A Few Questions About Aulani

[dolphingirl47]

We are visiting Aulani for the first time in November and will be staying for ten nights. I have done a lot of research, but there are still some questions that I don’t seem to find answers to. I hope that people here may know the answers.

What characters are present at the character breakfast?

What characters can be found around the resort in general?

Is it possible to pay to just use the Kula Wai Hydrotherapy Garden for a fee or this only available as part of a spa treatment?

Can people use their own snorkeling equipment at Rainbow Reef or do you have to use their equipment?

My husband has read something about rapids, but I cannot find anything about this. Is this part of the lazy river or separate?

I also read something about an interactive game similar to the Agent P World Showcase Adventure. Is this open to everybody or just to families with kids? Is there a charge for this?

I appreciate any help you can give me.

Corinna

 

[DenLo]

We are visiting Aulani for the first time in November and will be staying for ten nights. I have done a lot of research, but there are still some questions that I don’t seem to find answers to. I hope that people here may know the answers.

What characters are present at the character breakfast? Mickey is available for a photo before you eat. And Minnie and Goofy are in the restaurant as well as Auntie an Hawaii CM that gets the children to play instructments and parade around the restaurant. The Minnie and Goofy also join the parade.

What characters can be found around the resort in general? Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Stitch, Chip and Dale.

Is it possible to pay to just use the Kula Wai Hydrotherapy Garden for a fee or this only available as part of a spa treatment? It is located in the Spa.

I don't know. I would call Aulani and ask them.

Can people use their own snorkeling equipment at Rainbow Reef or do you have to use their equipment?

COST
Rainbow Reef admission includes a life vest and a mask and snorkel set. Pricing is as follows:

One-Day Rental: $15 per adult (ages 10 and up); $10 per child (ages 9 and under)
Length-of-Stay Rental: $20 per adult (ages 10 and up); $15 per child (ages 9 and under)
HOURS OF OPERATION
Rainbow Reef is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

I believe our niece used her own mask because the others did not fit.

My husband has read something about rapids, but I cannot find anything about this. Is this part of the lazy river or separate?

There are no rapids on the lazy river. Perhaps it's the slides he was reading about?

WATERSLIDES
In Waikolohe Valley, 2 unique waterslides offer thrills galore:

Volcanic Vertical: An enclosed, extreme body slide that plunges you into Waikolohe Pool
Tubestone Curl: An open-air twisting and turning tube adventure with single and double tubes that eventually launches you into Waikolohe Stream
HOURS OF OPERATION
Waikolohe Stream and the waterslides are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

I also read something about an interactive game similar to the Agent P World Showcase Adventure. Is this open to everybody or just to families with kids? Is there a charge for this?

There is the Menehune Adventure Trail.

MENEHUNE ADVENTURE TRAIL
This high-tech scavenger hunt leads you through Aulani as you solve riddles, search for hidden statues and discover surprises left by the Menehune—mischievous little people with magical powers. Interactive elements—with special effects involving fire, water, light and animation—offer fun for all ages. Follow a trail on the Resort grounds or enjoy a special indoor adventure.

I appreciate any help you can give me.

Corinna

Hopefully someone else will know about the hydrotherapy garden. The Aulani website says this:

Experience a modern twist on traditional Hawaiian therapies at Kula Wai, the only outdoor hydrotherapy garden on O‘ahu.

Located within Laniwai – A Disney Spa, this tranquil retreat is complimentary to Guests with the purchase of any full-service spa treatment.

The above does make it sound like you could purchase entrance to it.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Hi Denise,
many thanks for your help. I really appreciate it. I am so excited about this trip, but also feel a bit like a fish out of water.

Corinna

 

[amym2]

Definitely do the Menehune Trail. There are multiple parts to it, each lasting around 30 min, so we did one or two each day. It's free, you just check out the tablet from the community hall.

We had great luck seeing characters around the resort. You'll get a schedule on the Daily Iwa. We lined up 10-15 min before the character came out and didn't have to wait long. We also ran into unscheduled characters, like Goofy at the lazy river entrance and another day in the community hall playing the Wii! Chip and Dale also seemed to be out a lot.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Back when Aulani first opened up and was not running at full capacity they were offering day passes, on an availability only basis, for around $50 when the spa was not fully booked.

