Excursions at Aulani

[paddles]

I think I'm getting over-ruled by my hubby and kids - they'd prefer a trip to Hawaii next March vs. Backstage Magic ABD. I'd like to plan 4-5 days at Aulani (and also spend a few days in Kona).

There is messaging about "exclusive Disney excursions" and even "ABD" on some of the excursions noted on the site and other Disney boards.

For those of you who have been there, how are the excursions at Aulani?

thanks!

 

[SingingMom]

I think I'm getting over-ruled by my hubby and kids - they'd prefer a trip to Hawaii next March vs. Backstage Magic ABD. I'd like to plan 4-5 days at Aulani (and also spend a few days in Kona). There is messaging about "exclusive Disney excursions" and even "ABD" on some of the excursions noted on the site and other Disney boards. For those of you who have been there, how are the excursions at Aulani? thanks!

I can't find any info about them. I called ABD and the answer I received was you have to book them at the lobby desk. Any one have better info? We arrive in August.

 

[Bobo912]

Before we visited Aulani I researched some of the ABD excursions and compared with what it would cost to do similar excursions on our own, and the prices of the ABD excursions seemed terribly inflated. I'm sure there are special touches, but I couldn't justify the cost, especially when I had already spent a crazy amount of money on our room. I know a lot of people love Aulani, but personally I thought it wasn't worth the cost. We enjoyed our time at the Grand Hyatt on Kauai much more. If I had it to do over, I would skip Oahu altogether and visit the Big Island instead. Sorry, that doesn't help with your question at all.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Before we visited Aulani I researched some of the ABD excursions and compared with what it would cost to do similar excursions on our own, and the prices of the ABD excursions seemed terribly inflated. I'm sure there are special touches, but I couldn't justify the cost, especially when I had already spent a crazy amount of money on our room. I know a lot of people love Aulani, but personally I thought it wasn't worth the cost. We enjoyed our time at the Grand Hyatt on Kauai much more. If I had it to do over, I would skip Oahu altogether and visit the Big Island instead. Sorry, that doesn't help with your question at all.

Just to throw out a different opinion based on similar experiences. We visited Aulani and the Grand Hyatt Kauai on the same trip. We preferred Aulani more. However I would say we liked the island of Kauai more than Oahu. As a resort that focuses on families and maybe more importantly a hotel that tells the story of Hawaii, Aulani hits a home run. The Grand Hyatt I feel you could pick up and drop in the Caribbean and no one would know any different. Aulani is unmistakably Hawaiian. The only resort that I've experienced that trumps Aulani is the 4 Seasons Maui. Completely different style resort though.

I would completely agree that Hawaii is not just Oahu. I'd say its critical to visit another island. If you can stay 9 or 10 days or more it's a no brainer.

 

[Cousin Orville]

We did not do any excursions from Aulani. Our kids were too young to do things like surfing, etc. I would recommend just driving a rental around the island a bit.

 

[Bobo912]

We did not do any excursions from Aulani. Our kids were too young to do things like surfing, etc. I would recommend just driving a rental around the island a bit.

I agree. If you want to visit the North Shore or Kualoa Ranch, you can easily drive there yourself. I think the company that does the catamaran excursion is near the hotel, and they will pick you up. It might even be within walking distance. After doing some research I decided to save take a catamaran excursion on Kauai instead. We drove up to the North Shore and also visited the Polynesian Cultural Center. I didn't plan a lot of excursions, because I anticipated that we would want to spend a lot of time at the hotel, since I thought there would be a lot to do. But some of the things that were listed on the website failed to materialize and even though only half of the hotel was open at the time, it was still really crowded. People would do things like leave their belongings on the chairs around the storytellers fire pit so there was nowhere to sit and you couldn't even get close enough to see or hear and then not show up until 20 minutes after the show started. It was just a hassle. Maybe it's better now.

 

[SingingMom]

We are staying 9 nights. After two years of ABD and not having to "think" lol I am in that mode. I don't want to plan and arrange excursions. Silly perhaps, but I make so many of the "decisions" for our family on a daily basis, I'd like vacation to be taken care of. Lol. We will most likely stay at Aulani and do their excursions.

