Lama pa'ipa'i on the Lanai – an Aulani TR -Aloha and Mahalo Aulani! Link to PTR 11/5

[carejo5]

It was a fabulous vacation. We've been to Hawaii on couple only trips 3 times now and in many ways, this was our favorite of all.

I can't wait to go back!

I think Jeff is always secretly relieved to meet "normal" people who own, and to meet ones also there without kids was a bonus!

There is something SO decadent about poolside service, isn't there?

Thanks! It was fun

That is my understanding. So to do it ahead of time you have to

1. have a resort ressie
2. have MDE set up
3. have your park ticket linked.

The ticket does NOT have to be activated yet, but it does have to be valid.

Otherwise you can do it in park, once you get there but I think just for that day until you link it to MDE and your reservation. Not positive though!

Thanks, it was fun and the perfect "first" one to do. Low key and low pressure!

Lunch was really good, possibly because we were starving, possibly it was that good or more likely, just the whole being served poolside aspect.

Oh the rain was great! It made is SO much easier to leave.

I was on the fence and it was like..no way, not gonna! Plus that way I was up, rested and home when the kids came home instead of being at the office. Jeff had planned to take the whole day off all along.

It was freezing when we got home!

Thanks, it was fun and nice to have that first one over with to be honest!

Not the full marathon, ever! LOL. I am planning to do the Disneyland Half. I'd love to do one of the WDW ones but realistically with the dates, and the costs..the DL half works out SO much better!

Is there any other way? LOL

It is a challenge to fit it all in and you do have to give up, to get which is a bit annoying. LOL!

Thank you so much! It was a wonderful couples getaway, just perfect. I really wouldn't change a thing!

So enjoyed your trip , sorry to see it end . Even had to come out of lurkdom to say thanks for these reports . So much useful information .and the pictures! So beautiful ! We have a trip planned for April and these reports make the planning so much easier and the anticipation over the top!

 

[eandesmom]

Congrats on your 10k, that's really awesome for your first time running. I think I could maybe walk it, but running would be a no go!

Thanks! It was fun. Honestly I think if you can spend a whole day walking around Disney, you can walk a 10K!

Congrats on the 10K!!!!!

thanks! I am glad to have it behind me, the unknown you know? It was fun.

Seems the Gods were sad and crying at the end of your vacation to send you off the island and greet you at home with rain.

They were crying!!!!!!!!!!! that we left, and we came back. LOL

Someday I hope to get there and even if I have half as good a time as you both did I will be happy.

It was an incredible trip, start to finish. I could not have asked for more.

Congrats on your 10K!!! Well done to both of you.

thanks, we had a good time!

Okay, the bamboo basket makes the $12.50 for a tuna sandwich so much more worth it! Okay, maybe the view was worth it.

Yeah...that's when you don't want to look at the price!

So sorry you had to come hold to cold rain - guess it made your memories that much sweeter!

it really did but OH was it cold!

We have AP vouchers that we'll activate in December...I really have to get up to speed on this new system! I feel a bit lost right now....

I hear you, I feel like this week has been a crash course

The Luana lounge is a nice touch on Disney's part; it was also very crowded when we used it.

the actual shower, etc part wasn't too crowded but lots of folks hanging inthe actual lounge part. Which I don't get. Why wouldn't you sit by the pool or at Oleo or on the beach...instead of inside a room with a tv???

We've left food in the fridge before at WDW, it's just one of those places that sometimes you forget to double-check before leaving the room! Frustrating, but it worked out well for you guys!
We are not early risers at all either. We will pay more for later flights - travel day is tiring enough, add to it the stress and worry of getting everyone up at the crack of dawn - it's not worth it!
Sad your report is almost over!

later is SO much better for us

Congrats on the 10K! You both did a great job!

thanks! It was fun

Oh, it's time to go home already? It seems like you just got there.

We did! A week isn't long enough.

