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

[WDW_Diane]

If you are at all interested in a unique religious service, we went to the Christmas Eve service at St. Rita's which is about a 10-15 minute drive. It was done partially in Hawaiian and there was a hula peformance to Silent Night. It was just a beautiful once-in-a-lifetime type of experience.

If I was ever there at Christmas, I would do that! Sounds like a great experience.

 

[Sur]

That booking would be so crazy!

 

[shortypots]

St rita's was amazing. My mom and I went there. Lil bit of a church, but so friendly and welcoming! We loved it. I would definitely go back. I think I would even take my non Christian husband so he could see the difference.

 

[SingingMom]

We went to St Jude's for mass on a Saturday evening. The entire congregation were so welcoming and gave us leis. They even invited us to a dinner they were having afterwards! We were waiting for our cab, but the priest even told us if the cab didn't come, he'd drive us back to Aulani! Such lovely people!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[jillmc40]

This doesn't pertain to aulani, but Hawaii. We went to Christmas mass in Kauai and it was so beautiful. The music was amazing, and it was so welcoming. I think that would be across the board. So if you do normally go to mass I would check it out while in Hawaii. I have never heard silent night on the ukulele before. Beautiful!

 

[divirgiliok]

When I was planning I wish I knew what was walkable
Secret beach
Monkey pod
Country store etc..
I just wanted to know what it was like.
I made a post see here
www.mommy-dreaming.blogspot.com/2014/08/aulani-walking-distance-eats.html?m=1

 

[luv2sleep]

Where's the secret beach?

 

[andersonsc]

Go out front of aulani. Turn left. Walk past the next hotel. There is a parking lot on your left and break in the fence. Go down the path to the beach. We had a great time snorkeling there and saw several sea turtles . There is a map somewhere on the disboards. Also, hotel nxt door had sharks and stingrays to see.

 

[luv2sleep]

Go out front of aulani. Turn left. Walk past the next hotel. There is a parking lot on your left and break in the fence. Go down the path to the beach. We had a great time snorkeling there and saw several sea turtles . There is a map somewhere on the disboards. Also, hotel nxt door had sharks and stingrays to see.

We walked a little, saw another lagoon with those straw roof umbrellas, and saw a church and then what looked like condos and after that the Marriott Vacation Club. So you mean the place that looks like condos before the Marriott?

 

[WDW_Diane]

We walked a little, saw another lagoon with those straw roof umbrellas, and saw a church and then what looked like condos and after that the Marriott Vacation Club. So you mean the place that looks like condos before the Marriott?

Actually, when you leave Aulani, if you are facing the ocean, you turn RIGHT, not left, to go to the secret beach.

 

[WDW_Diane]

We walked a little, saw another lagoon with those straw roof umbrellas, and saw a church and then what looked like condos and after that the Marriott Vacation Club. So you mean the place that looks like condos before the Marriott?

The place that looks like condos are the Ko Olina Beach Villas. We have stayed there....amazing! Very upscale....good price if you rent through VRBO.
But that's another message for another time, ha!

 

[luv2sleep]

Actually, when you leave Aulani, if you are facing the ocean, you turn RIGHT, not left, to go to the secret beach.

Ah ok! We only went left. Good to know for next time!

 

[Girimama33]

Yes...it is to the right...past the JW Marriott/Four Seasons.
I had seen it mentioned in several Aulani threads including this one...

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

Subbing for a possible upcoming trip in May!

 

[andersonsc]

Sorry, I meant the front of the Alani hotel - so exit by the street not the ocean. then turn left and walk past next hotel

 

[andersonsc]

We could not easily get there along the shoreline So we went by the sidewalk on the street.

 

[Princess KP]

Ask for tokens for the laundry facilities early in the trip. There is a limit to how many they will give out to each room (studio) per day.

 

[luv2sleep]

Ask for tokens for the laundry facilities early in the trip. There is a limit to how many they will give out to each room (studio) per day.

Where do you get those?

 

[DenLo]

Where do you get those?

You will need to show your key card which will show you are a DVC member at the front desk and they will give you the tokens. They never restricted the number for us. But it was just the two of us so perhaps we were nowhere near the limit. They just asked how many we wanted.

 

[cropper]

spend more time at the resort!

Since we were in Hawaii, we felt we needed to do everything on the island in case we don't get to go back! We had a wonderful time but wish we had spent more time at Aulani relaxing and exploring