First trip to Aulani. What should I know...

[Plan Man]

But probably wouldn't think of?

 

[Darklord77]

Traffic in Honolulu is horrible.
Rental car lines can get long. I suggest a skip the counter option.
If you visit Pearl Harbor, I suggest you do it on a Sunday.
Don't go off the beaten path. Not all parts of Hawaii enjoy having tourists.
Finally, don't go chasing waterfalls.

 

[Narcoossee11]

EVERYTHING is double what you think.
Traffic is BAD
Locals go at a different pace and don't care that you're in a hurry.

 

[neverlandsky]

Been using YouTube Aulani reviews to gather more information since we're exploring the idea of going to Hawaii for the first time in the future. The resort surprise for me so far was the Aulani pool chairs is a process I wouldn't even think of. The whole reserving pool side chairs before 8 am where 1 person from your party has to be in chairs to reserve. The towel folded in behind the chair, if you're not currently occupying the space and the time limit to reoccupy your so-called claimed chair space. Once towel is folded in behind the chair, if CM comes by once time limit expires with towel still folded in behind, if your stuff is still there, without no one from your party reoccupying the space, your things are collected and put in lost & found. To signify to CM you're still there, just simply remove folded towel behind chair.

The tourist surprise is that parking is extremely limited just about everywhere. The reoccurring theme I found watching reviews is to go early & prepurchase any tourist type tickets.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Aulani FB groups are very very helpful. Lots of detailed trip reviews by 1st timers which really helped me.

Booking times have changed so be sure you are up to date on when you need to book what.

Traffic isnt great. If it's your first time at Aulani try not to plan too much stuff off resort if you dont have a lengthy stay. There are many excursions that leave form the nearby Ko Olina docks without needing to drive.

Don't leave things in car outside of Ko Olina especially visible in the car. I heard it was bad, but I actually witnessed cars with broken windows at Pearl Harbor.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Waimea Botanical Garden was a delightful way to spend half a day. It features a waterfall where you can go swimming if you want (we didn’t but dipped our feet in the water) and some nice mostly pave hiking trails to get there.

If you rent a car, book using DVC points because almost 50 dollars a day to park at the resort otherwise!

Pre-book your tickets to the USS Arizona if you’re going to Pearl Harbor so you don’t miss the boat ride out there.

If you have some younger kids, pack sand toys in your suitcase so you don’t have to buy a 20 dollar castle when you’re there that your kid will beg you for.

 

[VGCgroupie]

If you have some younger kids, pack sand toys in your suitcase so you don’t have to buy a 20 dollar castle when you’re there that your kid will beg you for.

They rent sand toys for free ay Makiki Joes on the beach. Unsure if there is a castle though

 

[VGCgroupie]

Thought of another..

Check out the ice machine rooms people always leave free stuff and often you can get water tubes and things which can be used on the beach

They dont allow certain toys on the beach like footballs and water catch balls.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I wish I had known about the free sand toys! My daughter asked for the Cinderella castle toy bucket and then I left it in our room since I knew it wouldn’t fit in the suitcase on the way home.
I saw a lot of people playing with footballs and water catch balls when I was there last August. It was super annoying.

Thought of another..

Check out the ice machine rooms people always leave free stuff and often you can get water tubes and things which can be used on the beach

They dont allow certain toys on the beach like footballs and water catch balls.

 

[asunutgirl]

Been using YouTube Aulani reviews to gather more information since we're exploring the idea of going to Hawaii for the first time in the future. The resort surprise for me so far was the Aulani pool chairs is a process I wouldn't even think of. The whole reserving pool side chairs before 8 am where 1 person from your party has to be in chairs to reserve. The towel folded in behind the chair, if you're not currently occupying the space and the time limit to reoccupy your so-called claimed chair space. Once towel is folded in behind the chair, if CM comes by once time limit expires with towel still folded in behind, if your stuff is still there, without no one from your party reoccupying the space, your things are collected and put in lost & found. To signify to CM you're still there, just simply remove folded towel behind chair.

The tourist surprise is that parking is extremely limited just about everywhere. The reoccurring theme I found watching reviews is to go early & prepurchase any tourist type tickets.

This lovely procedure was put into place thanks to groups of people that would take up lounge chairs for hours without actually using them. We usually just head to the beach.