April 29, 2012 ~ Aloha! ~ Inagural Wonder to Hawaii-Part 3

[Pixiegran]

Just checking back in after vacation - sorry, I do not think I can read all 50 pages that I missed - had a great time at Aulani!

Please tell us about it since we can't go there without renting a room for a day while on the cruise......

 

[MousseauMob]

We travel with our grown kids, GK's etc. so I say SIGN UP!! I can not imagine taking a cruise without seeing or interacting at some point with children! My GK's are the ones that keep me young!

Just my thoughts...

I'd absolutely encourage you to sign up then and join the group at dinner. Just think on it and let me know if you decide to join.

I have changed to late dining, and I too have 2 kids both boys.. ages almost 5 and 2. I think my guys would enjoy having other kids to pal with during dinner. I would be interested in being linked.

This is SUCH a warm, welcoming group - I feel so blessed to be cruising with all of you!

It just seems no matter the obstacle or concern, someone lends a hand, offers some genuinely thoughtful advice or just plain encourages.

Wow

I know - isn't everyone wonderful! Thanks everyone!

Vista Prints is having their semi-annual clearance sale. I know they are always having a sale but this one does look better then others.

They are offering their tee-shirts for $4 each with free 7 day free shipping on orders of $30 or more. They also have a lot of free stuff available, including magnets.

If you want access to any of the images from our cruise shirts you can download from my Flicker file. Maybe Brooklyn can tell you how to access her great images too.

Anyway, they have also offerred me an additional discount for both me and friends if I send them their e-mail (of course I would never do that unless you asked me to).

I have all ready ordered cruise tees from them. The quality of the shirts are good, not as nice as say LandsEnd but not bad. The images printed fine. I have found their customer service to be wonderful. Unfortunately, they still don't do kid sizes.

Thanks, I need to look into them.

 

[Pixiegran]

As Corinna has said, they never question my images (I've never tried to have them print naughty things). I've already had a number of our shirt images printed on tees and magnets and gotten them back.

Let me know if you want me if you vista to send you discount info or if you need my Flicker images info.

Is it just me or has this web site been a bear today?

Val I would love to try and get a couple of things printed but have NO idea how when I look at an image in flicker or photobucket etc to transfer the image to anywhere!! I even have an image that was put on facebook for me this morning and I am stumped...can you explain how to do it and also the link to your flicker...

 

[valbob89]

Val I would love to try and get a couple of things printed but have NO idea how when I look at an image in flicker or photobucket etc to transfer the image to anywhere!! I even have an image that was put on facebook for me this morning and I am stumped...can you explain how to do it and also the link to your flicker...

Judy

Let's take this off-line and see if I can't help you through it or order them for you.

Ebates is offering 5% rebate for Vista Orders too. Val

 

[MrsMork]

I have changed to late dining, and I too have 2 kids both boys.. ages almost 5 and 2. I think my guys would enjoy having other kids to pal with during dinner. I would be interested in being linked.

Would love to hear about your trip and maybe some tips please. We're leaving to Aulani on February 5th which will also be our very first trip to Hawaii.


Hoping for nice table mates.

I can pretty much make a guarantee you will. You will be dining with DISers!!!

 

[paulasillars]

This past cruise we were really lucky because we were at deb and johns table were we had a great time and met some really nice people.

We have always had great experiences when we have linked dining. Waves to Angie ...

 

[paulasillars]

MAIN DINING LINKING

I will be linking those interested in dining together in the next week or two.

I have now heard back from nearly everyone who has expressed an interested but am still awaiting responses from the following people -
Denise&Craig (not sure if these people are Facebook only)
BethE & Harry
Lizzysmom

If your name is on the list above...
PLEASE PM THE FULL NAME OF THE LEAD PERSON AND YOUR RESERVATION NUMBER TO ME

I have to have this information for my TA to link us for dining.

IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP YET BUT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US PLEASE JUST PM ME YOUR INFO - YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIGN UP ON THE SPREADSHEET

If you have questions please feel free to ask here from the group or PM me. We have found that dining with and getting to know our fellow DISers is one of the most fun things we do on the cruises. Generally they seat us at tables of 6-8 people. But, will accomodate if we request a table for a family of 4 alone but in the same area as the group.
__________________

 

[MrsMork]

We have always had great experiences when we have linked dining. Waves to Angie ...

 

[MrsMork]

LATE DINING LINKING

I will be linking those interested in dining together in the next week or two.

I have now heard back from nearly everyone who has expressed an interested but am still awaiting responses from the following people -
Dee47
Gofenmom
newgeneb
CruznLexi
chipdale20
Lauragar/johngar

If your name is on the list above...
PLEASE PM THE FULL NAME OF THE LEAD PERSON AND YOUR RESERVATION NUMBER TO ME

I have to have this information for my TA to link us for dining.

IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP YET BUT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US PLEASE JUST PM ME YOUR INFO - YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIGN UP ON THE SPREADSHEET
If you have questions please feel free to ask here from the group or PM me. We have found that dining with and getting to know our fellow DISers is one of the most fun things we do on the cruises. Generally they seat us at tables of 6-8 people. But, will accomodate if we request a table for a family of 4 alone but in the same area as the group.

