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

[mom2aidanNpiper]

I seem to recall them being somewhere in the $40 range, and I know that they were only available when the spa was not fully booked. It sounds like mom2aidanNpiper had a tough time getting one... so perhaps they aren't doing them as much anymore? I did not inquire about them this past trip as I did a massage so I had access on that day of the appointment. I was sure wishing I had looked into getting one when I was trying to use the departure lounge locker room.

Oh I forgot, they WERE available when we visited in 2012 we stopped for a couple days during our wedding trip in late march and when we asked it was around that price for resort guests but much higher for non resort guests. However when we visited this past trip (April 2013) is when they told me no

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

Just found this thread and I love it!! We went to the cove through the trees last time, but we didn't see any turtles or seals. Sounds like we need to hit that spot a little more frequently when we are there in February!!

What I didn't know then but wished I did was that you could but a week long pass to swim in Rainbow Reef. For some reason I thought you had to pay per visit. Turned out not to be the case, and the passes are so inexpensive!

 

[blondietink]

The resort is much more beautiful than we anticipated and the CM's absolutely wonderful. We did the Waikiki Beach thing for 4 days before going to Aulani, so we did the east side, Pearl Harbor and some north shore then. Did more north shore and west side from Aulani, but mostly just enjoyed the resort. Be sure to rent a car at the airport ..... much cheaper than renting from the resort. We did not have any problems leaving our stuff in the car, but we went on shoulder season, and at many beaches we were the only people there.

Aloha!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Subscribing, we will be there in mid-February! We have been to Maui twice, but this is our first trip to Oahu.

Right now I am debating on cancelling our Character Breakfast reservation. We arrive on a Thursday night and are staying near the airport. I booked the Character Meal for the next morning on the day we check-in figuring we will still be on Eastern time and will be feeling like it is lunch time. Then I have DD booked for Fish are Friends from 11-2 so we can go grocery shopping.

 

[jerseygal]

Can't wait for the Koloa Ranch!!! Never did ATVs and I know that our grown sons will LOVE IT! LOOKS AWESOME!

 

[SuperRob]

The one thing I'd wish I'd known was to bring earplugs.

Why?

Because the music throughout the resort is so wonderful, you're going to want to take it home and listen to it all the time ... and they don't sell a CD of the resort soundtrack!

I had seriously debated spending my last morning there just recording the sounds with my iPhone so I'd always have them.

 

[jerseygal]

Did you enjoy the beach and barbeque at the private beach at Kuloa Ranch?

Are there "waves" like there would be at Waikiki Beach or it is pretty calm like at Aulani?

Much thanks!

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Reading about the busy locker rooms has jogged my memory on a tip I can share....

On our first trip to Aulani, I had the foresight to go down to the women's locker room in the morning of our departure day and secure a locker, knowing we would need it that day. On our second trip this past July, we did not do that and weren't able to get a locker later in the day when we needed one as they were all full.

If you think you need a locker, I recommend getting one early in the day.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Reading about the busy locker rooms has jogged my memory on a tip I can share....

On our first trip to Aulani, I had the foresight to go down to the women's locker room in the morning of our departure day and secure a locker, knowing we would need it that day. On our second trip this past July, we did not do that and weren't able to get a locker later in the day when we needed one as they were all full.

If you think you need a locker, I recommend getting one early in the day.

They have changed the access now...probably to help with locker availability.
Now the Key Card they give you for access is a "one time only" entry so it only allows you to enter the departure room one time.
Thus folks can't keep going in and out of the departure room/locker rooms.
This has helped with locker availability, but it makes it so you can't pre-store your stuff in the locker all day.
I wound up keeping a bag with me on the pool deck containing everything I would need to get cleaned up all packed in it, including my change of clothes.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

They have changed the access now...probably to help with locker availability.
Now the Key Card they give you for access is a "one time only" entry so it only allows you to enter the departure room one time.
Thus folks can't keep going in and out of the departure room/locker rooms.
This has helped with locker availability, but it makes it so you can't pre-store your stuff in the locker all day.
I wound up keeping a bag with me on the pool deck containing everything I would need to get cleaned up all packed in it, including my change of clothes.

Whoa! Not sure how I feel about this. We went back and forth a couple of times to store my camera, etc. Glad that locker space will be more available to everyone when they need it, though.