 

[paddles]

Thanks for all the input! We'll be spending a few days on the big island, and then heading to Oahu (we'd really like to see Pearl Harbor)....thus, we'll spend a 4-5 days at Aulani.

We'll definitely have a rental car to drive around the island and see things on our own (and have other dining options).

I guess I'm spoiled with ABD managing everything as well!
However, I found a lot of interesting excursions with the same company that Aulani is using (and booking directly saves a lot of $$). But I'll make sure to balance lots of pool/beach time with excursions to take advantage of the Aulani grounds.

 

[sayhello]

I'm just going to throw this out there (and it's a bit old, so may not be true any more) but I heard several reports of the ABD excursions at Aulani getting canceled due to lack of people. So you may want to have contingency plans in place.

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

I guess I'm spoiled with ABD managing everything as well!
However, I found a lot of interesting excursions with the same company that Aulani is using (and booking directly saves a lot of $$). But I'll make sure to balance lots of pool/beach time with excursions to take advantage of the Aulani grounds.

What company is that that Aulani uses?

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Before we visited Aulani I researched some of the ABD excursions and compared with what it would cost to do similar excursions on our own, and the prices of the ABD excursions seemed terribly inflated. I'm sure there are special touches, but I couldn't justify the cost, especially when I had already spent a crazy amount of money on our room.

And that would be why there isn't a Hawaii ABD any more.

Sayhello

 

[paddles]

What company is that that Aulani uses?

Sayhello

The name of the company is "Pleasant Activities", and I found their website and loads of different excursions, including private surf lesson at Aulani that are cheaper than what Aulani had quoted in the past.

I wish ABD would offer a Hawaii adventure that would visit several islands. I know DCL has a Hawaii cruise, but I don't want to spend that many days at sea.

 

[SingingMom]

The name of the company is "Pleasant Activities", and I found their website and loads of different excursions, including private surf lesson at Aulani that are cheaper than what Aulani had quoted in the past. I wish ABD would offer a Hawaii adventure that would visit several islands. I know DCL has a Hawaii cruise, but I don't want to spend that many days at sea.

Thanks, Paddles! DD has the surf lesson on the top of her wish list, so I will look into this company!

We aren't renting a car - just staying put. After two summers of ABD busy sightseeing and two January's of WDW rides, I am looking forward to extended time to sit on a beach! Pearl Harbor is an exception, since I feel obligated to visit, and if we can do a few excursions at Aulani or ones that someone will take me to, we'll be set.

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[sayhello]

The name of the company is "Pleasant Activities", and I found their website and loads of different excursions, including private surf lesson at Aulani that are cheaper than what Aulani had quoted in the past.

I wish ABD would offer a Hawaii adventure that would visit several islands. I know DCL has a Hawaii cruise, but I don't want to spend that many days at sea.

Thanks, paddles! I *might* spend a couple of days at Aulani my next trip to Hawaii. Or at least a couple of days on Oahu.

NCL has a cruise that hits Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai. It's not DCL (and the service is known not to be the best) but it visits all the main islands. It's really a destination focused cruise, not the ship. It sails round-trip from Honolulu.

NCL's Pride of America is the only cruiseship that is allowed to sail the Hawaiian Islands without hitting a distant foreign port, because it is registered in the United States. All other cruiseships are registered outside the US, because then they are not governed by US employment requirements. The Pride of America, which *is* governed by US employment requirements does not have the base of foreign employees that the other cruiseships have. The PoA has a lot of turnover, and just doesn't have the service levels you see on ships where foreigners look at those jobs as fabulous financial opportunities.

Only ships registered in the US are allowed to transport people from one USA port to another without hitting a distant foreign port, or traveling round-trip from a US port without hitting *some* foreign port. The only foreign port anywhere near Hawaii is the Fanning Islands, and you lose 3-5 days round-trip going there. Most cruiselines just do the cruises from Ensenada or Vancouver with a ton of sea days. And yes, I don't want more sea days than days on the Islands, either!

I'm seriously considering the NCL cruise for my next trip to Hawaii, combined with some time on Kauai.

