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

[southerngirl528]

Aloha again, DisMom. I can tell you that as a Floridian, I've had a number of people ask why we travel all the way to Hawaii when we have the Caribbean just a short flight away. I think the Caribbean is wonderful with some gorgeous beaches. But in my mind, there is little to compare. The mountains of Hawaii are the largest in the world. The fact that I can get in our rental at sea level and within about an hour and a half, be 2 miles above sea level, needing a coat, long pants and mittens. And I have a view of what seems to be the entire world. Hawaii is part of the U.S. My vacation dollars stay here at home. They speak English and I find the Hawaiian culture fascinating. Going to church on the beach in whale season, with Humpbacks breaching behind the makeshift pulpit, honu (sea turtles) popping their heads up for a breath, breezes that are soft and fragrant,…. I could go on, but for my DH and myself, we feel we have found a little slice of heaven in Hawaii. Do all people agree? Thankfully, no! I mean, aren't we all glad that our own "special place" is not EVERY one's favorite spot?

Aulani is a really special place. Some people "get it". Some don't And that's okay. But I have a feeling that you and yours will love it too. Happy planning!

 

[Amw1064]

DisMom, Southerngirl528 can vouch for me. I also live in Florida and would never give Hawaii a try. We finally went about a month ago and we are in LOVE. We bought more points so that Aulani can be a home resort for us. I have been on 23 Disney cruises and Disney World more times than one can count. However, I would give them both up to go to Aulani. It is just amazing. We stayed 10 nights and I felt it was absolutely perfect. I am already planning for next summer as well.

 

[southerngirl528]

Ah, Amw….you have been "bitten" by the bug! And you are now under the spell of Hawaii! And ain't it GRAND???

 

[AZMermaid]

Agreed- I never thought we could like a place THAT much more than Disneyland, but we do. It was amazing- best vacation ever.

 

[Keira1387]

DisMom, Southerngirl528 can vouch for me. I also live in Florida and would never give Hawaii a try. We finally went about a month ago and we are in LOVE. We bought more points so that Aulani can be a home resort for us. I have been on 23 Disney cruises and Disney World more times than one can count. However, I would give them both up to go to Aulani. It is just amazing. We stayed 10 nights and I felt it was absolutely perfect. I am already planning for next summer as well.

I'm so glad to hear this! I am a Floridian, and a DCL addict with 10 Disney cruises under my belt. I'm sad to miss DCL next year to go to Aulani, but I think this could easily become my new favorite.

 

[Amw1064]

I'm so glad to hear this! I am a Floridian, and a DCL addict with 10 Disney cruises under my belt. I'm sad to miss DCL next year to go to Aulani, but I think this could easily become my new favorite.

I think you are making a great decision.

 

[wanderlust7]

Random tip for anybody celebrating a birthday at Aulani and has a car. I thought the Mickey and Friends Luau ice-cream cake from Baskin-Robbins really fit Aulani! We got it from the Baskin-Robbins in Kapolei about 15 minutes drive from Aulani. I think this was the 1/3 sheet size and was about $33. We had 5 adults and 4 kids and had a couple slices left over.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

That is soooooo cute

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Hi

If getting a taxi to a food shop which one would you recommend and any idea of taxi cost

Probably a stupid question but do any companies deliver to aulani ?

 

[herc1997]

I wish I would have known how long I would be having Aulani "withdrawals". Honestly I am 2 weeks home and it is all I think about.

Two weeks, Try almost a year. Almost every day someone in our family says something about Aulani. It really is too bad that we won't be able to get there again until 2017.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Would you say September is a busy time ?

 

[southerngirl528]

Eeyorefanuk, I could be wrong but my guess is that September is normally pretty calm, but with all us that will be staying pre and post DCL Hawaii cruise, the place will be rocking!!!

 

[E&Cmom]

Would you say September is a busy time ?

I can't speak for later on but if you go following Labour Day it is calm. We were there last year from Thursday before to Thursday after Labour day. The first part was busy but the day after the long weekend was so quiet. No lines for anything and no problem getting chairs. I wish I had pushed our trip a few days back.

 

[wdrl]

Random tip for anybody celebrating a birthday at Aulani and has a car. I thought the Mickey and Friends Luau ice-cream cake from Baskin-Robbins really fit Aulani! We got it from the Baskin-Robbins in Kapolei about 15 minutes drive from Aulani. I think this was the 1/3 sheet size and was about $33. We had 5 adults and 4 kids and had a couple slices left over.

