4th of July Week in Aulani Trip Report (completed 8/14)

Continuing we get a gift!!

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What's in the box 📦?
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A Sake drinking set!!! That is aulani themed :) I loove this.
Ohh and I took a pic of this fun fish guide to reference.
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Here is our crew!
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This was amazing!!! I highly recommend this experience. The chef is soo nice and knowledgeable. The small group setting was so much fun. The food and drink was amazing! I just looved this. I love this dvc event. It is worth the cost wich is around 60ish dollars per person.

Ohh also we found out all the poke even at the Cafe is made with the same high quality fish. So that is why the poke even if the cafe is really good. This chef prides himself in making sure his poke is the best.

Next post disney luau.
 
So we go up and get ready for the luau.
There is disagreement on when we should start lining up. So we get there really early.

We bought vip tickets so we go to the vip line and wait... for a while, lol.

Then we get started. They first give u the nut lei.
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Then they blow the shell to start.
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Then they check us in and we get out pic.
With the vip the pic is included so that is nice
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This is one of the few smiling pics we have of my dad yeah.
Then we get drinks!! I love starting off with a drink.
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We were escorted to our seats. They are already assigned to us in vip.
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Then we got to try out the activities. The good news, is all the activities seem to be back from covid restrictions. First making the wrist leis.
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Then we did tattoos.
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VIP is nice because there was very little to no waiting at the activities since we got to get in first.
Continuing to next post.
 


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Then we played the ukulele!!
This is our view. We were 2nd table back in the middle. Such a great view.
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They serve kids first, loove disney always taking care of the kids. This is what they got.
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They said they can get anymore of anything for our son.
Then they released us to the buffets. VIP sections first.
I skip the veggie table and go strait to the good stuff.
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Desserts
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Fruit
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I filled up my plate and headed back to our table. The food here was good. I was surprised how good it was for being a buffet. If I wanted 2nd I could go up and get more too. This was great.

They brought over my sons desserts. Super cute.
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They came by to refill drinks too!!
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The show is really well done, great story telling. Great dancing and music. Costumes are amazing. Nothing out of place. Everything is just seemless and u learn while being entertained. Loove this luau. Especially cool to hear the details of the story since we have been listening to the music throughout the week from our balcony. Here is some pics.
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We tried the dance.
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Hard to get any closer... lol.
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So there is a little sampling of the show with photos.

Mickey and minne made an appearance but I did not take a pic I did a video instead.

We left the luau and then went to bed 🛌 I love that we did not need to drive anywhere and could just walk right to our room.

Overall: I would highly recommend doing Disney's luau at least once. As new dvc owners here I do not think we will pay for this every time cause as great as it is, it is still very exp. So this will be a one and done for us but we are very, very happy we did it on our first trip. VIP is not needed but we liked it a lot having great view and not having to wait for food or activities was really nice. Also having the photo included was nice too. Food I would rate good but not the best food we had on our trip, but the experiences with the activities, drinks and entertainment was amazing!!!!
 


Our last day..... :( leaving day.
Our plane was not leaving till evening so no rushing.
No running this morning so I decide to head to ABC store for the Ube pancakes!
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Super quick and easy. The price is very reasonable.
I went back to my room with my breakfast and just had to take a moment to look out at my last sunrise..
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Sad face :(
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Now back to my room.
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Yummy!! These pancakes are sooo good!! This sauce is like the best. Highly recommended esp for the price.
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And of course had to get some more of these yummys... for the rest of the family.
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We are slowly packing up... man I am going to miss this view. I go wait in the line to get the room u can use when u have checked out.
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Then we take my son to auntys. We have him booked for the part we would be leaving to the room soo we did not have to deal with him throwing tantrums while packing and leaving.
While heading down to we stop at the store for a little something he will earn if he does not cry when leaving. 20220709_094545.jpg
He picked out a washable and he wanted the shave ice one.... one of the cast members said let's see if we can make some magic and they think they found the shaved ice one! Love cast members!
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We drop off my son then next we head to off the hook.
 
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We finished up with our room and had them pick up our luggage and store it till we leave. Then we head to off the hook. It is crazy that we have not eaten here yet. It looks super nice. We get a shady spot.
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Time for some drinks!

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Fried Calamari, it was good. Not as good as roys but good.
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Fried onions... I am not a fan but my dad loves them. 20220709_112224.jpg
I got the shrimp flatbread, it is really good. Look at the size of the shrimp on this.
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Next a sandwhich..I do not remember what it was.. lol.
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My husband got the poke. Such a good choice.
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I went Next store to pick up my son, everyone else stayed in their seats.
 
