Any Budget tips for Aulani?

[Crazy4Disney06]

We have a room booked via DVC (studio) and saved on airfare with a credit we had as a "sorry" for a horrible flight home from Maui last summer, but I'm wondering where else we can save money as we have never been to Oahu.

 

[kkmcan]

We were just there a month ago and it was fabulous! There is a bunch of tips about Aulani over on the DVC resorts boards. I did a ton of studying for our trip and I learned so much from all the wonderful people who are willing to share here on the DIS boards.

We stayed 2 nights in Waikiki and did some sightseeing- Pearl Harbor, snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, Lanikai beach and then headed out to Aulani for 4 nights in a regular room. We stocked up on snacks, alcohol, muffins, lunch meats, bread and such for sandwiches and ate our breakfasts and lunches in the room. For dinner we either grabbed quick service or headed across the street a couple of times for dinner. There a few restaurants to choose from and not to badly priced either.

We bought the refillable mugs for everyone in the family and then picked up a small bottle of coconut rum to add to our sodas.

We found that we enjoyed snorkeling in the ocean there at Aulani and didn't end up doing the Rainbow Reef at all. We purchased cheap snorkel sets (mask and snorkel, no fins) at the ABC store and used those the whole trip. We did have room in our luggage so we brought them home with us.

Anyways, hop over to the DVC resorts board and read up. Enjoy!

 

[Marla Hellwig]

There is a ABC store across the street in a small shopping center from the resort and you can pick up goodies to eat in the room

 

[mello]

We stayed there in Feb 2012 and had a great time! We had already spent a few days in Honolulu, and driving around the island, so didn't feel the need to go offsite at all while at Aulani.The food choices onsite were very expensive though, so we made some notes while there, on ways to save a bit if/when we ever get back again.

We thought the best bargain onsite was the bar by the pool - it was very pleasant to have lunch under the umbrellas overlooking the pool area, and the prices weren't too bad.

The kitchens are so nicely equpped that we also thought that it would be smart to stop at Costco and/or Walmart on the way up, and get some meat and/or fish to grill (they were putting in bbq's while we were there), and some rice to fix in the rice cooker, some fruits & juices to make smoothies in the blender, and some lunch picnic foods. There are some really nice picnic spots if you walk just a ways down the beach from the resort, and I could see packing some rolls, ham, cheese, fruit, etc. and taking a nice walk down the beach for a picnic.

Also, you probably already know this since you've been to Hawaii before, but be sure to ask the locals where the best plate lunch places are - plate lunches are best bargain in the islands!

Have a great time! Aloha!

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

Thanks everyone for your tips! We are super excited and fell in love with Hawaii during our trip to Maui last summer. Hoping we have a similar experience on Oahu and at Aulani!

 

[maggiew]

I don't have any recommendations for Aulani specifically because we stayed at the Marriott Timeshare condos down the beach.

But, we used the Go Oahu card for attraction tickets, tours, etc. We saved money that way. You just have to make sure that you take good advantage of it. We used that during our stay in Waikiki. When we moved over to Ko Olina, we just hung around the pool and ocean.

There is a grocery store and some restaurants the exit before Aulani, so if you have a car you can head there for some food. We ate at the Pizza Hut there while waiting for our room at the Marriott to be ready. And stocked our fridge from the grocery store. The Marriott had grills outside to use to cook dinner, but not sure if Aulani has those.

Maggie