 

[kugalbelle]

Aulani Tips: rent a car
Don't miss Menehune trails and cultural self guided tours, bring a set of ear buds, the Sunset and story telling, look for hidden Mickey's all over, the Starlit Hui (SP) , get out and see the Island, Leonards Malasadas, we did not eat there made my own stir fry and Spam Musuhbi , shave ice, better off property, Plate Lunch, Giovani's Shrimp truck,
The place will WOW you, the best CM's we have experienced in a long time.

Thank you for the info Scott. We can't wait!

I can pretty much make a guarantee you will. You will be dining with DISers!!!

LATE DINING LINKING
I will be linking those interested in dining together in the next week or two.
I have now heard back from nearly everyone who has expressed an interested but am still awaiting responses from the following people -
Dee47
Gofenmom
newgeneb
CruznLexi
chipdale20
Lauragar/john gar
If your name is on the list above...
PLEASE PM THE FULL NAME OF THE LEAD PERSON AND YOUR RESERVATION NUMBER TO ME
I have to have this information for my TA to link us for dining.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP YET BUT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US PLEASE JUST PM ME YOUR INFO - YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIGN UP ON THE SPREADSHEET
If you have questions please feel free to ask here from the group or PM me. We have found that dining with and getting to know our fellow DISers is one of the most fun things we do on the cruises. Generally they seat us at tables of 6-8 people. But, will accomodate if we request a table for a family of 4 alone but in the same area as the group.

Thank you for organizing this Angie.

 

[dolphingirl47]

LATE DINING LINKING

I will be linking those interested in dining together in the next week or two.

I have now heard back from nearly everyone who has expressed an interested but am still awaiting responses from the following people -
Dee47
Gofenmom
newgeneb
CruznLexi
chipdale20
Lauragar/johngar

If your name is on the list above...
PLEASE PM THE FULL NAME OF THE LEAD PERSON AND YOUR RESERVATION NUMBER TO ME

I have to have this information for my TA to link us for dining.

IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP YET BUT WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US PLEASE JUST PM ME YOUR INFO - YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIGN UP ON THE SPREADSHEET
If you have questions please feel free to ask here from the group or PM me. We have found that dining with and getting to know our fellow DISers is one of the most fun things we do on the cruises. Generally they seat us at tables of 6-8 people. But, will accomodate if we request a table for a family of 4 alone but in the same area as the group.

Cruznlexi is no longer on this cruise. She has jumped ship for the October sailing. Dee47 is one of the people I need to contact as well, but she has not logged into the DIS since April 2010.

Corinna

 

[Scott H]

Thank you for the info Scott. We can't wait!

Feel free to ask specifics, DIS boards are painfully slow lately, I am sure Lynn might chime in when teh page loads.

 

[MrsMork]

Cruznlexi is no longer on this cruise. She has jumped ship for the October sailing. Dee47 is one of the people I need to contact as well, but she has not logged into the DIS since April 2010.

Corinna

Thanks, I'll remove Cruznlexi from my list.

 

[kugalbelle]

Feel free to ask specifics, DIS boards are painfully slow lately, I am sure Lynn might chime in when teh page loads.

Thank you Scott would appreciate a little more info please.
As I mentioned we have booked a car for the length of our stay. I do have a few concerns after reading on the Aulani thread that the food isn't that great and the housekeeping was not great either. My Aulani Review
Was it easy enough to buy groceries? If so, what store would you recommend?
Did you do any of the excursions through the resort?
We are wanting to snorkel while there. I understand that there is a snorkel area Rainbow Reef that you pay to snorkel in. But can we snorkel in the main lagoon area with our own snorkel equipment?
We are also scuba divers and have researched a few dive centers in the area. I know you may not be a diver but if you are or have in additional info on diving there we'd appreciate it.
Our plan is to spend some time at Aulani to relax and enjoy the resort and what it has to offer and then do a few excursions. We'll probably leave Pearl Harbor for the cruise as I have read that the queues there can get very long and I assume that being in a tour group one would not have to wait in a long queue.
Is there anything else besides your previous advice that you would advise for us especially since this will be our very first trip to Hawaii.
Thank you again for any advice.

 

[valbob89]

For those of you with the Disney Visa Rewards card you might want to look into their new premium card. The card has an annual fee of $49.
For 90 days from signing up, the rewards amount for Disney purchases is 5%
After the 90 days the rewards amount for many charges is up from 1% to 2%
In addition to using the rewards for Disney charges you can use them for any airline ticket.

The interest rates did not change for me but you should ask

I'll use it to make my 2-14-12 final payment for the cruise, giving my 5% discount.

You keep your same card number but get a different expiration date.

 

[valbob89]

Late last night I sent Becky our final final order numbers for the shirts and material. This morning I got a message from her that the fabric is in the mails.

Once I get it, I'll cut it into the individual order amounts (better get that dining room table cleared off!!) and ship it out to you. I'll send you an e-mail, with your tracking numbers, once they are actually into the mails to you.

