Studio villa vs. standard room

[a real lady]

Booking our very first trip to Hawaii & looking for advice. I see that a studio villa and a regular room are the same price. I know that the villa is slightly smaller, and also has a microwave and toaster. The regular room is slightly bigger, but only has the fridge & coffee maker. My question is- for a 12 night stay with DD's 11 & 9 YO, which is more practical? I've never been & am having trouble prioritizing. Thank you!

 

[alohamom]

We have stayed in both and preferred the regular hotel room. It had two beds where the studio had a bed and a pull out sofa and that was not as comfortable for us (two adults/2 teens). If the kids dont mind the sofabed or perhaps even prefer it then the studio might be better for those full 12 days as it does allow for a little more space when the bed is put away.

 

[blondietink]

I believe the studio has a microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker and toaster. If you want to save some money on food, I would get the studio so you could make sandwiches, salads, have mild for breakfast cereal, etc. The food at Aulani is very expensive, IMHO.

 

[a real lady]

We have stayed in both and preferred the regular hotel room. It had two beds where the studio had a bed and a pull out sofa and that was not as comfortable for us (two adults/2 teens). If the kids dont mind the sofabed or perhaps even prefer it then the studio might be better for those full 12 days as it does allow for a little more space when the bed is put away.

Thanks for the reply! My kids are 11 & 8, and are so excited for their trip to aulani that I think they won't mind the sofa bed!

 

[a real lady]

I believe the studio has a microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker and toaster. If you want to save some money on food, I would get the studio so you could make sandwiches, salads, have mild for breakfast cereal, etc. The food at Aulani is very expensive, IMHO.

That is a very good point. I think we will end up with the studio for that reason. Thank you!

 

[alohamom]

My kids are 11 & 8, and are so excited for their trip to aulani

They are going to LOVE it, imo those are perfect ages for Aulani.

 

[OKW Lover]

Agree with @blondietink that the "kitchen" facilities of a villa unit will be very useful on a 12-night stay. You can buy your food items at the ABC store right across the street from Aulani.

 

[ColoradoDisney]

The standard hotel room does have a refrig, coffee maker, and electric tea kettle. A microwave and toaster would have been nice but our daughters preferred the queen bed over a pull out. If you are going to be there for 12 nights, I am assuming you will have access to a rental car for at least part of the trip. I would go to the Super Target or another full size grocery store. ABC is fine for a few of the basics but is more expensive and less selection.

 

[jillt2ph]

OP, your question is the same as mine. I am leaning more towards the standard room, though for different reasons. I was at Aulani in May 2014, in a studio. We had the misfortune of having crying babies on both sides of us all week. I think the chances of that happening again would be less in a standard room.

 

[OKW Lover]

OP, your question is the same as mine. I am leaning more towards the standard room, though for different reasons. I was at Aulani in May 2014, in a studio. We had the misfortune of having crying babies on both sides of us all week. I think the chances of that happening again would be less in a standard room.

Sorry, but I'm not following the logic on this one. Why would a standard room have less likelihood of getting a crying baby one both sides?

 

[jillt2ph]

Sorry, but I'm not following the logic on this one. Why would a standard room have less likelihood of getting a crying baby one both sides?

Because I think a family with a baby is more likely to stay in a DVC unit with the microwave than in the standard room.

Let me live in my fantasyland, please, until they can allocate one small section for adults only

 

[nkereina]

Not to hijack, but does anyone know what bed is in a standard studio? King or queen?

 

[blondietink]

A studio has a queen size bed and a queen size sleeper sofa.