I've mentioned this before here and it is ringing true with me now again, but Aulani just feels really "open" to me. I have said to myself on more than one occasion when we've been there that it would be easy for just anyone to walk in there or use some of the other facilities. My experience is that no one is really in the lounge checking if people coming in are guests. It just seems easy to me that people could enter through the front and just head out to the pool areas, sit in the hot tub, help themselves to some fountain drinks from the drink station, or, enter the lounge. I realize CMs are around and may stop someone without a wristband, but my experience from this summer was that anyone could just walk around, get a drink in their own cup, or walk into the lounge. If they've beefed it up by needing a card to enter, that is all good in my mind.

Not trying to hijack this thread, just sharing my observations. Thanks so much. We definitely plan on returning to Aulani, hopefully this year, so I greatly appreciate knowing what is going on there!

 

[carissa1970]

I wish I had done more research on the Polynesian Cultural Center before going.

Why? Good or bad?

 

[carissa1970]

The one thing I'd wish I'd known was to bring earplugs. Why? Because the music throughout the resort is so wonderful, you're going to want to take it home and listen to it all the time ... and they don't sell a CD of the resort soundtrack! I had seriously debated spending my last morning there just recording the sounds with my iPhone so I'd always have them.

Lol. We did record it. I had to be up with my coffee every morning just to hear the opening chant.

 

[GoofyforDisnee]

Subscribing. We will be there in July! I have learned so much!!! Thanks everyone for your wealth of knowledge.

 

[Doingitagain]

Did you enjoy the beach and barbeque at the private beach at Kuloa Ranch?

Are there "waves" like there would be at Waikiki Beach or it is pretty calm like at Aulani?

Much thanks!

We just did the jeep ride and the ATVs. Enjoyed them both.

 

[Bunless]

Why? Good or bad?

Because it is run by a large religious origination (doesn't matter which one to me, just the fact that it is). For someone like myself, who has PTSD from their religious upbringing, the under tones were there and severe enough that it sent me into a full blown panic attack. Because of who runs it, I couldn't even get a drink to help calm me down (it had been years since I had this sort of panic attack, so I haven't felt the need to carry meds in a long time). They offered me Hawaiian punch, like a healthy dose of red food dye and high fructose corn syrup was going to help calm me down. I felt bad for my poor husband, but he's a trooper.

My husband still refers to this episode whenever my parents mention wanting to take me to their church when we visit them.

 

[BCV2003]

We tried to get a day pass at the spa last time (the outside area was open just 1 day then closed remainder of our trip) and they told us no passes. You had to book at least a 50 min treatment and salon services didn't count. Maybe the girl was wrong, but we didn't ask again since it was closed (and decided not to get a treatment that day).

This is true. We were there in October and planned to used the spa on our last day because we weren't leaving until the evening. My husband was getting a massage and i thought about just getting a mani/pedi but to use the facilities, you did have to book a 50 min treatment as stated above so that is what I did.

Although reading another post about how busy the departure lounge was, it sounds like that was a good plan.

It was nice to be able to relax and enjoy the spa before we had to leave.

 

[JacksGirlz]

I booked a 50 minute massage at 11am for DD and I on our last day at Aulani and it sounds like spending the time at the spa will work out great.

 

[LisaT91403]

I've made two trips to Aulani. Lots has been covered, but I'd suggest:

1. Get the PhotoPass CD. There are photographers everywhere, even at Aunty's House during the activities (some great shots of my son were taken there). You go to the PhotoPass center and tell them which activities the kids (or adults, in the case of family activities) were at, and they will pull up the pictures for you. Same for pictures at the pool. You can ask photographers to take pics of you and your kids; we had someone take pictures down on the beach when our family was kayaking, and also when my son was at the Menehune Bridge. Great shots! They can take underwater photos too. It was well worth the $99 for us.

2. Aunty's Has Changed. This is something I wish I had known before my 2nd visit. On our 1st trip, Aunty's was great. We called and reserved programs the night before, when we received the daily schedule. It was a breeze. Now, they've changed (broken, really) the system so that you have to go reserve IN PERSON the day of the event. We got there at 7:50AM, 10 minutes before opening, and had to wait well over an hour. Most programs were already full. When we went back to check in for the program, the line was almost as long just to get in! It was horrible. We used Aunty's several times during our first visit, but only once this past trip because of how horrible the system was. Who wants to spend an hour or more each morning waiting in line? The staff was also very disorganized, and did not put our kids into the correct program.

 

[jerseygal]

Seems like it is well worth the $99!!!!! Thanks for the info!

 

[skiptomypooh]

Just booked an August trip and really appreciate all the great tips.

Thanks OP and the rest of you for your words of wisdom!

-Skip