Aulani Owners Thread - ALOHA!

[Doingitagain]

Any suggestions for a small group whale watching excursion? We are there in March and the one through Aulani is not available that week.

Thanks!

 

[nicola28]

Any suggestions for a small group whale watching excursion? We are there in March and the one through Aulani is not available that week.

Thanks!

Sorry not sure of whale watching but we are here right now in a 1 bedroom ocean view and it is amazing. I would be happy to answer any questions.

 

[cruella1114]

Hoku Nai'a seems to have the best deals and is close to Aulani. Very good reviews also. We are going Feb 1 and are using them.

 

[cruella1114]

Sorry not sure of whale watching but we are here right now in a 1 bedroom ocean view and it is amazing. I would be happy to answer any questions.

Nicola28 ,
How is the weather right now ? We are arriving Feb 1 -10 and I am curious about the weather. Also how do you like the 1 bedroom villa ? We are 8 people staying in a 2 bedroom lockoff plus an additional studio. I am hoping we will have enough room. I am wait listed for an additional studio.

 

[TinkerBe11]

Subscribing

 

[leinalani]

Aloha Kakahiaka!

We're O'ahu locals that bought Aulani back in October on the last day of our staycation. I was feelin' the end-of-vacation letdown happening and you can imagine what happened next. We haven't used our points just yet BUT we have a great trip planned for June at the Grand Californian Villas. However, I couldn't NOT stay at Aulani for all of 2013 so we have a stay planned for New Years Eve! I can't wait to be able to watch the fireworks from the beach and not have to worry about parking or driving home after the fireworks. Then spending the next couple days lounging around the pool. It's gonna be fun!

 

[Doingitagain]

We just returned from a week at Aulani. It is a beautiful resort and the staff is wonderful. However, it may be a while until we return. We were a family of four adults, and found there were no adult only areas (unless you wanted to pay extra for the spa). The adult pool has been removed (with no intention to replace) and all the areas are open to everyone.

We have stayed at many Disney resorts and have done ten Disney cruises. We really enjoy Disney's theming and service, and we like kids. It is just that we've never felt quite this density of children. There were even kids using the lazy river as a swimming pool and playing in the hot tubs. Kids running everywhere inside and out. I know Disney is a family resort and I love that, just was disappointed there wasn't a get away. We'll definitely go back when we have younger family members to share it with.

 

[dreamlinda]

So happy you enjoyed your trip, we also enjoyed the resort. As a couple, we try to travel to Disney in the off seasons (for familys) realizing there isn't really an off season in Hawaii.

We visited in Feb. '12 which is not a school break time for most schools and we had a nice mix of age groups ~ and that adult quiet pool was frequented by adults with small children. I think it was probably an attractive option for parents who wanted to be in a pool with their little ones. The Lazy river really was lazy, and lovely since it was not over crowded. Of course, we were there before the Iwa tower opened, so naturally there were fewer guests...

 

[Tikihula]

Have they moved the Starlit Hui to its new location yet? We have two Island View studios reserved, and it was suggested we request the long Ewa building overlooking the Starlit Hui grounds, so we could watch it from our balcony. I had read some time ago that the show was going to be moved to a new area, but I can't figure out where that will be. Any comments or suggestions on what to put on our request? It would be nice to get a glimpse of the ocean, or perhaps peek at the sunset, but I'm not sure what to ask for. Do any of the Island View rooms look out over the pool or lazy river?

 

[ACDSNY]

Have they moved the Starlit Hui to its new location yet?

Yes the Starlit Hui was on the island side of the Ewa tower when we were there in December.

 

[Tikihula]

Yes the Starlit Hui was on the island side of the Ewa tower when we were there in December.

Thanks.

 

[lesabrowning]

We added on points back in September on a cruise. We will be making our first visit with a 2BR villa in just over a week. I booked a babysitting service for our our 11 year old and 8 month old for one evening so hubby and I can have a date night off property. (we are already dining at the on property restaurants with the kiddos) We had looked at going to a local Luau, but they get such mixed reviews that I am just not sure. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what we might consider? Any great restaurants to suggest or some great thing you did as a date night? I am seafood allergic but otherwise pretty open minded.

 

[Aurora1959]

We just returned from a week at Aulani. It is a beautiful resort and the staff is wonderful. However, it may be a while until we return. We were a family of four adults, and found there were no adult only areas (unless you wanted to pay extra for the spa). The adult pool has been removed (with no intention to replace) and all the areas are open to everyone.

