Aulani Construction Update

[wdrl]

Perhaps the expected completion data for the new enhancements will be the end of September. I went into the official Disney Aulani website and it is reporting a completion date of the end of September. I'm almost certain that a few weeks ago the Aulani website was reporting a completion date in October.

 

[NorCalDVC]

Just booked our cabana for the week of Thanksgiving. The price is $325 (not including tax) a day with a 10% discount for DVC members. The CM told me they expect to be opening the new area at the end of September, but no guarantees.

 

[BCV2003]

Can you please tell what number you called and who you talked to to make this cabana reservation?

I just called after I saw your post bad was told they are not taking reservations until they "end of Sept---call back next week". This is the same thing I've heard for months. Your post had me so excited, but now I am getting frustrated.

I used 808-674-6900. The person who answered the phone was able to help me.

 

[NC State Tigger]

Just called to check to see if they were taking cabana rental reservations yet and they were! I made a reservation for Saturday, October 19!

I made the comment that we would prefer to be far away from the children's play areas and she said that the new area would definitely be open by then also.

Can you please tell what number you called and who you talked to to make this cabana reservation?

I just called after I saw your post bad was told they are not taking reservations until they "end of Sept---call back next week". This is the same thing I've heard for months. Your post had me so excited, but now I am getting frustrated.

We just made one too for a cabana!

I used 808-674-6900. The person who answered the phone was able to help me.

Just tried again, (called 808 674-6900) asked about 2 days during our stay that I know we will be spending the entire day at Aulani. Once again, I was told nothing available to reserve. Suggested I call back next week. Don't understand why OPs have been able to reserve for later in October and November. Perhaps because the new areas may not be "opened" by the dates I requested, Oct 5 and 10.

 

[JAM3]

Just tried again, (called 808 674-6900) asked about 2 days during our stay that I know we will be spending the entire day at Aulani. Once again, I was told nothing available to reserve. Suggested I call back next week. Don't understand why OPs have been able to reserve for later in October and November. Perhaps because the new areas may not be "opened" by the dates I requested, Oct 5 and 10.

Is it possible the cabanas were already reserved for the days you requested?

 

[NorCalDVC]

Just tried again, (called 808 674-6900) asked about 2 days during our stay that I know we will be spending the entire day at Aulani. Once again, I was told nothing available to reserve. Suggested I call back next week. Don't understand why OPs have been able to reserve for later in October and November. Perhaps because the new areas may not be "opened" by the dates I requested, Oct 5 and 10.

The first person I spoke to said they were accepting reservations for dates after October 19 so maybe that's why. . In the days prior to the bookings being accepted, I got so many conflicting reports that I'm not sure how much truth there was to what he said. In any event, you will have an awesome time! It's beautiful there!

 

[Hitsubasa]

The ulu cafe doesn't seem like its close to completion. They probably got set back because it's been raining a lot here :/ But I know the official media release date will be in October so I'm guessing it'll have to be done by then. I'm guessing if they open up the pool before then, they'll just leave that area blocked off.

 

[Neraj]

Ulu Cafe and Ka Maka Landing are scheduled for a soft opening on 09/27. They must be pretty confident with that date because Continental breakfast at Olelo Room, lunch at Makahiki, and One Paddle Two Paddle are scheduled to stop service that day as well.

 

[NC State Tigger]

Ulu Cafe and Ka Maka Landing are scheduled for a soft opening on 09/27. They must be pretty confident with that date because Continental breakfast at Olelo Room, lunch at Makahiki, and One Paddle Two Paddle are scheduled to stop service that day as well.

Yea!!!! On one of my calls, that's the date the CM I talked to gave me. Feel good I'm seeing the same date again. We arrive on Oct 2nd. Now, if I can just get that pool cabana reservation I want.

 

[Rest&Relax]

Just returned from Aulani and finally getting to post a few pictures of the new area. Wishing I was still there!!

 

[NorCalDVC]

Just returned from Aulani and finally getting to post a few pictures of the new area. Wishing I was still there!!

Thank you so much! Wow - it really looks like they are ready to open this area. Finally!

 

[ppg0270]

Just returned from Aulani and finally getting to post a few pictures of the new area. Wishing I was still there!!

Thanks for the pictures. Can't wait to be there in December. I hope by then everything with be open.

 

[jerseygal]

Thanks very much for posting the BEAUTIFUL pictures!!!!!!!!!!

So much fun planning our late spring 2014 trip! Can't wait!

