark.
I looked on the DVC site but could not find an email for Aulani. Do you have the email address still? Thanks
 


Island View Studio 1679
We requested (thru DVC site chat) to be in Ewa Tower facing the luau. We/I was celebrating my b-day/honeymoon so maybe that helped getting our requests. Gotta say, for the Island View points, it was a homerun. Any other hotel chain would clasify this at least as partial ocean view. My guess is, as seen in my 3rd photo, the nearby port is visible which some could consider an eyesore. But honestly, at night, the lights actually look pretty cool and imo add to the nighttime view.

We've done the luau before so didn't really want to go again....and I looked kinda late thinking it was like everything else and bookable closer to arrival. But even being this high up was a good seat. You could hear everything and see most things well. I am guessing the 5-7th floors are probably the sweet spot for luau viewing with those floors being above the trees. But for us the top floor was awesome. On the luau nights we would usually sit up there and have a cocktail or two from the fridge and watch the show.
 

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We’re so excited to book a trip in June 2024. 7 mos opens up around 11/1. VGF is home. Fingers crossed for any 2br. Never anticapted going to Hawaii on DVC, but this is allowing us to afford a 2br in Hawaii. Scanning 90 pages of posts here suggests that you guys need an Ocean Pool view and an Ocean Island View. It would really remove a lot of drama / set expectations. One of you guys should speak up to the Mouse.
 
We're finally getting back to AUL in March 2024. Right now we are booked in Island View 2br...hoping to switch out to a Pool View at 7 months. But these Island view pics are helpful -- maybe Island view will do!
 
Taking the family for our first Aulani trip next March. We are going to get a dedicated 2 bedroom ocean view. Any tips on what I should request regarding tower, floor, or actual unit number would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Here this week in villa 1208, a dedicated 2-bedroom villa.

Taking the family for our first Aulani trip next March. We are going to get a dedicated 2 bedroom ocean view. Any tips on what I should request regarding tower, floor, or actual unit number would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
See pics I posted up-thread, we liked that dedicated 2BR. Anything ending in xx08 would be similar.
 
Island View Studio 1679
We requested (thru DVC site chat) to be in Ewa Tower facing the luau. We/I was celebrating my b-day/honeymoon so maybe that helped getting our requests. Gotta say, for the Island View points, it was a homerun. Any other hotel chain would clasify this at least as partial ocean view. My guess is, as seen in my 3rd photo, the nearby port is visible which some could consider an eyesore. But honestly, at night, the lights actually look pretty cool and imo add to the nighttime view.

We've done the luau before so didn't really want to go again....and I looked kinda late thinking it was like everything else and bookable closer to arrival. But even being this high up was a good seat. You could hear everything and see most things well. I am guessing the 5-7th floors are probably the sweet spot for luau viewing with those floors being above the trees. But for us the top floor was awesome. On the luau nights we would usually sit up there and have a cocktail or two from the fridge and watch the show.
You joined on 11/19 and posted this on 11/19 ffourteen years later. I only noticed because it's my Bday.
 
At Aulani now. Checking out tomorrow. 😭
Ewa tower dedicated 2 bedroom ocean view. Room 1450. Have also stayed in 1050, exact same view.
We love the room as you get all views. Ocean view, pool/resort, then looking off the other end of the massive balcony you get the mountains (these pics don’t really do justice to the mountain view). Also get the beautiful live music from the restaurant when sitting on the balcony at night (on nights when there is live music).

For Super helpful view site google: “Aulani Visual Room Finder”
 

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View from the 3 bedroom tour unit on the 10th floor.
 

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We just got back from 1101, top floor Grand Villa… and it was fantastic except for the fact that the Four Seasons blocks the sunsets.

I took a lot more videos of the view than pictures. But the post above from the 10th floor provides basically the same views.

Looking forward to going back in 2025!
 

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