 

[eandesmom]

knocking back a few drinks before you leave. well played...helps to fall asleep on the plane easier.

That's always the hope anyway!!!!

Nice way to end the trip despite the rain and a few challenges! Your happy hour food and drinks looked good!
All in all, a wonderful trip! I really hope we can go in the next couple years. (We did commit to Disneyland for March 2014).

I saw that! You have to scope it all out for me, I'll be there a month later!

It was a nice way to end the trip, I love the red eye home from Hawaii!

CONGRATS on the 10K and doing so well!!

thanks, it definitely exceeded my expectations

So you must have gotten back to Seattle fairly early in the day - I would have gone to bed too if I saw that rain out the window!

Oh yeah, it was like 5am or something crazy

I am kind of glad we're not going to WDW for a while - I want all this magic band FP+ business sorted out first! And then all of you can tell me the best strategies!

They seem to change daily so who knows!

I always find it easier to end a vacation when the weather turns. What amazing luck you had all trip. The drinks look delicious. Very cute pic of you in the aqua with the lei.

It is easier to end it, couldn't have been timed better, that rain (or sky crying, I like that!). It was an amazing trip. Thanks on the picture, I love aqua

So enjoyed your trip , sorry to see it end . Even had to come out of lurkdom to say thanks for these reports . So much useful information .and the pictures! So beautiful ! We have a trip planned for April and these reports make the planning so much easier and the anticipation over the top!

I am so happy you did come out of lurkdom! April will be lovely, absolutely lovely! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did, it is a magical place.

 

[annmarieda]

What an amazingly full last day you had! I love how you started with the fresh fruit and yogurt!

Lots of great pics with characters! I think the ones with Goofy are my favorite... but then again, how sweet is it that Chip...or was it Dale?? kissed your hand.

I am so glad the id was not lost. What luck to have an eager to help young man dive for them! I am sure your day would not have ended so nicely had he not recovered them for you.

Lunch pool side looked good, but i think I am even more impressed with your last meal.

Too bad the rain came in just toward then end. I guess it had to in order to get your ready to be home.

AND I am so very impressed with your time at your very first 10k!! You are going to be so ready for the DL half!!!

 

[emmysmommy]

I am not surprised that you did so well for your first 10K! Great job!

To book FP+ or not to book.... yikes. I'd probably book just a couple for your family and tell the rest of the travel party ahead of time that you are testing the new system for Disney so are doing a good deed for guests everywhere. That's a tough one for sure.

At least you were able to enjoy some relaxation, good food, a few cocktails, and shopping on your last day. That would be great on any day but throw in being in Hawaii - perfect!



How funny that you left rain and you came home to rain.

 

[eandesmom]

What an amazingly full last day you had! I love how you started with the fresh fruit and yogurt!

Lots of great pics with characters! I think the ones with Goofy are my favorite... but then again, how sweet is it that Chip...or was it Dale?? kissed your hand.

It was a lovely lovely last day, the characters were fun and it's always a kick to see Jeff getting into it (as much as he protests otherwise)

I could eat fresh fruit and yogurt every day. In fact, I did today. LOL!

I am so glad the id was not lost. What luck to have an eager to help young man dive for them! I am sure your day would not have ended so nicely had he not recovered them for you.

No kidding! That would have been a major game changer.

Lunch pool side looked good, but i think I am even more impressed with your last meal.

I loved my dinner it was SO good! Yeah, double tuna but I am rather predictable that way. LOL!

Too bad the rain came in just toward then end. I guess it had to in order to get your ready to be home.

It's horrible but it made us happy and so much easier to leave!

AND I am so very impressed with your time at your very first 10k!! You are going to be so ready for the DL half!!!

