Just checked into Aulani...

[dianeschlicht]

So is the resort as wonderful as most people seem to report it to be? Are you pleased? I am glad now that we ended up booking a full week there this summer before we hop to Maui. It will be fun to explore more of the island than what we've done in the past. I am looking forward to seeing the North Shore and the Turtle Bay area. Oh, and I want to take surf lessons! This will be my 5th trip so I figure I'm past due to at least give it a try!! Anxious to hear what you think of Ama Ama and if it's worth it.

VERY pleased! This is real service here compared to what we are used to at WDW. The only complaint so far is the inconvenience of the shower. There is only a hand held shower or a rain shower. The rain shower isn't "hard" enough to really rinse out well, and the handheld is worthless if left in place, so you definitely have to take it down and use it as a handheld.

We haven't eaten at Ama Ama yet, but we plan to do that tonight. We loved Makahiki though, and last night we went over to the Marriott two bays over for dinner.

We enjoyed the spa yesterday. Pricey, but absolutely amazing!!!

 

[BCV23]

VERY pleased! This is real service here compared to what we are used to at WDW. The only complaint so far is the inconvenience of the shower. There is only a hand held shower or a rain shower. The rain shower isn't "hard" enough to really rinse out well, and the handheld is worthless if left in place, so you definitely have to take it down and use it as a handheld.

We haven't eaten at Ama Ama yet, but we plan to do that tonight. We loved Makahiki though, and last night we went over to the Marriott two bays over for dinner.

We enjoyed the spa yesterday. Pricey, but absolutely amazing!!!

Isn't the spa amazing? Ditto for service at Aulani.

We enjoyed an a la carte dinner at Makahiki, too.

Our shower did not have an hand held nozzle to the best of our memory. A standard one in the tile and the rain forest one. I wonder if you have an accessible unit?

We were in 670/2. Loved the location. Your photos bring back great memories. With wind chill it was 5 degrees mid afternoon here yesterday. Ah, Aulani.

Which restaurant did you try at Marriott Beach Club? We tried the beach front one this time with mixed results. I won't be eager to return but others enjoyed their meals.

Enjoy the rest of your stay.

 

[ONealFamily]

Glad you are enjoying it! We have been here since the 8th and are leaving tomorrow :-(

It is perfectly fun to stay at the resort all day!

 

[dianeschlicht]

The restaurant we ate at in JW Marriott was Chuck's steak and seafood. Today we hiked Diamond Head. When we got back, we decided to look at the shops across the road from Aulani and found a wonderful place to eat. It's called Monkeypod Kitchen, and it's kind of a bar/fusion type place. Very good food! We haven't tried Roy's yet, and might not get there before we leave.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's very windy here right now with gusts to 50 MPH. It's supposed to be even windier tomorrow, and there were lots of power issues and downed trees etc.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have a suggestion for Member satisfaction. Since they bill the double infinity edge spa as a" Sunset view for adults", I think they should make it that way. We have had hordes of very young kids in that spa all week making it less than satisfactory for adults to even begin to enjoy it. There are signs posted saying children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, but I find that isn't often the case, and when it is, the adult is usually outside the spa while there are about 10 youngsters between about ages 4-10 in the spa. Last night a bunch of 8-13 YO's invaded right at sunset and started jumping from the upper spa into the lower one. That's when we left.

My suggestion for Member Satisfaction is to make a couple of hours on each end of the day be an "adults only" time. Since the tubs are open from 8:00AM on, I am going to suggest that they limit the times youngsters under the age of 16 in the tubs before 10 and after 6. That gives the kids 8 hours to play in the spas, and yet gives the adults 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening to enjoy them kid free.

 

[MinnesotaChill]

I have a suggestion for Member satisfaction. Since they bill the double infinity edge spa as a" Sunset view for adults", I think they should make it that way. We have had hordes of very young kids in that spa all week making it less than satisfactory for adults to even begin to enjoy it. There are signs posted saying children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, but I find that isn't often the case, and when it is, the adult is usually outside the spa while there are about 10 youngsters between about ages 4-10 in the spa. Last night a bunch of 8-13 YO's invaded right at sunset and started jumping from the upper spa into the lower one. That's when we left.

