Aulani Super Thread?

[dr&momto2boys]

I'm looking for all the info I can get on Aulani. Is there a big info thread yet? I think it would be great to address/link to all these topics and more...
transportation choices and prices
grocery options
nearby restaurants
etc.

If you have any links or general info about these things, I sure would appreciate it!
I'm specifically wondering if there are any grocery delivery services (other than from the Aulani's overpriced and limited store.) Or are there at least taxis readily available to take you to the stores 10 minutes away?

I plan to try the restaurants at Aulani, but we also heard the Marriott next door has a decent buffet (especially for breakfast) at a lower cost. I heard you can walk to Roy's--a fine dining restaurant too. What else is good that you can walk to?

Especially for the few of us who decide not to rent a car this info is very valuable!

 

[taaren]

The Aulani Owner's Thread is here.

Roys is across the street and delicious but they had a kitchen fire a few weeks ago and will take awhile to re-open ... there is no re-opening date yet that I've heard of, it happened a few days before our stay and we were very disappointed. There's also a taco place within walking distance we didn't try since we drove to Kapolei.

I didn't see taxis waiting at the resort/lobby drive up area, but there is an intra-resort transit bus which will take you to the hotels/venues within Koolina, and I'm sure the valets would be happy to call one for you/that there would be some nearby. No grocery delivery service that I know of for Ko'olina. I think there was an ABC store over by the taco place across the street where you could get some basics.

Ama Ama was tasty and reasonable for lunch IMHO.

 

[Psychodisney]

I found some great info on Mousesavers.

 

[andriade]

Thanks for asking this. I just booked today and am looking for all the info to plan.

 

[spleen]

Posted this a couple of times already, but a map that I keep tweaking with restaurants and shopping places in nearby Kapolei (still would need a vehicle to get there from Aulani). Click the thumbnail to get the full map.

 

[andriade]

Posted this a couple of times already, but a map that I keep tweaking with restaurants and shopping places in nearby Kapolei (still would need a vehicle to get there from Aulani). Click the thumbnail to get the full map.

Love the map! Thanks

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Posted this a couple of times already, but a map that I keep tweaking with restaurants and shopping places in nearby Kapolei (still would need a vehicle to get there from Aulani). Click the thumbnail to get the full map.

Thanks! Now I want a rental car just to go to the pancake house! I love good pancakes! Anyone know if this Koa Pancake House is good?

 

[spleen]

Koa is good. There are better places for pancakes on the island (Cinnamons, Boots and Kimo, Liliha Bakery, and possibly Eggs N Things) but you will travel much further to find them. There's definitely value for your dollar and I think it's well worth going. Here's the menu. Notice all of the "Best of the Best" awards at the bottom of the page from our local newspaper.

Other DISers have eaten there before as well.

<snip>Went to Koa's Pancake House in Kapolei which was amazingly delicious<snip>.

Koa is a chain here on Oahu and we go to our local Koa Pancake House every now and then on Sundays when we don't feel like cooking ourselves.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

Does anyone know how hard Aulani is to get a reservation at 7 months out yet? We are hoping for December.

 

[SuperRob]

I was able to get a reservation for April on Tuesday for 3 nights in a Standard View Studio (but it was the LAST one available, and nothing for longer than that). I then was able to upgrade to 5 nights in an Island View Studio, and they said they had about five of those available. Not bad at all for less than four months out.

December might be harder. I would imagine everyone would want a little Mele Kalikimaka.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I was able to get a reservation for April on Tuesday for 3 nights in a Standard View Studio (but it was the LAST one available, and nothing for longer than that). I then was able to upgrade to 5 nights in an Island View Studio, and they said they had about five of those available. Not bad at all for less than four months out.

December might be harder. I would imagine everyone would want a little Mele Kalikimaka.

Thanks, I guess it never hurts to try, we can always use WDW as our back up plan

 

[brewcrew]

Does anyone know how hard Aulani is to get a reservation at 7 months out yet? We are hoping for December.

We just booked a 2 bedroom for a week in July at 7 months out.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Koa is good. There are better places for pancakes on the island (Cinnamons, Boots and Kimo, Liliha Bakery, and possibly Eggs N Things) but you will travel much further to find them. There's definitely value for your dollar and I think it's well worth going. Here's the menu. Notice all of the "Best of the Best" awards at the bottom of the page from our local newspaper.

Other DISers have eaten there before as well.



Koa is a chain here on Oahu and we go to our local Koa Pancake House every now and then on Sundays when we don't feel like cooking ourselves.

Thanks! After reading your Aulani TR, I looked up Boots and Kimo and realized it's too far for us. Are the other places within 30 minutes or on the way to Aloha Stadium or the Dole Plantation (which we plan to visit anyway?)

