DVC Aulani Perks/Discounts

[PrincessYessenia]

Originally Posted by shon

Great review Jeff!!

My family will be arriving on the 8th of January and staying for 13 days so the costs of the snorkeling/rental etc isn't so bad. I'm wondering about the $99 pass though, can I only get one chair/umbrella? Or would me and wife both need passes to get 2 chairs? I'd rather just get the one individual pass and then 3 passes for the rest of the family. I hope I'm making sense!

I do hope that there are some perks by that time as well! Still contemplating whether I need a car for the whole stay not? Is there enough to do at Aulani for 13 days? My children are 7 and 4, so not quite sure.... My past stays in Hawaii, I've always had a car for food runs and such, any suggestions?

This will be our first trip but based on what everyone here on the boards says we decided to rent a car. My suggestion for you is to do the same

Originally Posted by mkymsehi

The $99 offer has been discontinued for several weeks. No word if the price is being adjusted, or they've done away with it permanently.

Last night (10/10/11) the sign at the Rainbow Reef showed this change on the snorkel experience.

The sign no longer has any info on the chair/umbrella/beach equipment.

Thank you for the update. I'm super disappointed about this. I was really looking forward to taking advantage of the length-of-stay pass. Hopefully they're just tweaking the price. I can live with $150-200 because I know I would spend more doing those things individually anyway.

[mkymsehi]

Just want to clarify...

The Rainbow Reef snorkel gear and life vest is only for use in the salt water pool. You can't take the gear over to the beach lagoon.

If you don't own snorkel gear, stop by at Kmart, Walmart, Sports Authority, or Costco in town on the way to the resort. Buy something that fits your budget, use it, and either mail it home, leave it, or donate it to another guest. You can probably find complete sets in the $25-$40 range.

I'll check what the sign now reads out at the beach rental shack this weekend (staycationing again). Last time I did look, the $99 deal was taped over.

[Disneyfn420]

Is this a change too? When I went I was allowed to use my snorkeling equipment in the lagoon. They just wouldn't give me flippers but told me to get them from the rental place near the water which I did.

Originally Posted by mkymsehi

Just want to clarify...

The Rainbow Reef snorkel gear and life vest is only for use in the salt water pool. You can't take the gear over to the beach lagoon.

If you don't own snorkel gear, stop by at Kmart, Walmart, Sports Authority, or Costco in town on the way to the resort. Buy something that fits your budget, use it, and either mail it home, leave it, or donate it to another guest. You can probably find complete sets in the $25-$40 range.

I'll check what the sign now reads out at the beach rental shack this weekend (staycationing again). Last time I did look, the $99 deal was taped over.

[mkymsehi]

Correction to my last post about the snorkel gear.

I just checked with the rental booth (10/15/11). Best way to do this is pay for the Rainbow Reef, either day or length of stay pass. You CAN use the snorkel gear at the beach cove. BUT, stop by the beach shack to pick up flippers, which are not offered in the Rainbow Reef.

If you only rent at the beach shack, you get the gear, but not the Rainbow Reef experience.

[mkymsehi]

Rental chairs on the beach cove (I'm not sure of the prices now).



The put two mattresses on here for comfort, and the back part comes up for shade.



Free chairs on the beach cove, first come first served for Aulani hotel guests.





Free beach umbrellas on the beach between Aulani and Ihilani hotels. About 8 of them, chairs NOT INCLUDED.





Free pool chairs, first come first served.



Paid day cabanas.

[mkymsehi]

By the Menehune Bridge pool section, there are 9 umbrellas, first come first served.





Near the Shave Ice Stand/Lava Shack store there about 7 more at tables, not lounge chairs.



There are ZERO umbrellas near the "main" pool. Only cabanas (paid), or lounge chairs (free).

[rparmfamily]

There are also 2 more tables with umbrellas by the Off the Hook bar that are brown so for pool use, right by where the "dark/fast" slide empties.

[mkymsehi]

10/15/11 the sign on the Beach Shack now reads:

[mkymsehi]

Snorkel gear sold across the street at the ABC Country Store (along with groceries).



$12.99 for a basic set.



And higher for fancier sets.

[Makakilo]

Hey Jeff,

Met you Saturday night at the infinity hot tub. Enjoyed talking with you and thanks for all the tips.

Only perk we received as a DVC member was a small fee off the snorkling experience. 10%, I think. Anyway, we enjoyed swimming with the reef fish. We saw one unusal fish there that had a long collapsing tail which made it look like an eel. They called it a railfish, said it was the only one in the pond and they named it Mr Chips because they found it at a wharf eating crackers. Cute story.

Emery

[spleen]

Originally Posted by Makakilo

Only perk we received as a DVC member was a small fee off the snorkling experience. 10%, I think.

you didn't get free parking?

[Makakilo]

Sorry for the confusion. Should not have said "only". Of course there's free parking for DVC members too. Guests who spend over $32 can validate their parking.

[rparmfamily]

We were there Sat night too Though not sure if we were in the hot tub, probably at some point...we have 3 kids we were probably chasing around! But we spent the whole day at the pool area.

[tonyrx1]

Originally Posted by DisneyFan68

Just got back from visiting Aulani, and I have to say it is hands down the best resort in Hawaii. It was so nice and the weather was perfect even though the rest of the island including Waikiki was overcast and rainy. It was a little smaller than I had anticipated but still enough to do for the entire family. They even had a color daily newsletter called "the daily 'iwa" with all the activities of the day. The pools, slides, and menehune bridge look awesome! I can just imagine how amazing the resort would look at night. I can't wait to actually stay there next week!!!

Anyway, my question is, does anyone know the perks and discounts that are being offered to DVC members at Aulani?

As of April 2012, the only "perk" is that the Aulani does not charge guest the $35/day parking fee for your car. Currently they are participating in the purchase 100 points and get 20 special for new and add-on points if purchasing direct. It is a wonderful hotel!

[Disneyfn420]

Originally Posted by tonyrx1

As of April 2012, the only "perk" is that the Aulani does not charge guest the $35/day parking fee for your car. Currently they are participating in the purchase 100 points and get 20 special for new and add-on points if purchasing direct. It is a wonderful hotel!

I think you get a discount at the ice cream place across the way as well