Aulani prices and crowds in July…

[AndreaA]

Hi… we are due to go to a wedding in CA in July and are thinking of hopping over to Hawaii afterwards. I’ve read some not very flattering reviews which are making me wonder if it’s worth the money. So questions:

What are the prices like? Is there a discount offered closer to the date usually? I’ve frequently booked WDW at rack rate and then hopped onto a deal later. What are the crowds like in July? How is the food? What is it like since Covid? I’ve gotten the feeling that it’s still a lot more locked down than other places.

Are there other nearby places with similar pool/water park features and snorkeling?

 

[JC1984]

July is going to be high season and busy.

 

[AndreaA]

Not exactly a rousing chorus of “it’s the best!”

 

[JC1984]

Aulani is great! I would look into renting DVC points if you want to save some money. Rack rate can be expensive. I haven’t been since COVID but will be there in January and plan to maybe do a TR. Food to me is alright but I am willing to drive to other eating establishments. As a DVC owner at Aulani I feel like a few of the choices Disney has made regarding COVID were more or less ways to cut costs and blame it on the pandemic. I would say if you can swing it YES a trip to Aulani is worth it. Hope by July Hawaii will be back to some type of normal.

 

[corgi_monster]

Hi… we are due to go to a wedding in CA in July and are thinking of hopping over to Hawaii afterwards. I’ve read some not very flattering reviews which are making me wonder if it’s worth the money. So questions:

What are the prices like? Is there a discount offered closer to the date usually? I’ve frequently booked WDW at rack rate and then hopped onto a deal later. What are the crowds like in July? How is the food? What is it like since Covid? I’ve gotten the feeling that it’s still a lot more locked down than other places.

Are there other nearby places with similar pool/water park features and snorkeling?

Hawaii is still very Covid conscious. Masks are required indoors, people practice social distancing, restaurants are still operating at 50% and you must provide info for contact tracing. If anyone in your party is not vaccinated, I would strongly encourage you to visit the Oahu Safe Access website. The rules keep changing and I’ve given up trying to stay on top of things. If you’re all vaccinated, Hawaii travel will be much simpler.

If you like Disney quick service, you’ll like Ulu Cafe just fine. Generally speaking, I find table service restaurants are slightly better than MK table service. The poke nachos, volcano fries, and Olu cupcake are standouts imo. Fish tacos and poke bowls are pretty low quality compared to other places on Oahu. Off property food is awesome.

July is crowded, but you’ll easily be able to find chairs at 8:55am (pools open at 9am). We go every other month and I’ll take the long days and heat of July over the low crowds of early December. Aulani crowds are nothing like Disney park crowds. You might wait 5-10 minutes for a tube to float down the lazy river or 15-20 minutes to ride the slide.

No other pool on Oahu compares to Aulani. You’ll have to go to the Grand Wailea on Maui to find some thing comparable.

We’re DVC so I’m not sure what Aulani charges for a room. If I were paying cash, I think $400-$500/night for a basic room with no view during peak season would be fair for what the hotel is providing.

 

[abdgeek]

IMO, Aulani is a deluxe resort and has pricing to match. However, this is one of my home resorts as a DVC member and I go every 2-3 years. I love it!! The resort will be crowded in July, but as long as you pack your patience you will be fine. Unfortunately, only you can decide if you can live with Hawaii’s Covid restrictions. If you don’t think the value is there until everything is open, I would suggest waiting. I will be in Hawaii for Christmas/New Year’s this year and I cant wait! I’ve already made my restaurant and tour reservations and am comforted by the fact that they are operating at 50% capacity. Hawaii’s restrictions are definitely more stringent than my state’s which I’m glad of. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be going.

You can do Hawaii as cheaply or expensively as you want. Everything in Hawaii is more expensive, so plan accordingly. There are several places across the street from Aulani where you can eat or you can rent a car to have the flexibility to travel further afield. However, keep in mind the car shortage and book early. Getting an Uber or Lyft at Aulani, which is in Ko Olina, may not be feasible.

My rule of thumb whenever I book a hotel OOP is to book the room I want immediately when the booking window opens for the dates I want. I then continue to check back to see if the rate drops. If it does, I book at the cheaper rate and cancel the reservation with the higher rate. Some hotels offer the lowest rate first and then keep increasing it. Others may do the opposite. Good luck!