Celebrating special events at Aulani

[mckymomma13]

My husband and I will be spending our 20th wedding anniversary while in Aulani in September. Any suggestions on making it even more special while at Aulani? It's our first trip to Hawaii and our first trip without our 3 kids.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

My Dh and I will also be celebrating our anniversary during our trip in April We will be taking the kiddos along, however here are some things we are looking forward to or are planning:

- we had a note made on our reservation what we were celebrating (who knows if we will get pixie dust of any kind, but it can't hurt!)

- I arranged a cake and a celebration toast from their in room celebration menu (we ordered 1 cake for all of us as a family to celebrate since my DH married me AND the kids and we ordered the 1/2 bottle bubbly with choc covered strawberries.

-We are planning a date night to Ama Ama

-booked a cabana for the day (hopefully construction won't be bad....)

-We are hoping to enjoy the spa (still aren't sure yet)

-we are telling the kids, much like on DCL that we ask for an hour or so of time per day for them to go the the kids club (so we can enjoy a drink or a walk on the beach alone)

Hope that helps for some ideas! We also plan on going to some places that mean something special to us (where we got married on the N. Shore, the bamboo we carved in the love forest at the Valley of the Temples, etc). But none of that is Aulani specific

Oh- and for an adult only trip, check out my trip report from last year when it was just me and my DH http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2877757 - we did some great things that the kids may not have been up for (ate at Alan Wongs, hiked Diamond Head, did a lost tour at Kualoa Ranch, ate at some great places in the N. Shore, hiked to Makapuu point, went to Kailua, Valley of the Temples, etc).

 

[dianeschlicht]

We had a note on our reservation that we were celebrating or 45th anniversary. They sent us a card from Mickey and Minnie, and we got a "phone call" from them as well.

 

[MissMet]

We'll be celebrating our 1st wedding ann. at Aulani in May. I had contacted Aulani to see if we could have dinner on our balcony or on the beach & they're supposed to be getting back to me, but it was a few weeks ago. I think they forgot. I'm going to email the cast member again today to see... She was waiting to hear from banquets & catering.

We are also doing a couple's massage that day.

 

[trishypoo]

My husband and I will be spending our 20th wedding anniversary while in Aulani in September. Any suggestions on making it even more special while at Aulani? It's our first trip to Hawaii and our first trip without our 3 kids.

Too funny! My hubby and I are also celebrating our 20 th in September.....we are going to Maui and then Aulani a little early ( August) to celebrate! We also have 3 kids and are not bringing them on this trip! Have fun and Happy 20 th!

 

[Cinderpamela]

We were there for our 20th anniversary last July/August. On that day we had a reservation for both of us at the spa which I cannot recommend enough! We were sure to get there nice and early so we could enjoy all the pools and special showers.

Later that evening we went to Alan Wongs for dinner and it was amazing, they even gave us our own personalized menu's autographed by all the staff:

 

[MMcCarthy]

We will be celebrating 25 and my in laws 50 in April. No special plans except Hawaii and no kids for the first time. Really starting to get excited. We are having engraved champagne flutes delivered to the resort...Disney ones. I can't wait

 

[mckymomma13]

I like the idea of the champagne glasses engraved. Where did you order them? My SIL and BIL are coming to celebrate their anniversary too. It would make a nice gift for them. So far that week, the guys are golfing while the girls enjoy the spa. My husband and I have reservations at the resort and are thinking about doing a helicopter tour. Really not sure yet. It's going to be a great anniversary.

 

[mckymomma13]

Too funny! My hubby and I are also celebrating our 20 th in September.....we are going to Maui and then Aulani a little early ( August) to celebrate! We also have 3 kids and are not bringing them on this trip! Have fun and Happy 20 th!

That is funny! Happy Anniversary to you guys too! Have a great time!!

 

[MMcCarthy]

The champagne glasses are from Disney shopping and are being shipped to aulani

 

[Anal Annie]

We were there for our 20th anniversary last July/August. On that day we had a reservation for both of us at the spa which I cannot recommend enough! We were sure to get there nice and early so we could enjoy all the pools and special showers.

Later that evening we went to Alan Wongs for dinner and it was amazing, they even gave us our own personalized menu's autographed by all the staff:

Oh that's pretty cool. I like how they personalized it. This place is in Waikiki? Looks like it's probably dressier than what we will pack for...but that's really cool.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Oh that's pretty cool. I like how they personalized it. This place is in Waikiki? Looks like it's probably dressier than what we will pack for...but that's really cool.

Thanks! I just packed a black jersey knit dress that I got at costco with some glittery flip flops, DH just wore khakis and a hawaiian type shirt. No one was really dressed up much more than that.

 

[Anal Annie]

Thanks! I just packed a black jersey knit dress that I got at costco with some glittery flip flops, DH just wore khakis and a hawaiian type shirt. No one was really dressed up much more than that.

