Happy in Hawaii –- Aulani & Oahu with a Toddler ~ Updated 7/20: Final Update and link to new TR!

AZMermaid said:

How exciting!! Will Izzy be three by then... Aka.... Old enough for Aunty's?

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Yes, indeed! Pretty excited about that!

How fabulous! You have the best luck of getting cheap flights of anyone I've ever seen!

I'm thrilled that you get a family trip do-over - both that the extended family gets to join you (as that was the intention with your original Hawaii trip) AND that Dug will be around for the whole trip this time!

Congratulations and happy planning!

Catching up as usual!

OMG - did I feel for you with the whole show fiasco. I would have lost my mind! And I loved your comment at the end about how you could have just posted the last pics and acted like it was an awesome time. I knew we were kindred DIS spirits - I always feel the need to tell the bad with the good too. And, really, those were always my favorite TRs when I was just a reader and hadn’t visited WDW. It's not fair to other moms to pretend everything went perfectly all the time. Because it never does! It’s the moms who only post the good who give all the rest of us self-loathing disorders. So, good for us for telling The Truth!

Wow! So jealous of your Hawaii fares. We live much closer to Hawaii than you, but because of the weird small town we live in, airfares are always ridiculous. Hawaii is Willow's dream vacation, and I keep hoping I will stumble on a fare that will allow us to do a spring break trip next year, but so far, no luck. Maybe I need to get your “fare alert” info.

I've got to get signed up for those alerts. We've got friends from Wisconsin here this weekend that want us to go with them to Hawaii in 2017. Their parents have a timeshare we could stay in but I really want to check out Aulani. Maybe if we could snag a cheap flight....the wheels are turning

So happy that you get another trip to Hawaii, woohoo!!!

That's cool! Hawaii has a way of being so awesome that you want to go back often. That how we wound up with DVC. Congrats on great airfare.

Are you going through Kayak for airfare alerts? Definitely need to sign up for the website you're using.

Dugette said:

we both highly value vacation time and travel.

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Absolutely, we're the same way. Everyone around us has newer cars, fun toys, new pools, remodels, etc, etc, but we'd much rather spend time with each other in a different setting creating memories.

Dugette said:

credit card with zero % interest for three months

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I'd do this too if we had that option! Was this a new CC card? We only use 2 cards (SWA and Disney Visa) but pay them off each time we use them. Do they run promotions like this do you know?

Woah, so many people! Hopefully they don't put a lot of pressure on you to create the perfect trip for everyone, since you've already been recently. But it does sound like fun to get to experience Hawaii with all the fam!

SimplyGoofy said:

How fabulous! You have the best luck of getting cheap flights of anyone I've ever seen!

I'm thrilled that you get a family trip do-over - both that the extended family gets to join you (as that was the intention with your original Hawaii trip) AND that Dug will be around for the whole trip this time!

Congratulations and happy planning!

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Thank you! Ha, I should really figure out our average airfares to places someday. We try to fly free on points whenever possible (as we are in May), but when we do pay, I am always looking for a deal. I can tell you that Hawaii averages about $233/each - and half our flights were first class.

I'm still a bit incredulous that we are doing this. Apparently we are only destined to go to Hawaii with no intention of doing so the morning of the day we buy flights. But I am super excited to go back and have Dug (and family) there. We REALLY did not want to leave before - and seriously looked into extending our trip.

RGirl said:

Catching up as usual!

OMG - did I feel for you with the whole show fiasco. I would have lost my mind! And I loved your comment at the end about how you could have just posted the last pics and acted like it was an awesome time. I knew we were kindred DIS spirits - I always feel the need to tell the bad with the good too. And, really, those were always my favorite TRs when I was just a reader and hadn’t visited WDW. It's not fair to other moms to pretend everything went perfectly all the time. Because it never does! It’s the moms who only post the good who give all the rest of us self-loathing disorders. So, good for us for telling The Truth!

