Confirmed!!!! Disney will build a Hawaii resort!!!

[icydog]

You are right it' s not like Waikiki/Honolulu, but I think you're confusing Turtle Bay resort w/Ko'olina. The North Shore area has the shrimp shacks and the Dole Pineapple plantation, that's up the H2. Ko'Olina is where H1 ends past Pearl City,etc. (it's west, shrimp shacks are north).

Yikes, you're right. We took a tour of Oahu but only the North Shore. We couldn't continue around since we had a flight that night back to Newark and we were afraid we would be late. As it turned out we spent 5 hours in the President's club waiting for our flight so we could have seen the West Shore after all.

The North Coast did indeed include the Turtle Bay Resort-- and it was beautiful. Is the West Coast as nice as the North Coast? Is it as isolated?

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

I wish it was on one of the other islands...Oahu is my least favorite. Not sure I will stay there unless I'm looking to just spend a week relaxing and not going anyplace else. The Ko Olina area has really gotten built up since the last time I was out that way! Lately the only time I've spent on Oahu is in the Honolulu airport on my way to Big Island or Maui!

I agree. This just means we will have to extend our trip by a week to include the EKMV with our 7-10 days on the other islands!

 

[epicureangirl]

You ( I assume) weren't on our return flight home from MCO to ORD a couple of weeks ago. My 21m old dd screamed for half of the 2.5 hr flight. And I don't mean a little crying. I mean screaming at the top of her lungs.

I SO feel for you and KNOW your pain! I've always been the person who is hoping not to be seated near a screaming child, and now I bring one with me wherever I go! It is hard being "that parent" of "that child" on a flight. And "No, I cannot get her to shut up"! I consoled myself that I don't have to see these people again...

 

[puffkin]

This is exciting news for DVC!!!

I can't wait to go, now I have an excuse to go out to Hawaii. My BIG concern though is how much availability will be at the 7 month window? Living on the East Coast, it just wouldn't be worth it for us to buy points there to make a once a decade trip. I just hope us East Coaster's aren't shut out of ever getting to try the Hawaii resort.

This is great news for the West Coaster's though and hopefully more resorts will come around the world!

 

[dianeschlicht]

The 8-10 hour flight is why we wont be buying. We have had several Hawaii trips, and the flight just kills me. Last time we went first class using miles upgrades. It was better, but still a killer! It is also why we wond do a trip to Hawaii any shorter than 2 weeks, and much preferred out last one, which was almost 3 weeks. My preference is a week on the Big Island, follwed by a week on Kauai (Princeville) or Maui, and then have a few days on the front on Oahu and couple of days on the end in Oahu. It seems to be a good place to adjust to an island vacation, and also a good place to start to gear up again for the outside world when it is time to return.

BTW, the area of Ko'Olina is gorgeous!

 

[Darthmerideth]

The headlne should read "planes", not "plans"

Flying is not something I look forward to. Maybe we should just book on the Disney cruiseline, the new ships will most certainly go to the Hawaii resort among other places. I find it no coincidence that the resort and new ships will be complete at the same time.

 

[yitbos96bb]

Not going to buy in there... Maybe if I move to the west cost and live closer, but I will definately try it out a few times. Sounds like fun... COME ON VEGAS!!!

 

[wildernessDad]

It will be interesting to see the points spread on the resort or whether Disney will just flatten the points requirements.

 

[TTAunload]

Working for Disney in Hawaii no matter how far I have to drive is better than having to move to Anaheim or Orlando. I was thinking I'd have to do that when my kids left. I bet it's just one of those jobs that once you do it..it's not all that I've worked it up to be. I just want to know the insides and out of Disney. Like I want to be able to go under DL and see the city beneath (how elated I'll be if someone tells me somewhere there's a tour for that and you don't have to work for Disney-I'm just intrigued by the idea) Now, wonder if working for DVC would get me that benefit. A teacher at my school worked for WDW seasonaly..she said if you worked so many hours in a year you get a free annual pass.
I just want that Disney name tag...I know I'm Disney obsessed. Trying to figure out how I'm going to get to Hong Kong and Tokyo Disney..now that I've gone to WDW.
Glad to know that I'm not the only local living in Fantasyland. My friends here think I'm crazy.

Totally agree with you about not having to move to the mainland to work for Disney. I've done it 2 times already for the CP internship at WDW and loved it both times, but I can't see myself moving so far away from home (I live in Kaneohe if you are wondering). Yeah, if you work seasonally over there you get a main gate pass for park entry of yada (not sure of the number since I never had one, just got comp tickets) many people like 6 uses. And while you are working there, you get free entry.
Lol. Yeah you are not the only crazy disney freak here.

 

[JimC]

I see your point Jim, but I guess I just don't mind the flight. . I want to fly to China, Europe, heck my family and I have done the flight to Hawaii for a weekend, which is the same travel time to WDW, if not less, since the flight is always direct! I understand cognitively what folks are saying, but there are few places on this planet I can think of that I am not willing to make the trip to. . .

There was a time when I felt the same way Becca. Not any longer. If you have the opportunity to travel to distant lands......grab it because you do not know what cards will be turned over in the future. And we can only play the cards as they are dealt to us.

 

[Nwfdrool]

Hawaii is my favorite place in the world Yes, the flight from the east coast is LONG, but once you get to paradise---it is soooo worth it. Now, with two young children...that would be a different story. The last time we flew to Hawaii was for my sister's wedding two years ago. DD was 19 months old at the time. The trip out there was horrible. Our layover was in Dallas, and from Dallas straight to Honolulu DD slept for about 1.5 hrs---during the whole trip She kept kicking the seat in front of her and needless to say, that lady was not happy But hey, it didn't help that she reclined her seat---hellOOOO...The flight back home was much more pleasant. Our layover was in LA and DD slept during the whole first leg, and then watched The Wiggles on the portable DVD player we brought during the second leg. It was a red eye flight, so that helped alot.

On our recent trip to WDW, we had a 3.5yr old and 19 month old. The two hour flight was juuuussst long enough. We had talks of going to Hawaii next spring, but now I just don't think that will happen unless our children miraculously become well behaved We would definitely have to carefully plan our flight itinerary if we were to fly back out there.

I will be waiting to hear how much the hotel rooms will be. It can be difficult to go to Hawaii on a budget, although being the bargain hunter that I am, I have done it before ($250 RT from Washington DC ) What are the chances that they will offer Grand Opening specials???

 

[rparmfamily]

Yikes, you're right. We took a tour of Oahu but only the North Shore. We couldn't continue around since we had a flight that night back to Newark and we were afraid we would be late. As it turned out we spent 5 hours in the President's club waiting for our flight so we could have seen the West Shore after all.

The North Coast did indeed include the Turtle Bay Resort-- and it was beautiful. Is the West Coast as nice as the North Coast? Is it as isolated?

No, the leeward side isn't as isolated/country like the north shore area. The north shore is very green and the leeward side is dry and sunny, though the area of Ko'olina is very green thanks to sprinklers,etc lol. It is isolated for now, but that's where all the growth is on the island.

Ko'olina is one of our favorite beaches for our kids, because the water just gently laps the sand and it's very pretty and manicured, like Disney. The lagoons are perfect for families. I'll prob go out this week, maybe I'll try to get a pic of the empty lot. I normally don't pay too much attention because we usually just go to lagoon #4.