And I was told at one point something along the line that they don't have a Hawaii ABD any longer because it was impossible for them to come up with an itinerary that justified the cost. Hawaii is just too easy to book excursions yourself. Good excursions are literally *everywhere*.

Sayhello

 

[Cousin Orville]

sayhello - I've been interested in the NCL cruise after hearing about it on the podcast. Sounds really cool. I'm not very interested in the DCL cruises. There are too many days at sea for me. Especially the return cruise with 5 sea days after visiting Hawaii. As Shaun put it - the saddest cruise. Lol

When we went to Aulani last Dec, we just stayed at the resort. We had visited the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, etc before (absolutely worth doing) and we were completely happy with just chilling at the resort for 5 days. We just left to go eat at couple of places within walking distance. Had a great time. Today my 4 yo was even asking out of the blue when we were going back.

 

[SingingMom]

sayhello - I've been interested in the NCL cruise after hearing about it on the podcast. Sounds really cool. I'm not very interested in the DCL cruises. There are too many days at sea for me. Especially the return cruise with 5 sea days after visiting Hawaii. As Shaun put it - the saddest cruise. Lol When we went to Aulani last Dec, we just stayed at the resort. We had visited the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, etc before (absolutely worth doing) and we were completely happy with just chilling at the resort for 5 days. We just left to go eat at couple of places within walking distance. Had a great time. Today my 4 yo was even asking out of the blue when we were going back.

Kevin - where did you eat in walking distance? We are planning on pretty much staying put at the resort. Is it too hot to walk in August? Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[sayhello]

sayhello - I've been interested in the NCL cruise after hearing about it on the podcast. Sounds really cool. I'm not very interested in the DCL cruises. There are too many days at sea for me. Especially the return cruise with 5 sea days after visiting Hawaii. As Shaun put it - the saddest cruise. Lol

When we went to Aulani last Dec, we just stayed at the resort. We had visited the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, etc before (absolutely worth doing) and we were completely happy with just chilling at the resort for 5 days. We just left to go eat at couple of places within walking distance. Had a great time. Today my 4 yo was even asking out of the blue when we were going back.

Kevin, I haven't been able to keep up with the podcast much since they went to video, so I'll have to go check out whichever one they talked about the NCL cruise on (any idea which it is?). I've had my eye on that cruise for a couple of years, since my last trip to Hawaii. I've only been to Maui, which you can easily get around in a day if you have a car. I'm not much of a hang around the resort type, so I really like being able to book a lot of excursions on my own, and keep busy, with just a couple of "down days". I try to go for 2 weeks at a time since it's such an effort to get there! I'll rent a condo so that I don't end up eating out all the time. I like having some meals "at home".

I've never been to Oahu, so if I do the NCL cruise, I'd need to do the stuff like the Pearl Harbor memorial, etc. I think the NCL cruise would be nice, to give me enough of a view of all 4 islands to know which one I would want to go to the next time. I'd like to see more than just Maui (although I *do* adore Maui!)

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Kevin - where did you eat in walking distance? We are planning on pretty much staying put at the resort. Is it too hot to walk in August? Lol

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

There is a Mexican restaurant, a Hawaiian Barbeque, and a pizza place just across the street from Aulani. I think there might be some other restaurants within walking distance too, but these were so close we didn't venture any further. It's been about a year and a half since we were there, so there may be more now.

 

[SingingMom]

There is a Mexican restaurant, a Hawaiian Barbeque, and a pizza place just across the street from Aulani. I think there might be some other restaurants within walking distance too, but these were so close we didn't venture any further. It's been about a year and a half since we were there, so there may be more now.

Thank you!! I'm starting to really look forward to the trip. I was disappointed about missing out on ABD this year, but this should be fun. (Not to mention lower priced for the three of us. Lol)

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[carpenta]

I hAve done the NCL Hawaii cruise and it is not a "typical" cruise. The ship has an American crew which does not treat the passengers with high regard. The food is cafeteria at it's best and shows are pitiful BUT it is a great way to see a lot of the islands at one shot. The view of the volcano lava flowing into the ocean is beautiful. We did a lot of excursions through the cruise line and everyone was first rate. Looking back we remember our time visiting the different ports and thought the ship was a large taxi. For the price I would say " go for it" .