Mahalo Aulani! Three generation, first-timer Trip Report

Luana Lounge:

We then headed back up to put on our swimming gear, and make one last round of the pools and beach until it was time to go. I had to finish packing for everyone, as well as pack up a "departure bag" that contained clothes for the flight and toiletries so that we could use the Luana Lounge, the departure lounge for Aulani guests. Check out was at 11AM (I had asked for a late check out, but it was not available), so we planned to store our luggage with Bell Services while we enjoyed the pools that day. I called them to come get the bags, and they were very speedy at getting to the room, despite what I imagined was everyone else in Aulani requesting help at the same time. I went down with our bags so that I could indicate which were our "departure bags". I would be fetching those later in the day, but before I would be getting all of the luggage. I put the departure items into paper bags so that it would be easy for Bell Services to pick out these from our luggage. I packed a "boys" and a "girls" bag, since the lounge is divided that way. I stopped by the Concierge Desks and asked for a key to the lounge. It is one-time entry, so keep that in mind. They actually offered us two keys (so two entries) since we had a party of 6.

We made the most of the final hours, indulging in a Dole Whip swirl (OMG), Mickey Pretzel and some good beer! We did the pools, slides, beach, lazy river, and stopped for several Photopass shots on the way to the lounge. The time flew by, and it was time to go. I retrieved the departure bags from Bell Services, and we headed into the lounge. It was tiny in there, and quite chaotic, with people like us checking out, and others using it upon check-in, to get into swim gear before their rooms were ready. There were lockers that could be used for 30 minutes only, and 2 shower stalls (large so that my daughters could easily share one). Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner, as well as towels, are provided. They also had hair dryers. We had a moment of panic when my DD10 thought another family walked out with her change of clothes!! Everyone in the lounge was trying to help her find them, and ultimately we found them in a bathroom stall, precisely where she had left them... We luckily thought to bring the white plastic Aulani bags (that hang in your room closets for clothes that you want the hotel to launder) in our departure bags. They held our wet swim suits for the flight home. It is so nice that Aulani has this lounge, but don't expect to want to stretch out and hang there a while. It is tight all the way around. Some families had all of their luggage and groceries in there!!

At this point, DH went for the car to bring it around to the front to load the luggage, and I went to finalize our Photopass and get the disk made. This was not the best plan on a tight schedule, but I don't know how else you do it if you are still getting photos done the last day (remember that we had Makahiki this morning, so those for sure needed to be added). I had added other photos throughout the trip, so I didn't have to do it all right then, but it was still stressful and very rushed. I will post a full review of Photopass in the next installment. Fourth of July parade duties for the kids are calling me to bed for the night...

heaven2dc said:

I am absolutely loving your TR! I love the way you broke down different segments of your trip to keep everything in perspective (my OCD especially loved this!). Amazing catamaran experience! Can't wait to see pics of the spinning dolphins and to see a little underwater photography while snorkeling (hopefully!). I agree with you that a caring guide can make all the difference in an excursion or guided tour.

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Your trip report was SOOOOO informative - I am taking notes furiously, and I appreciate all the detail you've put into it. I cannot thank you enough.

You're welcome!! Just trying to pay forward all the tremendous help these boards gave me too!!

Photopass:

OK, It has been forever is seems since we were there, but I really want to finish this Trip Report!!

I planned to purchase Photopass from the beginning, so with that in mind, we tried to maximize our photos. There were photographers in the lobby, in the pool areas and at the beach most of the time we were there. One day when it was a bit cloudy, one of my daughters and I went around and did a lot of photos. One photographer was very sweet, and did a mini photo-shoot with her in the area over by the wooden Stitch statue. These came out nicely. We did sunset photos on the beach one night in nice clothes before heading to Monkeypod. There were only 2 photographers down there (on the end of the beach near Ama Ama), and one seemed to be doing sessions for those who had paid extra to schedule one. The other one was just first-come, first-served. She did spend about 10 minutes with us, doing photos in several areas of the beach, which was very nice. There is such limited time when the sun is looking its best, I'm not sure how they get all the families done during busy times (maybe they have more photographers?). Photopass also was at Aunty's for the free activities, as well as at some of the family activities that we did. I know people have stated that they didn't get enough photos to make it worth their $99, but we certainly did. I think you have to make an effort to find the photographers, but when you do, they are generally happy to do many photos (we had 487 photos in the 9 days we were there).

The system at Aulani is not exactly like the one at the parks, in that you do have a card to use when you are in the resort (and therefore those photos go straight to your account; you can have more than one card just like the parks, but you have to go to the gift shop to have them all consolidated onto your account). However, the photos from the group activities (Canoe Races, Aunty's etc) are all in the "system", but you have to go to the gift shop and put those photos that you want from the group activities, onto your account. This doesn't sound too bad until you realize that there are only 2 photopass "stations" in the shop, and often only one is manned. And you will tell them the day and activity, and then you look through screens of 12-16 photos at a time, picking out your family in each photo. This can take FOREVER! Especially if you wait to add all of your photos from all of your activities on the last day (or the person in front of you in line does this!! UGH). I recommend going down each day and adding the photos from that day's activities. On the last day, you will still have to go to the shop to add any photos from that day and get your CD, but it won't take forever.

On our last day, we had been at Makahiki for breakfast, and had stopped and had several other photos in the resort, so I had to go add those on. Then they told me that we had completed the task of getting a photo in every Photopass location (I had read about this, but we didn't do this intentionally, just a bonus!), so we got a free 8x10 print! This was great, but then I had about 5 seconds (because we had to catch our flight!) to decide which photo I wanted them to print out of the hundreds we had taken. And then they can put a border on it, so I didn't want to miss out on that... Decisions! So if you think you will complete all of the stations and get the free print, you might want to have in mind at least which photo you want to use. It took at least another 10 minutes to burn the CD, and my husband was about to go crazy waiting for all of this to happen before we could leave for the airport!

Overall, I thought we definitely got our money's worth from Photopass and would do it again!

OK I think that officially ends my trip report! Whew!! If I can answer any questions, fire away, and good luck to all on their adventures!

Great trip report. I am missing Aulani so much. We went for the first time June of 2015 for 10 days and then this past June for 12 days and brought 2 other families with us. We are planning to go back summer of 2017 if all works out and I have that Aulani song on my phone as well. It takes you right back to sitting in the lobby, just listening to it.

Amw1064 said:

Great trip report. I am missing Aulani so much. We went for the first time June of 2015 for 10 days and then this past June for 12 days and brought 2 other families with us. We are planning to go back summer of 2017 if all works out and I have that Aulani song on my phone as well. It takes you right back to sitting in the lobby, just listening to it.

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We haven't figured out when or how, but I know we will go back too!! Maybe we will see you there next summer! Thanks for reading my Trip Report!

Awesome report!

DCLDVC1 said:

Awesome report!

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Many thanks for a very helpful report! Looks like you had a great time!

Thank you for reading!!