 

[DenLo]

Great pics. I can wait to see it lit up at night. And it looks like three cabanas are against the outer wall.

Great room view photo too! I'd love to have that view for our trip next fall.

 

[NC State Tigger]

I was just able to make reservations for a pool cabana for Oct 5 & Oct 10

The CM that made the reservation asked if I wanted a cabana in the "adult only area or not". I asked how many cabanas there would be with the new areas open. She told me 8 total---3 would be in the adult area. I asked in the new expansion would be open by the time we arrived Oct 2nd. She said "yes", :

 

[Anal Annie]

Since we had to cancel lour trip at the last minute in August all of these Aulani threads are DRIVING ME NUTS!! We had really wanted to rent a cabana for a couple of days but I think the new $325 price is a little excessive so whenever we DO go we'll likely skip the cabana plan.

I am in the process of trying to RE-plan our trip for next year. I was SHOCKED to see that there are still some Poolview & OV studios available for our spring break week (the week leading up to Easter). I worked for several hours yesterday on different scenarios once I saw openings there. Priced flights etc. Problems with the plan are 1) we could only go for 7 nights as DS only gets the one week + Easter Monday off. Coming home I'd want to leave on Sat. night so we arrive home on Sunday night so he'd have Monday to recover from the jet lag. And 2) the airfares were RIDICULOUS. Even with the credits we have coming to us from our cancelled trip we'd still have to pay like $2K out-of-pocket. No can do right now on that one. But I did run the plan by DH. If we did Aulani over spring break then there's a chance we COULD go back to WDW in August to get a 3rd trip off of our AP's. That was an appealing thought. But in the end that plan would cost us a lot more than what we can do right now.

We decided that since airfare is cheaper to go in August, the points are lower AND we'd have more time then we'd just wait and try to re-plan the trip for August when we can have a longer trip. But it sure was tempting to snag one of those studios for spring break!! I am glad all of these improvements will be done by the time we go.

 

[Anal Annie]

Just returned from Aulani and finally getting to post a few pictures of the new area. Wishing I was still there!!

Question - was this a "poolview" room or an OV room??

 

[wdrl]

Question - was this a "poolview" room or an OV room??

Rest&Relax labeled the villa as 1456, which is an Ocean View studio in the Ewa Building-Phase 1.

BTW, I'm glad to hear you are planning again for a trip to Aulani. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one works out for you.

 

[Anal Annie]

Rest&Relax labeled the villa as 1456, which is an Ocean View studio in the Ewa Building-Phase 1.

BTW, I'm glad to hear you are planning again for a trip to Aulani. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one works out for you.

Thanks - it's going to be a tricky one to plan as we have a lot less points to work with next time AND I have to see if I can get Alaska Air to give us some more time to use our flights. When I orig. cancelled they said we had 1 yr. from the orig. date of the first flight to use them by BUT the girl then said sort of in a whisper "but really, if you call and explain what happened they'll give you until Sept." But so I don't have that in writing, I only have until Aug. 3rd in writing. August is a better month for us to travel but I have to iron that bit out before I go booking anything at Aulani. I need to get confirmation on what I can and can't do with those flights!! Just keep your fingers crossed!!

 

[Cinderpamela]

Thanks - it's going to be a tricky one to plan as we have a lot less points to work with next time AND I have to see if I can get Alaska Air to give us some more time to use our flights. When I orig. cancelled they said we had 1 yr. from the orig. date of the first flight to use them by BUT the girl then said sort of in a whisper "but really, if you call and explain what happened they'll give you until Sept." But so I don't have that in writing, I only have until Aug. 3rd in writing. August is a better month for us to travel but I have to iron that bit out before I go booking anything at Aulani. I need to get confirmation on what I can and can't do with those flights!! Just keep your fingers crossed!!

Fingers crossed for you!

On the flight prices... I know exactly what you mean ... we were thinking of switching to spring break because Christmas time flight costs were, and still are just crazy!! And I too was amazed that Spring break is still pretty open, but like you say the flight prices are not that great.

Ultimately we are sticking with our Christmas plan because of the reasons you listed above. Like you said it just is nice when travelling all that way to get a bigger chunk of time to work with and to be able to recover from the jetlag upon returning.

I really worked the system with our airmiles and wound up getting a flight cost per person that, while not fun to think about...we can live with. Sadly I had to sacrifice my original plan of an island hop. Now I am stalking the rental car prices!