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

[Halefamilyof6]

I have a couple of questions, having done some research for our upcoming trip:

1. I've read on some websites that it's best to wait to get to Hawaii and buy flip flops, water shoes, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen as they are all (except sunscreen) cheaper. Do you find this to be true? I mean, we will bring what we have from home, but with six of us, I know we don't have enough as of right now. Sunscreen, we were told, is better to buy there (don't remember the reason why).

2. Beach toys - Should we buy our own or does Aulani have enough for when it is crowded?

3. Family dinners - I can not, for the life of me, find the information online. At one time someone had a link to the dinner options/prices, but I've looked through so many boards, I can't find it.

4. The lines at Aunty's - is that JUST for the extra activities or do you have to get in line to even let your child attend?

5. BBQ - I understand there are bbq areas - is there seating in that area as well? Say, if we wanted to bbq and just eat outside...are there picnic benches or something of that sort?

I think that's it for now =)
Thanks!!

 

[poohj80]

I have a couple of questions, having done some research for our upcoming trip:

1. I've read on some websites that it's best to wait to get to Hawaii and buy flip flops, water shoes, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen as they are all (except sunscreen) cheaper. Do you find this to be true? I mean, we will bring what we have from home, but with six of us, I know we don't have enough as of right now. Sunscreen, we were told, is better to buy there (don't remember the reason why).

We packed our own, but when I made a Costco run at the beginning of our trip, I found that their prices on the multipacks of sunscreen were the same as at home. I would recommend bringing flip flops as you want to ensure you have comfortable foot wear and new flip flops may not be as comfy as the ones as home (plus they're small and flat for packing). When we went to other stores such as Target or Long's Drugs, prices were ok but I wouldn't call them cheap. Also, we had issues finding our DDs size in some items as it seemed like all the spring breakers had already wiped out a lot of inventory.

2. Beach toys - Should we buy our own or does Aulani have enough for when it is crowded?

We were there last week when the resort for packed and we had no issues with toys. We were always able to get boogie boards and sand toys at the beach but we did have to wait about 30 minutes when renting a paddle board.

3. Family dinners - I can not, for the life of me, find the information online. At one time someone had a link to the dinner options/prices, but I've looked through so many boards, I can't find it.

I don't have a link handy, but there were three options - pasta, chicken, and fish entrees I believe. Cost ranged from $80-90 depending on your selection.

4. The lines at Aunty's - is that JUST for the extra activities or do you have to get in line to even let your child attend?

In the morning, it was for the extra activities and to get in for open house. During the day, kids come and go so the wait wasn't too long.

5. BBQ - I understand there are bbq areas - is there seating in that area as well? Say, if we wanted to bbq and just eat outside...are there picnic benches or something of that sort?

I remember a couple of picnic tables or you could just throw a blanket or towels on the lawn and have a picnic.

 

[DisSarahK]

The line at Aunty's is insane. Today at 6:15 we know of someone who was 12th in line. Crazy.

Aulani has a ton of beach toys, but they do run out. My little boy wanted sand toys yesterday at mid-morning and they were out.

 

[Cinderpamela]

My answers are below in Green

I have a couple of questions, having done some research for our upcoming trip:

1. I've read on some websites that it's best to wait to get to Hawaii and buy flip flops, water shoes, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen as they are all (except sunscreen) cheaper. Do you find this to be true? I mean, we will bring what we have from home, but with six of us, I know we don't have enough as of right now. Sunscreen, we were told, is better to buy there (don't remember the reason why).
When we went to Target I found the water shoes to be more expensive.... like $30, locally I can get pairs for more like $15-$20.... so I would not recommend buying water shoes there. My DH did by a nice pair of flip flops but prices were not lower, if anything, it's Hawaii, so things are often more expensive due to shipping costs.

2. Beach toys - Should we buy our own or does Aulani have enough for when it is crowded? They have some beach toys but I cannot speak to their inventory during busy times. We were there over Christmas, it was very busy , my kids were able to get buckets and such to play with no problem.

3. Family dinners - I can not, for the life of me, find the information online. At one time someone had a link to the dinner options/prices, but I've looked through so many boards, I can't find it.

Here is the link to the posts of menu photos from over on the Aulani Villas and Views thread. It comes up when you do a search of that specific thread by entering "family meals"--page down to post 319
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=47305423&highlight=family+meals#post47305423

4. The lines at Aunty's - is that JUST for the extra activities or do you have to get in line to even let your child attend?cant answer that as my kids are teens. Hopefully others can help.

