Hey all! As is typical, I have found some small things to worry about just prior to leaving, so hoping you can help me out!
- This is our first "resort" stay, and I don't know what the parking etiquette is when checking in. We normally self-park and walk in, but it looks like most people valet the first time they come in, and have bell services get their bags? What should we expect, and how much to tip valet/bell services, etc.?
- We're staying in a studio, not planning on cooking obviously, but want to pick up some groceries on the way in. Is the mini fridge tiny or decent? Like if we pick up milk, juice, and soda, bagels and cream cheese, will all that fit?
- Any particular supplies we might find handy in a studio that we'll need to buy? This is our first DVC stay. Just the two of us adults, no kids, no cooking, so I can't think of anything, but just wondering!
- What day of the week should we plan on visiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial? I know we should go early, reserve tickets ahead of time, but should we go on the weekend to avoid rush hour? (We'll be there 9 nights, from Saturday to the following Monday, so we have plenty of days to choose from.)
- I haven't booked anything through Laniwai yet, though I want to do at least a couple of treatments on different days. I'll be nearly 5 months pregnant, and will definitely discuss that with them when booking, because I know they have some specific prenatal treatments. Just not sure if that means other treatments are unsafe or at the very least, not recommended, but I'll be sure to ask. I'd prefer to have the treatments at their lowest peak times, so if that means Wednesday at 8 AM or something, that's fine by me. Anyone know? I'm guessing weekends are busier?
Really appreciate any and all responses to my questions. Thanks in advance!
We were at Aulani last month and stayed in villa #304, a Pool View studio. Let me try to answer some of your questions.
Parking: When checking in, pull up to the port cochere and, if you want, Bell services can take your bags. Unless you specifically request valet parking, you can leave your car with valet while you check in and get your room keys. Once you get your room keys, you can then get your car and self park if you wish. We usually tip about $2.00 a bag when you use Bell Services.
The studio mini fridge is a decent size. We could easily get a half gallon of milk, some fruit, yogurt, lunch meat, and condiments into it without difficulty. The freezer compartment was even a decent size: We got two frozen entrees in the freezer and had lots of room to spare.
The Aulani General Store didn't have a wide selection of food items. There is an ABC store across the street from Aulani that has a good selection of food items, plus everything else a tourist needs or wants. However, its prices are on the high side. There is a Super Target and Safeway in Kapolei, which is about 5 miles from Ko Olina -- you'll pass them on your way to Aulani from Honolulu. Their prices are more reasonable than the ABC store.
We prepurchased our Pearl Harbor tickets via the Pearl Harbor NPS website at
http://www.recreation.gov/tourParkDetail.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72369. We left Aulani around 9:30 AM on Wednesday and were parking our car by 10:00 AM. The Concierge and Valet CMs can give you driving directions and time estimates to Pearl, and well as any other site on Oahu. They are really very helpful in that regard.
We didn't do a lot of driving on H1 - the interstate that runs from Honolulu to Ko Olina. The times we were on H1 (9:00 - 10:00 AM and 2:00 - 3:00 PM) it wasn't all that bad.
Can't offer any advice about Laniwai because we didn't use any spa services.
Other tips: If you need to do laundry, DVC members can get free tokens from the Front Desk. Otherwise, its $3.00 each for the washer and dryers.
The Daily Iwa shows the events for each day. Its not delivered to your villa, but its available at the Front Desk, the Community hall and several other places around the resort.
The refillable mugs cost $18.99 for length of stay. There are several places around the resort to refill your drinks.
If you are into Disney pin trading, you can trade pins with CMs at the General Store, the Community Hall, Concierge, and the DVC Preview Center.
Aulani has a lounge for guests to use if their villa isn't ready yet, or if you have a late flight on your departure date. Large lockers and showers are available, and a computer with printer so you can print your airline boarding pass.
Here is a link to our
Aulani trip report with photos. Hopefully, it will give you some ideas of what to expect. Aulani is a great resort!
