At Aulani now - One & Done? The Answer is...

[MeeskaMooska13]

We are home, sadly to a gray, drizzling day in NJ. Just recovering from our red-eye and I will finish my trip report tomorrow. But I just wanted to quickly respond to the two questions posed.
There was beautiful dancing during the show and some fire dancing, which came at the very end of the show. I really don't know a lot about luaus and we booked the Aulani luau strictly on convenience. It followed a very touching storyline about the narrators who are brother & sister. They lost their mother early in life and spoke of how their father kept her memory alive.
Our coffee came from Island Vintage Coffee, which is next to MoneyPod and is a very easy walk from Aulani. In fact, I would suggest walking, since that parking lot really fills up. I was very impressed with the quality of the 100% Kona ground coffee which I used at Aulani. I bought 100% Kona beans for home, where we grind beans every AM.

Welcome back!! And Thanks!

 

[sueg]

Our final meal at Aulani was breakfast at AmaAma. We shared a fruit platter with honey drizzled yogurt for a starter. DH had the cereal crusted french toast & I had the egg white omelet. We got to enjoy this yummy meal in front of one of the best views. Perfect way to prep for our 2:40 red eye direct flight to NJ. I noticed an interesting fact about the credit card charge for breakfast. Unlike our dinner, which was billed as AmaAma, the breakfast was billed as Aulani F&B. Different group doing breakfast? We walked from the restaurant to the plaza across from the resort to pick up Kona beans for the trip home.
As I threw several bars of soap & an unopened shampoo into the suitcase, I loved how housekeeping did not pressure us out of our room, which has increasingly happened at WDW.
We drove the rental to the offsite Alamo. Luckily, based on a tip I got from this board, we filled the tank within a mile or two of the airport. Then the shuttle bumped us back to the airport. Gives me a new appreciation for the on site car rental set-up in Orlando.
Again, the first class flight was well worth it. We knew we needed to sleep during the flight, so we started with a bloody mary. Choice for dinner: Thai chicken, braised short ribs or ravioli. Ended with lemon sorbet. Watched a movie, popped a melatonin and reclined the seat into a bed. Awoke, who knows how many hours later, to breakfast. Fresh fruit, breakfast bread pudding & decent coffee. Ready to face NJ.

I'm still thinking about my trip report conclusion. So I'll be back.

 

[OKW Lover]

As a heads up. we own at the Marriott and Longhi's doesn't have the best rep even with us owners (beautiful setting though). Would recommend you try one of the Four Seasons restaurants instead.

Appreciate the tip on Longhi's. We've eaten in the one at the mall which was OK. Was considering it for our next visit. Good suggestion about the Four Seasons restaurants. I'm going to post on a separate thread to solicit reviews.

 

[North of Mouse]

You know, I have read so many threads about the 'chair' situation there! What on earth keeps them from purchasing more chairs. Seems to me you pay enough to be there (and being that there doesn't seem much else to do) the least they could do would be provide sufficient seating for people to relax - whether they are swimming, sunning, relaxing looking toward the ocean - whatever - doesn't really matter.

Not being so much 'pool' people ourselves, have completely talked ourselves out of vacationing there at Aulani. Doesn't seem to have a strong Disney presence there either. Definitely would rather get our Disney fix a WDW, then go to the Islands (if we decide to go) for other things and the beauty.

Dh has been there twice, so I know how beautiful it is, the historical sites, etc. so not unaware of what is offered away from the resort.

We would probably expect much more from Aulani than it is obviously delivering. Yes, to each their own, I realize, but with so much being an extra fee, and poorly organized (what I've gotten from various posts since they opened) just doesn't have the money value/effort to get there for us.

 

[Gorechick]

You know, I have read so many threads about the 'chair' situation there! What on earth keeps them from purchasing more chairs. Seems to me you pay enough to be there (and being that there doesn't seem much else to do) the least they could do would be provide sufficient seating for people to relax - whether they are swimming, sunning, relaxing looking toward the ocean - whatever - doesn't really matter.

