Aulani Excursions

[bbn1122]

I was on the DVC Members web site and was looking at Aulani information and they had a thread to excursions. It connected me to all the excursions they offer. They offer everything from Surfing, to visiting the Arizona to going to another island for a day. I was very happy to see that transportation was included and it did not look like you would have to rent a car, if you did not want to.

I am hoping to book Aulani for next summer. The resort looks so beautiful and there is so much to do there, but I know we will want to get out and experience at 3 or 4 things outside the resort, while there for a week.
I just did not want to have to rent a car for a week that sits there for 4 days not being used.

Has anyone gone to Aulani and book excursions thru Disney.

Thanks....

 

[mouselike-harrier]

Subscribing I would like to know too!

 

[LisaDKG]

I just called the Holo Holo Desk (I think that was it?) at Aulani yesterday to ask about excursions for our trip next week! I specifically wanted to ask about the minimum number of participants for the "Cook with a Chef" excursion because I want to send my father on it for his 65th birthday. Since all of the rooms aren't even finished I was wondering if the number of guests they have at this time enables such activities to even run. To my dismay the CM said that the activity required 20 participants (at $200) each and for the date I wanted (it's only offered on Thursdays) there are currently 2 people signed up. 3 now, if you include my father! Doesn't look too good. She also said that for some of the excursions they were overlooking the minimums by a bit - I think she was referring to the surf lessons with the firefighters and that if you had your own transportation, you had better chances of it being a go. When I'm back I'll post more about what I find out

 

[kristytru]

subscribing...

 

[magic34]

I just recently got back from a 5 night stay there. Let me first say that I thought the resort was Awesome!

We tried to register for an Adventures by Disney excursion. There were a couple problems with it. The excursion we really wanted to do was only offered on Mondays (we weren't there on a Monday). The minimum required for the excursion we ended up signing up for was only 10 people, but only 4 people signed up for it. So it got cancelled.
The excursions that were not "Adventures by Disney" did not need a minimum number of people because they were tours offered by a separate (non-Disney tour group or vendor). We opted not to do any of those because we would have to drive to an off-site location to meet up.....and we didn't really feel like doing that.

It took about 35-40 minutes to drive to Aulani from the airport, but it took almost an hour on a different day to drive to Diamond Head.

Also, they took away the $99 length of stay beach rentals.

Hopefully this helps.

 

[bbn1122]

Thanks Magic43...

I saw on the web site many excursions. I figured some were tour groups, but a lot said they picked up at the resort.

If anyone else has any info...would love to hear about it.

thanks again to everyone.

 

[TreesyB]

I notice that the Hawaii Fire surf school is $154 on Aulani Excursions, but if you go to Hawaii fire website, it's only $109 - I don't get why the price difference?

 

[Leitadala]

DH and I just got back and we did 2 excursions (3 if you include the Paradise Cove Luau, which wasn't adventures by Disney). Attendance wasn't an issue (that I know if) with either (a lot of the people in our groups signed up there, and our guide was genuinely surprised that I had booked the excursions ahead of time by the phone).

We did Hawaii Fire Surf School and I cannot speak more highly of it! The Firemen were great (and so was our guide). I've compared my surf experience to some other's that learned to surf through more casual instructors and they've all been quite jealous of our amazing time with Hawaii Fire. If you want to surf, then I can't recommend them enough! I'm assuming the price difference between the prices is that with Aulani's excursion you get transportation and snacks (which was really great, since we were exhausted afterwards and I would have hated to drive back!).

We also did the Kualoa Ranch excursion which was okay (although, the bus ride there and back was amazing because of our driver, who kept us entertained with stories of Hawaii the whole time). I think my lack of enthusiasm stemmed from not having much knowledge going into it. It was a lot of time at the "secret beach" to hang out, swim, snorkel, etc. The Catamaran was a decent size little boat (no little mesh area to sit) and it seemed like the boat ride was really quick. Then the horseback ride was two hours long! It was a good time though.

I'm working on a trip report, but still trying to fend of the jet lag! A big shout out to our guide, Eki though - he was lots of fun and full of information!

 

[taaren]

I just called the Holo Holo Desk (I think that was it?) at Aulani yesterday to ask about excursions for our trip next week!

You got holo holo right. Holo holo is the Hawaiian pidgen (a creole vernacular) word for "going out to have fun", usually during the day ... one uses it if you're going shopping or getting lunch or anything that's not accomplishing work/errands.
I think that's the most authentic Hawaiian word I've heard used in descriptions of Aulani yet ...

 

[LisaDKG]

DH and I just got back and we did 2 excursions (3 if you include the Paradise Cove Luau, which wasn't adventures by Disney).

What did you think of Paradise Cove Luau? I went back in 1995 and can't really remember it but the rest of my family have never been to Hawaii at all. We considered this but the others in my party are on more of a budget and from what I heard about some of the evening entertainment and storytelling at Aulani itself, I thought we could skip it? Would you agree?

We did Hawaii Fire Surf School and I cannot speak more highly of it! The Firemen were great (and so was our guide)

I am really leaning toward signing up for this so thanks for your input!

You got holo holo right. Holo holo is the Hawaiian pidgen (a creole vernacular) word for "going out to have fun", usually during the day ...