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Thank you! Funny that you say that, as I am now thinking back to some of the first TRs that I read and really enjoyed and they were also big on The Truth. One of them had a toddler and did a whole update about her "Mommy meltdown". I don't think I'd read as many TRs if they were all just a list of accomplishments with no, um, character development, I guess?

RGirl said:

Wow! So jealous of your Hawaii fares. We live much closer to Hawaii than you, but because of the weird small town we live in, airfares are always ridiculous. Hawaii is Willow's dream vacation, and I keep hoping I will stumble on a fare that will allow us to do a spring break trip next year, but so far, no luck. Maybe I need to get your “fare alert” info.

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You might need to do that! Sign up for any airport you'd be willing to drive to and maybe you'll catch something! I know I've seen a lot of reasonable fares from west coast cities, so there's hope!

jeni16 said:

I've got to get signed up for those alerts. We've got friends from Wisconsin here this weekend that want us to go with them to Hawaii in 2017. Their parents have a timeshare we could stay in but I really want to check out Aulani. Maybe if we could snag a cheap flight....the wheels are turning

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Cheap flights are the way to go! I mean, it makes such a difference with a destination like Hawaii where flights are a large percentage of the trip cost. And, even without unusually low fares like we've gotten, there is a wide range of variation in the regular prices, like $600-$1100 or so - just catching the lower end of that could possibly net you some time at Aulani with the savings, depending on what you were budgeting. Also, I've said it before, but I'll throw in again, I think the ONLY reasonable way to stay at Aulani on a budget is to rent DVC points. Otherwise, the rates there are .

MissDaisyofTexas said:

So happy that you get another trip to Hawaii, woohoo!!!

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Thank you! So excited to go back! I think you are going soon, if I remember right?

sager1969 said:

That's cool! Hawaii has a way of being so awesome that you want to go back often. That how we wound up with DVC. Congrats on great airfare.

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Haha, if only I could catch a price glitch on DVC ownership! I will say that I think Aulani is one of the places where DVC membership makes the most sense, financially. At WDW, there are so many other options and you can stay at Pop or wherever for cheap and still enjoy all the WDW amenities and on-site perks. Aulani is basically $500/night or you don't get anything (other than maybe a meal). However, you need to be able to afford airfare there on a regular enough basis to make it work - and I never thought that was possible more than once.

Leshaface said:

Are you going through Kayak for airfare alerts? Definitely need to sign up for the website you're using.

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You know, I was super lazy about it and just signed up for the first thing that came up on google for price alerts, so it's Airfare Watchdog. I have zero idea if it's any better or worse than anything else, but it seems to work and got me this deal! It took me like 3 minutes to sign up and I just asked for emails when there are below-average fares from MSP to either HNL, PDX, or MCO. And I usually glance at the emails, sometimes look into things for a moment if it's intriguing, then move on. But this one made me drop everything. Also, I remember someone commenting early on in my TR said they got an alert for the super-cheap airfare from our first trip, but ignored it, thinking it was a mistake, and were kicking themselves. So, don't ignore something that looks too good to be true - because it probably is true!

Leshaface said:

Absolutely, we're the same way. Everyone around us has newer cars, fun toys, new pools, remodels, etc, etc, but we'd much rather spend time with each other in a different setting creating memories.

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This is one of the reasons we get along! Totally agree with your thinking. This was actually one of the things that Dug and I found we had in common right when we met - a love of travel and a willingness to forego other things in order to do it before retirement. I drive a 2006 car with 135k or so miles and he has a 2010 with, I'm not sure, something over 100k - and we're planning on keeping them for many more years, as neither of us has a long commute now (he gets to work from home and I drive a few miles across town to the park and ride, then take the bus). And we're just not really materialistic people. Generally, I'd much rather have an experience than a thing. I had an interesting conversation with co-workers recently, though. Two guys I work with and one agreed with me that traveling was great. The other completely didn't see the point and could not for the life of him understand why people would travel. He just had zero interest in seeing new places and would rather save his money and buy some nice things for himself. To each his own, I guess. So hard to understand that thinking, though.

