Aulani

[CocosMeme]

Loving this thread! We are booked Nov. 5-11 in a 1 bedroom and can't wait.

 

[Cruiser1969]

I am at Aulani now and feel free to ask me anything. This resort is so incredible that I am happy to share what I have learned. The saying here is, "Look twice, think three times." There is so much embedded in the scenery,artwork, architecture that each day will reveal more and more. I highly recommend the art and culture tour(see daily Iwa) which made me think three times!

We ate out only twice and cooked in the villa the six days we are here. I have a lot to share about purchasing food, cooking, etc. So feel free to ask any questions about that.
As far as excursions, my husband's plan to spend one night Waikiki worked well. We states at the Hyatt Place in Waikiki(awesome hotel) after flying in and then spent the next day at Pearl Harbor before checking in to Aulani. It allowed us to get an outing out if the way and avoiding an early check in. The only other excursion was to Kualoa ranch where we did the movie tour. Our kids begged to for back to the hotel! Knowing that this is not our last trip(God willing) we feel that we don't have to see everything on this trip.

Feeling so blessed to own at Aulani !!

Please share here what you know about purchasing food for in-room eating. Thanks

 

[MBPrincessMoM]

We loved the resort. It is truly lovely. Biggest hint - if you want to eat in the restaurants book ahead of time. Also, do not use the transportation company (cloud9) that they recommend. It is horrible.

 

[Brancaneve]

Cruiser1969, there is a button on the villa phone for private dining. The cast member explained that they have Dvc family meals that are delivered to your room. There is a choice of four meals and each serves four people: meatloaf, baked pasta, salmon androsemary chicken. There are sides included. The price ranges from $70 -$80. There is also a room service menu that lists breakfast, lunch and dinner. It includes a good kids menu but prices are steep. Kids meal will run you 16 bucks and adult dinners about 35.

 

[Brancaneve]

Let me add more details about the family dinners! I finally found the book with all the details. The meals come with quite a bit of food. For example, the chicken dinner comes with garden green salad with cucumber and carrot with balsamic or ranch. Buttered corn on the cob, mac and cheese, seasonal cobbler and dinner rolls. Sounds yummy! Each additional person costs $35.

 

[rpcvpanama]

Food...the exit before Ko Olina there is a Target (with groceries) a Super Kmart and a Costco. Very easy to get to if you have a car. If you don't have a car, there is a rather large ABC store across the street from Aulani. You can get most basic items there. I don't believe there is produce or meat products. Ko Olina is pretty far from most everything so having a car is a big advantage. Free parking for DVC members.

 

[ACDSNY]

Let me add more details about the family dinners! I finally found the book with all the details. The meals come with quite a bit of food. For example, the chicken dinner comes with garden green salad with cucumber and carrot with balsamic or ranch. Buttered corn on the cob, mac and cheese, seasonal cobbler and dinner rolls. Sounds yummy! Each additional person costs $35.

Wow this sounds like something that has been added since our visit last January.

We used room service our first night since we were tired and didn't want to go out anywhere. The foof was very good and the CM were excellent.

 

[wipedaler]

Can you please tell me more about this? Turtles are my #1 thing on our upcoming trip! Did you know in advance this was a turtle beach or did you just happen to stop and then saw the turtles? Curious if this is the type of beach where you are just driving along, see it, and decide to pull over or if it is a beach with a parking lot, etc.

We knew ahead of time that this was a 'turtle-friendly' beach. One of the Aulani employees - I think a DVC representative - told us about that location using the horse farm as the landmark. You could easily drive past the location. Parking is along the side of the road (park perpendicular to the road). Lock/secure your vehicle and be very careful crossing the road to get to the shoreline. If you're a turtle fan, respect them with your distance.

[We encountered one yahoo family (toddler to adult dad) who tried to pose next to a Monk Seal that was dozing upshore from the Aulani/Marriott lagoon. Dad tossed Sun Chips at it for some reason, and the posers were close enough to experience the wrath of a nimble sea mammal. Fortunately for them, the seal didn't become angry at the disrespect, though I am a believer in Darwin's survival hypothesis.]

If you drive north shore, be sure to go to Fumi's for shrimp. Our girls still rave that it was one of the best meals they had, plastic utensils and all!

 

[lilpooh108]

Not to shamelessly plug my own TR but....I will anyway

Spent a ton of time writing it...with pics of Aulani, so here it is:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2850176

We went to Maui first, so the Aulani part of the trip starts on Post #5. Lots of pics of the GV and views from the GV.

