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

[Anal Annie]

Is Crime that rampant at Aulani that cable locks are needed?

Nobody said crime was rampant….just speaking for myself personally, I have a $3K DSLR, that I don't want to leave lying around unattended while we take a spin around the lazy river. (I may or may not have it with me at the pool but IF I DO.) We will also have 3 smart phones, a digital underwater camera + possibly a point & shoot camera, a couple of iPads and a Kindle Fire HDX that we'll probably also have with us at any given point in the day. No point asking for a theft if it can be prevented by simply locking the bag up. I'm sure Aulani management will say they're not responsible for personal belongings should something happen. Also to note is that while non-resort guests can't use the pools all beaches in Hawaii are public so there COULD be outside people "passing thru".

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Do you have a travel store near you? We have one that sells only luggage, travel bags, accessories for travel, etc.

I bought a KYSS (or KISS?) bag online, and it comes with a lock on a chain attached to the bag and has a code to unlock. We used it on our cruise last summer, at the beaches in ports, by the pools, at WDW resort pools, at Aulani and other beaches on the island, Legoland, water parks, you name it. We love it. It is personalized, too. If you choose this option, go for the bigger size. You will be happier.

The bag looks great!
Has anyone used the largest size for a carryon?
We're flying SWA & the carry-on dimensions are 10 x 16 x 24". The large KYSS bag is 18"High X 20"Long X 6"Wide; and medium is 14"High X 20"Long X 6"Wide . I'm thinking the large just might be able to fit, but I'm not sure. (Seems like it will be 2" too high, but if I don't pack it too full I should be able to squish it???
TIA

 

[Girimama33]

The bag looks great!
Has anyone used the largest size for a carryon?
We're flying SWA & the carry-on dimensions are 10 x 16 x 24". The large KYSS bag is 18"High X 20"Long X 6"Wide; and medium is 14"High X 20"Long X 6"Wide . I'm thinking the large just might be able to fit, but I'm not sure. (Seems like it will be 2" too high, but if I don't pack it too full I should be able to squish it???
TIA

I have the large and used it as a carry on a few weeks ago on Hawaiian Air. I laid it down under the seat in front of me and had no issues.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I have the large and used it as a carry on a few weeks ago on Hawaiian Air. I laid it down under the seat in front of me and had no issues.

Thanks!
I ended up ordering the medium because the large are all out of stock & are expected to remain so for the near future, and we're flying in a few weeks.
Their inventory is severely depleted - just a few bags left. Maybe there was some sort of article or news show about them recently.

 

[TwingleMomFl]

I wish I knew how crowded it was going to be at 9am on a Sunday and only a few chairs left by the pool in the firepit area. They were only handing out one towel per guest and the person had to be present to get it. Another thing that i did not care for was ,I stood in line at 7:30 am to sign the kids up for aunties beach house and everything was full by the time I got up there. One of the pool attendants told me people start holding seats at 5:30 am!!!

The lines for the slide were very long as well. Two things I do not want to do on vacation is stand in line and get up early. There has to be a better system for this!!! Disney is the master of organization and this place was far from organized!!

Star light was also a mob scene! If you have the view from your room stay up there and enjoy it! Don't fight the crowds!

Also, I did not like how the quick service locations close at 6pm. You may be coming back from a long day of excursions or touring and the last thing you want to do with a bunch of kids is sit in a restaurant. They need more quick service , or at least more kid friendly options.

Don't get me wrong, Aulani is a beautiful resort. But when tour busses stop there for people to walk around and explore the resort as part of their sight seeing ,it can be a little crazy in and around the resort.

For the best sunset pictures go past the JW Marriott and down the hill, it's a beautiful setting!

 

[AZMermaid]

Was it super crowded like that every day- or just noticeably so on Sunday?

That is miserable about Auntie's. I wish you could pre-book the free stuff (even like half the spots with the other half for same day). Or even that they would charge like $5 to make people more choosey.

 

[abthomas]

Ulu cafe is quick service and open until 9. True the QS ( mama snack shop and the one down at the beach and shaved ice) close at 6.
Auntys activities fill quickly but when we were there in June my ds 7 walked in for free play many times. He loved it. I didn't feel like we missed out. They do have a waiting list for special activities and I think others had luck with that. We loved Aulani. Have a great time!

 

[Anal Annie]

I wish I knew how crowded it was going to be at 9am on a Sunday and only a few chairs left by the pool in the firepit area. They were only handing out one towel per guest and the person had to be present to get it. Another thing that i did not care for was ,I stood in line at 7:30 am to sign the kids up for aunties beach house and everything was full by the time I got up there. One of the pool attendants told me people start holding seats at 5:30 am!!!

The lines for the slide were very long as well. Two things I do not want to do on vacation is stand in line and get up early. There has to be a better system for this!!! Disney is the master of organization and this place was far from organized!!

Star light was also a mob scene! If you have the view from your room stay up there and enjoy it! Don't fight the crowds!

Also, I did not like how the quick service locations close at 6pm. You may be coming back from a long day of excursions or touring and the last thing you want to do with a bunch of kids is sit in a restaurant. They need more quick service , or at least more kid friendly options.

Don't get me wrong, Aulani is a beautiful resort. But when tour busses stop there for people to walk around and explore the resort as part of their sight seeing ,it can be a little crazy in and around the resort.

For the best sunset pictures go past the JW Marriott and down the hill, it's a beautiful setting!

ONE towel pp at the pool?! That's unacceptable if they're the standard 1/2 a towel like they use at WDW. So now I have to try to pack friggin' beach towels too?! This packing is gonna kill me!!