Good to know! I plan to go holo holo frequently this trip - I will try to be as authentic as I can!

 

[Leitadala]

What did you think of Paradise Cove Luau? I went back in 1995 and can't really remember it but the rest of my family have never been to Hawaii at all. We considered this but the others in my party are on more of a budget and from what I heard about some of the evening entertainment and storytelling at Aulani itself, I thought we could skip it? Would you agree?

The Starlight Hui that Aulani does is AMAZING! It was pure Disney (I mean that as "a great show" - Mickey only comes out at the end) - wonderful and beautiful, but it was so short. The Paradise Cove Luau was lots of fun too, but if you have party members on a budget I think they will be happy doing the Hui (they had it twice a week when I was there). I didn't make any of the fireside storytelling, but after seeing the Hui I wished I had as I'm sure it would be a great show too. The resort also has live music at night, so you can sit down and enjoy a beverage and entertainment. The best thing about the Luau (besides the show) was the little shops set up, but a lot of the stuff there could also be found at the ABC store across the street.

 

[ciao_gina]

When we were on the Disney Cruise, we booked with local companies, had a great time and saved money. We are planning on doing the same. In fact we purposely picked February to go because it is the height of whale watching season- I am looking at this company FYI http://www.koolinasailingadventures.com/

Unless, Disney is offering something truly unique I would research other companies.

 

[magic34]

We also talked to some locals, and they pretty much told us we could drive to some of the same spots, get the same experience, and pay $5 per person instead of the $130 per person that Adventures by Disney was charging.

 

[podsnel]

I know this is an old thread, but I am resurrecting it to see if anything has changed- we want to do the Fire surf school and the Kualao Ranch excursions, and we will have a car. Based on our family of four, if I'm reading it right, we can save about $400 doing the same ranch experience on our own? Is that accurate? Is the DISNEY difference somehow worth $400? The price difference is less significant for the surfing school (and I'm not sure if that will be times 4 or times 2 or 3...)

Thanks for any help anyone may have-

Ellen

 

[saintstickets]

Joining in too Ellen. We really want to do the Kualoa Ranch excursion. I'd like more information as well on other guided tours. Hope someone can help us out.

 

[cropper]

I just booked them for our May trip. I called them directly.

 

[podsnel]

Thanks, Cropper. I really think I'm going to save a lot of $$$ this August by booking on my own, too. I spoke with a friend of mine yesterday who had done an Adventure by Disney excursion with her Alaska cruise last summer. DCL cancelled the excursion (due to foggy weather- it was the helicopter/dog sled one) and when they walked off the ship they went up to the tour operator and were told they could still go on the next one. The NEXT ABD tour was on their trip- the only difference was that the ABD tour was walked over to the tour & escorted back- and that they paid aLOT more. Actually, she said they got better treatment going direct, because she and her son sat in the front seats and ABD was in the back. I don't know if this is always the case, though- I think on some of these tours there IS more of an advantage going with Disney (like getting to the front of the line at the Vatican, or being greeted by John Muir in Muir Woods). I'm just wondering if there is any in Hawaii. I saw that they have already discontinued the 3 day ABD add-on at Aulani due to lack of interest (I know I would not done that because the cooking portion would not have appealed to my teenage boys or husband, and then it would have felt like we were on seperate vacations).

Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

[saintstickets]

Here is a link to what MouseSavers has to say about excursions at Aulani...

http://www.mousesavers.com/hawaii.html#excursions

 

[mkymsehi]

Aloha everyone. I'm a local resident, and hopefully these links will help you decide on what attractions to visit.

• Activity options:
  
  http://www.boxcarracing.org/
  
  http://www.discoverycenterhawaii.org/pages/geninfo/general.htm
  
  http://www.wetnwildhawaii.com/
  
  http://www.kualoa.com/
  
  http://www.hawaiisharkencounters.com/shark-tour-hawaii.asp
  
  http://www.hawaiiwatersportscenter.com/jetski.html
  
  http://www.hummertourshawaii.com/page/1111465
  
  http://www.islandseaplane.com/
  
  http://www.soarhawaii.com/
  
  http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happytrailshawaii.com%2F&h=6AQH7LT0H
  
  http://surfnsea.com/
  
  http://www.hawaiianfire.com/
  
  http://girlswhosurf.com/
  
  www.sealifeparkhawaii.com
  
  http://robertshawaii.com/sightseeing-attractions/
  
  http://alohabus.com/
  
  http://www.spotlighthawaii.com/
  
  http://www.101thingstodo.com/
  
  
  Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri, and Pacific Air Museum.
  http://www.ussmissouri.com/node/105
  
  Drive to the north shore, and Haleiwa town. Matsumoto's Shave ice and Giovanni's Shrimp truck.
  
  Polynesian Cultural Center: Dinner package for the Ha, breath of life hula show.
  
  http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hawaiiwatersportscenter.com%2F&h=0AQFTLvkS
  

 

[mkymsehi]

One other tip, buy an Entertainment Book - Hawaii version.

Lots of coupons two for one, or buy one get 50% off second person on activities. Also includes regular and fine dining options around the island (including neighbor islands if you're headed there).