Leshaface said:

I'd do this too if we had that option! Was this a new CC card? We only use 2 cards (SWA and Disney Visa) but pay them off each time we use them. Do they run promotions like this do you know?

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Ironically, it was a Sun Country Airlines credit card. For our May trip, we are flying for free on Sun Country due to each getting one of their cards recently. And, in addition to giving us enough miles for all three of us to get free tickets to MCO, they came with a zero percent on spending for the first 6 months deal. Not sure how common that is, but pretty cool (so long as you pay it off at the end)! I had gotten mine earlier, so my 6 months was done, but Dug still has another three left on his!

Leshaface said:

Woah, so many people! Hopefully they don't put a lot of pressure on you to create the perfect trip for everyone, since you've already been recently. But it does sound like fun to get to experience Hawaii with all the fam!

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I know, there are SO many people. Some of which I don't think I know - BIL's mom's cousins? I know that Dug's immediate family has all been to Hawaii before, so that helps. Maybe too much, as they have some strong ideas of what they do/don't want to do. I am guessing that most of BIL's family has been at some point, as I know they are big on taking extended family vacations together to tropical places (as you can see). We've determined that we will definitely rent our own car in order to preserve our freedom to do the things we want to do, in the event of conflicts.

Wow! You are good girl! I am impressed with your budget travel skills!
But I am totally with you if I found fares like that, I would try to work it in too, because why not?

Hopefully, you find a way to stay at Aulani because it seems awesome! I can't wait to see how this trip unfolds!

Okay, so what is this alert website for cheap flight prices?? We have one for cruises (cruisefish.net btw), but one for airfare would be wonderful!

Dugette-you are awesome!
I have never regretted all the travelling we have done with our children, especially the Hawaii trips. It has made them seasoned travelers and allowed them to see so much more then their own way of life. Plus the memories are priceless and irreplaceable, so bust the budget a bit if you need to, it is worth it!

I also think you may need your own space after spending time sharing a house with relatives and that your own Aulani studio might be a good thing.

Wow, back again to Hawaii. Way to go to find the awesome airfare. It will be a different trip for you for sure, but how nice that Dug will be there with you the whole time. I think doing Aulani at the end is a good idea, but it would also be fun to be in a rental house with a group. Wow, I still am amazed at this new trip!

What fun news!! You get so lucky with those flights!! Jealous!! I think renting a house will be perfect for the whole family to enjoy together (get one with a pool!!) and then a couple nights at Aulani to end the trip sounds perfect. You might also want to consider visiting another island, if you can find cheap flights to another one for a couple nights? Just an idea

How fantastic!! I'm jealous. Going back would be wonderful. There are still things that we didn't get to do. I also work in accounting. Gotta love spreadsheets. I have them for everything too. I hope you get to stay at Aulani for some of your trip! What does your May Land and Sea trip consist of? Which ship are you sailing on?

Jackiemarie21 said:

Wow! You are good girl! I am impressed with your budget travel skills!
But I am totally with you if I found fares like that, I would try to work it in too, because why not?

Hopefully, you find a way to stay at Aulani because it seems awesome! I can't wait to see how this trip unfolds!

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Exactly, it's the kind-of thing that is very hard to say no to (though people do - I told some people about the fares and they didn't buy ). After having been to Hawaii, we've frequently talked about how much we wanted to go back - but that was something probably quite a few years down the road. Because, you know, airfare is expensive. We had to snatch this up and make dreams into reality!

I really, really want to go back to Aulani. If money and family were not issues, I'd just get it booked the whole stay. But I think a partial stay, possibly without the relatives, might be more fitting for this trip. Hopefully we can save some money staying elsewhere with family, then still spend enough time at Aulani to enjoy and make up for Dug's absence before (he only got one day to actually enjoy the resort itself).

SevenWonkas said:

Okay, so what is this alert website for cheap flight prices?? We have one for cruises (cruisefish.net btw), but one for airfare would be wonderful!

