Aulani (and Oahu) tips and hints needed please

[TwinMom202]

Going to Aulani with DH, twin DDs (13), and MIL in August. Any tips and hints for the resort and Oahu would be appreciated! We'll be at the resort for 7 nights in a 2 bedroom villa so we have kitchen access and we'll have a rental car. 1st time for our DDs to be on Oahu.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Girimama33]

Here are some great links to get you started.
Aulani Villas and Views: http://www.disboards.com/threads/aulani-villas-views-updated-04-19-2015.2907389/

Aulani and Oahu places to eat: http://www.disboards.com/threads/going-to-aulani-lets-list-places-to-eat.2858912/

The one thing you wish you knew: http://www.disboards.com/threads/aulani-whats-the-one-thing-you-wish-you-knew.3180904/

 

[BeachClub2014]

Checking out the links listed above will be helpful. I have lived here in Oahu for almost two years now and would be happy to answer any specific questions. I would recommend a visit to Pearl Harbor if you're into history. The drive along the North Shore is beautiful. The waterfall at Waimea Valley is beautiful and an easy, paved walk. Climbing Diamond Head is fun and a great view, but always crowded. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay is awesome, but very crowded. If you drive yourself, you MUST get there shortly after opening on most days or you won't be able to park in the park. A beach day at Wailua Beach Park is great. Perfect sand beach, mild surf, no rocks. Turtle Bay Resort is also a great place to visit for a different beach experience other than at Aulani. Open to the public, easy parking. Good snorkeling with a lot of marine life in the area.

The one warning I will give you about driving around Oahu is that traffic is horrendous. Nearly everywhere. Especially during both morning and afternoon rushes. If you travel along the H1 and other main routes during peak times you will likely encounter gridlock.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Stop in Kapolei off of H1 as you go toward Aulani. There is a Safeway, target, Walmart, etc. the cheapest place to get groceries. We always do breakfast in our room, make lunches about half the time and I make dinner a few times. Suggest reservations for Ama ama and the character buffet if you're interested. We always send the kids to the Aulani version of a luau and eat at ama ama one night. We have been there four times and we're here right now. Love it. And because we've seen most of the islands, we never leave except for dinner, going to mass on Sunday and to get groceries. Sitting on the balcony right now.

 

[NaredoFam]

Check out the excursions on Aulani's website. I highly recommend the Disney Excursions as Disney is very well represented with these excursions. I know $$$ may be a factor but here are my top 5 excursions recommendations. I tried to list them in the order I would do again if I had to choose...

1) Disney Excursion Kualoa Ranch Experience - an all day excursion to the north shore with a stop at the pineapple plantation (I think), a boat ride to a private island (where they filmed 50 First Dates), private BBQ dinner & play at the private island, horseback ride where they filmed Godzilla, Lost, Jurassic Park, Journey 2, etc. and you have your own Disney guide that is very friendly and accommodating. I have done this excursion twice. Once with just my DH & I then another time with me, DH, DS(9), DD(9), DD(2.5), mom, dad, & nephew(14). Our Disney Guide took my youngest daughter and my dad on the trolley tour of the ranch since she couldn't ride the horse and my dad didn't care to be on the horse lol.
2) Polynesian Cultural Center with Super Ambassador Package (believe only available on Wednesday)- Expect a VERY VERY long day but very well worth it!!! Includes transportation, stop at pineapple plantation for lunch, ambassador guided tour of each island area with lots of knowledge from your tour guide, luau or buffet for dinner, & an amazing fire show presentation with a ticket for FREE Hawaiian Delight (WONDERFUL) during intermission. It will be late getting home so I always fall asleep on the bus ride home. I have done this twice. My DH & I did the buffet but we did the luau with all the family.
3) Pearl Harbor (Tour 66K) at 8:30am - This one includes the USS Missouri, USS Arizona, the Memorial, Movie, & Punchbowl. Great tours and great history! You are fairly rushed when at Pearl Harbor to go to the memorial and the movie so keep that in mind. I have done this twice.
4) Catamaran Experience: Look for whales (seasonally) and dolphins, go snorkeling and enjoy musical entertainment while you sail along picturesque ocean waters. The crew was awesome! Very supportive & great communication. Good buffet deli lunch. Big boat. The crew took my 2.5 year old daughter snorkeling with them. She loved it until she got cold so they took her straight to the boat and brought her a seastar from the bottom of the ocean. She got to hold it and look at it and toss it back in the ocean when they got done with their 2nd snorkel trip. You are allowed to stay on the boat if you do not want to snorkel.
5) Manoa Valley Rainforest & Bamboo Forest Hike: Behold natural splendor on this privately guided hike through a lush Hawaiian rainforest. You may even see a 200-foot waterfall! The waterfall was dried up pretty much & just a trickle when we went but the hike was very nice. Just don't recommend if you are scared of bugs & insects or don't like hiking lol. Disney guide is very good.

ENJOY!

 

[biged9973]

I have never stayed at Aulani but have stayed next door at the Ko Olina Beach Villas, it is a very nice area. A few tips for you:

• Climb Diamond Head if you are physically able. It is a bit of a drive from Ko Olina but the view is worth it. I think it is $5 or so for parking.
• Walk over to the cove at the Beach Villas if you want more peaceful beach time. I was stunned to see how many people were at the Aulani cove compared to the 15 or so at the Beach Villas
• Monkeypod Kitchen at the strip mall north of Aulani has good food
• Avoid rush hour driving if possible, it is more like rush hour parking
• Take surfing or SUP lessons from Hawaiian Fire surf school
• Be careful with the room charges. A friend of mine stayed at Aulani with his family and his pre-teen kids did not realize that the smoothies cost money. He got quite the surprise at check out.
• Go shark diving on North Shore, it is a very controversial subject on Oahu but we went and loved it.
• Polynesian Cultural Center is awesome.
• So is Pearl Harbour.
  
• Go to a luau. We have been to 3 and would recommend them in order, Polynesian Cultural Center, Paradise Cove Luau and then Germaine's. Paradise Cove is at Ko Olina and is walkable from Aulani but it would be a decent walk, definitely not next door.
• Go to North Shore and stop in Haleiwa.
• Lots of good shopping in Waikiki. We like to go to Waikiki for an afternoon it is so different from the rest of Oahu but special in its own way.

I'm jealous. Hawaii is our favorite vacation destination, it is so relaxing.

 

[4DisneyAddicts]

I have never stayed at Aulani but have stayed next door at the Ko Olina Beach Villas, it is a very nice area. A few tips for you:

• Go shark diving on North Shore, it is a very controversial subject on Oahu but we went and loved it

I am considering the shark cage experience during my upcoming trip. I am curious why it is controversial? Is there a particular company you recommend?

 

[biged9973]

I am by no means an expert on the subject. The tour operators have to chum the waters to get the sharks to hang around their cages. This disrupts the feeding patterns of the sharks and also brings them closer to shore. Some believe that this increases shark attacks, others don't like humans messing with feeding patterns of the sharks.

There are a lot of posts on the Oahu forum page on TripAdvisor on the subject.

We used Hawaii Shark Encounters, http://hawaiisharkencounters.com/, and we enjoyed it. Go early in the morning though, the ocean is more calm then.

 

[biged9973]

I just thought of something else, if you are renting a car check out http://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/. We used them on our recent trip to Maui and they were cheaper than going thru the agencies themselves and we had no issues at all. Alamo (I think, could be a different company) has a rental outlet right at Aulani if you are only wanting to rent a car for a portion of your trip.