Just wondering what your thoughts are on ground level rooms - facing the pool (I'm assuming it's still considered Pool View, not Island View?). Can you come and go using the sliding door in the room (can you lock/unlock from the outside)? We generally request high floor but thought it may be fun to try ground floor if available.
Thanks!
I agree with PP that a big con of these rooms is that there is so much foot traffic going by in close proximity. There's essentially no buffer. Its inclined to be noisy, and you'll likely want to leave your shades drawn most of the time for some privacy. Even with shades open, I would also assume that some rooms receive little to no natural light based on the angle they're at. We were on the 5th floor, but faced the courtyard of the convention space, and it was quite dark in the room most of the time.
A benefit of these rooms, aside from easy access between the walkway and your patio, is that they will be on the ground floor so you can walk right out from your room to the pool/beach and restaurants. No hassling with stairs or elevators. There were often times we found the elevators to be very slow, and in one instance, we took the stairs from the 5th floor. It would be quick and easy to pop over to Ulu to fill up mugs or bring breakfast back.
I have read these posts with interest as we are headed to Aulani in late June 2021. I am interested on any insight on best room type and locations, places to eat, ans things to do in addition to the pool and beach. Is there a airport to hotel transfer included in stay? Is there transportation provided to other points of interest? We were going to use the balance of our DVC points in the fall of 2021. We were told they MUST be used by the end of July soooooooooo we decided a trip to Hawaii was in order. We are so familiar with WDW but have no clue, insight, and tips on a trip to Aulani. Please share your expertise and experiences with us.
No airport transportation is provided. Most people here would highly recommend renting a car during your stay due to Aulani's isolated location, so that would also serve as your airport transportation.
Aulani offers for-cost organized tours with transportation, but they are quite expensive and offer little flexibility. Remember that Aulani is located in a planned, gated tourist community in Ko Olina which is in an isolated area on the northwestern side of the island. Not really much in walking distance, and most of the main tourist spots are at least a 20-30+ minute drive, not including traffic. It would really behoove someone to have a rental car to have control over visiting the places you want to go.
I always say that you should stay at Aulani desiring a Hawaiian vacation - not a Disney or Aulani vacation. Aulani is a great home base for a Disney fan that is visiting Hawaii, but people expecting something similar to WDW will be disappointed. People who spend their whole trip at the resort without leaving will be disappointed. There are more luxurious resorts and better beaches in other parts of the world that are closer to home and half the cost. But the natural beauty, unique spots, and culture of Hawaii is something that can't be found elsewhere, so exploring that should be a main priority.
I also recommend getting a car. You will need it to get back and forth from the airport. We spent many days exploring the Island and eating at local places during the day when the pools were packed. And then spent our evenings on the beach or in the empty lazy river. While the food at Aulani is pretty good, it is resort prices and the options can be limited and repetitive. You can walk across the street but it's nice to just drive to the next town of Kapolei and eat or shop there. Some people recommend just renting at Aulani for the days that you need, but that can actually end up costing more as per day rentals are much more expensive then weekly, plus then you will still need to pay for airport transfers. They also can run out of cars during busy times. Have fun.