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Thanks for the info on the cruise site, as i didn't know about that. I just went with the first google result for fare alerts, so I have Airfare Watchdog. I know there are others and I have no clue how they all compare. This one is free and seems to work fine!

alohamom said:

Dugette-you are awesome!
I have never regretted all the travelling we have done with our children, especially the Hawaii trips. It has made them seasoned travelers and allowed them to see so much more then their own way of life. Plus the memories are priceless and irreplaceable, so bust the budget a bit if you need to, it is worth it!

I also think you may need your own space after spending time sharing a house with relatives and that your own Aulani studio might be a good thing.

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Aw, thanks! You're right - travel is not something we ever regret having done, even if we have to cut back in other areas to make it happen. I agree about how valuable it is for kids and I think Izzy already has adopted the travel mindset - she likes exploring new places and seeing new things. And we make so many memories during these times together.

Haha, true - we will probably want our own space after sharing with family for several days!

jwwi said:

Wow, back again to Hawaii. Way to go to find the awesome airfare. It will be a different trip for you for sure, but how nice that Dug will be there with you the whole time. I think doing Aulani at the end is a good idea, but it would also be fun to be in a rental house with a group. Wow, I still am amazed at this new trip!

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I am still amazed too! Does not seem a bit real yet. Maybe once we actually pay the 0% credit card off it will. It will be so nice to have Dug there - not just having him there in and of itself, but also because we can relax more. Knowing that he was missing so much before caused us to schedule ourselves some long days while he was there, as you can see. I anticipate this being a much more relaxed trip. Though I also don't see us sitting on a beach all day. We'll still do stuff, but maybe not drive all the way around the island every day. I actually think it could be really fun to share a house with Dug's family, but Aulani is magnetic and it is drawing us in...

Imagineer5 said:

What fun news!! You get so lucky with those flights!! Jealous!! I think renting a house will be perfect for the whole family to enjoy together (get one with a pool!!) and then a couple nights at Aulani to end the trip sounds perfect. You might also want to consider visiting another island, if you can find cheap flights to another one for a couple nights? Just an idea

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I cannot believe we got way-below-normal airfare for Hawaii AGAIN! I looked at VRBO for houses a bit the other night and there are some nice options, but adding a pool really narrows the playing field. And I'm curious what SIL is going to come up with. She was insisting that they could find a house for us to share for $700/week and promising it would be like $10/person per night. I don't see anything suitable for our group for even close to that low. And I consider the pool pretty important, as FIL has said that he wants to spend a lot of time at the pool. To be honest, I think we'd all be better off getting a 2-bedroom at Aulani (or more, if the extended family joins). I really don't think it's going to end up costing a lot more than a house and it has an amazing pool area and a beach. But with SIL's promises of $100/night vs. $600/night for a DVC rental on a 2-bedroom...well, nobody seems too keen on that at the moment. But the houses I'm seeing that would work for our needs are closer to the Aulani end of the spectrum than the cheap end. Sorry, rambling...we'll see what SIL can find. I'm leaving that to her. Oh, and I'm keeping other islands in mind. I don't think it will happen, between the extra cost and the family being along, but I'm not ruling it out just yet. There was talk of doing the Norwegian cruise to the other islands, but I think that's been ruled out - high cost and all (MIL, FIL, SIL, and BIL did the cruise a couple years back).

CarlaT said:

How fantastic!! I'm jealous. Going back would be wonderful. There are still things that we didn't get to do. I also work in accounting. Gotta love spreadsheets. I have them for everything too. I hope you get to stay at Aulani for some of your trip! What does your May Land and Sea trip consist of? Which ship are you sailing on?

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I cannot believe we're already going back! I'm excited to make up for the few things we missed and to do some things again. Also excited it will be whale season this time. And that Izzy will be old enough to stay at Aunty's, if we go to Aulani. Really hope we have at least a few nights there.

Yay for accounting and spreadsheets!

The May Land and Sea is 4 nights at the Boardwalk Villas in a studio, 4 nights on the Disney Dream, then 4 nights back at the Boardwalk/Beach Club (TBD due to wait list). You can read more in my PTR, linked in my signature, if you'd like.

I'm On a Boat!

