Aulani Luana lounge new rules

[Nalugirl]

Not sure if its been posted yet but there are new rules regarding the luana lounge (locker room with showers). Whereas before you could access this lounge at all times, now it is locked and you need a special card you can get from the front desk to access it. The lockers are only available to be used for a maximum of 30 minutes before they begin to clear out belongings.

We just came back from a one night stay. We live here and wanted to take the kids before school starts. The day we checked out we loaded up the car before heading down to the pool. I wanted to store my purse with my wallet and cell phone into a locker for safekeeping. When I tried to open the lounge door it was locked. I noticed a slot to enter your room key off to the side so I tried that but it didn't work. A cast member passing by noticed I was having problems and informed me of the changes. I asked if this was new and he said yes ever since they opened up all the rooms for the resort now. Now that the resort has all 1000 rooms opened the locker room cannot accommodate everyone wanting to use the lockers all day. Hence the change. For valuables they will put your items in a safe behind the front desk.

Just FYI....

 

[DenLo]

Thanks for the information. With guests arriving before a room is ready and other others staying until they leave for an evening flight, it makes sense to change the rules. You think they would post a sign though to let you know that you need to go to the check in desk to gain access to the room.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Yes we encountered these new rules on our stay a week back and there is more to it than just not being able to use your room key to enter the Lounge, I posted about it on the "Aulani: What's the One Thing You Wish You Knew?" thread:

"They have changed the access now...probably to help with locker availability.
Now the access Key Card to the lounge that they give you at the front desk for your departure day is a "one time only" entry so it only allows you to enter the departure room one time.
Thus folks can't keep going in and out of the departure room/locker rooms.
This has helped with locker availability, but it makes it so you can't pre-store your stuff in the locker all day.
I wound up keeping a bag with me on the pool deck containing everything I would need to get cleaned up all packed in it, including my change of clothes."

Even then the locker room was very crowded and I had to wait in a line of 4 people to get to the shower (there are only 2 showers, 2 sinks and 2 toilets in the locker room) when I finished up the line for the shower was even longer.

 

[Anal Annie]

Yes we encountered these new rules on our stay a week back and there is more to it than just not being able to use your room key to enter the Lounge, I posted about it on the "Aulani: What's the One Thing You Wish You Knew?" thread:

"They have changed the access now...probably to help with locker availability.
Now the access Key Card to the lounge that they give you at the front desk for your departure day is a "one time only" entry so it only allows you to enter the departure room one time.
Thus folks can't keep going in and out of the departure room/locker rooms.
This has helped with locker availability, but it makes it so you can't pre-store your stuff in the locker all day.
I wound up keeping a bag with me on the pool deck containing everything I would need to get cleaned up all packed in it, including my change of clothes."

Even then the locker room was very crowded and I had to wait in a line of 4 people to get to the shower (there are only 2 showers, 2 sinks and 2 toilets in the locker room) when I finished up the line for the shower was even longer.

So what good is a locker if you can't access it? Not sure I understand what the point is of even having the lockers if you can't use them?

 

[kkmcan]

Ok so I just booked a late flight home (9:15 pm) knowing that we had use of the lockers and showers. Now we don't???

What are we going to do all day with our stuff? Can we use the shower facilities in the afternoon? I don't get how this works now.

Can I book a reduced rate hotel room as a day room for us to hang out in and get ready?

 

[wdrl]

It seems to me that Aulani is trying to limit the use of the lockers to those guests who are actually using the shower facilities at the Luana Lounge. Guests can use the lockers to shower and change clothes, but then they have to vacate the locker after 30 minutes or so.

Bell services can store all of your luggage, including your carry on luggage, while you are at the resort waiting to leave for the airport. As a prior poster stated, guests have the option of storing valuables with the front desk.

When we were at Aulani in September 2012, about half of the resort had not yet opened. There was fewer guests using the Luana Lounge. On our departure day less than half of the lockers in the men's area were in use and I kept my carry on luggage in a locker most of the day. Now that Aulani is completely open and in full operation, Aulani doesn't want people to store their belongings in a Luana Lounge Locker when it can just as easily be stored with Bell Services or the Front Desk.

