At Aulani - First Impressions

[Anal Annie]

Our Pearl Harbor tickets were for 8:00. We left at 6:00 because I am a worry wart. There was lots of parking and little traffic. We could have left at 6:15. For 9:00 you coûld probably leave at 7:15. Because I am a worrier I got tickets for both Saturday and Sunday so if we missed Saturday we had Sunday as a backup. Since the fee for reserving is only $1.50 per ticket, it was cheap insurance.
By the time you do Arizona and Missouri there will be more traffic, so it probably will take a half hour to get to Waikiki and park. We had a lot of traffic to deal with in Waikiki for lunch on Sunday.

Thanks. Since we're adding the USS Missouri tour it costs like $55 pp plus the $1.50 so we will only be reserving one day. I just went back onto the website and looked and the availability had changed since I looked earlier!! There are now 10 tix avail. for 8:45 and the the 9:00 ones are all gone and there are only 5 avail. for 9:15. I think I will split the difference and grab the 8:45 slot and then we can plan to leave Aulani around 7:00!!

 

[jekjones1558]

I have to ask where you went to Church, Jean. We went to a very small Catholic Church just to the West of Aulani a few miles. It was right on the main drag, and very quaint and a LOT of fun! They greeted us with REAL flower leis (to make up for your Aulani disappointment), and even the priest came to visit with us before Mass. Wish I could remember the name, but I only remember the location.

I went to St. Jude, one exit past Costco/Target. Very welcoming. Those celebrating birthdays were called up front and all sang to them. Those celebrating anniversaries and other special occasions were also honored. All visitors were given shell leis and recognized. The children were given a blessing just before the readings/homily and went to a separate service, then returned later. The priest was very warm and gave a great homily. I wish I liked the WDW churches as well.

 

[jekjones1558]

Does Aulani offer tours to the various locations like Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural center, sea life park, Paradise cove luau, etc? Since they are not in the Waikiki area, I am noticing we cannot get transportation so was figuring that typically large resorts would make deals to offer these kinds of tours. If so, any idea on pricing?

Here is what I found out:
Arizona only $57 adult, $39 child
Arizona, Missouri and Punchbowl $84 adult, $69 child
Polynesian Cultural Center $154 adult, $102 child
Sea Life Park, no transportation, must rent car, Dolphin Encounter $109 adult, $94 child
Paradise Cove Luau, walk there, $75/106/140 adult, depending on seats, $55/79/111 child

 

[Mickey Mantle]

Forgot....the other Marriott (you can walk it if you make a left instead of a right when you get to the beachside walkway) has a place called Longboards. People we met had good things to say about it. Diamondhead: It was exhausting for us and we are not yet in our 60's. It was extremely hot (even in the morning). The view was nice at the top. That's about it. then the long walk down. Also, you have to pay to park and the lot is very small. If you don't get there early enough, you have to wait in a line and a lot attendant will direct you to the next open spot. The highlight of that day was lunch at Nico's Pier. We've also done the 11 hour flight. In winter it is a better idea because if you are doing connecting flights, you never know if that plane is delayed in another area from snow, ice, etc. Plus, the fewer take offs and landings the better (I don't like flying). Plus the plane is much bigger than those United flights to Orlando so not so cramped. Make sure you pack some sandwiches and stuff to eat on the plane. There is only food for purchase on that flight. I also recommend the book "Driving and Discovering Hawaii, O'ahu edition. A wonderful resource with great maps, directions and recommendations.

I highly recommend Longboards. My family and I have eaten there four times over our last two trips. The food is your typical American cuisine, not exceptional, but good enough. The atmosphere and view make it worthwhile. Very causal setting with a similar view as Ama'Ama. Longboards does not have a roof over the entire patio though. Just tiki umbrellas over the tables that give it a much more open feeling than Ama'Ama. The service has always been very friendly and prompt all four times we have eaten there. They have a few more frozen drinks to choice from than Aulani. Try the "where the sunset meets the ocean", very tasty and a nice way to cool off after your walk along the Ko'Olina coves.

The Fia Fia Polynesian show is also at the same Marriott on Tuesday nights. We caught a bit of it while waiting for a table at longboards last year. We made reservations in advance for tomorrow night.