Thanks! I am pretty happy to know I'll get an ok corral now even if I don't do anything else before then. And, I know this sounds a bit odd but I felt a lot better about it maybe not really being a total fluke once I did the math backwards. It did illustrate to be something I'd suspected. I don't truly push myself while training. I've known that but always figured that's just how fast I go. I'd read that race pace can or even should be 00:45+ than slow or easy pace...just didn't really necessarily think that's what I was doing. I could tell I'd pushed it though in just how my legs felt the next day and how Tuesday's run was though but...those are good things I think.

I am not surprised that you did so well for your first 10K! Great job!

Thanks! I was shocked as all get out, it was a good 3-4 minutes faster than I'd been hoping for. Very pleased.

To book FP+ or not to book.... yikes. I'd probably book just a couple for your family and tell the rest of the travel party ahead of time that you are testing the new system for Disney so are doing a good deed for guests everywhere. That's a tough one for sure.

I've decided to book. Right now both are working and I hope, and pray that is still the case. I do hope I can copy our choices over to my sister and her boys once she gets tickets, that will be a relief. I've booked 5 days worth for all of us, and day 6 for me. I can't do more than that on Jeff and the boys until we get there as they have 5 day hoppers and it won't let me book more than the media is worth.

Assuming my nephew isn't coming, which is increasingly likely (my mom wants to buy his ticket, my dad doesn't and his parents have made it clear they are saving money for other things...which is going to visit his brother at the end of his year long exchange in Italy...). So, if he gets a trip to Italy instead, it does lessen the pain. But based on that I'm going to work the system a bit. I'm putting my parents on our BWV villa reservation, which would get them MDE, DME, bands and FP+ and then my other Sister and BIL on our THV ressie so they get the same. It won't be a full overlap but everyone will get some of the benefits and that makes me very happy.

At least you were able to enjoy some relaxation, good food, a few cocktails, and shopping on your last day. That would be great on any day but throw in being in Hawaii - perfect!

How funny that you left rain and you came home to rain.

It was a great last day, couldn't have been better and even the rain seemed appropriate!

 

[Chilly]

Really well done on the 10K. Your NYE trip is going to be here before you know it. Lovely last day, I bet the rain really did help with leaving but still it must be difficult to leave paradise!

 

[annmarieda]

It was a lovely lovely last day, the characters were fun and it's always a kick to see Jeff getting into it (as much as he protests otherwise)

Men are silly that way aren't they!!!

Thanks! I am pretty happy to know I'll get an ok corral now even if I don't do anything else before then.

Nope... I don't think you will get an OK corral. I think you will get an EXCELLENT corral!!!

And, I know this sounds a bit odd but I felt a lot better about it maybe not really being a total fluke once I did the math backwards. It did illustrate to be something I'd suspected. I don't truly push myself while training. I've known that but always figured that's just how fast I go. I'd read that race pace can or even should be 00:45+ than slow or easy pace...just didn't really necessarily think that's what I was doing. I could tell I'd pushed it though in just how my legs felt the next day and how Tuesday's run was though but...those are good things I think.

Maybe that is my trouble... I am always just pushing enough. So then on my races... I am right where my training is. Except for the RD events.... those my pace suffers. BUT I am right about where they calculate me to finish based on my POT, so maybe it doesn't suffer as much as I think it does.

 

[Flossbolna]

Cynthia, sorry that I haven't commented on your recent updates yet - I have read them all and enjoyed them very much!!

But I just found this news blurb: http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...-world-swan-and-dolphin-hotels-this-month.htm

Seems like they get at least FP+ ability at the Swan and Dolphin. How useful that will be if not pre-booked is questionable. But at least things are moving there...

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I had so much fun this morning catching up on all of your adventures. Congratulations on your 10K! Awesome!!

Hurrah for DIS meets! So many nice people around these parts!

How cool that you got to visit with family while in Hawaii! And, yes, that mango does look good! One of my favorite fruits.

The scenery around the island as well as the resort is just stunning. Hawaii is definitely on my bucket list. Now just to find the time/points/money.