 

[Anal Annie]

30 minutes doesn't seem like it would be long enough time allowance if there is a line for the showers.

Since our actual departure day from Hawaii is from the Sheraton Maui maybe I'd better check with them to see what their policy is for the showers. We've always had a late night flight when we left and have never had a problem anywhere before tho - but I will double check on it. I'm guessing their policy is probably a lot different tho since their cabanas and gazebos rent for a reasonable $45 and $75 / day. Different resorts / different prices / different policies.

 

[wdrl]

30 minutes doesn't seem like it would be long enough time allowance if there is a line for the showers.

I imagine allowances will be made depending on how long the line might be for the showers.

As you can see in this photo, the dressing areas have plenty of lockers to accommodate those guests who are actually waiting to use the showers. There must be at least 18 or 20 lockers in each dressing area. The problem comes with people who grab a locker at 7:00 AM but won't be showering and leaving the resort until 8:00 PM that night.

I wonder if DVD had to do it all over again if it would have made the lockers much smaller. Smaller lockers would have allowed it to put more lockers in the same space and would have discouraged guests from using the lockers to hold a lot, or all, of their luggage. As you can see in the photo, the lockers are very large and can easily accommodate someone's carry on luggage.

 

[Anal Annie]

I imagine allowances will be made depending on how long the line might be for the showers.

As you can see in this photo, the dressing areas have plenty of lockers to accommodate those guests who are actually waiting to use the showers. There must be at least 18 or 20 lockers in each dressing area. The problem comes with people who grab a locker at 7:00 AM but won't be showering and leaving the resort until 8:00 PM that night.

I wonder if DVD had to do it all over again if it would have made the lockers much smaller. Smaller lockers would have allowed it to put more lockers in the same space and would have discouraged guests from using the lockers to hold a lot, or all, of their luggage. As you can see in the photo, the lockers are very large and can easily accommodate someone's carry on luggage.

Do you know how many showers there are? Hopefully they planned for several since the red-eye thing is so popular there.

 

[JWG]

I'm ok with the 30 minute locker thing, it shouldn't be your luggage storage solution. That's what bell services is for. It mirrors them not letting you have a beach chair for more than 60 minutes if not "using" it.

What is a bit odd is the ability to only access the lounge once? If you have to check-out at noon and have a 10pm flight, that's 8+ hours to kill. I can't spend 8 hours straight out in the pool/river/beach. I'd like to be able to go back and forth. Cool I don't get a locker - have a day bag and keep it with you, but can't I use the pool, watch some TV, hit the pool again, etc.? I suppose there's also Community Hall whic is come and go.

 

[Nalugirl]

As far as I know, this was considered to be the community lounge before. There were couches along with 2 tvs, computers and printers to check flights and print boarding passes. Now with the new rules, it doesn't look as if its encouraged to "hang out" here anymore. I can't think of anywhere else in the resort that may have another community area.

 

[AKMOUSE]

We were there in October and the resort was not busy.
On the day we left we took all of our luggage to the rental car. We were in the pool all day, then went to the lounge. There was one guy napping on one couch and kids playing on the other. (His I am assuming)We were a party of 8. We went back to the car and got our items to change in to. WE checked our flights and then repacked our suitcase. While in the locker room I saw several people coming and going and waht appeared to be storing of their items while at the pool. (They were in bathing suits and grabbing a camera). So to me, it seems the lounge wasn't just for those checking out late/arriving early. This change seems like they noticed that too.

I thought the option to use showers/lockers is fantastic. I didn't use the locker as we were had valuables in our luggage in the car. so I didn't need to use it - but can see that if you can only access once, how would you store this throughout the day?

 

[DisneyJewel]

Ok so I just booked a late flight home (9:15 pm) knowing that we had use of the lockers and showers. Now we don't???

What are we going to do all day with our stuff? Can we use the shower facilities in the afternoon? I don't get how this works now.

Can I book a reduced rate hotel room as a day room for us to hang out in and get ready?

