Aulani in Hawaii

[kailuagirl]

I had to post this here and share with you all, even though it doesn't belong, sorry. But my friend works here for Aulani and I saw him today and asked about it, it sounds incredible! Oh my!! He has worked for Disney for years at Disney Adventures. I said compared to the GCH what's it like. He said it's like the GCH on steriods. Wow!!

 

[twopeasonepod]

Yeah, but we know that there is absolutely nothing to do on that side of the island. So it will only satisfy those that want a complete retreat from activity/the city/life. It is a beautiful property, but they need to have tons of activities for guests or it will be boring (but relaxing ).

 

[TravelingJen24]

I am very interested to find out what type of activities they have at the resort. Considering it is DIS, I'm sure there will be family activities galore. We have DVC, so we are very interested to see what they provide. I would love to go this fall, but WDW in December already. I guess I can wait and see how others review it.

 

[QueenDoOver]

Yeah, but we know that there is absolutely nothing to do on that side of the island. So it will only satisfy those that want a complete retreat from activity/the city/life. It is a beautiful property, but they need to have tons of activities for guests or it will be boring (but relaxing ).

It's not that far to drive to get to city activities, etc. should you choose to go. Otherwise all the other Hawaiin things to do are readily available. I would take that location over Waikiki any old day!

 

[pilot04]

We drove by the Aulani resort over the July 4th Holiday vacation trip and it was impressive. Kids were like we want to stay here on our next Hawaii vacation. The golf course in front of the property is awesome as well. Like others mentioned, it's a good drive from Waikiki and this resort if there is traffic.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

My dad lives across the street...it is AWESOME!!!! PLENTY to do! Soo fun!

 

[ACDSNY]

It's not that far to drive to get to city activities, etc. should you choose to go. Otherwise all the other Hawaiin things to do are readily available. I would take that location over Waikiki any old day!

I'll second this!!!

We can't wait to check it out in January.

 

[jlp879]

I have a trip planned there for September and we have stayed in the Ko Olina Marriott before. Because I like busy and bustling, we stay in Waikiki before making the drive west. The best of both worlds!

 

[boscoj]

It actually seems that they will have a lot of activities for their guests to do (ie fishing, tours to Pearl Harbor and Polynesian Cultural Center, atv's, whale watching,etc). The key is how much are they going to charge for the activities?

We'll b staying there in about a month and will try to let everyone know....

 

[kailuagirl]

My friend also told me there are tons of activities, esp. for the kids, there is even an Auntie "shack" for activities. The pools are supposed to be awesome too! If I was visiting Hawaii, I would stay in Waikiki maybe 1 or 2 nights, just to check it out than I would definetly leave for someplace like Aulani. Granted it is far out there and not much too do, but sometimes that is what you want on a vacation

 

[twopeasonepod]

I'll second this!!!

We can't wait to check it out in January.

You might say that about the *distance*, but the *time* is the problem. It will literally take you two hours (or more) to get to Waikiki if there is traffic. There is a reason that nothing else is out there -- no one wants to go. The people that live on that side don't do it by choice, they do it because that's what they can afford. The commute is horrible. For your trip, I strongly advise you to avoid any morning trips. I wouldn't even leave the resort until after 9.

Obviously anything Disney will be over the top with stuff to do, but if you are looking for more than that, you are out of luck. Personally, I'd rather go to Kaua'i where I can at least see beautiful waterfalls and vistas if I was going to go somewhere with nothing to do.

 

[twopeasonepod]

It actually seems that they will have a lot of activities for their guests to do (ie fishing, tours to Pearl Harbor and Polynesian Cultural Center, atv's, whale watching,etc). The key is how much are they going to charge for the activities?

We'll b staying there in about a month and will try to let everyone know....

Yeah, ouch , I never even considered the cost for all the Disney-style fun! Please let us know what what the activities are like. Especially the non-traditional touristy stuff!

 

[Cinmon Toast & Tacos]

You might say that about the *distance*, but the *time* is the problem. It will literally take you two hours (or more) to get to Waikiki if there is traffic. There is a reason that nothing else is out there -- no one wants to go. The people that live on that side don't do it by choice, they do it because that's what they can afford. The commute is horrible. For your trip, I strongly advise you to avoid any morning trips. I wouldn't even leave the resort until after 9.

Obviously anything Disney will be over the top with stuff to do, but if you are looking for more than that, you are out of luck. Personally, I'd rather go to Kaua'i where I can at least see beautiful waterfalls and vistas if I was going to go somewhere with nothing to do.

As a person who lives "on that side" I take issue with this statement. I live out here because I hate the city, and it's gorgeous on this side of the island. When I'm in town I always feel like I might as well move back to L.A. Yuck.

Out here, I get the small-town feel, know all my neighbors, and don't have deal with nasty traffic when all I want to do is go grab a carton of milk from the store. Go suburbs!!