My suggestion for Member Satisfaction is to make a couple of hours on each end of the day be an "adults only" time. Since the tubs are open from 8:00AM on, I am going to suggest that they limit the times youngsters under the age of 16 in the tubs before 10 and after 6. That gives the kids 8 hours to play in the spas, and yet gives the adults 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening to enjoy them kid free.

Diane, I said the same thing about adult only areas at Aulani when I took an online survey yesterday. I've always believed kids have no place in a hot tub (and I have three kids) but I think it's even more important at Aulani where there are more likely to be adults vacationing without kids. If they want to successfully market to both crowds, I think they need to make more of an effort to cater to adults in a few areas. They do it for the spas...

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane, I said the same thing about adult only areas at Aulani when I took an online survey yesterday. I've always believed kids have no place in a hot tub (and I have three kids) but I think it's even more important at Aulani where there are more likely to be adults vacationing without kids. If they want to successfully market to both crowds, I think they need to make more of an effort to cater to adults in a few areas. They do it for the spas...

Yes, and maybe the solution to this is to have the infinity spa tubs adults only and have a separate one that's geared toward children that is attended. I've had a little bit of this issue at WDW too, but not to the degree we do here. We have had to go out before daylight and well after dark to get any kind of peace and quiet in the spa tubs. The other smaller spa tub seems to not be as inviting to the kids as the infinity ones are. I suspect it's that water falling over the edge that invites them to play.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Okay, so I talked to several people here about "my" issue with the hot tubs and my suggestion to either make ONE adults only hot tub or have a couple of hours early or late for adults only, and I was told it was impossible because it's Disney and Disney is for kids. Well, in my opinion, it is NOT the kids who spend the money, and if they want the adults to spend the money and bring the kids there, they need to have at least SOME concession for adults too. They did point out the new "kids only" play area they are adding, but the issue is not a "kids only" area, but the need for a small "adults only" area. I was told that wasn't possible. So why is it possible for a kids only area and not an adults only area?

 

[bwvBound]

Okay, so I talked to several people here about "my" issue with the hot tubs and my suggestion to either make ONE adults only hot tub or have a couple of hours early or late for adults only, and I was told it was impossible because it's Disney and Disney is for kids. Well, in my opinion, it is NOT the kids who spend the money, and if they want the adults to spend the money and bring the kids there, they need to have at least SOME concession for adults too. They did point out the new "kids only" play area they are adding, but the issue is not a "kids only" area, but the need for a small "adults only" area. I was told that wasn't possible. So why is it possible for a kids only area and not an adults only area?

I totally agree!

FWIW, these are the things that prevent me from going overboard on DVC vs other timeshare. One of my other timeshare reserves the first and last pool hour of each day for "adults only" and another has an entire pool, neatly divided into lap lanes, for adult use only.

 

[Anal Annie]

Okay, so I talked to several people here about "my" issue with the hot tubs and my suggestion to either make ONE adults only hot tub or have a couple of hours early or late for adults only, and I was told it was impossible because it's Disney and Disney is for kids. Well, in my opinion, it is NOT the kids who spend the money, and if they want the adults to spend the money and bring the kids there, they need to have at least SOME concession for adults too. They did point out the new "kids only" play area they are adding, but the issue is not a "kids only" area, but the need for a small "adults only" area. I was told that wasn't possible. So why is it possible for a kids only area and not an adults only area?