5. BBQ - I understand there are bbq areas - is there seating in that area as well? Say, if we wanted to bbq and just eat outside...are there picnic benches or something of that sort?There are a few long picnic like tables down to the one side of the 4 grills but there is not a lot of seating.

I think that's it for now =)
Thanks!!

Hope that helps!

 

[Mfischee]

KNOWING HOW CROWDED IT WAS! We had gone during March 2012 when only half the resort was up and running and the place was empty! We were truly able to enjoy everything the resort had to offer. We then decided to go back during Christmas of 2013 and the place was PACKED! I guess it was just something I didn't expect and almost everyone I had encountered there were a bunch of rich snubs. It was very hard to enjoy the resort this time around and we had to get up around 5AM to reserve decent pool chairs.

 

[Cinderpamela]

KNOWING HOW CROWDED IT WAS! We had gone during March 2012 when only half the resort was up and running and the place was empty! We were truly able to enjoy everything the resort had to offer. We then decided to go back during Christmas of 2013 and the place was PACKED! I guess it was just something I didn't expect and almost everyone I had encountered there were a bunch of rich snubs. It was very hard to enjoy the resort this time around and we had to get up around 5AM to reserve decent pool chairs.

I was there at the same time over this past Christmas break (and also in August of 2012)... and I am hardly a rich snob so hoping you weren't refering to me ...

Now that Aulani is fully open, unless you go during the slow season, its pretty much going to be that way. So I guess the lesson is try to go during the off season... unless you are beholden to kids school vacation breaks like we currently are.... at least for a couple more years.

 

[SeaPic]

I wish I knew if Laniwai offers the $45 pass anymore. Their QA on the website says they don't offer day passes but I remember my husband got a pass one day. I had a spa treatment so perhaps that's the diff?

 

[Cinderpamela]

I wish I knew if Laniwai offers the $45 pass anymore. Their QA on the website says they don't offer day passes but I remember my husband got a pass one day. I had a spa treatment so perhaps that's the diff?

Some more recent visitors have reported that the Day Passes are no longer offered, just like their website now states. They did used to offer them back in 2012 when we went the first time but it sounds like they dropped that once the resort was completely up and running.

 

[SeaPic]

Some more recent visitors have reported that the Day Passes are no longer offered, just like their website now states. They did used to offer them back in 2012 when we went the first time but it sounds like they dropped that once the resort was completely up and running.

Thanks so much. That's when we were there as well. Heading back this July. Guess I better get booking those spa appointments!

 

[carissa1970]

I wish I knew if Laniwai offers the $45 pass anymore. Their QA on the website says they don't offer day passes but I remember my husband got a pass one day. I had a spa treatment so perhaps that's the diff?

I actually called them yesterday to ask that and a couple other questions. No, they do not offer the day pass anymore.

 

[luv2boys]

Can you pack food in your carry on or checked luggage? Like granola bars, etc.

 

[jekjones1558]

Can you pack food in your carry on or checked luggage? Like granola bars, etc.[/]
You can't pack liquids in carryon but you can in checked luggage. On the way to Hawaii you can pack any kind of food in checked and carryon. On the way home there are restrictions on certain foods like fruit and your luggage will go through Agricultural Inspection.

 

[jerseygal]

Coming home from either the Bahamas or Aruba, I "stuck" a banana to eat while waiting for the plane on the way home in a carryon not knowing...

I was flagged going through security and the bag was thoroughly checked...I WILL NEVER do that again...SCARY!

 

[islandtimect]

Can you pack food in your carry on or checked luggage? Like granola bars, etc.

Yes as long as it's not fresh produce or drinks of course. But you can buy those after going through security (at high airport prices).

 

[Anal Annie]

Can you pack food in your carry on or checked luggage? Like granola bars, etc.

I almost always fly with some sort of snacks (trail mix, pop tarts, granola bars, vending machine type crackers, fruit snacks etc). You just can't take fresh fruits / vegetables or liquid items over 3 oz.

 

[luv2boys]

Is it ok to bring your own food to the pool? Snacks, canned drinks, sandwich, etc?

 

[poohj80]

Is it ok to bring your own food to the pool? Snacks, canned drinks, sandwich, etc?

Most definitely!

 

[DrChuck23]

Is it ok to bring your own food to the pool? Snacks, canned drinks, sandwich, etc?

Beer too!
They also have grills available if you want to grill out.

 

[Girimama33]

Beer too!
They also have grills available if you want to grill out.

Only after 4pm though....You can grill for dinner, but not for lunch.

 

[luv2boys]

Thanks everybody!