Aulani - how long to stay?

[JCMHutch]

DH & I are planning on heading to Aulani in the Fall of 2015. I am wondering how long is a good length of stay?

We will be flying from the East Coast and it is a long flight! Between that and adjusting to the time change, I want to book a good length of stay so we can enjoy it and not be exhausted.

Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

Minimum of 3 nights. Longer is preferable!

Depending on your age (younger seem to adapt quicker) it will take you a couple of days to adjust to the 6-hour time difference. You'll also want to just relax and enjoy the resort. There's lots of other stuff to see on the island as well so I'd really suggest 5 days.

 

[E&Cmom]

Are you splitting your stay at another resort or on another Island? Is you are just going to Aulani, from the distance you are travelling, I would not stay less than a week. We spent a week there and we are are only a 5 hour flight away. I found a week perfect plus it gives you a chance to explore the island as well as the resort.

 

[Pooh2]

We went in Sept for 9 nights Aulani, 3 nights Disneyland on the way back (coming from NH). The 3 days at Disneyland seemed to help alot with the time adjustment.

We were suppose to arrive in Oahu at 5pm Hawaii time, but got there about 1am due to a very long delay in Phoenix. We were were really glad we added an extra night to our stay from our original plan.

Overall, we did fine with the time changes. Being hungry at the wrong time of day caught us more off guard than sleep pattern disturbances. We just ended up having snacks at times we normally would not at home.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[JCMHutch]

We plan on only staying at Aulani. This will be our big trip for the year and coincide with our anniversary. I hope to do day trips from the resort, but also have a couple days a down time. Typically, we do 6-7 night trips, but because of the distance for us, I'm wondering if 8-9 would be more appropriate.

We went in Sept for 9 nights Aulani, 3 nights Disneyland on the way back (coming from NH). The 3 days at Disneyland seemed to help alot with the time adjustment.

We do plan on a few days in Disneyland on the way home! DH has never been the Disneyland - then again, he wasn't a Disney person until he met me.

I have a feeling we're going to need to bank a bunch of vacation time for this trip.

 

[Pooh2]

We plan on only staying at Aulani. This will be our big trip for the year and coincide with our anniversary. I hope to do day trips from the resort, but also have a couple days a down time. Typically, we do 6-7 night trips, but because of the distance for us, I'm wondering if 8-9 would be more appropriate.



We do plan on a few days in Disneyland on the way home! DH has never been the Disneyland - then again, he wasn't a Disney person until he met me.

I have a feeling we're going to need to bank a bunch of vacation time for this trip.

It was our first trip to both Hawaii and Disneyland! Such a great trip!

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have been to Aulani three times. Coming again in April. From Chicago so it's a 10 hour flight. First year we stayed a week, second and third trips we stayed 8 days. Now we are up to 10 days for next year. We can't get enough of it! The first day is spent recuperating from the flight. Then we just love to hang out at the resort. Usually the only time we leave and see anything is the last day while we are waiting to go to the airport.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

When people say they get there and never leave the resort - does that include for dinner? I've been trawling through menus for the area and I can't see that there is much within walking distance to suit our family.

We will eat at the Disney buffet one night and at monkeypod kitchen another, but after that it looks like we will be using the car - we are in a studio so no cooking for us.

Am I gonna get there and not even want to be going out to dinner?

 

[bigtony777]

I would recommend the longest that you can make work with your schedule. I would also recommend not staying the entire time at one location. The islands have many different things to experience.

 

[DVCTiff]

Is forever an inappropriate answer?

The "new" JW Marriott has a bunch of restaurants in it, as well as the Marriott down the other way (where Longboards is) so there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance (and Monkeypod is fantastic!). However, the restaurants are pricey. We usually do a grocery store run, especially if we have a full kitchen in our unit.

We really enjoyed the new QS restaurant at Aulani by the lagoon. They had a special every night, and the food was very good.

I think 8-10 days would be an amazing trip though we can only do 7 with our membership. Enjoy!

 

[Fellowship9798]

We did a 10 day trip and alternated days staying in the resort and going out for activities around Oahu. It was a great trip with plenty of time to relax and enjoy the resort.

 

[artnerds]

We went last night for 6 nights, traveling from the east coast (Philadelphia). I wouldn't have wanted our stay to be any shorter given the travel times.