Not being so much 'pool' people ourselves, have completely talked ourselves out of vacationing there at Aulani. Doesn't seem to have a strong Disney presence there either. Definitely would rather get our Disney fix a WDW, then go to the Islands (if we decide to go) for other things and the beauty.

Dh has been there twice, so I know how beautiful it is, the historical sites, etc. so not unaware of what is offered away from the resort.

We would probably expect much more from Aulani than it is obviously delivering. Yes, to each their own, I realize, but with so much being an extra fee, and poorly organized (what I've gotten from various posts since they opened) just doesn't have the money value/effort to get

. There just isn't the space to add more chairs. I think they underestimated the demand and space they would need when they built the resort and pool area.

 

[kdonnel]

. There just isn't the space to add more chairs. I think they underestimated the demand and space they would need when they built the resort and pool area.

The guy in front of me yesterday at the towel hut got 25 towels at 8am.

Most people are bad people and totally ignore the chair saving rules.

The chairs around the adult pool were always open and available.

This week there was no problem ever getting a few chairs and an umbrella at the ocean.

I would say at any given moment the chairs were 30% occupied by people and 70% occupied by towels.

If you have a family of 4 you don't need 4 chairs. You need 1 or 2 as the kids never sat in a chair, only adults. Yet most families of 4 would grab 4 chairs and never occupy more than 2.

By 3pm you could get chairs relatively easy.

 

[happymommy]

. There just isn't the space to add more chairs. I think they underestimated the demand and space they would need when they built the resort and pool area.

True. I've walked around the area (we stay at the Marriott Ko Olina), and I was blown away at how many chairs they crammed into their pool and beach area. It is already beyond capacity! Makes me happy we stay at the Marriott - it's much more spread out, and we rarely have an issue getting a chair or two.

 

[sueg]

Our preferred seats were on a concrete level, which was raised up off the beach and gave a nice view. We had our backs to the pool and you could not see the pool. On our last day of "viewing the beach" without really sitting at pool or on the beach, I went down at 7:30 AM, to get chairs. I was too late to get the two chairs that we had on a prior day. Four chairs were occupied by a couple who had thrown a sandal on each of the two chairs next to them "for the kids". I took the two chairs further over, which offered less of a view, but were fine. The kids arrived 2 hours after I did. The son didn't seem to have a swim suit on. Threw a towel on chair, never sat on it & left. Never saw him again. The daughter sat briefly, was lectured by the father on some education decision to be made and left after 20 minutes. Never saw her again. DH left during the lecture and I left shortly after when I realized that I had to put a finger in my right ear to concentrate on my reading. We surrendered our chairs, hopefully to people who really didn't plan on fully occupying them, since a different lecture had been launched at the wife.
I don't think that Aulani can or will solve the chair problem. When they designed the resort by making the impressive pool/water feature dominant, they set up a situation where seating was key. This brings out some of the worse traits of the Disney vacationing masses.
You can always get a lounge chair on the beach, with an umbrella that give some shade. But based on some past problems, I avoid the sun and the beach lounge chairs were not for me.
Really, just like everyone else, I want what I want, when I want it. And we can't all sit in the "perfect spot". If we planned on a full day at the pool/beach, I probably would have taken the path of least resistance and rented a cabana or executive lanai. But for the limited number of hours for just the two of us, I just couldn't justify the expense.

 

[blondietink]

The guy in front of me yesterday at the towel hut got 25 towels at 8am.


QUOTE]

How is this even possible? Were there 25 people getting their arm bands also? We have always been told we could only have one towel per person, but you can exchange it for a dry one when one gets wet.

 

[kdonnel]

They gave out as many towels as you wanted. We often got towels without getting bands as well. I would be up and about early and grab 4 towels for our day trips away from Aulani and just tell them no band yet.