We took the trip in Dec 2011.

 

[ttczstaples]

This is a great thread, thank you wipedaler, brancaneve & others for your insight. It has been very insightful. We are planing our Aulani trip for 2013. Can't wait.

 

[cryssi]

maybe a silly question, but is there stuff like morning yoga on the beach? also, any running paths through the resort? thanks!

 

[dsneygirl]

maybe a silly question, but is there stuff like morning yoga on the beach? also, any running paths through the resort? thanks!

There seemed to be some type of exercise class every morning. You can get the Iwa the night before as some started early like 7am.

 

[cryssi]

oh great, thanks!

 

[Mattsmommy]

For those interested in snorkeling in near Turtle Canyon

groupon.com/deals/island-magic-catamaran-4?c=all&p=4

 

[BlazerFan]

As far as excursions, my husband's plan to spend one night Waikiki worked well. We states at the Hyatt Place in Waikiki(awesome hotel) after flying in and then spent the next day at Pearl Harbor before checking in to Aulani. It allowed us to get an outing out if the way and avoiding an early check in. The only other excursion was to Kualoa ranch where we did the movie tour. Our kids begged to for back to the hotel! Knowing that this is not our last trip(God willing) we feel that we don't have to see everything on this trip.

Feeling so blessed to own at Aulani !!

How was the Kualoa Ranch movie tour? Was this the tour that goes to the LOST sites? Also, is it appropriate for seniors with walkers? Thanks!

 

[Brancaneve]

Blazer fan- We enjoyed the Kualoa Ranch tour because the location is amazing and once you hear the Hawaiian legend about how it came to be, you will love it even more. We did not go through ABD to book our tour. Instead, I called from Aulani about 2 days before our trip and reserved our spots. The tickets cost about $25 per adult and I think, $13 for kids and includes a 1 hour bus tour through the area. It's an easy drive and it allows you to see more the island by driving yourself.

This is an ideal trip for someone with a walker. There is very little walking but the bus stops in two different locations so you can take pictures and wander around. One spot is the site where they filmed Jurassic Park and Lost, and the other site is a WW2 bunker that houses movie posters and a couple of props. The only difficult thing may be getting on and off the bus, but with some help it should be just fine.

It was a relaxing and exciting tour and the location is priceless!

 

[BlazerFan]

Blazer fan- We enjoyed the Kualoa Ranch tour because the location is amazing and once you hear the Hawaiian legend about how it came to be, you will love it even more. We did not go through ABD to book our tour. Instead, I called from Aulani about 2 days before our trip and reserved our spots. The tickets cost about $25 per adult and I think, $13 for kids and includes a 1 hour bus tour through the area. It's an easy drive and it allows you to see more the island by driving yourself.

This is an ideal trip for someone with a walker. There is very little walking but the bus stops in two different locations so you can take pictures and wander around. One spot is the site where they filmed Jurassic Park and Lost, and the other site is a WW2 bunker that houses movie posters and a couple of props. The only difficult thing may be getting on and off the bus, but with some help it should be just fine.

It was a relaxing and exciting tour and the location is priceless!

Thanks for the info, it sounds like fun.

 

[cryssi]

are there laundry rooms? we will be in a studio, so no washer/dryer. also, does the resort provide beach towels if you are going off property, or should we pack our own? thanks!

 

[rpcvpanama]

There was one laundry room that I saw. It was on the first floor near the Spa and gym. There were 3 washing machines and 6 dryers. If you are a DVC member you get free tokens. If not, I believe it takes about $1 per load for wash and $1 for dryer. I could be mistaken on that though.

You get towels for the pool every morning when you go down for your wrist band. I am not sure if they are allowed offsite but I don't think that is really monitored. The towels are not monitored as to whether or not they are turned in at the end of the day. Aulani seems to have a pretty liberal beach/pool towel policy.

 

[rpcvpanama]

There was one laundry room that I saw. It was on the first floor near the Spa and gym. There were 3 washing machines and 6 dryers. If you are a DVC member you get free tokens. If not, I believe it takes about $1 per load for wash and $1 for dryer. I could be mistaken on that though.

You get towels for the pool every morning when you go down for your wrist band. I am not sure if they are allowed offsite but I don't think that is really monitored. The towels are not monitored as to whether or not they are turned in at the end of the day. Aulani seems to have a pretty liberal beach/pool towel policy.