The island view can vary. I think it depends on what floor you are on and what side of the resort. Ours was on the 5th floor maybe? And it looked down onto the grassy area where they hold the Starlight Hui luau thing....I'm not sure if they even do that any more. We usually get a standard view studio for the first 2 or 3 nights to save on points. We are tired for the first couple of days anyway from the long non-stop flight from the east coast and usually just stick around the resort those days. Even the standard view was not too bad....after all, we were in Hawaii. I did enjoy the ocean view room we had, but it is a really big points eater. Every area by the elevators has floor to ceiling windows with chairs (if I remember correctly) so you can sit there and enjoy the view.
If you are a DVC member, you don't have to pay for parking either. Otherwise, I think it's $25 or $35/day?
Do you know about the walk to go see the turtles? It is behind the Paradise Cove Luau place that you pass on your way to the Aulani entrance. They aren't the huge turtles, but big.
Maybe this changed after my scathing TripAdvisor Review. Disney actually gave me my $35, a day, back.They wouldn't allow valet parking gratis for handicapped guests, even in wheelchairs, like me. I am glad this has changed. I wrote Aulani off as soon as I returned home because of this policy.