Now that Aulani is fully opened and running they have discontinued the passes just like as DenLo said above, they only offer the use of the garden and spa facilities with a full-service spa treatment.

It's a great spa and well worth a visit. I have done a massage on both of our visits and made sure to arrive 2 hours ahead of my appointment to relax and enjoy the rest of the spa before my massage.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Definitely do the Menehune Trail. There are multiple parts to it, each lasting around 30 min, so we did one or two each day. It's free, you just check out the tablet from the community hall.

We had great luck seeing characters around the resort. You'll get a schedule on the Daily Iwa. We lined up 10-15 min before the character came out and didn't have to wait long. We also ran into unscheduled characters, like Goofy at the lazy river entrance and another day in the community hall playing the Wii! Chip and Dale also seemed to be out a lot.

Thanks. I will definitely try this. I love the Agent P World Showcase Adventure so I think I will enjoy this very much.

Looks like the character meet and greets work along the same time lines as on DCL. I have them down to an art form.

Back when Aulani first opened up and was not running at full capacity they were offering day passes, on an availability only basis, for around $50 when the spa was not fully booked.

Now that Aulani is fully opened and running they have discontinued the passes just like as DenLo said above, they only offer the use of the garden and spa facilities with a full-service spa treatment.

It's a great spa and well worth a visit. I have done a massage on both of our visits and made sure to arrive 2 hours ahead of my appointment to relax and enjoy the rest of the spa before my massage.

Thanks, that is a shame, but understandable. I will have to look into a spa treatment.

Corinna

 

[jerseygal]

In regard to "rapids", do you mean hiking at Waimea Falls?

I believe there is a place at Waimea Falls where SOME swim after hiking...
I was very excited about going there when planning our Aulani Trip, till I read a review that said there were signs posted about a health warning about swimming.Was highly concerned about bacteria problems, sickeness,so we "nixed" the Falls all together.. Thought I read something somewhere that someone drowned in the Falls while the spouse was taking pictures! WOW! That was SO SAD!

 

[cleophus12]

If you have a chance to book the spa, do it! And schedule it when you don't have any other plans that day. You will want to spend hours there. Take a good book and prepare to relax. The only other plan I would want that day would be a wonderful sunset dinner to top off a great day.

 

[Girimama33]

Besides the characters mentioned by Denlo, you can also see Donald at the Resort...or at least we saw him in mid July.
You can use your own snorkeling gear in Rainbow Reef.
I have no idea what rapids your husband is referring to...

 

[dolphingirl47]

In regard to "rapids", do you mean hiking at Waimea Falls?

I believe there is a place at Waimea Falls where SOME swim after hiking...
I was very excited about going there when planning our Aulani Trip, till I read a review that said there were signs posted about a health warning about swimming.Was highly concerned about bacteria problems, sickeness,so we "nixed" the Falls all together.. Thought I read something somewhere that someone drowned in the Falls while the spouse was taking pictures! WOW! That was SO SAD!

How sad. No, the rapids are definitely at Aulani (see below).

If you have a chance to book the spa, do it! And schedule it when you don't have any other plans that day. You will want to spend hours there. Take a good book and prepare to relax. The only other plan I would want that day would be a wonderful sunset dinner to top off a great day.

We have 9.5 days at Aulani. We have 4 days planned where we are definitely doing something away from the resort. The rest of the days, I am just planning on chilling and enjoying the resort. So a spa day would fit into this quite nicely.

Besides the characters mentioned by Denlo, you can also see Donald at the Resort...or at least we saw him in mid July.
You can use your own snorkeling gear in Rainbow Reef.
I have no idea what rapids your husband is referring to...

Thanks. I asked him where he saw the info about the rapids and he said it was on the Aulani website. So I just headed over there and found the following:

Waikolohe Stream

Enjoy 2 tubing adventures from atop Pu‘u Kilo: one extreme, the other serene. The rapids twist through caverns, while the lazy river glides gently along the Hawaiian landscape.

http://m.disneyaulani.com/activities/pools

Corinna

 

[dolphingirl47]

I have another question. Does anybody know when Aulani gets decorated for the holidays?

Corinna

 

[Girimama33]

He is referring to the tube water slide then...It empties into the lazy river. I wouldn't really describe it as rapids though...but if that is how Disney describes it...

 

[lablady]

I have another question. Does anybody know when Aulani gets decorated for the holidays?