Love the lounge for people leaving later in the day. What a great idea. I wish they had them in the regular WDW resorts.

Yikes to the weather when you got home - definitely in stark contrast to where you'd been!

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. Looking forward to seeing your souvenirs!

 

[eandesmom]

Really well done on the 10K. Your NYE trip is going to be here before you know it. Lovely last day, I bet the rain really did help with leaving but still it must be difficult to leave paradise!

Thanks, I am glad to have the first real "race" behind me even if it was only a 10K.

The rain really did help with leaving but we definitely enjoyed every minute before it, and even during it.

Men are silly that way aren't they!!!

Very silly!

Nope... I don't think you will get an OK corral. I think you will get an EXCELLENT corral!!!

Well we will see, it is very possible that it won't be all that different from what it might have been had I come in the 3-4 minutes slower that I thought I would. I think it puts me one corral better but that's possibly it. The breakdowns/brackets have been interesting and Disney seems to use a "slower" calculator predictor than most out there. If I use the slower one I've found then I suspect I will just miss the cut off for an excellent one and instead be in a very good one. With the changes in more corrals and smaller ones it will definitely change the placement for sure, you can really see the difference when you look at the W&D assignments. So for example with that time, assuming the slower calculator it'd put me at:

Princess 2013 - A
Disneyland Half 2013 - B
Wine and Dine Half 2013 - D (but spitting at C lol)

I expect the 2014 Disneyland Half to be much more like the W&D breakdown. We will see though! The WDW 1/2 breakdowns will be an indicator as well.

Maybe that is my trouble... I am always just pushing enough. So then on my races... I am right where my training is. Except for the RD events.... those my pace suffers. BUT I am right about where they calculate me to finish based on my POT, so maybe it doesn't suffer as much as I think it does.

You have some seriously fast training runs, I don't come anywhere close to that. So yes, that makes sense that you are more consistent that way. At the end of the day as long as it feels good and you are out there, that is what really matter. RD is such a different animal I think, with the volume of people, the heat, the characters (and I want to hear the solo runner saga on that!) that I'd expect it to be slower across the board for most.

Cynthia, sorry that I haven't commented on your recent updates yet - I have read them all and enjoyed them very much!!

But I just found this news blurb: http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...-world-swan-and-dolphin-hotels-this-month.htm

Seems like they get at least FP+ ability at the Swan and Dolphin. How useful that will be if not pre-booked is questionable. But at least things are moving there...

It may give them a slight edge for planning later FP's and knowing things aren't gone if they get in the park and use it first thing but that's about all I think.

I have actually decided to work the system a little bit to give them an advantage, it is a bit convoluted (as much of my planning is lol) so will save that for the PTR. LOL!

I had so much fun this morning catching up on all of your adventures. Congratulations on your 10K! Awesome!!

Thanks! It was very soggy but a positive first experience and really I couldn't ask for more than that.

Hurrah for DIS meets! So many nice people around these parts!

Yes there are! I need to get my act in gear and figure out meets for Dec/Jan. I did get my May return flight though now I just need to get down there!

How cool that you got to visit with family while in Hawaii! And, yes, that mango does look good! One of my favorite fruits.

That was definitely a highlight, we had so much fun with them!

The scenery around the island as well as the resort is just stunning. Hawaii is definitely on my bucket list. Now just to find the time/points/money.

Isn't that always the issue?? I am having to dip into some points I think so I can upgrade for our DLR trip so my mom can stay with it and it's like GAH those were for something else!

Love the lounge for people leaving later in the day. What a great idea. I wish they had them in the regular WDW resorts.

I do too, it was such a lovely option. I do struggle with pool time on the last day at WDW when we have a late flight and this was lovely!

Yikes to the weather when you got home - definitely in stark contrast to where you'd been!

Quite the welcome home, huh!

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. Looking forward to seeing your souvenirs!

I should be getting those up today and if I am lucky...new PTR very soon!

