Aulani Owners Thread - ALOHA!

[VGCgroupie]

You got the Eva Tower… magnificent view!

Yes so pretty!!

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…..

We left home at 7:15am but the 4 hour difference put us here very early, which without family I love vs losing hours going to FL.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Yes so pretty!!

We left home at 7:15am but the 4 hour difference put us here very early, which without family I love vs losing hours going to FL.

10am to 11am ish arrival…. that’s a long day….

 

[nono]

Actually booking the night before won’t help since checkout is 11am. Back to square one. Do the curtains close on the cabana?

It sounds like you would be willing to travel with this part of your family again. Can I save you 20-30+ years of agony? Your family doesn't have to be your travel partners. You love them and you want to spend time with them and have them enjoy what you enjoy. Some people can't do that, even if they are related to you. Save yourself the stress.

 

[VGCgroupie]

It sounds like you would be willing to travel with this part of your family again. Can I save you 20-30+ years of agony? Your family doesn't have to be your travel partners. You love them and you want to spend time with them and have them enjoy what you enjoy. Some people can't do that, even if they are related to you. Save yourself the stress.

I say I won’t but then I do know I may end up doing it anyway. A few of them I will because I have to. I did tell my mom she is no shape to come to Disneyland with us in December.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I say I won’t but then I do know I may end up doing it anyway. A few of them I will because I have to. I did tell my mom she is no shape to come to Disneyland with us in December.

Only if they are grateful for how lucky they are that you let them come along!

 

[VGCgroupie]

There is no less than 60 people in line for Stitch in the DVC area and he came out 41 minutes ago. Am I crazy to think that DVC-Y should get some sort of priority here?

 

[AstroBlasters]

There is no less than 60 people on line for Stitch in the DVC area and he came out 41 minutes ago. Am I crazy to think that DVC-Y shoukd get some sort of priority here?

Where is the DVC area?

 

[VGCgroupie]

Where is the DVC area?

Hoku Hideaway where Mauis hook is on the wall

 

[AstroBlasters]

Hoku Hideaway where Mauis hook is on the wall

Ah…. The DVC Sales Center area…. roger.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Ah…. The DVC Sales Center area…. roger.

Last year it was DVC Y exclusive for Moana. I guess I’m just a whiner.. way too many people lining the halls. Left without meeting Stitch with my granddaughter in her LILO outfit. Again I guess I’m probably being seen as a whiner.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Solution for day of changing to avoid the lounge. The bathrooms (for women) by photopass are big, quiet and clean. Reminds me of the quiet bathroom in VGC. Will use this in the future.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Solution for day of changing to avoid the lounge. The bathrooms (for women) by photopass are big, quiet and clean. Reminds me of the quiet bathroom in VGC. Will use this in the future.

Why would someone not change in their room?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Last year it was DVC Y exclusive for Moana. I guess I’m just a whiner.. way too many people lining the halls. Left without meeting Stitch with my granddaughter in her LILO outfit. Again I guess I’m probably being seen as a whiner.

That’s a bummer… it would have been a good picture….

 

[juliebee]

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.

Maybe have family arrive the day after you do? Sure, that could be inconvenient since you'd have to pick them up, but getting there a day before and hitting the grocery store, etc could really help the rest of the trip start smoothly for some people.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Last year it was DVC Y exclusive for Moana. I guess I’m just a whiner.. way too many people lining the halls. Left without meeting Stitch with my granddaughter in her LILO outfit. Again I guess I’m probably being seen as a whiner.

I don’t think you’re a whiner. My kids showed up like 25m early for Moana in early January and were still like 20 people back— there should be enough options/viewing times that you can spend 30m or less to see the characters that are advertised as part of the experience. Unfortunately, this also happens on Disney cruise line, so we don’t do many M&Gs because standing around is hard on my body. At least if we arrive early we can all sit on the ground and play cards or something until the line starts moving.

Solution for day of changing to avoid the lounge. The bathrooms (for women) by photopass are big, quiet and clean. Reminds me of the quiet bathroom in VGC. Will use this in the future.

Wait, which is the quiet bathroom? The one by WoC viewing?

Maybe have family arrive the day after you do? Sure, that could be inconvenient since you'd have to pick them up, but getting there a day before and hitting the grocery store, etc could really help the rest of the trip start smoothly for some people.

I think the best idea is leaving the negative Nancy (and Neil)s behind, but this is probably second best by far— “I noticed it was really upsetting for you when the room wasn’t available at check-in, I have asked around and, unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to fix that, so if you want to join this time, you are welcome to join us on Day 2 when everything is ready to go.”

I would not offer to go back and pick them up (as if!, enjoy your immediate family time in that glorious villa!) you can decide if you’re willing to pay for a car or make them make a small contribution in the cost of one way transit.