Aulani Needs a Disney Dining Plan.

Oh, I really hope they don't!!! Aside from creating the need make reservations insanely far in advance to get ADRs at all now, the dining plans have created a very sad "dumbing down" of menus. If you're paying a fixed price for a meal in advance, Disney has to keep all prices within a set $$ range or has to say "with the dining plan, you can order only X or Y".

I much prefer that places like Ama Ama keep the feel of a real restaurant!

CampbellzSoup said:

Again I'm not understanding the pushback to this - it would be an option. Perhaps a quick service plan that allows the family 2 quick service credits or a table service plan that allows the family 1 credit for lunch and one for diner at Ama Ama/a new table restaurant. If you don't want it - you don't have to purchase it. I just again, like the thought of all inclusive vacations where everything is already paid for.

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An option that runs the risk of reducing quality of the food in the restaurants like it has done at WDW

I stay at the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club next door for 2 weeks every other year, and have 4 weeks booked next summer. And yet, I don't ever dine in the restaurants on property. Never. Well, a few years ago twice we did Kolohe's and then Longboards (sucks).

We enjoy the island (and I used to live there). We shop local places (Costco mostly and then Target - yay since when I lived on Oahu we didn't have Target) and make almost all dinners in. Often I grill something for lunch, but mostly lunch is something leftover, a salad, or we're out and about.

Aulani is not a Disney park vacation. It's a resort on Oahu - so yes many folks do eat a meal or two or several at the resort, but if you don't leave the resort you will miss a lot that there is on Oahu.

We actually cook more on Oahu than on any other vacation. We enjoy the mornings working out with the classes on the beach, then the pool or driving around, then afternoon I prepare something to grill overlooking the ocean (and meeting others). It's so relaxing!

I've considered a meal at Aulani, but honestly I can't get over the cost. And we have spent a lot on meals, but learned to grill fish living in Hawaii, so can't justify that when I can grill an amazing dinner for us (and our non fish loving daughter) for so much less.

Plus, my kids, after a long day of either driving to the flea market or swimming, do not want to get dressed for dinner. So relaxing to cook, let them shower and eat in their pajamas.

Most resorts on Hawaiian Islands don't offer a meal plan. Some do but for the most part, that would keep you tied to the one hotel.

Walt Disney World offering a dining plan encompasses a huge amount of options, spanning parks, resorts, other destinations. There are miles of options. The dining plan at Walt Disney World makes sense to those who want it all prepaid (even though it may end up costing more in the long run - odds are you're doing most of your dining at WDW anyway in the resorts or theme parks, or Disney Springs). Aulani, on the other hand, is one resort. Most will leave the resort and eat elsewhere, even if it's across the street.

CampbellzSoup said:

Again I'm not understanding the pushback to this.

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Read the post below.

I agree 100%. The DDP killed the restaurants at WDW.

WebmasterKathy said:

Oh, I really hope they don't!!! Aside from creating the need make reservations insanely far in advance to get ADRs at all now, the dining plans have created a very sad "dumbing down" of menus. If you're paying a fixed price for a meal in advance, Disney has to keep all prices within a set $$ range or has to say "with the dining plan, you can order only X or Y".

I much prefer that places like Ama Ama keep the feel of a real restaurant!

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CampbellzSoup said:

I know Disney reads this forum.

It would make the Aulani package really seem like a all inclusive, and a much better vacation when you don't have to think about prices on vacation. I think the option to have it would be rather nice, and give guests their choice to pay all up at front, or to not have it.

I LIKE dining plans as I just like to get what I want without having to think ...man how much is that. I know on a cruise or all inclusive you already pay for it...but it's still a nice perk!

Ama Ama is truly amazing guys the view at sunset is to die for...I'm actually thinking when I can go back

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That would make no sense and it would ruin the restaurants there. Besides, there are much better places to eat on Oahu than Aulani.

I loved the Ulu Cafe and the walk up places around the pool. The Character Meal was okay but Ama Ama wa horrible. DH and I really did not like our meals and the service was spotty. The view was the only great thing about the place.

Not entirely related, but I imagine people here would know - how far out in advance can you make reservations for the restaurants at Aulani? Is it 180 days like WDW?

Cinderella94 said:

Not entirely related, but I imagine people here would know - how far out in advance can you make reservations for the restaurants at Aulani? Is it 180 days like WDW?

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I'm not sure if it's 180 days exactly, but you don't really have to book quite that far out. I booked a few months out, which was fine. We were there over Memorial Day, so maybe not quite the high season but still busy. I booked that early mostly b/c of the character breakfast - I really wanted that on the Saturday before Memorial Day (our first full day and prior to grocery shopping - perfect for a buffet breakfast!) and was worried it would book up early; and since I was doing that, I just wanted to get them all out of the way. They didn't even release character dinner dates until much closer to our trip. It's mostly the character meals you need to book early, although regular Makahiki dinner was full when we were there. We could have walked into Ama'Ama for dinner or breakfast, but I kinda needed reservations anyway due to DH's food restrictions.

cmph said:

I'm not sure if it's 180 days exactly, but you don't really have to book quite that far out. I booked a few months out, which was fine. We were there over Memorial Day, so maybe not quite the high season but still busy. I booked that early mostly b/c of the character breakfast - I really wanted that on the Saturday before Memorial Day (our first full day and prior to grocery shopping - perfect for a buffet breakfast!) and was worried it would book up early; and since I was doing that, I just wanted to get them all out of the way. They didn't even release character dinner dates until much closer to our trip. It's mostly the character meals you need to book early, although regular Makahiki dinner was full when we were there. We could have walked into Ama'Ama for dinner or breakfast, but I kinda needed reservations anyway due to DH's food restrictions.

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This is great! Thank you!

There is no way Aulani could do a dining plan at this time. With only two sit-down restaurants, a bar menu, and a quick service, the resort could not handle the amount of people trying to book. When we went, there were a few nights that AmaAma was booked up until 8:30pm and with kids at the time at 10 and 7, no way to eat that late. To be honest, there are plenty of places that are walking distance at all price levels. Monkeypod was our fave.

If a dining plan is holding you back, then you are missing out. We ate out every meal for dinner and ate in the room for lunch about 4 times in two weeks. Breakfasts were mostly in the room as we are cereal eaters. Coffee and a pastry and we are fine also. But we did try all three restaurants.

Next time we go (August 2018), we plan on getting some food options at Costco and Target or the grocery for dinners. With the grill in the back, it would be foolish not to try. That way we feel that we are using the kitchen in a one-bedroom. Breakfasts will definitely be mostly in the room, but will make exceptions for Ama Ama. Kids say now they still want Mahahiki, which to me seemed way over priced. Of course, Ulu is always a good choice. It's a vacation so I really don't want to cook and eat in the room that much. Making a sandwich or a bowl of cereal is different to me than having to worry about a stove and oven for those meals.

Disney won't do this because it won't make them money and all it will do is result in complaints because people can't get into the few restaurants on premises.

The restaurants across the street are generally better than Aulani's anyway. And anybody staying a week or longer would get pretty sick of eating there. I stayed 4 days and I would have gotten sick of eating dinner there if I didn't run to Monkeypod sometimes.

I can't imagine having to book restaurants 6 months out at Aulani. I booked mine while I was there.