 

[lovetotraveltx]

I highly recommend Longboards. My family and I have eaten there four times over our last two trips. The food is your typical American cuisine, not exceptional, but good enough. The atmosphere and view make it worthwhile. Very causal setting with a similar view as Ama'Ama. Longboards does not have a roof over the entire patio though. Just tiki umbrellas over the tables that give it a much more open feeling than Ama'Ama. The service has always been very friendly and prompt all four times we have eaten there. They have a few more frozen drinks to choice from than Aulani. Try the "where the sunset meets the ocean", very tasty and a nice way to cool off after your walk along the Ko'Olina coves.

The Fia Fia Polynesian show is also at the same Marriott on Tuesday nights. We caught a bit of it while waiting for a table at longboards last year. We made reservations in advance for tomorrow night.

You're going to fia fia tomorrow night?? Curious cause we're booking there

 

[yolie912]

Yes! Would love to know about Fia Fia as well. I'm booked at that laua.

Thanks

 

[shortypots]

I think if we go, we are going to try just getting a rental car and doing most of the things on our own to save the tour $$ I am on a very tight budget so doing them on my own is a lot cheaper.

I figured Pearl Harbor is $1.50/tix vs $80 for the tour just as one example, so thought it would be good to do things on our own especially if we have a rental car anyway.

Any places that are not to be missed? I am thinking the Dole Plantation, Pearl Harbor, Paradise Cove luau, Iolani Palace, Sea Life park, Zoo, PCC for the day, then a day trip to Waikiki beach. Any thing else that is not to be missed? We will only have 5 days there, and 3 in Kauai. In Kauai, I only have Smith's Luau and gardens planned, and figured we would go to Blowing hole, poipu beach, Waimea Canyon, the big waterfall there.

Appreciate the help.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

I think if we go, we are going to try just getting a rental car and doing most of the things on our own to save the tour $$ I am on a very tight budget so doing them on my own is a lot cheaper.

I figured Pearl Harbor is $1.50/tix vs $80 for the tour just as one example, so thought it would be good to do things on our own especially if we have a rental car anyway.

Any places that are not to be missed? I am thinking the Dole Plantation, Pearl Harbor, Paradise Cove luau, Iolani Palace, Sea Life park, Zoo, PCC for the day, then a day trip to Waikiki beach. Any thing else that is not to be missed? We will only have 5 days there, and 3 in Kauai. In Kauai, I only have Smith's Luau and gardens planned, and figured we would go to Blowing hole, poipu beach, Waimea Canyon, the big waterfall there.

Appreciate the help.

When you go to Dole Plantation continue driving down that same road to the North Shore. You'll eventually see a bunch of cars pulled over on the side of the road. Turtles will be sunning themselves on that beach! The volunteers have them roped off so you are several feet away from them, but it was so neat to see the turtles!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We will only have 5 days there, and 3 in Kauai. In Kauai, I only have Smith's Luau and gardens planned, and figured we would go to Blowing hole, poipu beach, Waimea Canyon, the big waterfall there.

Appreciate the help.

On Kauai I would not miss going to the end of the road past Hanalei on the north shore to view the Na Pali Coast. If you can time it to stay for sunset you'll have a view that is IMO unrivaled for beauty.

 

[Mickey Mantle]

My family visited Shark's Cove on the north shore yesterday. The water is shallow enough that you can wade around and see all types of fish. We even saw a Reef Triggerfish, the Hawaii state fish (I don't want to embarrass myself by trying to spell the Hawaiian name), which was very cool for me and my six year old son. There are some deeper parts so bring snorkelling gear if you have some. Also, water shoes are a god idea as well since you need to walk over rocks to get into the water. Lots of sand in the cove to walk on after that. Very cool place and it won't cost you a dime to enjoy it (outside of transportation).

 

[amym2]

I think if we go, we are going to try just getting a rental car and doing most of the things on our own to save the tour $$ I am on a very tight budget so doing them on my own is a lot cheaper.

I figured Pearl Harbor is $1.50/tix vs $80 for the tour just as one example, so thought it would be good to do things on our own especially if we have a rental car anyway.

Any places that are not to be missed? I am thinking the Dole Plantation, Pearl Harbor, Paradise Cove luau, Iolani Palace, Sea Life park, Zoo, PCC for the day, then a day trip to Waikiki beach. Any thing else that is not to be missed? We will only have 5 days there, and 3 in Kauai. In Kauai, I only have Smith's Luau and gardens planned, and figured we would go to Blowing hole, poipu beach, Waimea Canyon, the big waterfall there.

Appreciate the help.

You're going to do all of that in 5 days? I'd scale way back to a few activities so you actually have time to enjoy Aulani.

