Dining Reservations at Aulani

[markmcalear]

We are a family of 7 (2 adults, 5 kids aged 9, 7, 6, 2, and 1) enjoying our first Aulani trip from December 21st-28th.

Will we need to make ADRs in advance of our trip for both breakfast and dinner each day??

Can anyone suggest any nearby restaurants that we may like to try out? We will likely hire a car.

Thanks

 

[Anal Annie]

There is a HUGE 26 page Aulani dining thread here that should give you a lot of info on the local dining. Most people rent a car at Aulani but there are several places within walking distance too:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2858912

 

[markmcalear]

Thanks a lot!!

 

[Figee17]

Also consider the in room family meals. I am sure there is some info on it somewhere on this board, but we are just back from Aulani (June 28 - July 4) and were 4 adults and one child (4) and had MORE than enough food in one in room meal with leftovers for a few days.

Here is some more info http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...n-club-members-at-aulani-a-disney-resort-spa/ (we had the chicken one - it was delicious!)

I would have to look at my receipts to find the price. I remember thinking it was pricey, initially, but then when considering it would be delivered to our room, we would have leftovers, we could provide our own drinks, etc. and comparing it to the cost of dinner out, it was a good deal!!!!!

 

[Figee17]

BTW, we also walked up to MonkeyPod across the street twice for their happy hour. Once we didn't wait at all and once we waited 10 minutes. We were there late June/early July which is a very busy time of year as well. We made reservations for one morning for the character breakfast and for the 6 nights that we were there, thats all we needed. (we did not eat dinner at a sit down restaurant at Aulani and didn't feel like we needed it).

 

[jerseygal]

On site at Aulani, we ate once at AmaAma and we had a great sunset dinner!

If you decide to eat there, I would suggest making a reservation because it is VERY popular. It is on the expensive side, imo. We were PLEASED though with our dinner and the sunset was BEAUTIFUL!:

Also, ate TWICE at Monkeypod for dinner across the street, which was very good! Half priced appetizers between 4 and 5:30!
We were also pleased with Chucks Steakhouse at the Marriott Ko Alina Vacation Villas.. Very pleased there too!Can walk along the beach path or some folks hop the continuous shuttle that is provided that goes from Aulani, next door to Marriott hotel, Marriott Ko Alina, and someone said here on this board, across to Monkeypod. Monkeypod is an easy walk across the street with a light! Pizza Corner is also across the street and has very good pizza, garlic knots. I believe that Pizza Corner also delivers to Aulani! NY style pizza too!

You will LOVE Aulani! ENJOY!

 

[markmcalear]

Thanks guys, I have made a few ADRs for Aulani and will also check out other local places to eat.

I always laugh when Americans say Disney (or Aulani) is expensive for food, its far cheaper than here in UK and the portion sizes are a lot bigger so I always feel like I got good value!!

Imagine my shock when I found a 44oz coke at the Hess station at WDW Car Care Centre for $1.59!!!!! We pay more than that in supermarkets here, nevermind fast food places etc!

 

[jerseygal]

Thanks guys, I have made a few ADRs for Aulani and will also check out other local places to eat.

I always laugh when Americans say Disney (or Aulani) is expensive for food, its far cheaper than here in UK and the portion sizes are a lot bigger so I always feel like I got good value!!

Imagine my shock when I found a 44oz coke at the Hess station at WDW Car Care Centre for $1.59!!!!! We pay more than that in supermarkets here, nevermind fast food places etc!

Guess that the British make the "Big Bucks"! Those prices are "difficult to swallow"!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[markmcalear]

Guess that the British make the "Big Bucks"! Those prices are "difficult to swallow"!

Enjoy your trip!

I think earnings are very similar "job for job". The cost of living in UK is a lot higher though.

