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

[smduja]

It is 7:00 am, and one of my favorite parts of A'ulani! It is a morning chant, native language, and I think it is beautiful. My husband and I always make sure to be on the balcony with coffee when it starts. Can't hear it inside. I'm actually surprised to hear it described as "blaring" because most people don't even realize it happens. I was told it happens 3 times a day, start of work, end of work, and midday. No clocks around. Traditional Hawaiian music all day, and not loud at all.

Thank you for clarifying I think I would enjoy the chant very much.

 

[ethanwa]

The one thing I wish I knew was how few restaurants are on property (I knew it... I just refused to accept it I think). I'm used to Disney World where you can eat in the resort for EVERYTHING for a 10 day vacation.... so many restaurants! With Aulani you really need to have some external options if you are staying more than 3 days, otherwise you'll be eating at the same places over and over.

 

[smduja]

Anyone do the Catamaran through Disney? Just wondering. If its worth the extra money.

 

[happymommy]

The one thing I wish I knew was how few restaurants are on property (I knew it... I just refused to accept it I think). I'm used to Disney World where you can eat in the resort for EVERYTHING for a 10 day vacation.... so many restaurants! With Aulani you really need to have some external options if you are staying more than 3 days, otherwise you'll be eating at the same places over and over.

Not Aulani, but next door at the Marriott timeshare (where we own and stay for two weeks at a time), same thing - the choices we do have are not good IMHO. I actually enjoy preparing our own meals though! We grill for lunch or dinner (our grills are open all the time, not like Aulani which I understand you can only grill in the evenings there), and when we eat out it's most often lunch. We stock up at Costco on fruits, salads, and meats (we'll buy a thing of frozen burgers and buns, make burgers a couple of times & use the remaining few thawed out and make something like chili). We grill fresh fish too. It's nice to spend the day swimming then the kids would be too tired to go out, so we'd enjoy dinner in and relax!

 

[yeahdisney]

Wish I would of known. They sell Mickey shaped ice cream bars only down at the beach side fast food hut. DS would have eaten one every day!

 

[OrcaPotter]

Anyone have any problems getting from Aulani to Pearl Harbor on a Saturday for the "walk-in" tickets? The advanced tickets are sold out for the time I have set to visit Honolulu (so frustrated, I started looking at exactly 1 month out). What time did you leave for PH? There are only 3 of us.

 

[MagicNight]

Anyone do the Catamaran through Disney? Just wondering. If its worth the extra money.

Absolutely! DH and I went in January this year. You are provided some nice munchies on the sail out (we even saw a whales). Then it turns around, sails partially back and then you go on a guided snorkel (sea turtles, urchins, and colorful fish). It is a very relaxing afternoon.

They were a bit late picking us up due to road work, but the trip length remained the same. It can be chilly out on the water, so I'd advise to take the afternoon voyage (versus the morning).

We loved it so much that when we go back next year, we plan to take my MIL and FIL.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

This is a great thread

Can't wait to read through all of it

 

[PetePanMan]

If you plan to get out a lot definitely rent a car - you won't regret it.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Hi

I notice aulani have excursions for pearl harbour and paradise cove

Do they did it with transport

Also anyone visited sea life centre or gone in water see dolphins

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Who do you recommend hiring car from?

 

[happymommy]

Hi

I notice aulani have excursions for pearl harbour and paradise cove

Do they did it with transport

Also anyone visited sea life centre or gone in water see dolphins

Who do you recommend hiring car from?

Paradise Cove is walking distance! You can get a discount often with the Entertainment Book. Well worth the cost!

Sea Life Park - I haven't been in 18 years since my son was born. It was cute, but I understand they have gone through some rough times. I wish I could give advice.

Dolphins - we did a very fun morning dolphin snorkel trip at Ko Olina marina! We swam with spinner dolphins; you board at Ko Olina on a boat - super fun! We did the morning one only because one of our friends is sun sensitive; if it were me I'd do the afternoon one. I was quite chilly (and it was June - I am cold blooded, as when we lived on Oahu NO WAY would I go in the ocean in the winter at all!).