Oh, OK. I could handle something like that...maybe some dressy capris with nice sandals or something? I thought it looked like maybe a little dressier (ie shirts with ties for men etc.) Were there any kids or was it more of an adults only place? (We will have DS16 with us....just curious.) We probably WON'T go what with the Aulani restaurants, the Monkey Pod Kitchen and Roy's so close by but it never hurts to check out all the options.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

Oh, OK. I could handle something like that...maybe some dressy capris with nice sandals or something? I thought it looked like maybe a little dressier (ie shirts with ties for men etc.) Were there any kids or was it more of an adults only place? (We will have DS16 with us....just curious.) We probably WON'T go what with the Aulani restaurants, the Monkey Pod Kitchen and Roy's so close by but it never hurts to check out all the options.

have you been to Napa Rose in DL?? Dress code is similar (you'll see people all over the place) and same with kids . Very few with tiny children, a handful with teenagers. No one would bat an eye with a 16 yr old!

We loved Alan Wongs! One of our favorite meals of all time

 

[Anal Annie]

have you been to Napa Rose in DL?? Dress code is similar (you'll see people all over the place) and same with kids . Very few with tiny children, a handful with teenagers. No one would bat an eye with a 16 yr old!

We loved Alan Wongs! One of our favorite meals of all time

No, we have not been to Napa Rose. We have only been to DL once (back in 2005 pre-DCL Mex. Riviera cruise). Our 2nd trip is coming up pre-Aulani (will be there 4 nights). I have not done much research yet on our dining options at DL. Figured one night we should do the picnic boxed meal for the WOC reserved seating?! Beyond that...dunno!! Haven't even decided yet if we will attempt to go off-site & do some site seeing...Need to figure that out soon tho!!

I am just not sure how much we will want to travel for a meal while we are at Aulani. Had considered Duke's (we stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki on our last trip so we went there on that trip). Will probably venture in for a late lunch one day at the Hard Rock Cafe (DS wants to collect their T-shirts). Thought we might go there after Pearl Harbor... I will ask DH if he is interested in trying Alan Wongs.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Roys gave us this to celebrate our 20th Anniversary weeklong extravaganza at Aulani!

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

No, we have not been to Napa Rose. We have only been to DL once (back in 2005 pre-DCL Mex. Riviera cruise). Our 2nd trip is coming up pre-Aulani (will be there 4 nights). I have not done much research yet on our dining options at DL. Figured one night we should do the picnic boxed meal for the WOC reserved seating?! Beyond that...dunno!! Haven't even decided yet if we will attempt to go off-site & do some site seeing...Need to figure that out soon tho!!

I am just not sure how much we will want to travel for a meal while we are at Aulani. Had considered Duke's (we stayed at the Outrigger Waikiki on our last trip so we went there on that trip). Will probably venture in for a late lunch one day at the Hard Rock Cafe (DS wants to collect their T-shirts). Thought we might go there after Pearl Harbor... I will ask DH if he is interested in trying Alan Wongs.

Yeah it is a bit far away, we also stayed at the Outrigger on our last HI trip for one night prior to our North Shore house rental. So we ate at Alan Wongs that night. We liked Dukes too but loved Rumfire at the Sheraton for lunch great beach front tables with the best fish tacos!

If you need help with DL stuff email me (if you still have it from talking about spa stuff). We go at least twice a yr now. This yr will be 3 times!

 

[Iceman93]

Figured one night we should do the picnic boxed meal for the WOC reserved seating?!

Just had to jump in on this point. I don't really recommend the WoC picnic meals--you get the same FastPass that any guest can get by walking up to the machines anytime during the day. So you have to show up really early for the show and deal with the cattle-call atmosphere getting to your viewing area, crowding in the viewing area, etc. The picnics were okay when WoC first opened and the FastPasses distributed by the machines would run out early in the day, but now there's simply no benefit to them at all.

A far superior option are the WoC dining packages, which are offered with sit-down meals at the Carthay Circle Theater Restaurant or the Wine Country Trattoria. Of course they're both pricier than the picnics, but provide great meals for the dollar. And then you actually get a VIP viewing area FastPass that lets you walk up just a few minutes before the show into the prime center viewing spot where it never gets jammed with other guests.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

Just had to jump in on this point. I don't really recommend the WoC picnic meals--you get the same FastPass that any guest can get by walking up to the machines anytime during the day. So you have to show up really early for the show and deal with the cattle-call atmosphere getting to your viewing area, crowding in the viewing area, etc. The picnics were okay when WoC first opened and the FastPasses distributed by the machines would run out early in the day, but now there's simply no benefit to them at all.

A far superior option are the WoC dining packages, which are offered with sit-down meals at the Carthay Circle Theater Restaurant or the Wine Country Trattoria. Of course they're both pricier than the picnics, but provide great meals for the dollar. And then you actually get a VIP viewing area FastPass that lets you walk up just a few minutes before the show into the prime center viewing spot where it never gets jammed with other guests.

Agreed, we did the WOC picnic once and it was ok but that was when it was still new. The FP don't really run out in the same way.