Aulani Cabanas

[blondietink]

Beach umbrealla rentals seem to be $15 half day and $40 full day. Cheaper to just go to Target and get one for your whole vacation. Thre is beach outside of the lagoons and if you walk right or left to go past the lagoons on either side. Don't know if there is good swimming there or not, but somebody else mentioned that there is lots of coral/rocks to the east.

 

[okiedokieartichoke]

Beach umbrellas are now complimentary, there used to be a fee for them about a year ago but they are free, first come first serve, and only 1 per room. The resort is contracted w/ the Ko Olina property to use umbrellas, umbrellas brought in by the public, or even resort guests are not allowed, and the shore patrol will ask you to remove it if you bring one. Best advice - if going to the beach for the day go before 10AM to make sure you get an umbrella.

 

[wdrl]

When we were at Aulani in September 2012, the beach umbrellas were complimentary to Aulani guests. A CM from the Makiki Joe's beach rentals shack will dig a hole and place the umbrella whenever you want it on the beach. Here are photos of the rental board at the shack and a CM setting up our umbrella.

 

[donkthemagicllama]

Makiki Joe's will also give you a bunch of sand toys (shovels, pails, etc) and a boogie boards for free if you've got an Aulani room key. The other things (paddle boards etc) aren't free.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

Did anyone get an email confirmation or confirmation #? I forgot to ask if I would receive anything, she did find my reservation on file.

When I called for our Cabana I actually was only calling for the character breakfast and asked if I could book the Cabana with her as well (she could). So my reservation was already pulled up. We booked one towards the end of our stay in case construction is really awful (we would then cancel).

I did receive an email confirmation from the recreation team at Aulani that said the following:

Dear Jessica,
Thank you for reserving:

Date
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
9:00 AM
Service
9:00 am, Full Day of Cabana Rental


Enjoy your service,
Recreation at Aulani - PRODUCTION


Seems really inconsistent!

 

[aclov]

They only took my name when I called to reserve one....didn't even take our reservation number (and I offered it 3 times) so there's no way they could send me an email. This booking process doesn't seem to have much consistency.[/QUOTE]

She pulled up my reservation by my name, I asked her if she needed my resv # and she said no she had my information up.

 

[WDWmom08]

They only took my name when I called to reserve one....didn't even take our reservation number (and I offered it 3 times) so there's no way they could send me an email. This booking process doesn't seem to have much consistency.

That is so strange because when I called yesterday I didn't have my reservation number and the concierge was insistent that he needed it. I told him I had read it wasn't necessary and he said he had to verify I was a guest because they were for guests only. He kept me on hold looking it up and had trouble finding it because I was a dvc member.

 

[blondietink]

Beach umbrellas are now complimentary, there used to be a fee for them about a year ago but they are free, first come first serve, and only 1 per room. The resort is contracted w/ the Ko Olina property to use umbrellas, umbrellas brought in by the public, or even resort guests are not allowed, and the shore patrol will ask you to remove it if you bring one. Best advice - if going to the beach for the day go before 10AM to make sure you get an umbrella.

That is great news about the umbrellas! However, I don't get the fact that you can't bring in your own umbrella, since all the beaches are public and the only "rule" I have read about the public beaches is you are not supposed to drink alcohol (like anybody pays attention to that rule ). But, I know that the Ko Olina is a private development entity, so perhaps they have special rules of their own that negate the state of Hawaii's rules and regulations.

 

[scotttrippett]

Public beaches. Private property. The Ko Olina developers are responsible for any safety on the beaches.

 

[Anal Annie]

Sounds like this cabana reservation system IS very inconsistent. I didn't speak to the concierge desk. When the girl answered the main phone line I just told her why I was calling and she said she could help me. Perhaps I will call back later today to double check on it - just make sure somebody else sees my name on this mysterious list!! I think I would like an email confirmation like mom2aidanNpiper got!! Another question...do these casabella things hold 2 people?

Glad to see that the boogie boards and umbrellas are free (as I'm assuming are the beach lounge chairs)?! I may want more of a raft type thing to float on. I am assuming those could be found at the local Target.