Pearl Harbor you can totally do on your own. Just show up as early as they open. I have been many times, but know to get there early and LEAVE ALL BAGS behind or in your car trunk BEFORE you get out of your car! There are thieves (not as many as at the north shore or Polynesian Cultural Center) but they watch you put things in your trunk. Yes, even living there I learned the hard way. No bags allowed.

We rent a car at the airport and keep it the whole time, every trip. I can't imagine not having a car! We often are chilling at the resort, and then realize we want a few things from Target, then figure may as well get sushi on the way back. I think in a fortnight, we leave the car maybe 4 days total? But then, we know the area so well, and can run out and back a lot. And we do the flea market at least twice!

 

[AZMermaid]

If we go to Rainbow drive in after we arrive, do we need to be cautious of leaving something in the back seat? What about Safeway neat Aulani? I'm hoping it can all fit in the trunk.... But I have a feeling it won't.

 

[goterps1986]

bump. going in two weeks and gathering info. Thanks.

 

[nemofans]

bump. going in two weeks and gathering info. Thanks.

You can rent from Alamo which is right at Aulani. I booked an Alamo rental car through Costco to be picked up at Aulani. We are only renting it for the day though, not the whole trip.

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

I can speak from experience that they do NOT make any guarantees. The best thing to do is to ask that morning to see who is there that day - or else, you may find that "Minnie went out shopping", as happened to us. That said, from walking by daily for a week, Mickey usually greets at check-in and Minnie and Goofy visit the tables. But they do not promise any of them and told us that Chip and Dale have been there sometimes too. In general, to my knowledge, the only characters at Aulani at all are: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Chip, Dale, and Stitch.

Duffy can also be found around the resort sporadically (we saw him by the pool once and on a garden path once).

We ate breakfast at Makahiki twice. The first day we saw Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. Aunty was also there and did games and songs with the kids. It was fabulous. The second time (towards the end of our trip), we saw the same characters, but Aunty was not there at all. The kids were bummed.

I did happen to walk by one morning and Chip and Dale were there for breakfast, but not during either of our visits.

 

[snackyx]

That just a short walk down the beach, at the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club, is Chuck's Steakhouse, which, from 4:45 to about 6 or so has FIVE DOLLAR mai-tai's, and pretty good ones. They used to be $4, and the happy hour also "restarted" at 9:30 to close, but they have eliminated the later bargain hours. The bar area also has a "happy hour" menu that has a fish n' chips option that just may be the greatest deal on the entire island of Oahu. For about $7 or $8 bucks you get five pieces of fish, homemade tartar sauce and fries....trust me, it is worth the walk (and--come on--you're getting to walk along side the shore of the Pacific--who's complaining?)

 

[beansf]

I love Dole Whip. My understanding is that there is a self-serve option at Lava Shack. Can someone reveal the price? I have scoured the web fruitlessly for the answer. Thanks. 123 days until Aulabi!

 

[LottiesMommy]

The dole whip is about 3.95 a cup.

I wish I had known not to sit on the balcony at night without bug spray! I sat outside at about 4 am because I couldn't sleep. I ended up with bug bites on both legs. I didn't even feel the bites when they happened. I look like I have the chicken pox! It is horribly itchy too. Aulani is so wonderful though that is certainly makes up for the fact that I look like I have pink polka dots!

 

[swooshbear]

If we go to Rainbow drive in after we arrive, do we need to be cautious of leaving something in the back seat? What about Safeway neat Aulani? I'm hoping it can all fit in the trunk.... But I have a feeling it won't.

If you park in the Rainbow Drive In parking lot, you can easily keep an eye out on your car while you order/eat. But I would probably recommend not leaving anything visible in your car anywhere on the island because you just never know.