We wandered through some more lands:





We saw these guys:



And I found a coconut on the ground:



I let Izzy play with it for a minute, which she enjoyed:



More pretty scenery:





You see that canoe going down the river? That was the one thing we had left to do. I had promised Izzy a boat ride and she was adamant that we keep that promise. It was getting late in the day and we didn’t know what times the canoes left or if they had round trips. I jogged ahead of Dug and Izzy to go check out the sign at the dock and see what our options were:



Sure enough, there were round trips from that dock and we were within the right time frame. We got in line and were on a canoe fairly soon. They roll strollers onto the back of the canoe and then you go sit on the benches, by the way.

Our guide was having us play games where we all tried to reach up and touch the bridges as we went under:



Izzy got a kick out of this, especially when I held her up a bit. She kept trying to reach for them on the return trip, even though that guide hadn’t made any mention of it.

Due to the limited room on the boat, Izzy and I ended up sitting behind Dug on this leg of the journey:



Love the look the lady behind us is giving me…

Ahhhhhhh, so relaxing:



Oh, hey, another selfie that’s not being photobombed:



We enjoyed our ride down the river and docked at the other end. We weren’t sure if we could stay on for round trip or if we had to get off and back on (there was a line at that dock). When we asked, they said to stay on, but seemed kind-of annoyed about it. I guess most people must just go one way. They had immediately taken our stroller off the boat, so we had to keep checking to make sure they put it back on. Eventually, they did. We moved up to all sit together in the front row:



A friendly older couple sat next to us and we chatted a bit. Turns out they were from Minnesota too, in a suburb not more than 20 minutes away from us! They were at the very end of their trip and had a great time and were not ready to go back to wintery Minnesota yet. They were really nice to talk with.

And the view was nice too:









And we made it back to the dock we started from:



We got off the boat and were ready to head out. However, my stomach was churning once again and I decided I needed to make another run to the restroom that I was getting to know all too well. Darn stomach bug!

Dug and Izzy amused themselves while I was gone. When I returned, I found Izzy admiring this turtle:



And then Izzy showed us the way to the car:



Actually, I think this was a lesson in hand-holding in parking lots. Explaining it to her and letting her know that it was not negotiable.

She was allowed to climb this tiny mountain, though:



So happy to reach the summit:



Up next: Heading back to Aulani and dinner (or lack thereof).

You have some seriously good flight karma!! How exciting to go back to Hawaii! Can't wait to hear about your plans!

It sounds like you had a relaxing afternoon! Beautiful views from the canoe!

I like the "hand holding" lesson! We're getting to the phase with Jake where he wants to walk instead of being carried. The trouble is he's a runner by nature and he's FAST so we've had some interesting moments!

Your evening plans sound...interesting. I hope everything worked out well for you!

RE the houses for rent, maybe check out airbnb as well? I've had good luck with them lately (booked many of our France apartments/villas from there). It's tough leaving that up to someone else, I would not be doing well waiting around lol!

The rest of your time at the village looks really wonderful and the canoe ride sounds great. Sorry your tummy was still acting up. Awful but my first thought was - well you probably didn't gain any weight that trip? lol! (I am still attempting to lose my Disney pounds from last year, so it's on my mind).

Dugette said:

Not sure if we're going or not, but we're booked, along with Dug's parents and sister/brother-in-law!!! We have 24 hours to decide if we've lost our minds.

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I am stunned that you keep finding these airfare deals! Amazing!

Dugette said:

I had promised Izzy a boat ride and she was adamant that we keep that promise.

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Never, ever break a promise to a toddler.

Dugette said:

Love the look the lady behind us is giving me…

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Dugette said:

We weren’t sure if we could stay on for round trip or if we had to get off and back on (there was a line at that dock). When we asked, they said to stay on, but seemed kind-of annoyed about it.

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Well, don't give me the option, then!

Dugette said:

However, my stomach was churning once again and I decided I needed to make another run to the restroom that I was getting to know all too well. Darn stomach bug!

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No! We need to put that thing to bed once and for all.