 

[donkthemagicllama]

Lounge chairs were free as well.
The Kapolei Target (and Costco for that matter) is a pretty close drive (maybe 10 minutes), and has lots of beach stuff. If you don't have a car, the ABC store (actually Island Country Market... which seems to be a slightly nicer ABC with a Deli) has them too. You can easily walk there as it's literally across the street, but it'll be pricier than Target.

 

[gonzalj1]

I just called, spoke with the first person who answered, gave my name, cell, email and dates and got an email confirmation a few minutes later.

 

[zeferjen]

Just called and booked a cabana for Sept 2nd. I felt funny reserving something so far in the future, but we would really like cabana 1, so I hope it works out!

 

[Anal Annie]

So I called back and I think I got the same girl who answered the phone the other day (sounded the same anyway). I asked to speak to the concierge desk this time and she asked if there was something she could help me with so I said that I had been reading about a conflicting process for the cabana rentals and that I just wanted to double check that our name was on the list. She asked for my last name then asked me if I was LeeAnn (yes, I am LeeAnn not Annie in most of my real life). So she said yes, we were on the list....I said I'd read that some people had gotten an email confirmation about it and she said she could send me an email but that would not have a confirmation number on it. So I said, yes, just send me something in writing so that I have something so she sent me a quick email with the dates.

 

[WDWmom08]

I'm not sure why I'm having so much trouble with this. I decided to call back today and a woman answers this time. I tell her I am calling to see about booking a pool cabana. First thing out of her mouth is...can I have your reservation number? Well I don't have it on me so I say...will my dvc number help? Oh she says your a member staying on points...then you need to call member services. Can someone please give me the number they are calling so I can stop feeling like an idiot? Thanks in advance.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm not sure why I'm having so much trouble with this. I decided to call back today and a woman answers this time. I tell her I am calling to see about booking a pool cabana. First thing out of her mouth is...can I have your reservation number? Well I don't have it on me so I say...will my dvc number help? Oh she says your a member staying on points...then you need to call member services. Can someone please give me the number they are calling so I can stop feeling like an idiot? Thanks in advance.

That is so messed up! I am just calling the (808) 674-6200 main number for the property that was on our resort confirmation. I think both times that I called I called in early-mid afternoon eastern time....maybe it's the time difference and you're getting a different shift? The email that I finally got says it was sent at 5:18 pm. Maybe try calling earlier?

 

[blondietink]

Lounge chairs were free as well.
The Kapolei Target (and Costco for that matter) is a pretty close drive (maybe 10 minutes), and has lots of beach stuff. If you don't have a car, the ABC store (actually Island Country Market... which seems to be a slightly nicer ABC with a Deli) has them too. You can easily walk there as it's literally across the street, but it'll be pricier than Target.

Is that a Super Target or just a regular Target? Just wondering if we can get groceries there or if we should stop at the 24 hour Wal-Mart in Honolulu after leaving Waikiki before going to Aulani.

 

[donkthemagicllama]

The Target in Kapolei has groceries. I think there's another Walmart that's much closer than going all the way to honolulu as well (though not as close as the target).

 

[aclov]

That is so messed up! I am just calling the (808) 674-6200 main number for the property that was on our resort confirmation. I think both times that I called I called in early-mid afternoon eastern time....maybe it's the time difference and you're getting a different shift? The email that I finally got says it was sent at 5:18 pm. Maybe try calling earlier?

It's ridiculous they should have one number to call, I looked everywhere and could not find a number, I called MS they said I could book online at www.aulani.com. No where could I find on that site where to book, so I called the number on the website a 866 number, they directed me to the hotel. The person that answered at the hotel said the spa booked these(?) Called the spa, they said recreation desk booked the cabanas so finally called 1-808-674-6300 and the girl that answered was able to reserve it. I did not receive an email so may call back to get that. How many calls does it take to book a cabana?!

 

[gonzalj1]

I called the 808 number and got it first try.