First time to Aulani and need help.

[KippyKip]

Hello!

I am seeking advice and help from the community. I am trying to plan a trip to Aulani in August 2023. My two in laws, wife and I, 10 y.o. daughter and 3 y.o. daughter for a total of 6. It will be our first trip to Hawaii ever. My in laws are not really Disney people but they are there for the grand children, which is great. We live at Los Angeles, so my children are familiar with Disney characters from going to Disneyland.

• How many nights to stay at Aulani since it will be our first time? (Sorry about asking because I tried to search and didn't really find a clear answer.)
  • I think the in laws will be bored but they are mainly there to spend time with the children.
• Do we rent a car to visit other parts of the island if we stay longer at Aulani? (Probably don't want to switch hotels because the stress/ time of hotel changes)
  • My concern is car seats for the 3 y.o. because I don't think we want to fly with car seat since we will have stroller and luggages.
  • And if we stay longer at Aulani, how many nights?
• Any must-dos at Aulani?
• Any must-dos at the Island?

We will be using our DVC points for the first time (since we got it just before Covid)! So, I read that if we book with our DVC points, then parking is free if we rent a car. We will probably come back to Aulani once every couple of years so this will not be the first and last trip to Hawaii.
Thank you for any input/ advice you can provide. I really appreciate it. Thank you!

 

[tankin]

Wow ... trying to unpack this ...
1. How long? Forever? Assume based on everything else in this you're really not talkign about a split trip just how many days in HI ... I'd say plan on a week ish (6 - 8 days) with a mix between resort and island days. Joe Rohde once said it best ... Aulani is little d big H disney Hawaii ... If you look you can find it but its not in your face.
2. Definitely need to rent a car if you're going to see anything the island. You can rent booster seats at most of the car rental places.
3. At Aulani ... must do is find your happy place ... for the adults I find the spa works well for that. For families, I used to say the character breakfast but I think the value is out of whack and you can find most of the characters without paying for them.
4. PH is a first time must ... North Shore... I'm not a fan of Waikiki but at least going down there is a first time must (consider a trolley tour). With littles, skip diamond head. Might consider Dole but its not a must

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

Hello!

I am seeking advice and help from the community. I am trying to plan a trip to Aulani in August 2023. My two in laws, wife and I, 10 y.o. daughter and 3 y.o. daughter for a total of 6. It will be our first trip to Hawaii ever. My in laws are not really Disney people but they are there for the grand children, which is great. We live at Los Angeles, so my children are familiar with Disney characters from going to Disneyland.

• How many nights to stay at Aulani since it will be our first time? (Sorry about asking because I tried to search and didn't really find a clear answer.)
  • I think the in laws will be bored but they are mainly there to spend time with the children.
• Do we rent a car to visit other parts of the island if we stay longer at Aulani? (Probably don't want to switch hotels because the stress/ time of hotel changes)
  • My concern is car seats for the 3 y.o. because I don't think we want to fly with car seat since we will have stroller and luggages.
  • And if we stay longer at Aulani, how many nights?
• Any must-dos at Aulani?
• Any must-dos at the Island?

We will be using our DVC points for the first time (since we got it just before Covid)! So, I read that if we book with our DVC points, then parking is free if we rent a car. We will probably come back to Aulani once every couple of years so this will not be the first and last trip to Hawaii.
Thank you for any input/ advice you can provide. I really appreciate it. Thank you!

1. I stay 7-8 nights at Aulani and never switch hotels. Oahu is a small island where most tourist sights are within an hour of Aulani, assuming that avoid rush hour
2. Renting a car is critical, especially if you are staying every night at Aulani
3. Character greetings, character breakfast, and luau.
4. Pearl Harbor

I don't have kids, so I cannot comment on the kid's activities plus, I haven't done many excursions.

 

[Imurhuckleberry]

7 nights and definitely get a car. You can add a car seat easily with any legitimate rental agency.

Your kids will be perfectly content spending the entire time in the resort. You only need to leave the resort for adult activities. Don't take a 3 yr old to pearl harbor, or really just about anywhere else as it will be more hassle than it's worth. And why give up an entire day just to aggravate the 3 yr old and stress out the adults?

