Aulani to WDW: The Lurkyloos' Anniversary Vow Renewal: THRILLING CONCLUSION 8/5!

[2xcited2sleep]

Holy guacamole, you packed a LOT into your last day! Wow!!

I am dutifully taking notes. Think I may skip the poke stop.

You definitely should have purchased Mr. Pineapple. Too cute! Love Patrick's photo ops in the big pineapple stand. Definitely keepers!

I think we went to the luau at the Cultural Center when I was a kid but I don't think I knew there were lands and activities. $50 does seem kinda steep.

The lounge at Aulani is definitely a brilliant idea. I'd love it even at WDW!

Speaking of which... you're on your way! That definitely helps ease the pain of leaving Aulani.

 

[librarygeek]

Looks like another packed day! I think I would enjoy the Dole Plantation - I do enjoy a well done tourist trap I would probably have to pass on the poke though. While I enjoy seafood it looks a bit too odd for me!

 

[lurkyloo]

Our wedding photographer pals Nate and Jensey Root outdid themselves in Hawaii! I am so excited to finally be able to share THEIR version of our trip. At some point I might go back in and add these photos to the appropriate places in each of my trip report installments, but for now, I’ll just put them all in a pair of updates with links to where each activity was described in my report. Enjoy!

My impression of our room at Aulani can be found HERE. The Roots were one floor up and one room over from us, so at least they had an actual view...

Our day trip around Oahu together started with a drive up H3, arguably the World’s Most Scenic Highway. At last I can show you how pretty it was!

 

[lurkyloo]

Ah, Kualoa Ranch and its movie tour...

We’re walking, we’re walking...

See!!! I *told* you the bus was sketchy!

 

[lurkyloo]

OK, now I can TOTALLY see two gorillas smooching!

Oooh! This is a much better shot of the miniature temple used in the venerable classic Aztec Rex!

 

[lurkyloo]

From there, we continued on around the North Shore, stopping to eat and explore along the way.

I think I could put together a whole scrapbook of Patrick being impish in the water...

Wow... Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck looks even grottier in color!

 

[lurkyloo]

OK, so here are some better shots of the pig-head offering we came across at Pu-u o Mahuka Heiau...

This is from Turtle Beach, NOT a turtle sacrifice!

Matsumoto’s Shave Ice!

 

[lurkyloo]

So we kinda were standing in a graveyard as we ate... that’s OK, right?

Not OK

I am very excited to see Nate shot the very same photo as Patrick... or maybe Patrick stole Nate’s shot...

Action shot!!!

 

[lurkyloo]

The next batch of shots will show you what the Roots saw when we weren’t with them and when they weren’t toiling away at editing wedding photos.

Talk about a busman’s holiday... it looks like the Roots stumbled on a wedding (or at least some kind of private event) at the JW Marriott Ihilani next door.

Yep! They’re THAT good!

 

[lurkyloo]

See what I mean? The pool area is WAY better at night!

 

[lurkyloo]

This is the closest Jensey has ever been to a fish...

Tomorrow: The Roots’ Version of the Starlit Hui!

 

[lurkyloo]

The lounge at Aulani is definitely a brilliant idea. I'd love it even at WDW!

Totally! It would be brilliant at the Deluxe resorts at WDW. At the Beach Club, I'd spend my whole last day in Stormalong Bay!

Looks like another packed day! I think I would enjoy the Dole Plantation - I do enjoy a well done tourist trap I would probably have to pass on the poke though. While I enjoy seafood it looks a bit too odd for me!

Yeah, I don't think even a Root photo of that stuff could make it look appealing...

 

[krisgils33]

This is one of the best trip reports I've ever read. There were lots of helpful tidbits in here. We're heading to Aulani in Aug and I'm finalizing our itinerary...so thank you!!!

Your wedding pics were absolutely beautiful.

 

[saintstickets]

Really enjoying your TR. DW and I were there in Sept, 2012 celebrating our 30th anniversary and your pics are letting us relive it all again!

 

[aboveH20]

Wow! I'm loving all the information in your trip report. Thank you so much for taking the time to be so detailed. I feel as though I should be taking notes.

My husband doesn't know yet, but we're going in February for my round birthday. I won't say which one so you don't tell me your grandmother is the same age. He and I have both been to Hawaii but it was years ago in our single days. In fact he went on R 'n' R from Vietnam -- so it's been a few years.

I'm actually only up to page four so I'm looking forward to continuing.

 

[Mom2m&k]

Holy cow those pictures are great! I'm pretty sure Disney could just peruse your trip report for pics needed for their next print ads! I am still a little disturbed by the woman carrying a pigs head...just sayin!

 

[Princess_K]

Hi, Carrie! I've thoroughly enjoyed this TR so far! DH and I are hoping to head to Aulani next year, so I've loved reading along. The Roots photos are gorgeous!

 

[lurkyloo]

OK, the next series of shots is from the night of our vow renewal, when we all went to Aulani’s Starlit Hui together. This first shot really threw me until I figured out it was a view into Auntie’s Beach House...

 

[lurkyloo]

Moms, start your engines!!!

 

[lurkyloo]