 

[owensjro]

ONE towel pp at the pool?! That's unacceptable if they're the standard 1/2 a towel like they use at WDW. So now I have to try to pack friggin' beach towels too?! This packing is gonna kill me!!

We had no problems getting multiple towels though we didn't need them. They were plenty big enough.

Jim

 

[LisaT91403]

ONE towel pp at the pool?! That's unacceptable if they're the standard 1/2 a towel like they use at WDW. So now I have to try to pack friggin' beach towels too?! This packing is gonna kill me!!

We always got as many towels as we wanted. I wouldn't pack them.

 

[Kimmi96]

But when tour busses stop there for people to walk around and explore the resort as part of their sight seeing ,it can be a little crazy in and around the resort. For the best sunset pictures go past the JW Marriott and down the hill, it's a beautiful setting!

I do not understand why they would allow tour buses to stop for people to sight see when they have paying guest.

 

[lin7]

ONE towel pp at the pool?! That's unacceptable if they're the standard 1/2 a towel like they use at WDW. So now I have to try to pack friggin' beach towels too?! This packing is gonna kill me!!

We just returned this past Wednesday from Aulani and they always asked how many towels we needed and we always took more than one per person.

 

[abthomas]

The towels are a good size and are as good as towels in room. We could also get more than one per person,but honestly didn't need to.

 

[Cinderpamela]

ONE towel pp at the pool?! That's unacceptable if they're the standard 1/2 a towel like they use at WDW. So now I have to try to pack friggin' beach towels too?! This packing is gonna kill me!!

Don't worry Annie, we always got as many towels as we wanted when there on both our trips.... not sure what the OP of this comment experienced (maybe a uninformed CM? or the CM's were waiting on more to be delivered from laundry?), but it sounds like the opposite of what happened to us (and others as well).

I would pick up the towels for our whole family of 4 pretty much each morning, and they just asked me how many I needed.
Never a problem getting more... or fresh towels when we wanted.

 

[DenLo]

Perhaps the poster thought the one towel on the chair was all you were allowed? You just need to go to the towel tent and show your wristband and get all you need. After doing the lazy river we sometimes got new towels.

 

[TwingleMomFl]

No, the poster did not mis understand. That is why I found it shocking, because all week I was able to get as many as i wanted. Sunday morning, where you there? At 9 am when I could barely find a beach chair, they informed everyone only one towel per guest, and you could not get additional towels unless all members were present. I believe Sunday is a busy turn day for them. I had to convince them I was leaving property and needed towels. This was the only day I had like that, and by the afternoon they allowed you to take more.

Sunday may be a busy turn over day with people with late flights, and early arrivals , with every one at the pool. It was insanely busy. People had to use the floor to lay their things down. That is just crazy!

 

[Girimama33]

No, the poster did not mis understand. Sunday morning, where you there? At 9 am when I could barely find a beach chair, they informed everyone only one towel per guest, and you could not get additional towels unless all members were present. I believe Sunday is a busy turn day for them. I had to convince them I was leaving property and needed towels. This was the only day I had like that, and by the afternoon they allowed you to take more.

Sunday may be a busy turn over day with people with late flights, and early arrivals , with every one at the pool. It was insanely busy. People had to use the floor to lay their things down.

What you experienced does not sound typical for a Sunday. I was there a few weeks ago and our Sunday pool day was slightly more crowded than the rest of the week. Also, there were no limits on towels. They just may not have had enough towels for some reason the day you were there.

 

[TwingleMomFl]

Was it super crowded like that every day- or just noticeably so on Sunday?

That is miserable about Auntie's. I wish you could pre-book the free stuff (even like half the spots with the other half for same day). Or even that they would charge like $5 to make people more choosey.

I agree. You shouldn't have to waste precious family time , by standing in line or have to be up early to reserve activities. They should have a better system for efficiency!

 

[jerseygal]

NO limit on towels end of May..In fact, they always asked pleasantly how many would you like???

 

[SeaPic]

I was there on Sunday and did not experience any towel rationing. Although the one by the infinity pool was down to one container fairly early. A CM told us the resort was at 98%. I only gave up once finding a chair on Tuesday after checking all areas and asking 3 CMs. They do their best timing people out but I saw chairs with towels and even personal items remain empty for hours or just one person there 'holding' them all. The debate about common courtesy could fill another thread I'm sure!

So what I wish I knew was how many cool pins they would have. My son is an avid trader and we saw them load their books with CM pins (DL and WDW - some from a few years ago) at several places. We definitely didn't bring enough to trade and the shops have limited supply to buy for trading.

Speaking of the shops, I wish I knew they sell out of things and may not get more the entire time you are there! Still mourning the kukui nut ears and a small $5 bag that would be perfect for small grocery stops in our no plastic bag city. If you like it get it!

Lastly, I wish I had known how ordinary the ABD Catamaran trip would be. We saw another boat by the same company at the same spot. I don't think we had any less people and our adventure guide didn't talk to us all except to ask if we wanted something to drink. The boat crew was great but we would have gotten them by booking directly with the company at a much lower price.

It was crazy busy but we always found something to do. We enjoyed both of the tours Aulani gives of the resort (as far as I know it's for guests only), family canoe racing (my DH thought we were building a real canoe we would get into and paddle lol), movie or game mid afternoon when it was too hot out, or just reading on the balcony. My DD, recently a teen, really enjoyed their activities. If there are things on your must do list, during peak times, you'll probably be waiting in a lines. There is fun to be had without waiting in lines or chaining yourself to a chair (OK so I did that my last day there lol).