 

[KippyKip]

Wow ... trying to unpack this ...
1. How long? Forever? Assume based on everything else in this you're really not talkign about a split trip just how many days in HI ... I'd say plan on a week ish (6 - 8 days) with a mix between resort and island days. Joe Rohde once said it best ... Aulani is little d big H disney Hawaii ... If you look you can find it but its not in your face.
2. Definitely need to rent a car if you're going to see anything the island. You can rent booster seats at most of the car rental places.
3. At Aulani ... must do is find your happy place ... for the adults I find the spa works well for that. For families, I used to say the character breakfast but I think the value is out of whack and you can find most of the characters without paying for them.
4. PH is a first time must ... North Shore... I'm not a fan of Waikiki but at least going down there is a first time must (consider a trolley tour). With littles, skip diamond head. Might consider Dole but its not a must

Thank you so much for your reply.
Unfortunately, I have a full time job, so I can't stay forever. lol.
I will have to check with my wife about staying for a week and renting a car but that is probably more convenient.
Thank you for your input.

 

[KippyKip]

1. I stay 7-8 nights at Aulani and never switch hotels. Oahu is a small island where most tourist sights are within an hour of Aulani, assuming that avoid rush hour
2. Renting a car is critical, especially if you are staying every night at Aulani
3. Character greetings, character breakfast, and luau.
4. Pearl Harbor

I don't have kids, so I cannot comment on the kid's activities plus, I haven't done many excursions.

Thank you for your advice. A friend of mine got a van which might be the way for us with 6 person and probably lots of luggage.
Thanks about the character dining. I think my children would like it. Not so sure about my in-laws.

 

[KippyKip]

7 nights and definitely get a car. You can add a car seat easily with any legitimate rental agency.

Your kids will be perfectly content spending the entire time in the resort. You only need to leave the resort for adult activities. Don't take a 3 yr old to pearl harbor, or really just about anywhere else as it will be more hassle than it's worth. And why give up an entire day just to aggravate the 3 yr old and stress out the adults?

Hahaha. Maybe I will stay behind with my 3 y.o. and let my wife take my in-laws to sight seeing. LOL.

 

[jlmarr]

Definitely eat at MonkeyPod across the street. Very nice open-air restaurant. And there is a nice little grocery store in the same center, affiliated with ABC stores which you'll see all over Hawaii. Walk there if you can, parking is tight.

At Aulani we enjoyed Off The Hook. Ama Ama was closed when we went there in Feb 2022 but recent YouTubes suggest it's too $$$ and too "fine dining" for us anyway, YMMV.

Do the lazy river at Aulani! The shave ice didn't do anything for us but maybe the original at Matsumoto's Market near North Shore is better. The luau looked fun - our room overlooked it so we got to see/hear but not taste.

 

[pelequeen]

Definitely a full week minimum. You could never leave the resort and it would still be a great vacation. Pool/lagoon time and character meets are the name of the game.

However, a toddler and grandparent friendly activity is the Polynesian Cultural Center on the NE side of the island (~1hr) . This will require a car and/or transportation. Probably skip the luau here bc it’d be an incredibly long day (open as at noon and luau ends around 8 plus’s drive back to hotel).

North shore/Banzai pipeline are just to take in the ocean and it’s amazing waves / surfers. But it’s closer to Aulani than the other attractions.

This past trip we did an ocean/whale watching tour but they also do sunset cruises. Lovely trip but take Dramamine if you are easily motion sick.

Plenty of hikes to waterfalls and vistas if everyone is mobile.

Bishop Museum for the adults (or a short visit with kids)

Kailua and lanikai for beautiful turquoise water; outrigger canoe to the Mokes.

Kualoa Ranch for the adventure type (ATVs; horseback riding) or the movie buff (movie tours through the valley)

 

[pelequeen]

And hanauma bay for snorkeling (if you can get a reservation )

 

[KippyKip]

Definitely a full week minimum. You could never leave the resort and it would still be a great vacation. Pool/lagoon time and character meets are the name of the game.

However, a toddler and grandparent friendly activity is the Polynesian Cultural Center on the NE side of the island (~1hr) . This will require a car and/or transportation. Probably skip the luau here bc it’d be an incredibly long day (open as at noon and luau ends around 8 plus’s drive back to hotel).

North shore/Banzai pipeline are just to take in the ocean and it’s amazing waves / surfers. But it’s closer to Aulani than the other attractions.

This past trip we did an ocean/whale watching tour but they also do sunset cruises. Lovely trip but take Dramamine if you are easily motion sick.

Plenty of hikes to waterfalls and vistas if everyone is mobile.

Bishop Museum for the adults (or a short visit with kids)

Kailua and lanikai for beautiful turquoise water; outrigger canoe to the Mokes.

Kualoa Ranch for the adventure type (ATVs; horseback riding) or the movie buff (movie tours through the valley)

Thank you so much! We might postpone our trip to Thanksgiving due to conflicts with other plans.

Is Thanksgiving a nice time to go?

 

[pelequeen]

Yes I’d assume so, but likely a full resort since others will travel there during that time too. I think I’ve seen that some the restaurants will have special menus but require advanced booking. I don’t know if they’ll bVe the Christmas decorations up yet or not.