Regarding the commute -- like any big city, the people who live out in the suburbs stream into Honolulu in the morning, creating traffic. If you need to get into Waikiki from between 7 am - 9am, then yes, you will hit lots of traffic. Two hours is on the high side, unless there is an accident. In traffic, I average 45 minutes - 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on what time I leave. With no traffic, we can get from Leeward to Kapiolani in about 20 minutes.

The west side of the island boasts beaches, amazing sunsets, a very good luau, and good places to eat in Kapolei. Drive over to the North Shore, and you get genuine old Hawaii, with more beaches. Pearl City gives you the Arizona Memorial and the WWII History Museum, where you can spend all day if so inclined. The hikes in central Oahu are awesome, and if you hit Kualoa ranch on the North shore there's a load of stuff to do.

If you stay at Aulani, you'll have amazing views of Hawaii + Disney magic. If I could afford it, we'd SO be there, but we'll probably wait till next year since we're going to DLR already this year. And I get to go check out Aulani next week for preview!! Woo hoo!

 

[areweindisneyyet]

If I have to leave aulani to be at the airport at 6.15am on a Monday morning what time would I leave, we have hired a car.

 

[Cinmon Toast & Tacos]

If I have to leave aulani to be at the airport at 6.15am on a Monday morning what time would I leave, we have hired a car.

I'd leave around 5 to be completely safe. That should be plenty of time and you may find yourself wandering around the airport hunting for breakfast until you are allowed to check in.

 

[twopeasonepod]

As a person who lives "on that side" I take issue with this statement. I live out here because I hate the city, and it's gorgeous on this side of the island. When I'm in town I always feel like I might as well move back to L.A. Yuck.

Out here, I get the small-town feel, know all my neighbors, and don't have deal with nasty traffic when all I want to do is go grab a carton of milk from the store. Go suburbs!!

Regarding the commute -- like any big city, the people who live out in the suburbs stream into Honolulu in the morning, creating traffic. If you need to get into Waikiki from between 7 am - 9am, then yes, you will hit lots of traffic. Two hours is on the high side, unless there is an accident. In traffic, I average 45 minutes - 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on what time I leave. With no traffic, we can get from Leeward to Kapiolani in about 20 minutes.

The west side of the island boasts beaches, amazing sunsets, a very good luau, and good places to eat in Kapolei. Drive over to the North Shore, and you get genuine old Hawaii, with more beaches. Pearl City gives you the Arizona Memorial and the WWII History Museum, where you can spend all day if so inclined. The hikes in central Oahu are awesome, and if you hit Kualoa ranch on the North shore there's a load of stuff to do.

If you stay at Aulani, you'll have amazing views of Hawaii + Disney magic. If I could afford it, we'd SO be there, but we'll probably wait till next year since we're going to DLR already this year. And I get to go check out Aulani next week for preview!! Woo hoo!

My apologies, I certainly had no intention of offending anyone. I agree that you do get a different feel, and that there are people who do prefer to live there. I just think that if I were visiting in order to do things, I'd rather be more central, where I could walk places or take a short cab ride or even the bus to see more and do more. Everyone should go to the North Shore, but the drive from Kapolei versus town isn't enough to convince me to stay at Ihilani or Aulani, IMO. But the Disney swag and the magical touch just might be enough for tons of people to choose "that side"!

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

maybe there isn't anything to do right now but since disney has
moved in....i would bet that it will change, quick fashion.


this is our nxt big trip! i even found my old pukka necklace &
all my disney's hawaiian shirts.

sometimes, it is nice to do nothing except eating, drinking &
sleeping.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

I'd leave around 5 to be completely safe. That should be plenty of time and you may find yourself wandering around the airport hunting for breakfast until you are allowed to check in.

Thanks for that, we leave in 18 weeks today. We are spending 7 days in Waikiki before 3 at Aulani before finishing in Disneyland. So very excited.

 

[Disneylovers2000]

PLEASE, keep the comments and suggestions coming on this thread!! Our family has decided that our next big trip (2013) will be to Hawaii. We all have a small (some bigger than others!) fear of forgein countries therefore we thought the best tropical place to go would be Hawaii. When we saw that Disney opened a resort (well quite honestly when I saw that they opened a resort!) I thought I had died and gone to heaven. BUT the cost may be the only problem Living up here in the great white north, I know little to nothing of Hawaii therefore any comments, suggestions, and tips will be an enormous help! Thanks to all the Dis'ers that live in Hawaii and everyone else who posts! And PLEASE all of you who visit, let us know what its like and what the damage ($) ends up being!!
Thanks so much!

 

[Cinmon Toast & Tacos]

We were invited to a "preview" this week and the hotel is beautiful! My kids got to take pictures with Stitch and now they are begging to go stay there. We're starting to plan for next year some time....Woo hoo!