Aulani 2012 and 2013

[htmlkid]

So we just got back from our second trip to Aulani and I just wanted to touch on the changes from then and now. First off the crowds of people. Last year it was comfortable with little crowds and a nice comfortable atmosphere. This year the halls, restaurants, pool deck and beach was swarming with massive amounts of people everywhere. What really scares me is that there are 300 room not open yet and that equates to an additional 1000 people that will be at the resort when those rooms open... if its packed now... i can't even imagine what it will be like then. As for construction, I love what they are doing with the new area and it had no impact on our vacation. Disney has done a great job on keeping the disruption to a minimum. I was very disappointed that they took away the beach volleyball. I asked a cast member about it and they used the excuse that they have gone through 3 nets in the past few months and they was why they took it down. Our room was Ewa 1577 which was classified as a garden view but we had a 60% ocean view and also great views of the movies and star lit hui and I would recommend it to everyone who wants a 1br ocean view for the price of an island view. Lastly the activities, if you pay close attention to the Daily Ewa, every three days its the same activities. I feel that considering its Disney they should have a full week of different activities to keep the kids interested. My feeling is they do this on purpose so that the activities don't get overwhelmed cause different kids will come to the same activity when it repeats.

Now don't get me wrong, its a great resort, and I would recommend it to everyone to try once, and we had a great stay... but these are a few complaints that I had with my overall experience.

 

[rpcvpanama]

Thanks for the update. I too went early last year and loved Aulani. I was worried how all the extra rooms/people would affect the resort. I can't imagine, either, how it wil all work out once the resort is fully open.

Just glad I got to go when it was still relatively quiet.

 

[wdrl]

Which rooms at Aulani are not being used? In the last few months I've read reports that most of the DVC sections are open except for the odd-numbered villas in the Waiane Building (which accounts for 56 vacation homes) which face the Wailana Leisure Pool. However, as I look back on my notes, I'm not sure if the short wing of the Ewa Building xx60-xx69 is being used. That would account for up to 74 vacation homes if none are currently in use.

I haven't tracked the hotel portion of the resort, so I haven't a clue how many hotel rooms may not be in use at this time.

 

[aclov]

We also just got back yesterday from our first stay! We were in room 1568 One bedroom OV it was amazing and no construction noise. Interesting of how many weddings are done in the chapel next door! Every time the bell rang my DH would say "another one bites the dust!" Of course he bit the dust a few days prior himself at another beach

 

[htmlkid]

We also just got back yesterday from our first stay! We were in room 1568 One bedroom OV it was amazing and no construction noise. Interesting of how many weddings are done in the chapel next door! Every time the bell rang my DH would say "another one bites the dust!" Of course he bit the dust a few days prior himself at another beach

Wow you were a few doors away....

 

[wdrl]

We also just got back yesterday from our first stay! We were in room 1568 One bedroom OV it was amazing and no construction noise.

If you were in villa 1568, then I suspect all sections on the Ewa side of Aulani are currently being used. That should leave only the 56 vacation homes on Waianae's odd-numbered side, plus up to 10 Grand Villas that I think may not be in play.

Still though, I think there are a lot of Aulani guests who hang around the resort for the length of their stay. I wonder if more Aulani guests hang around Aulani than what normally happens at other Hawaii resorts?

 

[aclov]

We could of just made the entire vacation hanging out at the resort and nearby area. I was in Ko'Olina about 10 yrs stayed next door at the Marriott on a promo when they first opened. The JW Marriott and Roy's were there but everything else is new. We went to the Northshore one day and I was a bit upset my 18 yr old stepson couldn't wait to get back up Aulani! We basically ate at a shrimp truck than went back!

 

[htmlkid]

A lot of the building that is across from EWA and facing the construction is not being used due to the noise and view

 

[htmlkid]

On another note I spoke to a local who worked there and she said the locals are buying like crazy and making Aulsni a weekend retreat. This makes it busy cause the come with their large family units.

 

[wdrl]

Aulani is the only DVC with a flat weekly point chart; the weekends cost the same as the weekdays. I wonder if this works in favor of the locals who stay at Aulani mainly on weekends. If true, I also wonder if DVC will revisit this issue if they notice that weekend occupancy is out of line with weekday usage.

 

[BlazerFan]

I've also heard that many residents visit on the weekends for "staycations" My plan on our next trip is to use Saturday and Sunday to visit other places on the island and use M-F around the pool. I'm wishing my next trip was this year but it probably won't be until 2014.

 

[htmlkid]

Aulani is the only DVC with a flat weekly point chart; the weekends cost the same as the weekdays. I wonder if this works in favor of the locals who stay at Aulani mainly on weekends. If true, I also wonder if DVC will revisit this issue if they notice that weekend occupancy is out of line with weekday usage.

I had the same thought, with locals buying the property and booking weekends ... if it got to a point where it is difficult to book a week cause all the weekend days are gone... I'm not sure what Disney could do.

I forgot to mention we went to the Monday Members mingle and I was impressed with the fact that they didn't try to sell you anything. Just give you info in the island, the culture and the property and play some games for prizes. It was really nice and worth going to.