On Kauai we loved the Napali Coast boat trip we took. We also enjoyed Waimea Canyon. Poipu Beach was okay, although it was really crowded on the weekend and the snorkeling was lousy, and the waterfalls were a quick stop.

 

[tinibee]

For the person going to fia fia, how did you get tickets? I've only been able to find tix for the chiefs luau on the other side if the island, but would rather see him in ko olina. Thanks!

 

[jekjones1558]

I think if we go, we are going to try just getting a rental car and doing most of the things on our own to save the tour $$ I am on a very tight budget so doing them on my own is a lot cheaper.

I figured Pearl Harbor is $1.50/tix vs $80 for the tour just as one example, so thought it would be good to do things on our own especially if we have a rental car anyway.

Any places that are not to be missed? I am thinking the Dole Plantation, Pearl Harbor, Paradise Cove luau, Iolani Palace, Sea Life park, Zoo, PCC for the day, then a day trip to Waikiki beach. Any thing else that is not to be missed? We will only have 5 days there, and 3 in Kauai. In Kauai, I only have Smith's Luau and gardens planned, and figured we would go to Blowing hole, poipu beach, Waimea Canyon, the big waterfall there.

Appreciate the help.

I think you have way too much planned for Oahu. We are leaving Aulani in a few hours. We did Pearl Harbor/ Swap Meet one day, Diamond Head/Wailkiki another, Dole/North Shore/PolynesianCC another and that was too much. I barely had time to do lazy river and water slide at the resort. I am traveling with DSis, for whom this may be a once in a lifetime trip to Hawaii, and we over-scheduled ourselves. The beauty of Hawaii can be lost with too much busyness, especially on Oahu with all of the traffic and crowds.

 

[jekjones1558]

Our checkout day and we made a change in plans. Since our flight isn't until 10:45 PM we decided to scrap Ama Ama and spend the day at Haleiwa. We didn't have enough time to stop there yesterday and it is so much more like old Hawaii than the rest of our Oahu time. We finally got great photos of sea turtles at Alii beach and had a FABULOUS lunch at Waialula Bakery. What a find. Cheap and everything made and grown by the owners. I will post some photos later. I highly recommend. It is not fancy but top quality.

 

[jekjones1558]

Waialua Bakery photos:

 

[Dakine80808]

Great view!

 

[huhwhat]

it's been nearly a year since my visit to Aulani.....if I concentrate I can smell it.... <3 <3 <3 that place

 

[Mickey Mantle]

For the person going to fia fia, how did you get tickets? I've only been able to find tix for the chiefs luau on the other side if the island, but would rather see him in ko olina. Thanks!

I phoned the Marriott in Ko' Olina directly to book it.

 

[jerseygal]

Jean, thanks for the tip on the Waialula Bakery!
Menu looks DELIC!

Must have been SAD leaving beautiful Aulani!
Hard I am sure leaving that beautiful SUN!

Hope that you had a MEMORABLE vaca!

Can't wait for May!

 

[shortypots]

I think you have way too much planned for Oahu. We are leaving Aulani in a few hours. We did Pearl Harbor/ Swap Meet one day, Diamond Head/Wailkiki another, Dole/North Shore/PolynesianCC another and that was too much. I barely had time to do lazy river and water slide at the resort. I am traveling with DSis, for whom this may be a once in a lifetime trip to Hawaii, and we over-scheduled ourselves. The beauty of Hawaii can be lost with too much busyness, especially on Oahu with all of the traffic and crowds.

i know it seems like a lot, but this trip is my mom's bucket list item. We would get in early on the arrival day, like 9:45 so I figure we are at the resort by noon. Definitely have time to either chill at the resort, or go and explore... I am still debating the PCC. We were not going to do the luau there, but we could definitely get in the dole plantation and the north shore exploration potentially that day. Gotta find out if mom wants to do the missouri, I wasn't fascinated by it, but she might be, but if so, that would be on the pearl harbor day. Figured we could get in a few more small things that day, but need to look at a map and find out where they are. Might even be able to get Waikiki in on that day. I highly doubt we would be hiking diamond head as my mom turns 65 this year.

We also have the red eye on the way home, so would not leave until like 7pm so have time on departure day to chill as well.

Does Aulani hold bags like the rest of Disney resorts? So we could drop off our bags and then go explore until the room is ready?

I still haven't gotten mom's approval on this trip, she is having some trepidation about leaving my handicapped father with my husband. I had to remind her she had the same concern when she left him with me the first time.