We have stayed at many Disney resorts and have done ten Disney cruises. We really enjoy Disney's theming and service, and we like kids. It is just that we've never felt quite this density of children. There were even kids using the lazy river as a swimming pool and playing in the hot tubs. Kids running everywhere inside and out. I know Disney is a family resort and I love that, just was disappointed there wasn't a get away. We'll definitely go back when we have younger family members to share it with.

We were there in May/June 2012 and I really liked the adult pool area. I do wish that they had kept it. I also would have preferred a hot tub that wasn't over-run with kids that are screaming and have no appreciation for it's location. Whenever we walked by the ones that overlook the beach there were no adults nearby, except ones with babies. In a perfect world they would keep a kid-free area with nice views.

 

[dreamlinda]

We were there in May/June 2012 and I really liked the adult pool area. I do wish that they had kept it. I also would have preferred a hot tub that wasn't over-run with kids that are screaming and have no appreciation for it's location. Whenever we walked by the ones that overlook the beach there were no adults nearby, except ones with babies. In a perfect world they would keep a kid-free area with nice views.

Agreed!!!! Disney ~ are you listening??

 

[beeadude]

We added on points back in September on a cruise. We will be making our first visit with a 2BR villa in just over a week. I booked a babysitting service for our our 11 year old and 8 month old for one evening so hubby and I can have a date night off property. (we are already dining at the on property restaurants with the kiddos) We had looked at going to a local Luau, but they get such mixed reviews that I am just not sure. I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what we might consider? Any great restaurants to suggest or some great thing you did as a date night? I am seafood allergic but otherwise pretty open minded.

We went for our 40th anniversary and the concierge at Auluni made reservations for us at Azur, in the Marriott, right next door. We sat outside by their pond under the stars. OMG! There were only 2 tables for 2 on the grass area with long linen table clothes and candles. The chef is from Italy and the food reflected it. What an experience something right out of a romantic movie.

 

[Sir William]

We were there in May/June 2012 and I really liked the adult pool area. I do wish that they had kept it. I also would have preferred a hot tub that wasn't over-run with kids that are screaming and have no appreciation for it's location. Whenever we walked by the ones that overlook the beach there were no adults nearby, except ones with babies. In a perfect world they would keep a kid-free area with nice views.

We were there last week and on their survey I made the same basic comment about Ama Ama. DW and I were there for sunset and surrounded by kids. I'm OK with kids, after all it's Disney, but I suggested they need to have an adult only dining area within the restaurant.

 

[Aurora1959]

We went for our 40th anniversary and the concierge at Auluni made reservations for us at Azur, in the Marriott, right next door. We sat outside by their pond under the stars. OMG! There were only 2 tables for 2 on the grass area with long linen table clothes and candles. The chef is from Italy and the food reflected it. What an experience something right out of a romantic movie.

Wow - definitely saving that for later. Sounds like it was wonderful. We do a whole Hawaii one year, cruise the next. This year is an Alaskan Cruise, so next year we will do Aulani again. And I'm certainly going to remember that.

We were there last week and on their survey I made the same basic comment about Ama Ama. DW and I were there for sunset and surrounded by kids. I'm OK with kids, after all it's Disney, but I suggested they need to have an adult only dining area within the restaurant.

I agree, I'm OK with kids too. But I also think that while the kids need an "adult-free" zone, we need a "kid-free" zone too. I really like the quiet pool area on the ship and took advantage of the same thing while at Aulani. I'm not saying the area has to be huge either. And rowdy and/or rude adults wouldn't be welcome either. In fact, I wouldn't mind tweens and teens if they were conducting themselves in a mature manner either. It's all about having a nice quiet zone where you can relax. It's very hard to do that when a 4 year old is screaming, jumping or what not. And they deserve to do that screaming and jumping, let's just do it where all the other kids are doing it too.

 

[lchute1158]

I am a new owner at Aulani, and new to DVC. Just booked our first visit December 1st for my daughters 5th birthday.

 

[bigskyernurse]

Just added on at Aulani!! Can't wait to stay there in January, 2015 for our honeymoon!!

 

[asunutgirl]

I can't believe I haven't found this thread until now. I need to read the whole thing when I have time.

We are Aulani owners - bought on the Fantasy last August. We have a very old timeshare that we inherited that is terrible and have been trying to decide what to do with it. We drove by Aulani when it was under construction and were very intrigued with the idea of Disney in Hawaii. I made my husband go to the DVC presentation on the ship because I wanted the shipboard credit. Of course, we didn't win that but ended up buying 160 points while we are on the ship. We've gotten rid of the old one!

We have our first trip booked for August and we can't wait! 2 grown ups, 2 kids. We are all SCUBA divers so we are very excited. Mickey and great diving in one trip!