Who did you talk to that told you that? I'll bet if DVC got enough complaints that were all the same they'd at least consider it. If there's a sign that says kids must be accompanied by an adult and they WEREN'T then the lifeguards should be called out to enforce it. Having an adult "somewhere" sunbathing on the pool deck doesn't count for being accompanied in the hot tubs IMO. Was today your last day? Are you leaving tomorrow? Did it go too fast? Which island are you going to next?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Who did you talk to that told you that? I'll bet if DVC got enough complaints that were all the same they'd at least consider it. If there's a sign that says kids must be accompanied by an adult and they WEREN'T then the lifeguards should be called out to enforce it. Having an adult "somewhere" sunbathing on the pool deck doesn't count for being accompanied in the hot tubs IMO. Was today your last day? Are you leaving tomorrow? Did it go too fast? Which island are you going to next?

Yes, way too fast, and we are headed to the Big Island tomorrow. Here is what the hot tub looked like this morning. At least there were adults there today.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Not only did we see sea turtles on the beach beyond the Marriott, but today there was also a Monk Seal there!
[

 

[dianeschlicht]

I totally agree!

FWIW, these are the things that prevent me from going overboard on DVC vs other timeshare. One of my other timeshare reserves the first and last pool hour of each day for "adults only" and another has an entire pool, neatly divided into lap lanes, for adult use only.

The "line" from DVC is that it's Disney, so lots of kids. Aulani though, is also billed heavily for adult enjoyment (note the world class spa), and for weddings, yet there is no place to enjoy a nice adult only area unless you spend a couple hundred extra dollars for the spa.

I'm not asking for much. Only ONE hot tub for adults only or even a couple of hours early or late for adult only enjoyment. I just think it is unbalanced to have so many "children only" areas but no adult only areas as well.

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Your hot tub picture looks more like a kiddie pool. That's crazy!

I totally get your concerns. We never let our kids in the hot tub...it is a place for adults to unwind.

 

[MinnesotaChill]

We could start an online petition...

 

[dianeschlicht]

...And now it's time to leave this marvelous place!!! I KNOW I will want to come back. I think this is the best DVC resort by far. The amenities, the housekeeping, the customer service, EVERYTHING is top notch here. My two complaints were really minor in the long run. The only real complaint I had was that there wasn't an adults only place to enjoy relaxing here other than the Lawani Spa. I had hoped that coming in February would mean more adults, but that didn't seem to be the case. I must say, I don't believe I would ever want to come here in summer. I'm thinking the beginning of September at the beginning of school time might be the best time. Hmmmm, starting to plan our 50th anniversary in 5 years. Maybe if we go on our actual anniversary, it would be a good time to be here (August 24).

 

[bwvBound]

The "line" from DVC is that it's Disney, so lots of kids.

I believe the DCL cruise ships have an "adults only" pool/spa area ... ??? (Just sayin')

 

[Scotch]

Maybe if we go on our actual anniversary, it would be a good time to be here (August 24).

If you want to increase the odds of having fewer kids, wait until after Labor Day week. Schools in our area (west coast) return after Labor Day, often starting mid-week. So parents who want to have that last family vacation and who don't mind keeping kids out a few more days could plan one more vacation that week and save some $ by avoiding the summer high season.

 

[eandesmom]

...And now it's time to leave this marvelous place!!! I KNOW I will want to come back. I think this is the best DVC resort by far. The amenities, the housekeeping, the customer service, EVERYTHING is top notch here. My two complaints were really minor in the long run. The only real complaint I had was that there wasn't an adults only place to enjoy relaxing here other than the Lawani Spa. I had hoped that coming in February would mean more adults, but that didn't seem to be the case. I must say, I don't believe I would ever want to come here in summer. I'm thinking the beginning of September at the beginning of school time might be the best time. Hmmmm, starting to plan our 50th anniversary in 5 years. Maybe if we go on our actual anniversary, it would be a good time to be here (August 24).

Our school has the entire week off for mid winter break and most of the districts around us (Seattle) have at least a long weekend for Presidents day and I know tons of families on vacation now. I'd imagine you hit some of that. I'm hoping it won't b as bad over Memorial Day for our couple trip but I have a feeling I'm deluding myself.