 

[Pixiegran]

Late last night I sent Becky our final final order numbers for the shirts and material. This morning I got a message from her that the fabric is in the mails.

Once I get it, I'll cut it into the individual order amounts (better get that dining room table cleared off!!) and ship it out to you. I'll send you an e-mail, with your tracking numbers, once they are actually into the mails to you.

Mine can wait and ship with shirts, I don't plan to cover albums until we return

 

[Scott H]

Thank you Scott would appreciate a little more info please.
As I mentioned we have booked a car for the length of our stay. I do have a few concerns after reading on the Aulani thread that the food isn't that great and the housekeeping was not great either. My Aulani Review
Was it easy enough to buy groceries? If so, what store would you recommend?
Did you do any of the excursions through the resort?
We are wanting to snorkel while there. I understand that there is a snorkel area Rainbow Reef that you pay to snorkel in. But can we snorkel in the main lagoon area with our own snorkel equipment?
We are also scuba divers and have researched a few dive centers in the area. I know you may not be a diver but if you are or have in additional info on diving there we'd appreciate it.
Our plan is to spend some time at Aulani to relax and enjoy the resort and what it has to offer and then do a few excursions. We'll probably leave Pearl Harbor for the cruise as I have read that the queues there can get very long and I assume that being in a tour group one would not have to wait in a long queue.
Is there anything else besides your previous advice that you would advise for us especially since this will be our very first trip to Hawaii.
Thank you again for any advice.

We stayed in a one bedroom DVC unit. hence we cooked breakfast and other meals.

House keeping was OK for us we were on DVC points, only had a trash and towels, but they forgot the towels, no biggie to us. UNit had some maint issues, again no biggie to us.

We did not eat at any of the on property restaurants, friends who live there commented the price was high and portions small, we did dine at teh Hawaiian BBQ across the street and it was a good plate lunch, moco loco, and fish sandwich. It was as good as the Rainbow Drive Inn.

Local and easy to get to grocery stores are a Safeway, Target, and it looked like they were putting the finishing touches on a Walmart, these are about a 15 min drive from Aulani, There is the ABC store a short easy walk across the street, good selection of stuff and tourist souvenirs, prices not too bad but the other big stores are better, but still a bit more than the mainland. We went to Safeway as we have a Safeway card. There was some road construction but easy with teh GPS. They also have Wine etc there. Resort front desk was helpful with local info.

There is a Leonard's Malasada truck down the road a bit near teh Home depot, worth the stop. The trucks/trailers are red and white striped.

We did not do any of the resort excur$ion$, we tend not to even on cruises, we like exploring on our own. I really think one can save $$ by doing Pearl on their own, just get there early early early.


Sad to say we also brought our own snorkel gear and did not get out, into the lagoon but one can, there are three cuts/entrances to the lagoon, stay clear of teh middle cut as it will rip you out. the rocks on either side would be where I would go. Sorry no recommendations fro Dive Operation on Oahu, Strongly recommend Jacks Dive Locker, on the Kona Side of Hawaii. I am a PADI MSDT #161292. Hence I am not big on canned fake reef's, but good if you really want to see a lot of fish. There is a length of stay cost of $39 I think Lynn says $40, like Typhoon Lagoon, no fins, not deep, no diving. But lots of fish and hidden mickey and Menhune.

The water features at the resort are GREAT!!!! and as I said definitely enjoy the resort activities.

Go to the North Shore, have lunch at a Shrimp truck, hike diamond head, when traveling about do not leave anything of value in your car.

Rush hour traffic can be a pain.

That's what I can think of for now, should this spark other questions just ask,

Parking is free for DVC members and your room key get you in and out of the parking lot.

If you are a DVC founding member for Aulani the tiles will not be up till January of 2013. I was kinda bummed about this.

Hope this helps.

 

[BoosGram]

Hi Everyone,

To help Corinna put the mini-Navigator together, I volunteered to help gather information for a couple of sections:

1) Celebrations during the cruise. For this we would need DIS Name, first name(s), date, and what is being celebrated.

2) Pages with pre- and post-cruise stays. For this we would need DIS name, first name(s), dates, and where people are staying.

I know there is some information on the first page spreadsheet, but at this point I don't know how accurate that is, considering all the changes that have been made.

So please contact me if you would like your information to be included in the Hawaiian mini-Navigator. Thank you!

 

[Pixiegran]

Hi Everyone,

To help Corinna put the mini-Navigator together, I volunteered to help gather information for a couple of sections:

1) Celebrations during the cruise. For this we would need DIS Name, first name(s), date, and what is being celebrated.

2) Pages with pre- and post-cruise stays. For this we would need DIS name, first name(s), dates, and where people are staying.

I know there is some information on the first page spreadsheet, but at this point I don't know how accurate that is, considering all the changes that have been made.

So please contact me if you would like your information to be included in the Hawaiian mini-Navigator. Thank you!

1. Pixiegran Judy and Catherine (daughter) we are celebrating our birthdays this cruise is our gift to each other. Hers will have been 4/10 and my 65th is 7/3

2. pre-cruise we are at the Doubletree the night before sailing and post-cruise we will be at the Marriott Fairfield Inn Anaheim until Saturday