Examples
Petrol (gas) = around $0.95 per litre ($3.50 gallon) - In UK its about $2 per litre
Toll charges in Orlando near airport = around $1 - Toll charge on M6 in UK is around $8
2l Coke $2.59 (Garden Grocer) - In UK its $3.13 for 1.75l
Ford Fusion $22,400-36,500 - UK equivalent is Ford Mondeo $33,205-45,399

Just typing this is making me feel like I am getting robbed every day!!

 

[lovetotraveltx]

There is also a terrace restaurant at the other, marriott, JW, right next door to Aulani, it's white. On wednesday and friday they have special $30 price fixed meals that are very good and for every 2 meals ordered you can get a whole bottle of good wine for $5.

We enjoyed chucks.

Did happy hour at Monkey Pod as an early dinner one night.

The Paradise Cove luau was dinner one night.

And, on our North Shore day we brought home Huli Huli Chicken and 2 types of shrimp from the shrimp truck for dinner in our room.

Most breakfasts and lunches we ate in our room. We shopped at Costco and Safeway upon arrival.

We did eat in KOA Pancake house in Kapolei one morning. It's a little local place and it was wonderful!

 

[lovetotraveltx]

Forgot to mention we really enjoyed the character buffet breakfast at our Aulani. We did it on our last morning which has been a Disney tradition for us

 

[bamor]

There is also a terrace restaurant at the other, marriott, JW, right next door to Aulani, it's white. On wednesday and friday they have special $30 price fixed meals that are very good and for every 2 meals ordered you can get a whole bottle of good wine for $5. We enjoyed chucks. Did happy hour at Monkey Pod as an early dinner one night. The Paradise Cove luau was dinner one night. And, on our North Shore day we brought home Huli Huli Chicken and 2 types of shrimp from the shrimp truck for dinner in our room. Most breakfasts and lunches we ate in our room. We shopped at Costco and Safeway upon arrival. We did eat in KOA Pancake house in Kapolei one morning. It's a little local place and it was wonderful!

Oh man, now I am bummed we never made it to the KOA Pancake House. Time to plan another trip, LOL

 

[lovetotraveltx]

Oh man, now I am bummed we never made it to the KOA Pancake House. Time to plan another trip, LOL

Yep! You do.

 

[Lissete]

Guess that the British make the "Big Bucks"! Those prices are "difficult to swallow"! Enjoy your trip!

I think earnings are very similar "job for job". The cost of living in UK is a lot higher though. Examples Petrol (gas) = around $0.95 per litre ($3.50 gallon) - In UK its about $2 per litre Toll charges in Orlando near airport = around $1 - Toll charge on M6 in UK is around $8 2l Coke $2.59 (Garden Grocer) - In UK its $3.13 for 1.75l Ford Fusion $22,400-36,500 - UK equivalent is Ford Mondeo $33,205-45,399 Just typing this is making me feel like I am getting robbed every day!!

I agree. It's not that they make big bucks. It's that their cost of living is way up there. The exchange rate is in their favor in the US. I once gave a deck of game cards (I think Yahtzee cards) to a little British girl. The cards cost $7. She lost them on the trip home and her mother told me that it would cost approx. $25 US to replace in the UK!

It's the same thing in Hawaii for us. Aside from gas and milk. We find the prices to be similar to what we pay here in Miami. Actually, food truck prices in Hawaii are waaaaay better than here. We avoid tourist spots with tourist prices as well, so that probably helps.

 

[tripletsmama]

We have 4 kids and I just wanted to comment that we had a very nice experience with the babysitting service Aulani recommends. We used it one night and DH and I went to Ama Ama. It was so wonderful to have a date night on vacation and know that the kids were right upstairs perfectly content. We had the sitter arrive an hour before our reservation and take the kids to Ulu Cafe for dinner and a walk so we could get ready. After dinner we had drinks outside and walked on the beach. It was such a wonderful evening. The sitter was on time, professional, and friendly. She texted me throughout the evening to let me know how DS was (he has never been watched by anyone other than my mom). Great experience and we would definitely use them again.