Corinna

We were there shortly after Thanksgiving in 2012, and I think we got there on the 26th and there were no decorations, but when we walked into the lobby the very next day.... decorations everywhere! It was pretty cool!

 

[lablady]

"Waikolohe Stream

Enjoy 2 tubing adventures from atop Pu‘u Kilo: one extreme, the other serene. The rapids twist through caverns, while the lazy river glides gently along the Hawaiian landscape. "

I'm thinking that they are describing two parts of the same tube ride...the beginning, at the top of the mountain, is twisty and "extreme", and once you get to the bottom, you splash into the lazy river...where it can be "serene"...depending on the number of crazy kids in your vicinity!

 

[jillmc40]

I have another question. Does anybody know when Aulani gets decorated for the holidays?

Corinna

How could I forget that Aulani will be decorated for the Holidays???!!! Do you think they will still be decorated on Jan 5 and 6?

I am going to go look for pictures now...

 

[dolphingirl47]

He is referring to the tube water slide then...It empties into the lazy river. I wouldn't really describe it as rapids though...but if that is how Disney describes it...

Thanks. That makes sense. I had previously read that there are two slides, but on that website, only one is mentioned.

We were there shortly after Thanksgiving in 2012, and I think we got there on the 26th and there were no decorations, but when we walked into the lobby the very next day.... decorations everywhere! It was pretty cool!

Thanks. I was hoping that they may decorate a bit earlier. We are leaving on November 23rd. Still, that gives me an excuse to plan a return visit.

"Waikolohe Stream

Enjoy 2 tubing adventures from atop Pu‘u Kilo: one extreme, the other serene. The rapids twist through caverns, while the lazy river glides gently along the Hawaiian landscape. "

I'm thinking that they are describing two parts of the same tube ride...the beginning, at the top of the mountain, is twisty and "extreme", and once you get to the bottom, you splash into the lazy river...where it can be "serene"...depending on the number of crazy kids in your vicinity!

Thanks, that actually sounds tempting (minus the crazy kids )

How could I forget that Aulani will be decorated for the Holidays???!!! Do you think they will still be decorated on Jan 5 and 6?

I am going to go look for pictures now...

Unfortunately I have no idea, but hopefully somebody on here knows.

Corinna

 

[jwgm2012]

Just wanted to say Hi and Aloha!

We will be at Aulani in November also for only a short stay to celebrate my big 4-0... We arrive on Halloween afternoon and stay through Tuesday, 11/4... While our trips won't overlap, I'm like you right now and just trying to keep my excitement at bay and soak up all the info I can get! I've learned so much from here and also from the trip advisor website under Oahu. One thing I'm most excited about is the photopass photographer that we can schedule sessions with and then also renting our equipment for the week from snorkel bobs - basic package is $25 for the week. Hope you have a great time!

gina

 

[dolphingirl47]

Just wanted to say Hi and Aloha!

We will be at Aulani in November also for only a short stay to celebrate my big 4-0... We arrive on Halloween afternoon and stay through Tuesday, 11/4... While our trips won't overlap, I'm like you right now and just trying to keep my excitement at bay and soak up all the info I can get! I've learned so much from here and also from the trip advisor website under Oahu. One thing I'm most excited about is the photopass photographer that we can schedule sessions with and then also renting our equipment for the week from snorkel bobs - basic package is $25 for the week. Hope you have a great time!

gina

Thanks. Is 1974 not a fantastic vintage? I hope you will have a magical stay at Aulani. The photo session has me excited. I was thinking of having some professional photos done on the trip, but was leaning towards Disneyland using the same photographer I used for my Trash the Dress session at Disneyland in 2011. Now I think Aulani would be even more special.

Corinna

 

[Pooh2]

Just wanted to say Hi and Aloha!

We will be at Aulani in November also for only a short stay to celebrate my big 4-0... We arrive on Halloween afternoon and stay through Tuesday, 11/4... While our trips won't overlap, I'm like you right now and just trying to keep my excitement at bay and soak up all the info I can get! I've learned so much from here and also from the trip advisor website under Oahu. One thing I'm most excited about is the photopass photographer that we can schedule sessions with and then also renting our equipment for the week from snorkel bobs - basic package is $25 for the week. Hope you have a great time!

gina

I've been looking for more info on the photopass and have not found much of anything for Aulani. How much are the sessions? Do you book ahead of time?