Aulani: What's the One Thing You Wish You Knew?

[luv2boys]

Is there anywhere that I can locate menus (and pricing) for restaurants on the property including pool side?

 

[WDW_Diane]

Is there anywhere that I can locate menus (and pricing) for restaurants on the property including pool side?

Last year I saw menus on the resort website, you might check there and see if that's still the case.

 

[alohamom]

I am looking at the Aulani website and it says there is a charge of $15 for the rainbow reef snorkelling. Is this for the rental of equipment or can you bring your own and snorkel for free?

 

[JoeA]

I am looking at the Aulani website and it says there is a charge of $15 for the rainbow reef snorkelling. Is this for the rental of equipment or can you bring your own and snorkel for free?

I am certain that's the fee just to enter the area. I always see people wearing a light life jacket too but not sure it it's optional or mandatory (I lean toward the latter).

We go to the islands to snorkel around the island and we've never gone into rainbow area so I may be incorrect.

 

[poohj80]

I am looking at the Aulani website and it says there is a charge of $15 for the rainbow reef snorkelling. Is this for the rental of equipment or can you bring your own and snorkel for free?

Yes there is a fee even if you use your own snorkel gear and the horse collar inflatable is mandatory (similar to Castaway Cay if you have been on a Disney cruise).

However, when we visited in March Disney Visa Card members were allowed to snorkel in Rainbow Reef all week for free so we went several times.

 

[alohamom]

I am certain that's the fee just to enter the area. I always see people wearing a light life jacket too but not sure it it's optional or mandatory (I lean toward the latter).

We go to the islands to snorkel around the island and we've never gone into rainbow area so I may be incorrect.

Thanks so much for the quick reply (love the Disboards!) I am planning on heading over to Hanauma Bay on Oahu plus Turtle town on Big Island so we will have our gear with us either way. Does anyone know if it is like the snorkeling at Typhoon Lagoon where you basically just glide across one way and then exit the other side or can you float around at your leisure? LOL-so many snorkeling questions-sorry!

 

[poohj80]

Thanks so much for the quick reply (love the Disboards!) I am planning on heading over to Hanauma Bay on Oahu plus Turtle town on Big Island so we will have our gear with us either way. Does anyone know if it is like the snorkeling at Typhoon Lagoon where you basically just glide across one way and then exit the other side or can you float around at your leisure? LOL-so many snorkeling questions-sorry!

You float around at your leisure and stay as long as you like.

 

[alohamom]

You float around at your leisure and stay as long as you like.

Awesome, thanks so much!

 

[SeaPic]

I am looking at the Aulani website and it says there is a charge of $15 for the rainbow reef snorkelling. Is this for the rental of equipment or can you bring your own and snorkel for free?

When we went in 2012 we had to use their equipment and get new each time. The fee covered entry and equipment and you could stay as long as you want. Which wasn't very long for me due to the water temp - it had to be colder than the 82 they quote now. Lol.

 

[islandtimect]

When we went in 2012 we had to use their equipment and get new each time. The fee covered entry and equipment and you could stay as long as you want. Which wasn't very long for me due to the water temp - it had to be colder than the 82 they quote now. Lol.

Is the equipment free with the Disney Visa card?

 

[mic_KY_mouses]

Is the equipment free with the Disney Visa card?

I wondered the same thing. There was a promo out there a few months ago for a freebie for Disney Visa Cardholders but it disappeared and I haven't seen it again. I printed the info and will ask when we get there in a few days to see if they will honor it. I'll post back if I can.

 

[poohj80]

Is the equipment free with the Disney Visa card?

Yes the full Rainbow Reef experience was free for us in March.

This is the deal that was being offered at the time, but we were allowed to use Rainbow Reef free with our card even though we were staying on DVC points. We just showed our card to them and they punched our band each day. Never hurts to ask, right?

For a limited time, when Disney Visa cardholders purchase a minimum 4-night stay in a 1-2 bedroom villa at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai'i, you'll enjoy a $500 Resort credit. The villas are ideal for families and larger travel parties. Or, you'll get a $400 Resort credit when you purchase a minimum 4-night stay in a deluxe studio or hotel room (excluding suites).

Plus, enjoy a Rainbow Reef snorkeling rental during your stay.

 

[jliehr]

The ABC Store (forget it's other name) across the street in the center with Monkeypod Kitchen is selling Dole Whips currently, I didn't try one because it was before dinner, but might save someone from heading to the Plantation if they really just want a Dole Whip.

 

[cedricandsophie]

There is a great workout on the beach almost every morning. No cost. The fitness center is also good. And the marriot next door has tennis courts thst cost 23 an hour. We played 4 times in April when we were there. Also there is excellent sushi restaurant across the street. Stay away from just tacos ...not very good. If you want to go to mass on Sunday there is st Rita's a few miles west of aulani on the same highway you come in on from Honolulu.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

We were there March of 2013. I wish I knew that if you leave your slippers by the pool area that someone takes them. All my family and my sister's family's slippers were gone our very first day. No one knew where we could find them. We had to buy new flip flops.

...So I suggest don't wear your best sandals/slippers...just the cheapest and bring more than one pair!

You mean, theft at the Aulani resort? Does that mean we can't leave anything by the pools etc? People can be so disgusting.

 

[poohj80]

We did not learn about the 1 hour pool chair-towel rule until our 4th day. Aulani cast members monitor pool chairs and if it looks like you have not returned to your chair for an hour, they will fold your towel and hang them on the back of the pool chair. This is how you know your chairs are being watched. When you return to your chair, just pull the towels down and that's how they know you have returned. If the towels have not moved after another hour (I think), the cast members will pick up all belongings and take them to the main towel distribution location and you can pick up there.

We were very upset that NO one mentioned this to us. We overheard the people in front of us in the towel line being asked if they knew the towel rule on our 4th day. We had to say we didn't know the towel rule and get it explained to us as no one had asked previously.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Thinking of joining Costco. How is the Costco Selection...

The Hawaiian Costcos have an awesome poke section, all the take-home gifts you could imagine such as mac nuts and other Hawaiian products for way less than elsewhere (I got a ukulele on the Big Island), and of course the cheapest gas on the island.

The Costco company treats its workers very well and is very concerned with developing very high quality products at excellent cost. In that way it is not "like Sam's Club," which as I understand is related to WalMart

I would recommend Costco to anyone, particularly for a Hawaiian vacation.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

P.S. about the poke at Costco: I thought I would not like raw fish either, but it was one of the best things I ever sampled! Don't rule it out until you try it

And I read a post by someone who used 9 bottles of tanning lotion for 3 people (did not say how long they stayed) -- given we can't bring a lot of liquids or gels on the plane, it is making me even more grateful there is a nearby Costco!

 

[poohj80]

We hit Costco and Target (across the street since we didn't need everything in Costco portions). The Costco prices were the same as at our local Costco including the sets of suntan lotion. If I would have thought about it, I wouldn't have packed any and just bought it all there. You can also buy POG by the gallon.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Here's the one thing I wish I knew. If you go to Matsamoto's for shave ice, and are wondering what beans with your shave ice will be like, and then decide to order your shave ice with beans thinking you'll be more authentic. DON'T.



Yuck. What's with putting beans on perfectly good shave ice. Not a mistake I'll repeat!!

I LOVE adzuki beans! They make the best filling for asian pastries, too, yum!!!