View attachment 109545

I love the cake!

 

[carissa1970]

Thanks for posting the Makaha beach area pics Carissa-so beautiful!

It was not Makaha beach area...way beyond that. I wasn't sure, but what tipped me off was that there were no houses nearby, nor any lifeguards. It is right under the satellite trackers. I'm going to try to attach a map. Yokohama Bay is what I'm thinking. You can see where the highway ends on the map.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Wow great thread. We just booked feb 12-20 2016 - will be my 'I beat cancer' celebration trip as well as dh 50th birthday and ds' 16th birthday. Has been such a stressful year we all needed something to look forward to and to plan for - should all be over after my stem cell transplant in September!!

can anyone tell me how busy it typically is at that time? And both of my boys (21 and 16) want to do pearl harbour - can we get tickets ahead of time and are we better to do a tour through Disney or just go on our own? We will be renting a car for the whole time. I believe I read dvc members get free parking anyway!!
Also want to do a luau - where is the best place for that?

 

[southerngirl528]

Aloha BitsnBearsMom!
Wow! What a blessing that you are on your way to being healed of cancer! And what a lovely, lovely way to celebrate that blessing!

We've visited twice in the late January and mid-Feb time period. If your dates are Presidents Week, it will likely be pretty busy, but don't let that deter you. Even if the pool decks are pretty full there are always lots of loungers on the beach lagoon. We had no problem finding nice pool chairs near the new grotto pool this last January. Aulani is amazing!

As for Pearl Harbor, go to the Trip Advisor Oahu forum. "Dusty" on there is fabulous to post the latest news on obtaining USS Arizona Memorial tickets in advance. Yes, DVC Members do NOT pay the daily parking fee. I recommend doing Pearl Harbor on your own. We did get tickets for early morning (be sure to be aware of rush hour as the traffic is BRUTAL going toward Honolulu at morning rush hour), and after we did the USS Arizona Memorial we bought tickets for the Bowfin submarine and toured it as well. There's LOTS to see and do there and you could easily spend the entire day. It is an experience I recommend to everyone.

Happy planning! Oh! And I looooooooove the horse in your avatar!!

 

[southerngirl528]

Carissa1970, where did you find that darling map of Oahu?? SO cute! I've looked at lots of maps of the Hawaiian islands online, but don't' recall that one.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Aloha BitsnBearsMom!
Wow! What a blessing that you are on your way to being healed of cancer! And what a lovely, lovely way to celebrate that blessing!

We've visited twice in the late January and mid-Feb time period. If your dates are Presidents Week, it will likely be pretty busy, but don't let that deter you. Even if the pool decks are pretty full there are always lots of loungers on the beach lagoon. We had no problem finding nice pool chairs near the new grotto pool this last January. Aulani is amazing!

As for Pearl Harbor, go to the Trip Advisor Oahu forum. "Dusty" on there is fabulous to post the latest news on obtaining USS Arizona Memorial tickets in advance. Yes, DVC Members do NOT pay the daily parking fee. I recommend doing Pearl Harbor on your own. We did get tickets for early morning (be sure to be aware of rush hour as the traffic is BRUTAL going toward Honolulu at morning rush hour), and after we did the USS Arizona Memorial we bought tickets for the Bowfin submarine and toured it as well. There's LOTS to see and do there and you could easily spend the entire day. It is an experience I recommend to everyone.

Happy planning! Oh! And I looooooooove the horse in your avatar!!

Thanks!! Will for sure head over there and check that out - my 16yo is a history buff so pearl harbour is top on his list.

Any other suggestions on what we should see or do while we are there? This will be our first time to Hawaii.

Feeling blessed that I will be well and able to do the trip. Has been a long journey but I will be A-ok very soon!!! And the horse is my 16yo's jumper!! Terrifying to watch but love being around the horses!! It is great therapy!!

 

[southerngirl528]

That thread I mentioned on the other site will give you TONS of great info on Pearl Harbor. Here's the website for the national monument at Pearl Harbor:

http://www.nps.gov/valr/index.htm

The USS Missouri is there to tour, there is an aviation museum among lots of other displays and museums. Most days they will have a WWII survivor there to meet. Pretty awesome stuff. The USS Arizona Memorial was beyond moving. Keep in mind you can bring NO bags of any kind to tour the memorial. NONE. You can bring your phone only if it is turned to silent and you are using it solely as a camera. There is a bag check for a nominal charge there. Fabulous local place to have breakfast that's quite close to Pearl Harbor is the Highway Inn. YUM!