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

[Anal Annie]

Does anyone know of a store or type of store that sells those secure totes you can lock at your chair? Thought we had something but it didn't work out!

Thank you!

I was going to order a PacSafe bag but decided they were too expensive. Instead I went to Target and bought a short 4' cable lock like you might use on a bicycle - I can't find the same exact one on the website but it was pretty light and the cable is about as thick as a pencil or something - it has a combination lock and is 4' long for like under $10. Here is something similar:

http://www.target.com/p/master-lock-cable-combination-lock-5/-/A-14440016#prodSlot=medium_1_16&term=locks

Then I also bought a small flexible lock to put on the zipper on our bag so that I can lock the contents of the bag up too. The lock I found was also around $6 or $7 and was similar to this:

http://www.target.com/p/embark-cable-tsa-lock-cabana-orange/-/A-15055153#prodSlot=medium_1_23&term=locks

We will use this setup at the pool / beach when we get into the water and I plan to bring it to the North Shore when we go surfing too (they warned us not to leave valuables in the car).

 

[lovetotraveltx]

I was going to order a PacSafe bag but decided they were too expensive. Instead I went to Target and bought a short 4' cable lock like you might use on a bicycle - I can't find the same exact one on the website but it was pretty light and the cable is about as thick as a pencil or something - it has a combination lock and is 4' long for like under $10. Here is something similar:

http://www.target.com/p/master-lock-cable-combination-lock-5/-/A-14440016#prodSlot=medium_1_16&term=locks

Then I also bought a small flexible lock to put on the zipper on our bag so that I can lock the contents of the bag up too. The lock I found was also around $6 or $7 and was similar to this:

http://www.target.com/p/embark-cable-tsa-lock-cabana-orange/-/A-15055153#prodSlot=medium_1_23&term=locks

We will use this setup at the pool / beach when we get into the water and I plan to bring it to the North Shore when we go surfing too (they warned us not to leave valuables in the car).

Good idea. then I can just lock up my own beach bag. Thanks!

Where are you all tying it up to?

 

[carissa1970]

Does anyone know of a store or type of store that sells those secure totes you can lock at your chair? Thought we had something but it didn't work out! Thank you!

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.

 

[Anal Annie]

Good idea. then I can just lock up my own beach bag. Thanks!

Where are you all tying it up to?

I figured with a 4' cable we'd be able to lock it either to the lounge chair or around the umbrella pole if we have one. At the surf lessons they said they have a tent on the beach where we can lock it to something. It was the cheapest solution I could come up with.

 

[Girimama33]

I was going to suggest a cable lock as well, but wasn't sure how effective it would be without the actual bag locking closed..great idea about the smaller lock for the bag. I suggest only locking the bag to one chair. I was chastised for 5 minutes by an attendant at Aulani for having my KYSS bag locked to two chairs. When I locked it to one chair, I never had a problem.

 

[jerseygal]

Thanks for the KYSS suggestion...I will try AAA for all
BEACH TYPE SETTINGS!

 

[Aunt Cawa]

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

 

[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.