Getting to Aulani ?

[MiaSRN62]

Just wondering if we can swing a trip to Aulani in spring/early summer 2012. I know this is way out....but we'll have to start planning and saving now if we want to do it.

So....hit a road block. I have never been to Hawaii. I know Aulani is on Ohau. Flight-wise....what would be the best bet from Philly (or any nearby airport to Philly) to Hawaii ? I'm thinking Honolulu is the airport to fly into---then how far approx is the DVC resort from here ? Do you think there will be ME or is a rental car a must for HI touring ?

Thanks for any info.....I need to get a Hawaii for Dummies book for sure.


Maria

 

[njmeisje]

Drive to Newark Airport in NJ. They offer non-stop Continental flight to Honolulu - 10 hrs. Our family is going this summer for our first Hawaii trip --- we got round trip for $690 each. We're so excited.

 

[jekjones1558]

I don't know if Disney will offer ME but Mapquest says it is 31 minutes and 21 miles from the Honolulu airport to Ko'Olina. In any event I would never go to Hawaii and not rent a car. No matter how wonderful the resort, there is just too much to see and do to not get out and about.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks for the advice guys !

Maria

 

[FourM's]

Our family just went to Oahu for Christmas and while we were there we went out to Ko olina so that we could see where the Aulani was being built. Very cool! We used the lagoons in front of the hotel site for a little snorkeling and swimming. Nice and peaceful.
I agree with PP's, you will definitely need a car (gotta go check out the north shore). But its not far from the airport, maybe 20 minutes.

Have you seen this yet?

http://resorts.disney.go.com/hawaii-resort

 

[Nikisha421]

I was in Maui this past summer and although it's a different island I wanted to share that I thought the rental car was so annoying and a big responsibility. My understanding is that Oahu is more city like vs. Maui which is a retirement center (not being disrespectful) and since they are completely opposite a car may be needed. I just think when on vacation it's much easier to not be burdened down with things like rental cars and cooking...

 

[BCV23]

Maria, we stayed at the JW Marriott a couple years ago which is right next to Aulani. As I recall, the drive was about half an hour from the airport. We had a rental car and I can't imagine not getting one. Oahu is much more than just Honolulu.

I agree with 4Ms that the lagoons are very peaceful. I loved walking along the pathway just as the sun rose. There are some locals who are there every morning for their exercise. I'll never forget one older lady. My last morning, she walked up and kissed my cheek.

 

[DebbieB]

I doubt they will offer ME. WDW is the only location they provide it. They don't have it at DL, HH or VB. One of the reasons they provide ME is it discourages people from renting a car and leaving the property, heading to Universal or Sea World. I don't think they see that as an issue in other locations.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I really appreciate everyone's advice and experience....and yes, FourM's...that site really inspired me to want to plan for a trip here

So if ME will not be offered, I'm guessing a rental car is a must. This is gonna be one expensive trip !

Thanks again for all the input

Maria

 

[Anal Annie]

I was in Maui this past summer and although it's a different island I wanted to share that I thought the rental car was so annoying and a big responsibility. My understanding is that Oahu is more city like vs. Maui which is a retirement center (not being disrespectful) and since they are completely opposite a car may be needed. I just think when on vacation it's much easier to not be burdened down with things like rental cars and cooking...

Cooking on vacation is an entirely different matter, and I agree, but I don't see how you could possibly get around on Maui without a rental car. It is such a big island with so much to see and the resorts are nowhere near the airports. Not sure how a rental car is any more of a responsibility there than at home. Could I ask where you were staying on Maui that you thought it was a retirmement center? I have been to Maui 4 times since 1990 and that description NEVER entered my mind.

Oahu is an island not a city. Honolulu is the largest city on Oahu and Waikiki Beach is in Honolulu and is one of the world's most famous beaches. No, you do not need a rental car if you are staying in a Waikiki Beach hotel. You can get around by taxi or bus. However, the new Aulani resort at Ko'Olina is not IN either of these areas and would require a car to get there and for any sightseeing on the island. I would think it would be a pain and costly to try to get around without a rental car on either Maui or at Aulani.


None of the Hawaiian islands are hard to navigate by car with a map. They are fairly rural islands and it IS just another US state. It is not a foreign country with unusual driving laws or signage in another language and you still drive on the right side of the road. The islands are great fun to explore at your own pace by car! All of the beaches are public so you just wear your bathing suit under your clothes & bring a towel & you can pull over anywhere to go swimming or snorkeling!