You can store all of your stuff with bell services. We stored everything, carryons, luggage, jackets. Everything is marked with a coded sticker -- very well-organized! We asked for a late checkout, and they did not offer any kind of pay for a 1/2 day deal, like other hotels do, but that may have been because they were at capacity. And they do NOT mess around. We had someone (not the housekeeper) knock on our door with a clipboard at 11:05 am making sure we were heading out and only waiting for bell services!

Our flight was at 4, DD2 had a swim and the rest of us toured the shops and had a relaxing lunch before heading to the airport. If I had a 9pm flight, I would do the spa. Swim or do the beach in the morning, before checkout if you want. Check your bags with bell services, have lunch, then do a spa appointment. The spa includes a large outdoor, private area with hot tubs, hydrotherapy, lounge chairs. There is also (inside) a steam room, sauna, relaxation room, showers and amenities (lotion, hair gel, deodarant, etc) and you get a locker for as long as your are using the spa. There are no in and out privileges, but you can stay as long as you want. You could have an early dinner after the spa and then head to the airport.

Also, your key cards (if you have linked them for charging) work until midnight of the day you check out (I asked). So you can charge things (at the restaurants, bars or shops), borrow items at the beach, get a wrist band for towels, etc, and do a final snorkel if you have a length-of-stay pass at Rainbow Reef.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Do you know how many showers there are? Hopefully they planned for several since the red-eye thing is so popular there.

In the womens locker room there were only 2 shower stalls, 2 toilet stalls and a six foot counter with 2 sinks and a mirror, they also had 2 blow dryers hanging on hooks by the shower area that you could take and plug in for use at the counter. My DH said the mens room was the same. If you do the math.... I had around 4 people in front of me and if each of them took 10-15 mins to shower/dry off /change.... I was looking at 20-30 minute wait just to get my shower started. Now keep in mind I was there over the Christmas Holiday so if you are going during a less busy time of year you may not have the crowding issue that I had.

Funny thing is that after we left the locker rooms/lounge I went around the corner to another set of restrooms located on the back side of the locker room area cause I figured it would be less packed. I was right, there was only one other woman in there. In hindsight, after showering and dressing, it would have been much easier to just take my stuff over to that restroom that had around 10 toilet stalls and a big counter area to finish getting ready. That bathroom is hardly even used because it is tucked back behind the lounge/locker room. You obviously couldn't shower there but it would be easier for hair and make up and less cramped.


My other thought was to book a spa appt for that last day if you were flying out later and then just use the spa locker room to get ready, they have everything you could ever need and the spa locker room is huge.

As far as I know, this was considered to be the community lounge before. There were couches along with 2 tvs, computers and printers to check flights and print boarding passes. Now with the new rules, it doesn't look as if its encouraged to "hang out" here anymore. I can't think of anywhere else in the resort that may have another community area.

Nalugirl, the community hall-Pau Hana room- is still there.... right next door to the departure day Luana Lounge. You can most certainly still hang out at the community hall, there are comfy sofas and chairs and televisions. My DS even took some art classes there one night and we rented videos there.

 

[Nalugirl]

Thanks Cinderpamela I did not realize that is considered the lounge area. Good to know! We did check out the dvd rentals and got an iPad for the scavenger hunt. Fun!

 

[kkmcan]

I'm thinking then that we will take our time in the morning hanging out on the balcony, eating breakfast, showering and use up all of our time before check out in our room. Then stow our luggage with bell services, leaving out a bag with our clothes for changing and showering. Hang out at the beach and pool for as long as we can. Then change, shower and get ready to eat dinner in the late afternoon.

Only problem I see is, if all 4 of us are in the water how to we keep our one tote bag secure. I know you can't keep stuff on a chair for very long so how do we keep that from getting moved/taken?

 

[Cinderpamela]

I'm thinking then that we will take our time in the morning hanging out on the balcony, eating breakfast, showering and use up all of our time before check out in our room. Then stow our luggage with bell services, leaving out a bag with our clothes for changing and showering. Hang out at the beach and pool for as long as we can. Then change, shower and get ready to eat dinner in the late afternoon.

Only problem I see is, if all 4 of us are in the water how to we keep our one tote bag secure. I know you can't keep stuff on a chair for very long so how do we keep that from getting moved/taken?

We just made sure to always have at least one of us there watching our stuff.