Aulani Owners Thread - ALOHA!

Aloha from Aulani!

Have been so busy since we got here I haven’t had much time to be on my phone. That’s a good thing!

This stay hasn’t been as good as our last stay. Part of it could be bringing extra family that adds a thick layer of stress. That is completely my fault and a mistake I won’t make again. On check in day our room was ready literally at 4pm to the second. In the future I need to book a cabana for check in day or an extra night. The lounge was a huge disappointment and frankly upsetting. The room was packed with people, many of them sleeping. Unacceptable imo.

The member welcome home weeks activity was booked up many days in advance. That’s okay I understand.

The character lines so far have been very long and I witnessed non guests lie their way into staying in line. The HOKU Hideaway characters aren’t DVC exclusive.

The upside is most CM outside of check in have been wonderful. The room is is great condition. Views are beautiful. We are still very happy to be an owner for now.

PS my magic bands work perfectly!
Yes, adding extended family definitely adds stress and we are huge fans of having a cabana or veranda booked on arrival day.

I hope a few more days waking up to ocean front views and a few more nights of enjoying the music at Olelo room soothes your soul!
 
Aloha from Aulani!

Have been so busy since we got here I haven’t had much time to be on my phone. That’s a good thing!

This stay hasn’t been as good as our last stay. Part of it could be bringing extra family that adds a thick layer of stress. That is completely my fault and a mistake I won’t make again. On check in day our room was ready literally at 4pm to the second. In the future I need to book a cabana for check in day or an extra night. The lounge was a huge disappointment and frankly upsetting. The room was packed with people, many of them sleeping. Unacceptable imo.

The member welcome home weeks activity was booked up many days in advance. That’s okay I understand.

The character lines so far have been very long and I witnessed non guests lie their way into staying in line. The HOKU Hideaway characters aren’t DVC exclusive.

The upside is most CM outside of check in have been wonderful. The room is is great condition. Views are beautiful. We are still very happy to be an owner for now.

PS my magic bands work perfectly!

How much extra family?

Surprised to hear the character lines are long since schools back
 

We may start planning our trips in Sept or May rather than August. Although we were here last August and it seemed less busy even though it was still probably sold out.

Last night was a good night, and I felt much more at ease. So I can admit it’s more than likely the family 🤣. Also if it weren’t for the extra family we wouldn’t have even stepped foot in the lounge to know what was happening in there. It’s also them that point out all the negatives that normally are things that I don’t care much about. I understand the limitations of being DVC vs cash and they don’t.

Photo of the view from the balcony
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Part of it could be bringing extra family that adds a thick layer of stress.
Please expand on the “thick layer of stress”.

Was it because of check-in day and you felt responsible somehow for the packed lounge, or 4pm room availability, or something else? Did you book a 2-3 bedroom or multiple studios/hotel rooms for the additional family?
 
Please expand on the “thick layer of stress”.

Was it because of check-in day and you felt responsible somehow for the packed lounge, or 4pm room availability, or something else? Did you book a 2-3 bedroom or multiple studios/hotel rooms for the additional family?
Well my family is extra when it comes to being difficult. I knew this going in. The resort was packed and my mom was tired and couldn’t walk much to even do the resort tours etc and we cancelled Pearl Harbor. Baby was hungry. So it was the 5 hours of having no room that made them on edge and scoffing at how 4pm is so late. They agreed to change to hang at pool or beach but then when we walked into the lounge it was like a hostel… not even joking. People everywhere 50% of them sleeping on floors and in chairs. It was very off putting, did not feel like I think Aulani should feel. Front desk made statements like “it’s the grand villa so you will have to wait longer for a room”. Hearing that makes a non DVC person think wow other places treat their high category room guests like royalty why would spend money here. Other people’s extended family probably would’ve handled it better then mine so a thick layer of stress for me trying to defend my beloved Aulani and still trying to make everyone happy
 
Well my family is extra when it comes to being difficult. I knew this going in. The resort was packed and my mom was tired and couldn’t walk much to even do the resort tours etc and we cancelled Pearl Harbor. Baby was hungry. So it was the 5 hours of having no room that made them on edge and scoffing at how 4pm is so late. They agreed to change to hang at pool or beach but then when we walked into the lounge it was like a hostel… not even joking. People everywhere 50% of them sleeping on floors and in chairs. It was very off putting, did not feel like I think Aulani should feel. Front desk made statements like “it’s the grand villa so you will have to wait longer for a room”. Hearing that makes a non DVC person think wow other places treat their high category room guests like royalty why would spend money here. Other people’s extended family probably would’ve handled it better then mine so a thick layer of stress for me trying to defend my beloved Aulani and still trying to make everyone happy
Lions do not concern themselves with the opinions of sheep….
 
They probably worded it poorly…I think the issue with Grand Villas is that there are not as many of them and they don’t have flexibility to find another room that is ready.
Yeah they did word it poorly. They said it more than once poorly and also because it takes longer to clean.
 
Yeah they did word it poorly. They said it more than once poorly and also because it takes longer to clean.
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen….. It is a LOT to clean. And…. you really want it to be as clean as can be when you walk in…. The issue is really that people will just park themselves in the lobby or lounge…

We always assume that we won’t be getting in until 4pm at the earliest at any DVC resort and plan accordingly. That will often mean renting a cabana/veranda or at other resorts booking the room for the night before arrival OR an overlap day during a split stay….
 
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen….. It is a LOT to clean. And…. you really want it to be as clean as can be when you walk in…. The issue is really that people will just park themselves in the lobby or lounge…

We always assume that we won’t be getting in until 4pm at the earliest at any DVC resort and plan accordingly. That will often mean renting a cabana/veranda or at other resorts booking the room for the night before arrival OR an overlap day during a split stay….
I agree. We did have plans to go the Battleship Missouri but my mom ended up not being able to do that. So the cabana wasn’t an option last minute. In the future I may book a studio or something the night prior to arrival if we don’t have a resort day planned.

The lounge really should be monitored. I would pay to have a decent lounge to use. I was wondering if you went next door to the four seasons if there would be people just sitting in all areas of the lobby for hours. Lessons learned.

Photo from last night ❤️

IMG_1470.jpeg
 
I agree. We did have plans to go the Battleship Missouri but my mom ended up not being able to do that. So the cabana wasn’t an option last minute. In the future I may book a studio or something the night prior to arrival if we don’t have a resort day planned.

The lounge really should be monitored. I would pay to have a decent lounge to use. I was wondering if you went next door to the four seasons if there would be people just sitting in all areas of the lobby for hours. Lessons learned.

Photo from last night ❤️

View attachment 998083
You got the Eva Tower… magnificent view!

Pearl Harbor can definitely be very strenuous on the older folks… especially after a long plane ride. Pre-booking can also be hard if there are sudden flight changes after reserved seating is gone.

We’ve been pretty lucky that most of our Hawaii arrival times have been around 2pm and at Orlando around 3pm….

Some of you crazy people take red eyes and then just hit the ground running….. 🥴
 
Actually booking the night before won’t help since checkout is 11am. Back to square one. Do the curtains close on the cabana?
 















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