Maria - we like to fly Delta to Hawaii as in the past they have some of the shortest flight times (we usually fly from BWI). We like to go thru Salt Lake City on the way out & home thru Atlanta. I am not a fan of going thru Chicago (United does that) - it is just SOOO big and if you have to transfer hubs it's stressful. American flys thru Dallas which is a nice transfer point to break it up too. A direct flight is LONG. When you look at your flight times be sure to look at the TOTAL time. Try to get it under 13 hours. You want to have enough time between flights but not so much that you're just sitting around on a layover. If you're not careful you'll end up with a total time of 15-17 hours!! Just look at the bottom line - you should be able to book something around 12 1/2 hours each way. It is a long trip to not visit another island while you are there. I would recommend also trying a few nights on Maui. You can fly into Honolulu and then hop to Maui on Hawaiian Air and then fly home direct from Maui. Costco offers some good packages. So you can book airfare & car rentals with them too if you use one of their hotels on Maui. I know they won't book JUST airfare but call & ask...I think you CAN use their air if you book at least SOME nights thru them at one of their properties. (Costco has some decent airfare prices to Hawaii which is why I brought it up.) THis is what I hope to do in 2012 - Aulani for 5 nights thru DVC and then 4 or 5 nights on Maui with a rental car thru Costco (I am not a fan of the RCI properties that are available thru trading). I am also thinking of adding a few nights at the VGC & DL on the way out!!

 

[bumbershoot]

All of the beaches are public so you just wear your bathing suit under your clothes & bring a towel & you can pull over anywhere to go swimming or snorkeling!

ALL of them? How cool is that????

 

[dianeschlicht]

I was in Maui this past summer and although it's a different island I wanted to share that I thought the rental car was so annoying and a big responsibility. My understanding is that Oahu is more city like vs. Maui which is a retirement center (not being disrespectful) and since they are completely opposite a car may be needed. I just think when on vacation it's much easier to not be burdened down with things like rental cars and cooking...

On the contrary, we have been to Hawaii numerous time including 4 different islands. A rental car is absolutely necessary for any of the islands. There is so much to see and do that you would miss if you didn't have a car. Sure, you could rely on the tours, but that takes away so much of the person aspect of the islands.

 

[dianeschlicht]

ALL of them? How cool is that????

That's right. BUT, be sure to check so you know which ones are shark safe and which aren't.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Okay, now that I have read the rest of the thread, I see Annie had the same thoughts I did about the car etc.

 

[Anal Annie]

ALL of them? How cool is that????

http://www.prigsbee.com/Hawaii/beaches.htm

 

[Nikisha421]

Cooking on vacation is an entirely different matter, and I agree, but I don't see how you could possibly get around on Maui without a rental car. It is such a big island with so much to see and the resorts are nowhere near the airports. Not sure how a rental car is any more of a responsibility there than at home. Could I ask where you were staying on Maui that you thought it was a retirmement center? I have been to Maui 4 times since 1990 and that description NEVER entered my mind.

Oahu is an island not a city. Honolulu is the largest city on Oahu and Waikiki

I stayed in Kaanapali..it's was nice don't get me wrong...still seemed retirement like...then again...thanks just my opinion...oh and I definetely get that Oahu is an island...what I was implying was if Oahu the island...

On the contrary, we have been to Hawaii numerous time including 4 different islands. A rental car is absolutely necessary for any of the islands. There is so much to see and do that you would miss if you didn't have a car. Sure, you could rely on the tours, but that takes away so much of the person aspect of the islands.

Great point

 

[disneymomjcs]

I would most certainly get a car. We stayed at the Marriott KoOlina June 2008 and it was needed. We went many places with the car. We ate breakfast in the 2 bedroom most days. The restaurant and store on site were very expensive. $20 for paper plates, loaf of bread and peanut butter.

The Lagoons are great. There was shark in the JW Marriott on Lagoon 1, I think. They had divers in the water too!

We swam at the lagoon in front of our resort which might of been 3 or 4. the Aulani is in between those two.

KoOlina is a gated community and there wasn't too much on site. Not sure where I saw this but they are building up the area in KoOlina with stores and nearby a Target and food stores and even a malll, that will be nice. The closest food store when we went was about 20 - 30 mins down the highway.

 

[MiaSRN62]

wow....wealth of information from all of you and I so appreciate it !