It was entertaining watching him carry the towels. He ended up making multiple trips. He was the designated chair saver for his group.

 

[sueg]

I really thought long and hard before this final trip report.
Aulani - One & Done? Answer is yes (although DH says "never say never")
Aulani is a beautiful resort. I loved the view from AmaAma both for breakfast & at sunset. Better than the view from Fish House at Four Season's resort next store. I loved how Aulani has fruited water - all the time- throughout the resort. (wish DVC resorts at WDW did the same) I loved the robes in the room.
But ultimately, when DH & I discussed the things we enjoyed most about this trip (and it was a wonderful trip) those were things that weren't at Aulani. A resort dominated by a spectacular pool/water feature, with all of the noise, chair issues, etc., is not for us. If we return to Hawaii, it would be to other islands, probably the Big Island.
I was disappointed with the higher end dining at or in the immediate area of Aulani. I get that when you have really fresh ingredients, you don't have to do much with them & we did have really fresh fish throughout the trip, but none of the meals really spoke to us. For about $200 for two diners with one glass of wine, I think the meals should be memorable. Probably the best dinner was at Roy's. I enjoyed the marinated butterfish (server's suggestion) & I can't say enough about the local mushroom side dish, which was good enough for two dessert lovers to skip dessert. But I didn't find the kind of dining in the Ko'lina area that I had hoped for. If I hadn't gotten sick, which threw off our plans, we would have gone into Honolulu, where it seems the dining is on a different level. But honestly, I didn't relish driving 35 miles round trip, possibly in traffic, to pay to park, for a good meal. Living just on the other side of the river from Manhatten, I go on vacation, hoping to avoid that.
I want to acknowledge all the reliable & useful information that I found on this board. I had taken both a Frommer & Fodor guide from my library. But it was the suggestions from fellow DISers that we relied on.
But the best single source of information & inspiration came from the four part Dreams Unlimited podcast on Aulani. THANK YOU John, Kevin & Tracy. While I'll never share your love of Aulani, you helped our vacation in many ways. For example, I never would have known of Anna Miller's, where we ate after our Pearl Harbor trip. A really fun, local experience. Gotta love a restaurant that has 15 minute Pie Pick up Parking. As we waited for our table, we watched a mom park in the spot, unload an infant into a stroller and actually return, shortly thereafter with...wait for it...PIES. (Based on where we live, we never dreamt that she was using Pie Parking to actually pick up pies!) Their stories about malasadas put them on our Must Do list.
I'll probably continue to lurk on this board, but my new focus is our WDW Food & Wine Festival trip in late September. Our home resort is OKW, but we scored a 1BD at BWV, best location for the festival.

 

[OKW Lover]

I want to acknowledge all the reliable & useful information that I found on this board. I had taken both a Frommer & Fodor guide from my library. But it was the suggestions from fellow DISers that we relied on.
But the best single source of information & inspiration came from the four part Dreams Unlimited podcast on Aulani. THANK YOU John, Kevin & Tracy. While I'll never share your love of Aulani, you helped our vacation in many ways. For example, I never would have known of Anna Miller's,

Glad the advice you found here on the DIS was helpful.
And just about any podcast that has John & Kevin (and Tracey) on it is fun to watch no matter what the subject. We've enjoyed a few meals at Anna Millers. Great place for either breakfast or lunch.

 

[happymommy]

If you liked the butterfish, if it was misoyaki marinated I make it at home using salmon (just google it). It's an easy marinade (basically sake, mirin, sugar and miso) that you cook down, cool, and marinate the fish for at least 2 days in, Then wipe off the marinade and cook (best in a pan) and I serve it with rice. My son loves it!

When we go to Hawaii, we don't go to fine dining places hardly at all. We stick to grilling our own dinners or eat out at local places. It's true, there is not much fine dining nearby. The best places are usually at the resorts (when we lived in Kailua, we went into Waikiki at least twice a month for dinner & drinks, and it was almost always at the resorts).

Your report was great!