I had the most amazing tropical pancakes at a place in Honolulu 8 yrs ago and can't get them out of my mind! They were one pineapple, one macadamia nut, one blueberry, and one coconut all in one stack with coconut syrup. Heavenly! Hoping for a similar experience!!!

 

[spleen]

Thanks! After reading your Aulani TR, I looked up Boots and Kimo and realized it's too far for us. Are the other places within 30 minutes or on the way to Aloha Stadium or the Dole Plantation (which we plan to visit anyway?)

I had the most amazing tropical pancakes at a place in Honolulu 8 yrs ago and can't get them out of my mind! They were one pineapple, one macadamia nut, one blueberry, and one coconut all in one stack with coconut syrup. Heavenly! Hoping for a similar experience!!!

Nope, sorry, all of these locations are going to be really out of the way for you. Cinnamons is in Kailua, down the street from Boots and Kimo. Eggs N Things is in Waikiki. Liliha Bakery is right outside downtown Honolulu.

Your description of your pancake stack sounds like Eggs N Things. Don't know if they have a variety stack like you describe (maybe it was a special?) but they do have all of those individual flavors that you describe and they usually serve it with coconut syrup.

(edit to say: oh, yeah, found your pancake stack on their menu in the dessert special section. "Hawaiian Whip Sampler: A Taste of Hawaii! One each of the following: Coconut, Macadamia Nut, and Pineapple Whip Cream Pancakes - $11.95". This sounds good too: "Mini-Rainbow Pancakes: 6 silver-dollar pancakes (fresh strawberry, fresh pineapple, fresh kiwi fruit, blueberries, chocolate chip and rainbow sprinkles) - $12.55" Now I'm getting hungry for pancakes ... )

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Nope, sorry, all of these locations are going to be really out of the way for you. Cinnamons is in Kailua, down the street from Boots and Kimo. Eggs N Things is in Waikiki. Liliha Bakery is right outside downtown Honolulu.

Your description of your pancake stack sounds like Eggs N Things. Don't know if they have a variety stack like you describe (maybe it was a special?) but they do have all of those individual flavors that you describe and they usually serve it with coconut syrup.

(edit to say: oh, yeah, found your pancake stack on their menu in the dessert special section. "Hawaiian Whip Sampler: A Taste of Hawaii! One each of the following: Coconut, Macadamia Nut, and Pineapple Whip Cream Pancakes - $11.95". This sounds good too: "Mini-Rainbow Pancakes: 6 silver-dollar pancakes (fresh strawberry, fresh pineapple, fresh kiwi fruit, blueberries, chocolate chip and rainbow sprinkles) - $12.55" Now I'm getting hungry for pancakes ... )

Well, if the swap meet at the Aloha Stadium doesn't satisfy our bargain shopping needs, we may be persuaded to go to Hilo Hatties. That means being close to Waikiki or Honolulu. You're increasing my pancake cravings that's for sure!

 

[spleen]

Just to confuse you more, here are Cinnamon's guava chiffon pancakes:

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Wow!!! I feel faint!

BTW, I just realized that you're from Honolulu. The pancake place we went to 8 years ago was about a block off of Waikiki beach. I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure "pancake house" was part of it. When we were back in the area 4 years ago, it was gone...construction was going on. I heard a rumor that it may have reopened in another location nearby but I'm not sure. I don't know that anyone else thinks the place is very special (the service certainly wasn't), but one of our friends told us about it (and the tropical pancakes) and it sure was a hit!

 

[alli817]

Does anyone know how hard Aulani is to get a reservation at 7 months out yet? We are hoping for December.

We booked 7 months out for January (the 19-27) in a 1br and had no issues! I even booked it online

But then again I'm not sure how popular January is - it's popular for us (Canadians), but I don't know about the US.

 

[disneymom13176]

Does anyone know how hard Aulani is to get a reservation at 7 months out yet? We are hoping for December.

I started calling at the 7 month mark and found by 9:05 that my desired room was not available. Called back the next and had to be one of the first callers and still was not able to get my first choice and while they asked me for option 2 it filled up so we went option 3. I found it to be very difficult and frustrating but I did finally get 10 nights at the end of June. Good Luck!

 

[spleen]

Wow!!! I feel faint!

BTW, I just realized that you're from Honolulu. The pancake place we went to 8 years ago was about a block off of Waikiki beach. I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure "pancake house" was part of it. When we were back in the area 4 years ago, it was gone...construction was going on. I heard a rumor that it may have reopened in another location nearby but I'm not sure. I don't know that anyone else thinks the place is very special (the service certainly wasn't), but one of our friends told us about it (and the tropical pancakes) and it sure was a hit!

Sorry, not ringing any bells. But then again, us locals tend to avoid Waikiki whenever possible so could very well have had a restaurant called that in Waikiki and we'd never know.