Things I've made note of : pretty sure a rental car is a must, take a visit to Maui if possible, check for sharks.....I'm keeping this thread handy for sure. I will check the Costco packages Annie and look into Delta. I wouldn't mind flying in/out of BWI if flight times and costs are better there. Oh....and $20 paper plates ! Yikes !

Maria

 

[disneymomjcs]

wow....wealth of information from all of you and I so appreciate it !

Things I've made note of : pretty sure a rental car is a must, take a visit to Maui if possible, check for sharks.....I'm keeping this thread handy for sure. I will check the Costco packages Annie and look into Delta. I wouldn't mind flying in/out of BWI if flight times and costs are better there. Oh....and $20 paper plates ! Yikes !

Maria

I also got peanut butter and bread with the paper plates but yes still expensive. I know this will sound strange but we did pack food staples in our luggage. My sister in law brought food too! Our first shopping was $230.00 for eight and we did make a few other trips. Ate most dinners out too!

I agree with a visit to Maui. We spent a week at the Marriott Ko Olina and a week at the Grand Walea in Maui.

In Maui we went on the Trilogy booked through our resort. We had breakfast on the catamaran, snorkled at Molokini Crater...beautiful and unique. I believe this has the best water clarity in the world. Lunch was also included on the catamaran and we made a stop at "turtle town" and we did see Sea Turtles even though this water was murky. Best outing.

Also not to be missed on Maui sunrise at Haleakala ... like being up in the clouds.

So much to do in Oahu also. We snokeled at Hanuma Bay, visited Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center, Banyon Tree in Lahaina.


I will post more when I remember.

 

[Anal Annie]

LOL I have vague memories of paying a small fortune for a box of Hostess Doughnuts somewhere on Maui!!

My most favorite thing on Oahu is visiting Pearl Harbor. We ALWAYS go there. It is so beautiful and so moving. You must go early, early as the lines are long but it is SOOO worth it. Last time we went in '06 we took DS with us (he was 9) and we also toured the USS Missouri battleship - so it was pretty much an all day thing for us. Well, probably from 7:00 am until 1 or 2:00. The battleship was very cool too. We thought it was a great piece of history for DS to see, although he may be too young to remember it.

We have also done Hanuma Bay - again - GO EARLY!! It is very cool but gets REALLY crowded. You are guaranteed to see a ton of fish.

I went to the Polynesian Culture Center on my first ever trip to Oahu. Personally, I was not that impressed...and have never wanted to go back...but it's a BIG draw for a lot of people. I remember it being a 12 or 14 hour day and we went on some bus tour...perhaps if we were not stuck with this group it would've been better.

Last time we went we booked a catamaran out of Makena (on Maui) that was supposed to go to Molokini but the water was too rough for them to go there. Molokini is usually a good spot if you go early, before the other boats. We went once on a sailboat that was GORGEOUS and it was a fabulous time. She was called the Silent Lady...we always ask around for her & many remember her but they always say she moved to Tahiti and never came back. She had a great crew. Hummm...I think I may have to go to Tahiti some day!

We have stayed in Ka'anapali and in Wailea...we found when we were in Wailea we were always driving up to Lahaina or Ka'anapali for this or for that so we usually just stay in Ka'anapali now. Last time we stayed right at the Sheraton at Black Rock so we could snorkel off the beach right there. AND it was only a 10 min. walk down the beach to the Whalers Village.

Maria - if you or your husband golf then Maui is the island to golf on too! You can rent clubs to make it easy. I surprised DH with a round for his birthday one year - we went to the Gold Course where the Senior Masters play in Wailea. It was breathtaking. Any concierge desk can help arrange it for you before you go.

AND YES, sunrise at Haleakala is a MUST DO!! We just like to make that afternoon a lazy beach / pool day afterward since you have to get up so early to drive up there. It is slightly less of a drive if you're staying in Wailea.

I would also recommend trying a luau one evening. A luau is basically dinner and a show - they're fun but they're expensive. I would say to steer away from the bargain luau's like the Royal Lahaina (not so good IMO). Try looking for a deal on the Old Lahaina Luau: http://www.oldlahainaluau.com/flash.html
(Note - it sells out early - reserve it well in advance before you go or you won't get in! It books up like popular ADR's at WDW so call even at like 90 days!)

We like to go to Hawaii every 5 years so we'd be "due" again in 2011 but have decided to wait on Aulani to be ready - and since it won't likely be ready until fall that means waiting for 2012 for us. So instead we've decided to do a Med cruise in 2011 and just delay Hawaii 1 year. We can't wait to go back though!