 

[CarolynK]

I've decided to book. Right now both are working and I hope, and pray that is still the case. I do hope I can copy our choices over to my sister and her boys once she gets tickets, that will be a relief. I've booked 5 days worth for all of us, and day 6 for me. I can't do more than that on Jeff and the boys until we get there as they have 5 day hoppers and it won't let me book more than the media is worth.

I have a question for you, do you have a park ticket currently, other than the PAP voucher?? If not, how are you able to use the FP+ system? We have AP vouchers but there are no numbers on the back. I'm kind of worried - that once we get to WDW we won't be able to get any FP's at all during a very busy week, with lots of people using the new system (arriving 12/26)!! But, I don't think we can do anything until we get our actual AP's at arrival....

 

[eandesmom]

I have a question for you, do you have a park ticket currently, other than the PAP voucher?? If not, how are you able to use the FP+ system? We have AP vouchers but there are no numbers on the back. I'm kind of worried - that once we get to WDW we won't be able to get any FP's at all during a very busy week, with lots of people using the new system (arriving 12/26)!! But, I don't think we can do anything until we get our actual AP's at arrival....

I hear you! That is exactly why I did it. I have a PAP voucher. Not really even a voucher just a verbal confirmation number. Which, shockingly (as is been told both it would and wouldn't work...and didn't a couple of months ago when I tried) worked!

I linked it online using only the confirmation number. I will still have to pick it up so I have the actual pass as well but it was amazingly easy.

I really thought I couldn't do anything till I got there either. I'd try with your confirmation numbers and that doesn't work, call. As long as you've set up MDE and linked your ressie, you should be ok and you've still got a few weeks to customize bands.

 

[CarolynK]

I hear you! That is exactly why I did it. I have a PAP voucher. Not really even a voucher just a verbal confirmation number. Which, shockingly (as is been told both it would and wouldn't work...and didn't a couple of months ago when I tried) worked!

I linked it online using only the confirmation number. I will still have to pick it up so I have the actual pass as well but it was amazingly easy.

I really thought I couldn't do anything till I got there either. I'd try with your confirmation numbers and that doesn't work, call. As long as you've set up MDE and linked your ressie, you should be ok and you've still got a few weeks to customize bands.

I'm SO glad I asked you!! Who'd have thought that 17-digit insignificant-looking number on the back of our vouchers (which, BTW, I needed a magnifying glass to see!) was actually significant!! My husband and I have just planned out most of our stay...which is weird, for us! We're NOT really planners, but it has always worked for us. This trip may actually be the first time we get on Toy Story at HS (seriously, never done it)!! Thanks for the advice

 

[eandesmom]

I'm SO glad I asked you!! Who'd have thought that 17-digit insignificant-looking number on the back of our vouchers (which, BTW, I needed a magnifying glass to see!) was actually significant!! My husband and I have just planned out most of our stay...which is weird, for us! We're NOT really planners, but it has always worked for us. This trip may actually be the first time we get on Toy Story at HS (seriously, never done it)!! Thanks for the advice

Yay !!!!! I am so glad it worked. Aren't those numbers ridiculous? My PAP was by far the easiest, the 5 5day hoppers were a nightmare and I've still another 5 to enter once folks get tickets!!

 

[GoofyFan1515]

Congrats to both of you on the 10k!

Glad things are coming together for the New Year's trip!

Pool time, bar time, good food and rain? Well, you were leaving paradise for home, so I guess you can't expect it to be perfect.

 

[englishrose47]

Congrats on the 10K !!! I finally started my TR on the October Trip !! Been working LONG hours and doing 8 Memory Books, which I finally finished today !!!

 

[eandesmom]

Congrats to both of you on the 10k!

Thanks! It was a lot of fun

Glad things are coming together for the New Year's trip!

They are! I've been busy with some of it lately and have neglected wrapping this one up as a result, I need to get busy!