We traveled the week before Christmas and weather was temperate. Mid 70s and rain some days. Grotto pool was warmest for swimming. Lagoon water nice too.

 

[KippyKip]

Yes I’d assume so, but likely a full resort since others will travel there during that time too. I think I’ve seen that some the restaurants will have special menus but require advanced booking. I don’t know if they’ll bVe the Christmas decorations up yet or not.

We traveled the week before Christmas and weather was temperate. Mid 70s and rain some days. Grotto pool was warmest for swimming. Lagoon water nice too.

Thank you for the reminder of how busy it would be. Since Aulani is not my home resort, it might be difficult to get the rooms I want. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[hayesdvc]

Instead of starting a new thread, I want to add a couple of questions on to this one since it is the same subject for myself.

Wanting to take wife to Aulani in 2024. I will have to attempt to book at 7 months. Here are my questions:
1. Would like to go around her birthday in mid March. Assuming the point charts tells me the "good" times to go, looks like this timeframe is the 3rd of 4 tier level highest points needed. Your recommendations? For those with experience, will I have trouble at this time at the 7 month mark?
2. I am a point miser, however, fortunate to have a nice number. Since this may be a once in a lifetime visit, which Studio view/room would you attempt to get if you were comparing a view versus the additional points?

TIA

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

When I stay at WDW resort, I don't care about views since I'm rarely in the room. Aulani is different, where the view is essential to me. I've done island and ocean view, and fell in love with ocean view. I lounge around the room more because, being from the east coast, we are up very early and tired in the evening. We enjoy the sunrise or have a nightcap before bed on the patio.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am following this thread as it's our first Aulani trip in July. May I ask:

1) are the whale watching excursions year-round? I don't think July is peak time for whales so not sure this is something we'd want to book?

2) Going mid July. When should I be booking car rental and airfare for best rates? I haven't flown since pre-pandemic! Any suggestions for good car prices (I've heard they are high so mentally prepared)

3)For Hanauma Bay as well as Aulani snorkeling----ok to rent equipment or is bringing our own preferable or just not necessary? Any other not-to-missed excursions? I am all ears.

4) Best to book activities on Aulani site under excursions tab or does it matter if we book activities on our own? We've taken 9 Disney cruises in past and always heard better to book with cruise line vs venturing off on own (although we've done both). We did notice on really bad weather days, DCL would cancel and refund, while most non-DCL activities were no cancellations regardless of weather (which we experienced in Mexico on a DCL cruise). https://www.disneyaulani.com/activities/excursions/ (if this link isn't allowed, my apologies).

5) good off-site restaurants suggestions? We're also planning on Costco (we booked a 1 bedroom).

Thank you!

 

[MiaSRN62]

And hanauma bay for snorkeling (if you can get a reservation )

True that! They appear to be booked every day 2023 and 2024 and 2025 ?!!! Guess I can scratch this off the Aulani Bucket List?

 

[lilsonicfan]

True that! They appear to be booked every day 2023 and 2024 and 2025 ?!!! Guess I can scratch this off the Aulani Bucket List?

Hanauma Bay reservations open at 7am Hawaii time, two days in advance. They seem to sell out within a few minutes though.

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

I am following this thread as it's our first Aulani trip in July. May I ask:

1) are the whale watching excursions year-round? I don't think July is peak time for whales so not sure this is something we'd want to book?

2) Going mid July. When should I be booking car rental and airfare for best rates? I haven't flown since pre-pandemic! Any suggestions for good car prices (I've heard they are high so mentally prepared)

3)For Hanauma Bay as well as Aulani snorkeling----ok to rent equipment or is bringing our own preferable or just not necessary? Any other not-to-missed excursions? I am all ears.

4) Best to book activities on Aulani site under excursions tab or does it matter if we book activities on our own? We've taken 9 Disney cruises in past and always heard better to book with cruise line vs venturing off on own (although we've done both). We did notice on really bad weather days, DCL would cancel and refund, while most non-DCL activities were no cancellations regardless of weather (which we experienced in Mexico on a DCL cruise). https://www.disneyaulani.com/activities/excursions/ (if this link isn't allowed, my apologies).

5) good off-site restaurants suggestions? We're also planning on Costco (we booked a 1 bedroom).

Thank you!

Sorry my initial post misread you airline question. Book a refundable car rental now and then rates will usually drop a few weeks before the trip where you can you cancel and rebook.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thank you lilsonicfan and maxbuffmelvin for your input
Will start looking at car rentals now. Anyone use a good site or discount code? I am a Costco Member if this helps with car rental?
Should I book airfare now, do u think?