Pick up was easy. He made a cute drum! He said goodbye to all the cast members at auntys. Soo cute.
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We head back to our seats at off the hook and now my son can open his new toy!
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He got just what he wanted!!
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Then the waitress sprinkled a little disney magic. They gave my son a free mickey cookie!! My son is now in cloud nine.
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Then we head out. My parents find a place to chill in shade. I go and take my last chance to visits some characters!
First I forgot to mention before off the hook we met stitch!
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Then after hook we met a few more with my son. He was just soo cute.
Duffy!!
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And then daisy!
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And then that is it, I think we have managed to collect all the signatures and take pics with all the characters!! I am very much a got to collect them all kind of person.
 
Next we head to Luana lounge to freshen up and relax before going to airport. This was the thing I had to wait in line for to get our time slot. It is nice little area.
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No one was here so took a pic of the bathrooms.
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We then had to leave the room. We still had some time to kill. So we chilled out in the lobby.
I think next time we will do the pool on our last day. My mom just did not want to do it cause she was not sure about this lounge area and if we would be able to use it. But now that we know these are nice and how to get it. We will do swimming on our leaving day.

We head out to the airport and stop to get gas. Then we drop off the rental car. The process was real easy. Then we check in. We head to united club level lounge and relax. Sadly while checking in we found out our flight is being delayed... bah.
United club in HW is great! This is my favorite feature! Unlimited dole whip!!!
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Here is the other selections..

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The sliders are real good.

We had to wait a looooong time here... our plane kept being delayed. Even though our plane was here apparently the flight that is connected to ours is being delayed. Soo it was a long time with a five year old. 🙃
We made it on to the plane nothing crazy happened but this plane sucks... the seats slowly raise up on you. So even if u lean back it will slowly creep back up... this is the most evil thing ever made esp for a red eye trip!! And remember we are in economy plus! So there is room to lean back the seats. I asked an attendant if the seats where made this way or was mine just broken and she said they are made this way..... why are airlines soo evil. My son at least fell asleep across me and my husband. And we arrived on Sunday morning. And that was our trip.

Overall: I loove Aulani, so happy we become owners. This is the perfect balance of HI and disney. I do not think this place is worth the price or points for July 4th week since they do nothing special for it. So I would come here in June when it is cheeper. If they start doing special stuff for the 4th again then we would think about coming this week. For example, booked for June next year :) Also it has been over a month from our trip and my son still talks about Aualani! People get confuse since he talks about mickey in Hawaii, lol and then I have to explain it. My son also still throws shakas everywhere now. Lol.

We still have so many places we did not visits this trip so we look forward to hitting up all new places next time.

Please feel free to ask me questions or just to let me know u guys enjoyed my trip report.
 
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I’ll be the first to say I loved it! Was clear how much fun you guys had and your son is a doll. Also so happy for you that you got to experience that with both your folks; what a blessing. Hope you have many more great trips in the future!
 
Thanks so much for taking the time to add all these great photos!
I especially appreciate the pics of the Luana lounge. We have never used it but it is great to see the set up for the lockers/showers etc
 
Thanks so much for taking the time to add all these great photos!
I especially appreciate the pics of the Luana lounge. We have never used it but it is great to see the set up for the lockers/showers etc
Your welcome!
Great report! What days are Luau held? How long in advanced can you book ?
Not sure... I know fri and sat for sure.. not sure I booked mine out I think 6 months in advance. It was one of the earliest thing.
How - when! - do you sign up for the lounge? We also have a pretty late flight on departure day!
You sign up that day. 7am or 8am at the dvc desk then line gets big.
 
I just re-read your report for the second (maybe third, LOL) time. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it. Your son is so cute. And I love your Minnie ears!

I feel like I have so many questions. Really interested in doing something similar to your North Shore day. Where, exactly, is the Leonard's truck located? We ultimately want to end up at Turtle Bay Resort for lunch and activities. Maybe we will check out that shave ice stand on the way back. Great tip!

Our kids will be almost 11 when we visit this summer. I'm worried they will be too old for Aunty's, but I really want to do the poke and sake tasting and I'd feel more comfortable having a safe place to leave them. Do you think they will be bored?

LOVE all the character pics you took. What an awesome trip.
 
I just re-read your report for the second (maybe third, LOL) time. Thanks so much for taking the time to write it. Your son is so cute. And I love your Minnie ears!

I feel like I have so many questions. Really interested in doing something similar to your North Shore day. Where, exactly, is the Leonard's truck located? We ultimately want to end up at Turtle Bay Resort for lunch and activities. Maybe we will check out that shave ice stand on the way back. Great tip!

Our kids will be almost 11 when we visit this summer. I'm worried they will be too old for Aunty's, but I really want to do the poke and sake tasting and I'd feel more comfortable having a safe place to leave them. Do you think they will be bored?

LOVE all the character pics you took. What an awesome trip.
There are a few Leonard’s Trucks throughout Oahu including one 15-20 min from Aulani in Waipahu
 

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