Pool time, bar time, good food and rain? Well, you were leaving paradise for home, so I guess you can't expect it to be perfect.

Well that is true, nothing like rain to provide a reality check huh!

Congrats on the 10K !!! I finally started my TR on the October Trip !! Been working LONG hours and doing 8 Memory Books, which I finally finished today !!!

Hi Rosie! I am SOOOO behind, I have got to get over there and to your new TR. I will be there I promise! I guess the good news is the dinner club I thought I was hosting next monday night, was actually last night so I don't have to clean all weekend like I'd been planning on

 

[eandesmom]

All good things must come to an end, even a week in paradise. We were back in soggy Seattle but we did bring home a few things to remind us of our amazing week away.

For me




For Jeff




For a Christmas in July gift exchange I participated in



For the Boys








For Eric








Evan




Our Spa goodies




Jeff snagged the paper and pen


This was also supposed to be for Evan


They were showing it as a guys shirt but on...well it wasn't at all! evan wasn't a fan of sleeves slightly too short and...a scoop neck (well on him it's scooped lol).

It's mine now. I wear it more than the one I bought for myself.

We didn't get K&T anything, with T off at college and K at her mom's they didn't get "ditched" like the E's did so no real consolation prize. Plus, both have been to Hawaii before and the E's still have not.

A few final thoughts.

Rooms and Views
For us, having that ocean view room was critical. It would not have been the same trip without it. Would we use it quite as much with the kids there? Maybe not as much, but still quite a lot. It is a lot more points and to that end, for a late pm arrival, saving on the view and moving was a great thing for us.

Dining
Monkeypod, Monkeypod, Monkeypod! What else is there to say. Clearly we loved it there. We did enjoy the Character Breakfast and loved AMA AMA as well. Other than the “well done burger” problem at Off the Hoook we were overall quite pleased with the food. Yes it’s expensive. It is Hawaii resort expensive. Getting groceries for breakfast and lunch and a couple of dinners helped offset the cost and even though it was a little more work to pack appropriately to grill dinner out of a studio, I am very glad we did it. We enjoyed “eating in” those nights, and our lanai, very much!

Activities
There is SO much to do right at Aulani (lazy river anyone) that I really encourage anyone going there to make sure you plan enough resort time. There is so much to do and see in Hawaii outside of the resort it is easy to schedule yourself gone most of your trip and if you do, you will miss out. That said, get out! See the ocean, the mountains, the valleys, the history. There is nothing like it. We loved everything we did and would do it again (yes, even Koko Head!) but we also plan to continue to find new things.

Traffic
Is horrible during rush hour. Plan accordingly and you will be fine.

Aulani as an adult only destination?
YES! Granted, loving Disney helps but really for us, who typically get a condo in Hawaii on our adult only trips (so are “very” alone compared to a resort like Aulani) it was surprisingly amazing. Both of us were a little concerned with how we’d do at a resort like that for a full week. I actually don’t believe we have ever done that on an adult only trip and we were blown away by how much we loved it all. More than T shirts, pins and mugs (and photos!) we brought home memories of an amazing amazing week. So amazing we added on a small contract at Aulani to give us holiday 11m advantage here and there.

We hope to go back in 2015. I don’t know if we will pull it off but that is the hope! Thank you all for reading and sharing our magical getaway to Aulani
Aloha and Mahalo and…

I hope to see you on my next PRT/TR. I do have lots of updates on our NYE trip and hope to get a PRT started this week 
For those of you I have not gotten caught up yet on your TR’s and PTR’s I am trying. I am hopefully hope now until our Florida trip so that should help a LOT!

 

[Leshaface]

I love the shirt that you got for yourself! But especially the one that you got for Eric, that is now yours. It looks so comfortable!

I always snag the pens from Disney resorts but the paper from Aulani looks very nice. Good job Jeff!

What is below the gummi worms? Is that a bar of chocolate?

Will you be posting the link to your next PTR here??